(S04E12) When I saw the promos for this episode, my heart sank. I really thought that this was going to be the standard sitcom "exes have a relapse and have to deal with it" trope that we've seen since at least Cheers. But I have to give Bays and Thomas credit; they put enough of a twist on the old game to make it entertaining. And they added a B-story that was light, but funny and relatable. More on that in a sec.Back to the A-story. For the twist, we can thank Barney. And not just because he broke all those TVs.
Barney's pain at seeing Ted and Robin settle their roommate disputes with sex was that twist, and it was excellently played by Neil Patrick Harris. For the first time since the beginning of the season, we're seeing a vulnerable Barney that's barely hiding behind the Awesome exterior he puts up for himself. What was interesting was that we had a lot of the standard elements of such a story: the friend warning that exes getting back together will only result in someone getting hurt, the "ground rules" a la Seinfeld, the slip-up where one of them lets things get too emotional. But at the end of the episode, Ted and Robin were OK, and Barney was the one left with the sucking emotional chest wound, especially after Robin told him that friends shouldn't get involved with each other. If anyone saw that coming at the beginning of the episode, they'd be wrong.
The story led to some nice Barney moments. His Best Barneyism of the week is his careful selection of TVs at the electronic store, considering colors and black levels, just so he can smash them in the alley of MacLaren's. You know that Barney can't help but flex his alpha-male muscles just so he can find the perfect TV to take the brunt of his frustrations. First runner up is feelings hour in Lily's class. Second runner up is the "Gaza Strippers / Apart Thighed/Tear Down Your Pants" theory, especially because he came up with it after sex with Madeline Albright.
Boy, could I relate to Marshall's "reading a magazine" problem. At my old job, I used to print out pages from web sites to read in my "other office," just so it looked like I was walking around with important papers instead of the latest Slate think piece on Laguna Beach. Speaking of awful reality shows ... now we know how Heidi and Spencer of The Hills were used on the show; they mocked Marshall from the cover of the magazine he brought to the bathroom, as did Kendra Wilkinson of The Girls Next Door (had to look that one up) and Kim Kardashian, who -- OMG! -- "might cut bangs!" "You're right, woman who I don't know but my wife assures me is famous," (someone give me the exact quote, please!) was my favorite line of the night.
More fun stuff:
- "That's aws... ful." - Barney to Robin after she said Ted broke things off.
- Ted broke it off because he knows about Barney. How could Ted not figure it out after Barney tried to settle every one of the roomies' disputes?
- Do they spell "weird" differently in Canada?
- Lily: "My cuteness interferes with my message." Boy, does it ever.
- "That didn't last long," for both Marshall's 8th floor bathroom and Ted/Robin's benefits break.
- Barney: "Read a magazine means masturbating, right?"
- Boy, Barney's mis-read "I love you" was a kick in the teeth, for him and us.
- Ted/Robin saluting "Private Thing." Nice callback to last year.
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 3)
1-12-2009 @ 11:47PM
Wii60 said...
This episode was ruined by the B story. "Reading a Magazine" was bad the first 5 times they said it. Got so old so fast.
Everything else showed why HIMYM is a great sitcom.
Reply
1-14-2009 @ 1:43PM
Michael said...
No way... "reading a magazine" was awesome. Barney nailed it when he questioned whether or not it meant masturbating. Kind of kept it fresh for me the whole rest of the show!
Oh, and I laughed my ass off at the "Private Thing" salute. I love it when they pull stuff in from other eps and this was no exception.
1-13-2009 @ 12:21AM
Cody said...
Marshall, I solved your problem years ago. I go the newspaper route, but magazines will still work. I stick a newspaper down my shirt. It even adds an extra layer of excitement because anyone I see on my way to the bathroom has no idea I'm about to "read a magazine". I think this might even be catching on at my office, because I never see anyone carrying newspapers or magazines into the bathroom. Use your waistband. It's there for a reason.
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 12:27AM
Malren said...
Wait, in the era of PDAs and cell phones people still carry magazines to the bathroom?
If I didn't have Peggle, I'd never 'read a magazine' again. I think Popcap Games exists as 50% work time waster and 50% 'read a magazine' time filler.
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 1:14PM
Jennifer said...
Heh, yeah, I can sneak my PDA in (except with outfits with no pockets) and who's gonna know?
1-13-2009 @ 12:39AM
Willmore2000 said...
My least favorite episode of the entire series. The jokes were flat, the storyline convoluted and messy, the editing disjointed.
Awful.
I'm a fan of the show, but that was painful to watch.
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 10:03AM
GL said...
I'm with you on this one.
1-13-2009 @ 11:09AM
Steve said...
Me too.
I DVR'd it and tried to three times to get through it. I couldn't do it.
1-13-2009 @ 1:09AM
hannah said...
I laughed so hard throughout this episode. It was by far one of my favorites. Barney breaking all of those tv's was priceless.
I love Marshall's quote, too. Here it is: "You're right, super hot lady who my wife keeps telling me why you're famous, but I keep forgetting."
I don't know why she is famous is either.
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 1:13PM
Jennifer said...
"Famous" seems to have a whole new definition with those people.
1-13-2009 @ 1:45AM
Ryan said...
This episode shows why NPH deserves an Emmy, Golden Globes, heck even an Oscar even if a TV show is not eligible for it.
His reaction to Ted and Robin having sex was perfection and something I've been waiting for ever since he kissed Robin all those episodes ago. And yes, his misread "I love you" and Robin's response made ME want to slam my TV on the floor. Just awesome all around.
Just a wonderful wonderful episode with a funny B-story and a classic HIMYM A-story. Great start for the new year!
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 1:51AM
Cyantre said...
Wonderful episode, so refreshing to see a great episode as soon as the shows come back from the break.
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 6:32AM
superrrguy said...
Did Ted just tell his kids how he banged their "aunt" Robin?
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 9:25PM
Gayathri said...
I know right. But we'll just have to take it that he told them a 'version' of what really happened...like 'eating a sandwich'
1-13-2009 @ 6:49AM
dalex said...
Didn't the fact that Ted was telling his kids a story, about how he and their Aunt Robin were once "sex buddies", strike anyone as being a tad inappropriate? And on top of that, why did Lily let Barney tell her kindergartners about how he "gave [his] best friend license to have sex with the girl of [his] dreams". Other than that though, some great laughs in this episode; Barney's TV breaking being the most notable (of course).
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 7:57AM
Target Lockon Stratos said...
Marshall is a moron, he didn't realize that man of Barney's stature has a private bathroom? Even Jack Donaghy has one!
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 7:59AM
Awesome said...
"Do they spell "weird" differently in Canada?"
Don't be a Ted. Nobody likes a Ted.
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 8:02AM
alaina said...
Does anyone know where I can watch this online? I wasn't home last night to watch it live and my DVR failed me...thanks!!
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 9:41AM
denise said...
http://www.megavideo.com/?v=7VCU8I4C
=)
1-13-2009 @ 12:40PM
Dorv said...
Or www.cbs.com which is where I just watched it.