(S01E19) What did we learn from tonight's episode?
If you're a single guy and want to attract the ladies, treat them like they're streetwalkers. This is the reason I look
forward to How I Met Your Mother as much as Lost, 24 or Scrubs-- how true to life
it really is. I'm not talking about your friends buying you a hooker (well, not me at least), I'm talking about all the
little things. Everybody has at least one person with whom they can have a telepathic conversation, like Ted and
Marshall do. Everyone tries to show up their ex with someone who is hotter. Everyone has a group of friends that they
would do anything for. On with the show!The episode begins during a much happier time-- before Ted had tried to hook up with Robin and broken up with
Victoria. In fact, Ted was still very much in love with Victoria at this point, and predicted she'd be around for quite
a while. I like how time seems to have passed the same in the show as it has in the "real world". It's been
weeks since Ted and Robin have talked, and Marshall is becoming a little more at ease in his role at Barney's... uh...
place of business. Little touches that they don't dig deep into, but showcase that some time has passed since the last
episode. The group is heading to the LAMAs to support Robin, who's up for an award, and Ted is dateless although he
RSVPed for two. Barney spends some time convincing him to *ahem* rent some companionship before finally taking matters
into his own hands, and hooking Ted up with a girl from his building, Mary.
I watched it again just to make
sure, but Barney never actually refers to Mary as a prostitute. He brilliantly plants the seeds in Ted and Marshall's
minds, but never once outright says that Mary is a hooker. Naturally then, the rest of the episode has awkward
"sitcommy" moments where everyone else knows Mary's profession (even
though she is actually in fact a paralegal). The one thing positive thing that does come from the situation though is
Ted's ability to relax around her. In doing so, he really opens up to Mary and has a good time, until it's time to end
the night. Once again, in a very sitcom fashion, during the ending everything is revealed. I have to say though, I did
literally laugh out loud (even though I was all by myself) when Barney has Vampire Lou read aloud to Marshall and Lily
that "Mary's not really a prostitute."
Barneyisms of the Week:
Withdrawn.
I'd like to
announce this evening's big twist ending!
Come on, if you don't laugh it just seems mean.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-25-2006 @ 7:28AM
Mark said...
Yeah, it was quite funny - and Mary was HOOOOOOOOOOOT! - but it was pretty obvious; my wife and I had it figured out as soon as she said she was a paralegal. So, no surprising ending for us, but funny nonetheless.
Reply
4-25-2006 @ 9:26AM
Porchland said...
I agree with #1. It was more of a "surprise" ending than a surprise ending. Great episode. I'm really glad this episode is expected to be picked up for next season.
It has the potential to be our generation's "Seinfeld" if the writers can keep coming up with great hooks like the sword fight and the Pineapple Incident.
Reply
4-25-2006 @ 9:32AM
Porchland said...
"glad this episode" = "glad this show"
Reply
4-25-2006 @ 10:02AM
GMMR said...
I LOVE this show. Barney borrowing Ted's water just to spit it out was hilarious. And did anyone else think Lily's cranky behavior and inability to stay awake was a sign of a little Marshall or Lily to come?
-GMMR
http://www.givememyremote.com
Reply
4-25-2006 @ 10:31AM
Michael G said...
Great show and I did laugh out loud when The 'announcment' was read.
Aunt Robin and Ted need to hook up and break up in a regular way. This petty fighting might get annoying.
Mary was Way to hot to be a regular.
Best Lines (non Barneyisms):
All from mary;
Regarding Barney " Noo, not enough money in the world"
"I had clients riding me all day long",
"and one guy,.. Talk about Anal"
Reply
4-25-2006 @ 11:46AM
Franker said...
ehh... not the best of episodes. Too Ted centric.
Also, it's been creeping up ever so slightly the past few episodes, but this was the first time it was obvious. "How I Met Your Mother" is being a "Chick Show" (like a chick flick but for TV).
People have called this show the new "Friends" and if that's the case, I just hope the can keep it like the first few seasons of friends (when it was actually funny) and not devolve into the chick-y clap trap it became in the last several seasons.
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4-25-2006 @ 12:53PM
Brent said...
Can't forget about about the "No it wasn't funny it was hilarious!"
Reply
4-25-2006 @ 3:03PM
Harry said...
Bwahahaha! Great episode. And yes, Barney borrowing Ted's water for the spit-take was a thing of beauty. I love this show.
Reply
4-26-2006 @ 5:48AM
ooda said...
Really great episode, and I hope you guys realize that this show was renewed for a second season months ago.
Reply
4-27-2006 @ 5:00AM
SenorWeird said...
For some reason, every time Marshall said "Lawyered" to Barney, I laughed my ass off. I think its the fact that its such a lame way to rub it in Barney's face that he was corrected, but it actually seemed to affect him.
Suffice to say, whenever I nail someone in a lie from now on, I'm totally yelling "Lawyered!"
Reply
4-28-2006 @ 1:04PM
Arlie said...
Anyone here who knows the name of the actress who played Mary?
Reply
4-30-2006 @ 7:02PM
Cuuuk said...
Mary was played by Erinn Bartlett
http://imdb.com/name/nm0058814/
Reply