(S04E17) This episode proves that Bays and Thomas can do silly, sitcommy things in an episode and still take their loyal audience on an emotional ride with the characters they've grown to love.
Because of that, this was a fun one. We not only got a glimpse of what four of the gang might look like when they're seniors (Ted somehow looks 20 years younger than Marshall, even though they're the same age) but we got to find out about the joy of nightshirts and a morning broadcast that would make Al Roker jealous.
If you went by the promos, this episode had "stupid" written all over it. Dream sequences? Old age bridge? Barney in suitjamas? It looked like a trainwreck. But thankfully, unlike some of their network counterparts (I'm talking to you, NBC!), CBS likes to be cagey with their promos. This one turned out to be funny only because the confluence of things that may have seemed dopey when taken individually worked as a whole. And it brought us to a moment that fans had been wondering would happen: the Robin-Ted relationship relapse.
They came close, didn't they? After Ted asked Robin to be his "backup wife," they exchanged a little look, one that acknowledged that things have changed in two years to the point where they could be back together. Luckily, they didn't act on it... yet. Maybe that'll come during the goat episode. Anyway, if the two of them get back together, will that delight or frustrate the loyalists? I'd like it, only because Ted's been such a dud with everyone since then. But on the other hand, we know that'll get us further away from finding "the mother," because we know Robin's not the one.
It seems fitting that Lily would sabotage Ted's relationships, and do it equally with people she loves (Robin) as well as those she hates (Karen). The fact that Bays and Thomas retroactively had Ted and Robin's breakup words first come out of Lily's mouth was a good way to show how Lily torpedoed them. And how can you tell the flashback scenes weren't outtakes from two years ago? The magazine Lilly is constantly reading. No need for a magazine if there's no baby bump, right?
More fun stuff:
- Barney's nightshirt jokes to Marshall are my Best Barneyism of the week, if only because he thought they were hilarious no matter how lame they really were. My favorite? "Something about Scrooge!"
- Speaking of nightshirts (they do look comfy, don't they?), note the question Barn asks as Marshall tells him that wonderful bedtime story about marriage: he called himself someone "who didn't grow up to be the man he wants to be." Interesting that Barn's starting to have pangs of regret about his trampy ways just as Robin is having an inkling of a thought about getting back with Ted...
- You folks think the gag of Robin having the most exciting work day ever in the background while none of the gang paid attention got old? It did to me... a little bit. Maybe having her deliver a baby was going one step too far. But it led to a good line when Lil asked Robin what's on her jacket: "Soot, breadcrumbs... placenta."
- The front porch test is a good one, isn't it? It's made even funnier by the fact that to the gang, Bridge is some sort of amalgamation of gin, poker, and hearts.
- The less said about Laura Prepon's character the better. Suffice to say, Karen did less than nothing for me.
- I'm guessing the exchange between Ted and Lil after Ted found out about Lil's sabotage was a tribute to A Few Good Men. Who knew that Alyson Hannigan could channel Jack Nicholson so well?
- For someone who was sitting most of the time, Alyson Hannigan sure got a lot of action this time around. Thankfully she also had bulky robes, College Lily dressed baggy, and they only needed her voice for the sci-fi sabotage. And, of course, we saw a hint of Lil's dirty side. She might know more about porn than Barney...
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
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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
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Actor Jason Segel attends CBS Comedies
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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)
3-17-2009 @ 5:50AM
Christopher said...
Not to mention the fruit bowl and coffee maker hiding her bump, and what about Robin's bump?
Reply
3-17-2009 @ 7:24AM
Ryan said...
I agree that this episode was exceptionally funny. The only problem was that it made me like Ted even less, which I wouldn't have thought was possible.
He enters the living room and mutes the TV, once again making everything all about him. He could have pulled Marshall aside for a private conversation and let the others watch Robin's show, which was the only reason they had stayed up until 3:30 a.m., or simply waited until after it was over.
And my understanding of friendship must be skewed, because for Ted, sleeping with his currently unattached ex-girlfriend is betrayal enough to completely cut a friend out of his life (and force their mutual friends to choose sides), but scuttling six of his relationships over the past twelve years is not. For me, it would be the other way around.
Reply
3-17-2009 @ 11:04AM
litehousebeacon said...
Apparently you don't understand the bro code. While Barney may take most of it to extremes that most men do not, sleeping with your best friend's ex is against the rules, period. The only things worse are sleeping with their current girlfriend, or wife. Each gets worse, respectively.
3-18-2009 @ 7:26AM
Ryan said...
I saw how the "bro code" applied in that storyline, but it's not a set of values I subscribe to. It seems like adolescent thinking to me, and several of my friends have dated/married ex's of other friends without any drama. Certainly it's different for current SO's/spouses, but that doesn't require a bro code to judge.
In Ted's case it seems like situational ethics, as it's well established that Robin is an excellent bro/wingman. And was raised as a boy.
In any case, I take it you disagreed with my opinion that Lily's betrayal was worse than Barney's?
3-17-2009 @ 7:58AM
Brent Todd said...
Something important that you failed to mention was that Lilly didn't try to break up two of his previous relationships: Stella and Victoria. We already know Stella is definitely out as the mother, but Victoria still has an open door if they want to go back down that route.
Reply
3-18-2009 @ 12:04AM
Leah said...
I'd love to see ashley williams again. I don't understand why she's not seen more.
3-17-2009 @ 10:19AM
kevin said...
what bout those great "the big lebowski" scenes. awesome reference
Reply
3-17-2009 @ 10:26AM
Tim said...
I love that they covered nightshirts- because I agree, they are totally comfortable!
I just wish they were sold more in the stores!
Reply
3-19-2009 @ 11:23AM
Joe in LA said...
Try L.L. Bean!
3-17-2009 @ 10:46AM
George said...
I felt like there was a great big TiVo-shaped hole in the whole watching-Robin's-show plot. What does it say about Ted, Marshall, Lily and Barney as friends that they've *never* made the effort to TiVo Robin's show? The throwaway line intended to cover that base only made matters worse. And are you seriously telling me that Barney, who's secretly in love with Robin, hasn't been recording every single episode?
Shaky logic annoys me, I guess.
Reply
3-17-2009 @ 11:27AM
Ryan said...
Nothing about last night's episode effectively ruled out Barney secretly recording/watching Robin's show. Yes, he "said" he didn't, but that means nothing coming from Barney.
In any case I LOVED this episode. I could not stop laughing and most of it was because of Robin's show in the background. I did NOT think it got old and was so sad it was over. It would be great if CBS had put that morning episode online with the sound on.
Also yeah, Alyson Hannigan did great tonight even though she mostly was sitting. Just the whole cast was wonderful.
3-17-2009 @ 1:53PM
Dan said...
Yeah, the way Barney kept saying "I've never seen it" actually made me think that he watches it religiously but doesn't want to admit to it.
My favorite part of the whole episode was when Barney slept in his nightgown and the hot chick came to his door on the one night he wasn't wearing a suit to bed. Hilarious!
3-18-2009 @ 12:07AM
Leah said...
I got the answer for you. STOP sweating the details and just ENJOY THE SHOW!!
3-17-2009 @ 11:47AM
Willmore2000 said...
As much as I didn't like some of the previous few episodes, this one was brilliant. The contrast between the conversation going on in the apartment and Robin on her show was pure comedy gold. When they put it on mute, and she starter her show with a "tribute" to them, and talking about how much they meant to her, I thought that was a great gag, and that was that. But it went on and on, and didn't stop being funny. Perfect.
Reply
3-17-2009 @ 11:54AM
Bape Nerd said...
Haha, very funny, this show is great!!
Bape Nerd | Official A Bathing Ape Nerd
Reply
3-17-2009 @ 12:44PM
C. Hernandez said...
I liked it a lot. But the little Barney/Robin shipper in me would have liked it more if we found out that Barney had one eye on the TV the whole time and could say exactly what happened when Robin asked.
But it still worked out okay.
Reply
3-17-2009 @ 12:48PM
SpaceVenus said...
Hilarious episode!
However, Lily seemed evil and selfish in this one - no one should do this to a friend, even under the best of intentions. All she cares about is her front porch?
Also, please don't let Victoria be the mother. She annoyed the hell out of me!
Reply
3-17-2009 @ 5:51PM
defomari said...
The episode was funny, but i agree that Ted gets annoying especially when it takes center stage. I believe the real issue of the episode was the night shirt.
Does anyone know what the song was when Marshall was flying?
Reply
3-17-2009 @ 9:56PM
tom said...
I need to know the name of the song thats playing when marshall's flying through the sky....ive been looking everywhere i cant find the name ....
3-18-2009 @ 1:20AM
Hoffie said...
Bob Dylan's "The Man In Me" -- the scene was taken from the most perfect movie ever shot: "The Big Lebowski."