(S04E10) This was one of those episodes that wasn't overly funny, but it went a long way in exploring the various personalities of the entire Scooby gang. We learned that Ted needed to fight to help him not be the pathetic guy who was left at the altar. We found out that Barney will still resort to deceit to land Robin, but there's at least love underneath that deceit. We also found out that Robin gets hot for guys with shiners, Marshall and his brothers really wailed away at each other, and that Lily is the laziest, horniest teacher in New York. Well, we kinda knew that about Lily anyway, but I had to find something for all of the gang.
Former MadTVer Will Sasso was our guest du jour this week, and let's just say that he didn't have to stretch that much as Doug the bartender. Big guy. Nuts. Likes to hit people while blacked out. Paranoid about what people think of his hair. Like I said, not a stretch. The most interesting part was when he was inserted in scenes at MacLaren's that have already happened. At first I thought they digitally inserted Sasso in those scenes, but now I think they just reshot the scenes with Sasso in them.
Lots of flashbacks and flash-forwards in this episode -- another shot of the goat! -- but the only ones that really revealed anything were the ones involving Marshall. Now the truth about how Marshall roughhoused with his brothers is probably somewhere in between the tickle fights and cocoa that Ted and Barney imagined and the Fight Club-esque scene Old Ted imagined it was (what movie was that scene parodying, by the way?), but seeing both scenes was worth it.
Robin's love of guys who fight was super-sexy... just that look on Cobie's face as she said "If you're missin' your teeth, I'm missin' my pants!" was priceless, as was her awkward date proposal to Barney right before Marshall ratted Barn and Ted out for their self-abuse. I bet Marshall ends up using his lawyerly knowledge to screw with his friends a lot as the years go on. But no matter how lawyerly or manly he may seem, he can't keep two ruffians in Lily's class from calling him a wuss. Ah, the plight of the stealth brute...
More fun stuff:
- The Best Barneyism was his use of titles of '70s and '80s black sitcoms as a conversation substitute when he's locked in on a conquest. When Doug mentions that they're going to go to the alley to fight the occupants of their usual booth, Barney responds by saying "What's Happening Now?" Figures he doesn't disengage even when violence is afoot.
- When we flash back to Marshall and Ted watching a karate movie in college, Marshall is eating a huge sandwich. Anyone who's seen the show knows what sandwiches represent... what the hell was Marshall smoking that was that big?
- Mahatma Panda and Martin Luther Koala. Boy, that Marshall is creative.
- Alyson Hannigan must be starting to show a bit, because she wore a number of baggy blouses and sat behind a lot of tables this week. How long before we see that with Cobie?
- Apparently, what Marshall's been reading on the message boards does come true, as he uses a green light saber to cut the Thanksgiving turkey "3-5 years from now." Boy, I can't wait until that day myself...
How I Met Your Mother' Photos
Actor Neil Patrick Harris arrives in an Audi to the Entertainment Tonight Emmy Party at the Disney Concert Hall on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles.
Kevin Parry/WireImage.com
Presenters Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris on stage at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the NOKIA Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com
Presenters Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris on stage at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at the NOKIA Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
Mathew Imaging/WireImage.com
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Presenters Kristin Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris speak onstage during the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kristin Chenoweth;Neil Patrick Harris
Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Actor Neil Patrick Harris (R) and David Burtka arrive at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Burtka;Neil Patrick Harris
Getty Images
Actor Jason Segel attends CBS Comedies
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com
Actress Cobie Smulders attends CBS Comedies
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com
Actress Cobie Smulders attends CBS Comedies
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com
Actor Neil Patrick Harris attends CBS Comedies
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com
Actress Alyson Hannigan (R) and her husband, actor Alexis Denisof attend CBS Comedies
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-09-2008 @ 1:48AM
Nacho said...
My favorite part of the episode was definitely hearing "Murder Train" during the fight scene with Marshall and his brothers. Loved that callback joke.
Reply
12-09-2008 @ 2:59AM
Joe said...
Wow, I posted almost the exact same thing (see below) at almost the exact same time, but I didn't confirm the post via e-mail.
12-09-2008 @ 2:56AM
Joe said...
My favourite part was when they played 'Murder Train' by the Fourskins. Fantastic continuity in this episode, provided lightsabers exist in 3-5 years.
Reply
12-09-2008 @ 3:52AM
Brian said...
I actually really liked it. Yes, a lot of it was over the top and "sitcomy," but it was a really clever idea that had the added bonus of addressing the issue of the guys' lack of athleticism/masculinity. Really cool idea, and a great way to build character without going too far into the plot.
Unfortunately, and I hate being the guy that always does this, there was a BRUTAL continuity error this week. In the Liberty Bell episode, Marshall awkwardly confronts a man he thinks is hitting on Lily, only to show enormous relief when he finds out that the guy was gay. He utters, and I'm almost quoting, "I've never been in a fight before." He then gets beaten up by the gay guy's boyfriend.
Why, then, was he revealed as some tough guy in this episode who was essentially in a fight club with his brothers? How was he able to take the bartender?
Reply
12-09-2008 @ 7:01PM
Akbar Fazil said...
While it probably is just a bad continuity error, you could easily theorize that while many would call it a "fight" what Marshall and his brothers did it was really just some seriously physical rough housing. It looked like some hardcore brawling there with no rhyme or reason other than it being the stereotypical "what brothers do" with a hint of Fight Club on it.
While Marshall had been in many of these altercations (lets not forget the brutality of BaskIceketBall) he had never actually been in a real "i must defend myself/my friend/my wife/etc" fight before.
12-09-2008 @ 4:06AM
Chris Shifty said...
Maybe he didn't want to be seen as beating up a gay guy? I haven't seen that episode...
Loved this one.
Reply
12-09-2008 @ 7:03PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Marshall had no idea of the sexuality of the guy in question. He walked into the bar and saw the guy cleaning off Lily's backside from a spill which he confused as her being "manhandled."
And you haven't seen that episode? How is that possible?
12-09-2008 @ 11:29PM
Chris Shifty said...
Watched the first few parts of season one, and I would watch Prison Break and 24 on Mondays. Watched some over the summer with friends and now started recording them this season.
12-09-2008 @ 7:15AM
Kate said...
Brian, I thought of the same thing concerning Marshall and the Liberty Bell episode although it was hilarious seeing him and his brothers brawling to Murder Train. During the Thanksgiving scene at the end with the lightsaber, Lily looked extremely pregnant to me and I was wondering if that was Alyson pregnant or if Lily was supposed to be pregnant and they were not hiding it anymore.
Reply
12-09-2008 @ 7:26AM
Chris said...
Is anyone else glad that Jason Segel finally cut his hair? It was starting to mess with the continuity (mostly those clever flashbacks).
I did find it funny how gratuitous they were with inserting Will Sasso in the flashbacks, grinning like an idiot and waving.
Robin's penchant for hockey guys and violence was hilarious. Barney's efforts to woo her, even more so.
Is it me or has it been a while since we've had an "instant classic" episode? As the season goes on, I think I'd like to see Ted drive the ongoing story more. That's not to say I want our favorite characters relegated to the background, as they are important to the show, but I think I'd like to see them go back to basics a bit. Sappy Ted A story coupled with a wacky B story. Also, more Barney theories please!
Reply
12-10-2008 @ 1:16AM
Jen said...
YES - glad the moppy hair is gone!
12-09-2008 @ 8:05AM
Allison Solow said...
Have to disagree; I was really disappointed in this episode. Just not that funny. The whole fight concept was lame, especially when you recall that the Erickson family are big, hockey playing Minnesotans and most assuredly would know how to rough house.
I don't know -- I expect better from HIMYM. It feels like they've been coasting for a few episodes. Is Robin ever getting a job? What is she doing for money? Maybe she's doing underground Robin Sparkles' videos. That would be funny!
Reply
12-09-2008 @ 8:13AM
Dave said...
The bartender's name is Dave, not Ralph.
Reply
12-09-2008 @ 8:28AM
Joel Keller said...
Actually, the bartender's name is Doug. I even had it as Doug in my notes. But when I went to type, "Ralph" came out. Oh, well. I fixed the text of the post.
12-09-2008 @ 10:42AM
Don-Don said...
What happened to Carl?
Reply
12-09-2008 @ 1:53PM
Dorv said...
Carl was in there, I think. Wasn't he at the bar when the guys wanted to start the fight until they realized Doug wasn't there?
12-09-2008 @ 7:05PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Actually, Carl hasnt been on the show since last year IIRC.
12-09-2008 @ 1:48PM
joe said...
did anyone else notice the stroller in the thanksgiving scene?
Reply
12-09-2008 @ 7:06PM
Akbar Fazil said...
Did anyone else notice that there were other family members and kids there too? It could just have easily been a different childs stroller as much as it could have been Marshall and Lily's.
12-09-2008 @ 2:30PM
borgetas said...
Loved the Thanksgiving part in the end...did you noticed that the mayo salad that Marshall's Family does was on the Table? And that there was also a stroller? (Maybe it is not from Lily, but you never know...)
This episode was kinda lame, it had its funny parts, but the fighting theme was boring.
Jason finally cut his hair! I hated that long hair he had and it was messing with the flashbacks, so it's much better this way.
Hope they make a really good episode soon, kinda tired of these lame ones...
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