(S03E16) Bless the peapickin' little hearts of Carter Bays and Craig Thomas. All week, they've been setting us up, telling us about the return of Robin Sparkles, saying that we were going to get an episode full of eighties and nineties goodness, complete with James Van Der Beek, Tiffany, and Alan Thicke. We even got a video (full video is after the end of the review) as a taste.But all of it was a ruse. A week-long ruse to distract us from realizing what was really going to happen in this episode. Since I don't want to spoil it for anyone, come with me to the after-jump portion of our review and then we can talk.
Holy living crap! Barney and Robin finally hooked up!
We knew this was coming... kinda. There were always signs that the two of them had some sort of attraction to each other. Barney's advances, as you'd expect, were obvious. But you saw Robin briefly consider going with Barn as recently as a couple of weeks ago, when he whispered in her ear and she giggled a 'no' when asked if it affected her (Robin giggles when she lies). And, the two of them had shared that certain alpha-male temperament. So, this was inevitable. But... not this week, and not how it happened.
Yes, we've seen a sympathetic Barney before. And calling Robin the second most awesome person he's ever known (besides the person in the mirror) is one of the most sympathetic things I've ever heard Barney say. But when they go back to Robin's place and he nervously asked if he could "put it in," we all knew he was talking about the video. So even that obvious gag was a diversion, because after they watched "Sandcastles in the Sand" over and over, making jokes about how it could be a tampon commercial if it was recut properly, all of a sudden, they're all over each other. And all seems right with the universe. Nice job, Carter and Craig>
The rest of the episode had its moments, but it was only OK. I get the concept of "Revertigo," even if Ted doesn't accept the catchy name Marshall gave it. I mean, I act like a dopey college kid when I see my college friends, so it's not like the idea isn't universal. The funniest case of revertigo was Lily's; she talks street when she's around her friend Michelle. The funny thing is, Michelle, who's in the middle of her dissertation at Columbia, also has revertigo, as Lily brings the "you go, girlfriend" out of her too. Who knew?
Van Der Beek plays a pretty good loser, doesn't he? Balding, chubby, really into his band and water slide job (which Marshall would have envied if the park had a wave pool). It was odd to see Robin, the gal who seems to have her act together most of the time, melt in the presence of this goober. But it was also pretty funny, especially when she was twirling her hair and acting all silly in his presence. She even lugged all his instruments back to that crappy wood-paneled van, just like she did in the nineties. But she lost out Louise Marsh again... there's no way she can get a "Jacuzze" in that apartment; it's just too small.
More fun stuff:
- Robin playing Simon's song "Murder Train" over the Puppy Corner segment. At least it led to more adoptions...
- M&L taking the role of Robin's parents, complete with Robin threatening to "go all the way" with Simon.
- The series of Canadian jokes, most of which we didn't hear because Old Ted fast-forwarded through most of them. Barney asking "did you give him the 'O, Canada' face?" is the Best Barneyism of the week.
- Though Lily's line that "he's not that Inuit" was probably the best one.
- Simon's band was named The Foreskins... because there are four of them and they play shirtless. It was a very groinal night on CBS, by the way; I heard the word "balls" twice within the span of three minutes as Two and a Half Men ended and Rules of Engagement started.
- "He's red province! He's from the deep North!" God, I love this show's Canada jokes.
- Since Cobie Smulders is from Vancouver, her cartoonish Canadian accent from her youth sounds believable. Van Der Beek, who was born in Connecticut, sounded like a bad version of the McKenzie Brothers.
- "Summer in Canada is like the last week of July," according to Robin. It leads to a lot of short relationships.
Of course, we can go over the video -- Robin Sparkles' "big artistic follow-up" to "Let's Go to the Mall" -- but that might be a whole post by itself, between the reference to traveling the world from "Alberta to Ontario" to the fact that it was the "best week and a half of my life." It was the funniest part of the episode, but in light of what happened at the end, seems pretty insignificant now. Like I said, it wasn't a great episode, but the story advancement was significant enough that it deserves a pass from HIMYM fans. So, what do you folks think? Do Robin and Barney have a future together? Let me know in the comments.
Sandcastles in the Sand
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Mike Henry and Daryl Hall on a Cleveland Show Thanksgiving
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
4-21-2008 @ 11:09PM
Lane Wright said...
I don't know, I thought the episode was pretty funny top to bottom. But you're right that the video is the funniest part (and the video in its entirety is really brilliant), and that the "surprise ending" is what makes this episode a classic. As for Robin and Barney's future--well, that's in Bays and Thomas's hands. I'm sure it will be unpredictable, whatever it is.
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4-21-2008 @ 11:15PM
Nathaniel said...
Amazing. Absolutely perfect. I didn't think this would happen this soon, but it worked! I think we'll see an interesting psychological journey for Barney, since this is probably the first time sex has meant anything in a long time. Either that or firm denial from both of them... ooh, I just can't wait for next week!
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4-21-2008 @ 11:26PM
JLTorrente said...
Worst. Episode. Ever... of Robin's life; Seriously, she was dumped by that loser and now is going to get dumped by Barney (let's face it, the Barnster would not settle down ever).
I felt bad for her, and I'm fearing for the big break-up that is looming ahead... Ted is going to feel very betrayed for that.
Nice twist on the episode, loved the crazy video and the Revertigo stuff (Ted as a brat was awesome :D)
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4-21-2008 @ 11:35PM
Ryan said...
I love how in your review you basically listed down everything that happened in the episode and said they were funny or great... and then proceeded to tell us the episode was "just ok" or "not great."
Uh. Okay.
Anyways, it was a fantastic episode. I laughed out loud for most of the episodes. They needed a strong B-plot and they got that with revertigo. Bravo to everyone in this episode. And of course I'm listening to "Sandcastles in the Sky" for like the 15th time now.
Oh and yes... BARNEY AND ROBIN! That took a great episode and made it LEGENDARY. I love it.
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4-22-2008 @ 8:06AM
Joel Keller said...
Ryan, just because I like individual moments in an episode means I like the episode over all. And, you have to remember, Bays and Thomas have set the bar quite high with some of their best efforts. All I can go by is my gut reaction to the episode. If I laugh a lot, I like it more (like last week's episode, which it seems like 80% of the commenters hated). If I laugh less, I like it less. Pretty simple gauge to me.
4-21-2008 @ 11:41PM
Steve said...
I agree barney and robin won't last, as much as robin is the second awesomest person its doomed from the start.
overall a really good episode, and is it just me or has Robin/Cobie Smulders gotten hotter this season, between how good she looked at the begining of the episode and how hot she was in "The Braket" on the sting operation i think she's getting hotter. In the words of 1998 college Marshall "wanna hit that"
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4-21-2008 @ 11:55PM
MERVE-THE-PERVE said...
Why would the Marsh's get a pool after summer was over? You would think they would plan ahead and get it 2 weeks earlier so they could enjoy it all summer long. And how awesome would it be if Robin pulls a Barney and kicks him out when they are done like Barney does all of his conquests? He will be all in love with her and she will be just trying to get rid of him. Maybe she has a toilet seat that doesn't come up at all.
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4-22-2008 @ 12:11AM
thebrad said...
Oh, I'm sooooo sorry, but you missed the boat on this one: the Best Barneyism of the Week was his sad little "Pac-Man dies" sound effect after Robin tells the gang she agreed to go out with Simon again.
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4-22-2008 @ 3:17PM
Alicia said...
Yea... I thought for sure that "wa wa" was going to be it. At least you gave it an honerable mention.
4-22-2008 @ 12:09AM
Zarquon said...
Great episode! I agree that it doesn't matter so much that the episode was ok (by himym standards) because the story advancement made it a stand out episode. The reason I think the episode was only ok is because the revertigo jokes didn't reveal a whole lot about the gang; they were funny, but any of them could have been applied to just about anyone else.
As for Robney? Barbin? Barbin's future, I agree with most commenters that they can't last. But I think Robin might be better equipped to let it go. Besides Shannon, Barney's never been anywhere near a relationship before.
Come to think of it, would being in a couple make Barney revert to his hippie self? I'd like to see that.
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4-22-2008 @ 12:06AM
Boo Radley said...
I LOVED this episode. Strangely, as much as Joel says he loves this show he only likes the episodes that aren't funny and thinks the good ones are bad.
Anyway..... Friggin' Finally eh? I've been waiting for Robin and Barney to hook up since the return from the strike. Anyone notice Barney didn't post a blog yet this week? I think they pulled an all nighter!
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4-22-2008 @ 1:11AM
Jake said...
I actually thought Ted's revertigo was funny, and was a little dissapointed we didn't get to see any revertigo from Barney and Marshall... hopefully in a future episode. I liked the episode. Not the funniest, but very solid from top to bottom. Lily's first revertigo wasn't as funny as the second when her friend explained the phenomenon then stopped mid sentence to revert. I also didn't think the video was all that funny, maybe because the first was a shock and we knew this one was coming. I still think the Bracket is the best of the post writer's strike episodes.
By the way, see Forgetting Sarah Marshall if you haven't yet. Best Rom-Com I have seen in a while. And it didn't feel long like other Judd Apatow produced movies. Very consistently funny throughout. Jason Segel needs to write more movies.
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4-22-2008 @ 2:44AM
wil said...
I thought the funniest part of Revertigo was how annoyed Ted was with Marshall for suggesting it, which leads me to believe (and hope and hope) that it's a set up for some larger joke to be paid off in a future episode.
Alan Thicke in the video was priceless, too.
4-22-2008 @ 12:29AM
ceashore said...
I am a strong believer that you should never give the fans what they want.... it is way more fun to play around it forever than ever give into the moment... Where can it go from here??? Any advancement will be unsatisfactory which is why we loved the idea of these two characters, tehy don't work... What is Barney without womanizing??? Who is Robin if she is lusting after Barney?
My hope?
They sleep together and agree to never takl about it agian....
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4-22-2008 @ 12:53AM
oski2005 said...
This has been a long time coming, but I still am not sure I like what's going on here. If Barney settles down with Robin, then the character is totally neutered. If it ends as just a one time thing, then there's a new level of added weirdness in the group that I can't expect would easily go away. You'd have Ted and Robin and Barney and Robin's weirdness around eachother, and then there would have to be wome weirdness between Ted and Barney as Barney hooking up with Robin is a total violation of guy code.
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4-22-2008 @ 1:06AM
Ryan said...
Oh come on, any show that has a song called "Murder Train" playing over photos of cute puppies definitely gets more than a "pass" in my book.
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4-22-2008 @ 1:32AM
paisley said...
I still thought it was a pretty funny episode, enjoyed the Canadian jokes being Canadian, but didn't really enjoy the fake Canadian accent, seriously not all Canadians speak like that (actually reminded me a bit of the East..far East Coast like Newfoundland, sorry any newfoundlanders out there).
Thought the video would have been funnier if it were Alanis morrisette in there instead of Tiffany, altho the 80's clothes and hair were hilarious! They could have done alot more on the Canadian angle, than just alan thicke.
And the puppy murder train thing was hilarious.
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4-22-2008 @ 2:10AM
jordancda said...
I love the idea of Robin and Barney together. Or at least the process of them getting together. They are the two characters on the show with the least purpose and least reason for being. Every Barney-centric episode is some stand-alone story (albeit GREAT stand-alone stories) but his character lacks a major direction; same goes for Robin as soon as she and Ted broke up. I think its going to be fascinating seeing Barney wrestle with the idea of finally settling down - let alone the comedic opportunities that will arise out of this. But those two, with their conflicting type-A personalities are going to be thoroughly enjoyable to see trying to make this work. I firmly believe that they'll be married in the end. But they can drag this relationship (or the process of GETTING to the relationship) out for a long time. It's great for Robin's character...she was getting obnoxious post-Ted. At any rate...I'm pumped for whatever's coming our way.
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4-22-2008 @ 2:34AM
Katie said...
I loved this episode. When Lily and Marshall were acting like Robin's parents, I began laughing so hard, I could barely hear what they were saying anymore. And then at the end when Marshall screamed, "Not now, Ted!"... hilarious.
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4-22-2008 @ 2:54AM
Wax said...
BEST EPISODE THIS SEASON!!! All the spots, promos and teasers (thank you tv squad) had me longing for this episode for weeks. the follow up song alone to Robin's one hit wonder "lets go to the mall" had me totally amp'd up.
but to close the show out with Barney and Robin FINALLY hooking up was the coup de gras for this HIMYM loyalist. the signs were there all season that SOMETHING was going to happen between them. and i must admit, even when Robin asked Barney to come back to her place, i was only half expecting them to go back and watch Robin's video, not make out. but a makeout seemed inevitable. she had just been dumped, she was drinking heavily, and was totally vulnerable to smooth-talking Barney's charms.
and then it happened ...
i actually found myself jumping up off the couch and yelling, "oh, no they just didn't!!! OMG, they are totally making out! HELLA YEAH!!!!"
i cant wait to see where they take this relationship story. how long will it last? will Robin change Barney from a womanizing man-whore into a one-woman man? will he love her, leave her and share the story at the bar with the rest of the gang? will Robin realize that she cant be with a giggilo like Barney? who knows? i do know that i will be along for the entire ride. great ep HIMYM. keep 'em coming ...
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