Season 3 Episode 9: Slapsgiving Discussion
“See what I got going on here? They’re turkeys, but they’re also hands. Because, later, we’re going to eat turkey, and then I’m going to slap you in your face.”
Bear with me folks, this is going to be a long one. Tonight’s episode not only reaffirmed why I love the show but told a touching story of the enduring power of friendship. It also continued the tension between Ted and Robin that started in Dowisetrepla. It was also the best episode of not just this season but quite possibly the entire series. It was so good because, like all the best episodes of this series, it not only was hilarious and full of memorable quotes, but it had a ton of dramatic characterization. I’m too effusive to hold back so don’t read on if you haven’t seen the episode, spoilers follow.
The A plot this week proved Robin and Ted still have amazing chemistry. (Was it the A plot? They were both awesome.) Even when they aren’t getting along. This episode also rewarded long time viewers by setting up the scene in Robin’s apartment with the exact same pacing as when Ted came over to make juice in “Nothing Good Happens After 2am”. The awkward food preparation, the tangible sexual tension, the eventual giving in to carnal desires, and the inevitable negative outcome. Additionally, I think the table Barney crashed through way have been the same rickety table that we first saw in “The Duel”.
Last week I worried about Robin dating a man in his forties and wondered why he had a ‘young Bob’ alter ego in the episode. It was handled hilariously as Ted sees only the flaws in the men Robin dates. Ted’s ribbing on him was also classic. Instead of “your momma’s so fat…” we got “the only reason I’m jealous of Bob is because…”
- “We can only talk about the first Thanksgiving but he was actually there.”
- “I heard Noah gave him shotgun on the ark.”
- “I’m just an architect, but he discovered fire. How am I supposed to compete with that?”
It felt like a lot happened in this episode. There seemed to be a lot of distinct acts across the whole 3o minutes. Much more than some other episodes we’ve seen this year. This episode also referenced much more character history.
Ted and Robin are becoming very similar:
- Robin is now full of “cool pie facts” where last year Ted was full of “Empire State Building Fun Facts”
- “General Knowledge”, “Corporal Punishment”, “Colonel Stuck-in-my-teeth”, “Major Pay-raise”, “Major Cleanup”, “General Idea”.
- This time last season, the plot centered around how private a person Robin was. Tonight, Robin ran to tell Lily just as fast as Ted ran to tell Marshall and Barney that they’d slept together.
- They were both seated on the couch with lighters.
What Was Good
- Lily bringing the frozen turkey to the bar
- Marshall’s use of “Slap” i.e. “Slapsgiving”, “Slapsgiving Day Parade”, “The Slapatizers”, “The time-slap continuum.”
- “Real Thanksgiving” vs. American Thanksgiving
- Barney dressed as Borat for Halloween
- Our continual education about Canada
- Marshall sleep eating
- Barney’s quick-thinking use of Ted’s phone call at the bar.
- More of Robin’s cute PJs. It just proves that under her sarcastic Canadian exterior she’s a softy.
- Robin is really funny now. They may still make fun of her Canada jokes but she’s come a long way. I loved her dry responses to Lily: “You are correct sir”, “That is a truth fact”, “Ka-Blammo”
- More of the intimate details Robin knows about Ted’s childhood. “You’re like the crappy kid in little league that knows he’s not gonna make contact so he just ‘opps, I got hit by the pitch, better take my base’.”, “That was you in little league wasn’t it?”, “My on-base-percentage was off the charts.”
- We got to see Barney squirm. “My suits are wearing me. You’re allowed to slap my face sir but you are not allowed to slap my mind. Good day!”
- Marshall’s toast shows that he’s really a caring husband.
- The first song that really stood out to me this season was tonight during their dinner. I think it was show-favorite The 88 but I’m not sure. Maybe it is time to update the music page!
- Bob was waiving his cell phone during Marshall’s song as opposed to Ted and Robin using lighters. That goes along with how “young” Bob acts. It’s little details like this that make the show so good.
- Speaking of which, holy crap, Marshall’s song. Wow, that beat Robin Sparkles. I’m going to make an mp3 of that and post it here. I want that to be my ringtone. I was on the floor when Barney started “singing” backup. The rest of the cast was laughing too, something else this show does that I love.
What Was Bad
- Nothing that I can think of.
Favorite Moments
“I can totally see she has a pierce…Brosnan. Pierce Brosnan is my favorite of all the bonds.”
“The Canadian Thanksgiving celebrates Martin Frobisher’s valiant, yet ultimately unsuccessful attempt to find the Northwest Passage”
“You showed your hand.”, “And Thursday, at 3:01pm, your face is going to show your hand.”
“Did you know some mushrooms are carnivorous…probably..not.”
“What the hell kind of Thanksgiving is this anyway?”, “Most Thanksgivings.”
“Friendship is an involuntary reflex, it just happens, you can’t help it.”
Barney’s Vocab Word of the Week
Skank-tron – Not used by Barney, but rather by Ted to describe Barney’s girlfriends.
Plus we got a new “five” — the “relapse five”. That’s where we high five, then it’s awkward for a little bit, then it’s awkward again.
Was it just me or did Robin look really pretty in this episode? Like, prettier than usual.
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Andy | November 20, 2007 @ 12:32 am
Robin always looks hot, but you’re on the money…she was absurdly cute in this episode.
I’m completely with you. This one was easily my favorite of the season and the best since the original Slap Bet. This show is back in its stride again.
The Mix | November 20, 2007 @ 4:01 am
This episode will remain in a tie with Slutty Pumpkin and Stuff as my favorite HIMYM episodes ever.
I will have plenty more to say latron, but this episode was amazing, and I nearly fell out of my bed watching the song at the end, and the video that followed.
Jason
The Mix | November 20, 2007 @ 4:09 am
ohhh and as a sort of P.S…..my favorite moment included one of the lines that Robin used to get away from Ted whilst they were alone.
“I ‘hear’ something burning”….think about that for a short while, then get back to me.
Jason
Casey | November 20, 2007 @ 8:42 am
Not to nitpick here, but your slap 1 is not the first of the “five.” That is the first slap of the episode, when Marshall thought he won. The first slap of the “5 until eternity” happened in Ted and Marshall’s apartment after they saw the Robin Sparkles video.
JD | November 20, 2007 @ 9:13 am
Jason, I loved that line too. It goes under the “Robin is getting funnier” category.
Casey. You’re talking about this slap. I put up the other one since it was referenced as “slap #1″ in the episode.
aaron | November 20, 2007 @ 10:43 am
Excellent recap! And thanks for the link love. ..funny thing is I have been saluting all day like the cast did… People think I am crazier than usual.
Ike | November 20, 2007 @ 11:06 am
Classic HIMYM. Funny episode with an extra helping of heart. The ‘Bob being old’ jokes never got, well old. Seeing the 80 year old guy talk like he was 15 was hilarious. Robin was cuter than normal, which is saying a lot. I’ll need a few more viewings before I can properly decide where it ranks all time, but it will easily make the top 10 and probably the top 5.
Only bad thing: the misrepresentation of slap #1.
Elizabeth | November 20, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Barney definitely had the B plot this week – he got stung! What up!
steve | November 20, 2007 @ 12:27 pm
The two obvious continuity errors (slap #1 and Marshall saying “we’re in the last hour of the countdown” when it clearly says 2 hours on the count) were pretty bad for us hardcore fans, and the misuse of “Young Bob” throughout (it would have been much better to switch back and forth between the two), and Barney singing harmony was a little lame.
Aside from that, it’s a good one, but I think it was a little too much “heart” for my tastes (I like an episode that’s a laugh riot). All of the “slapsgiving” shots they used in the promotional commercial were classic, and it was great that they basically promoted a B plot, and listed a C plot in the synopsis, where the A plot was clearly Robin and Ted’s relationship.
Um, not too much else to say – I’m not swooning over this episode like you guys are (and I’m disappointed that Big Bang went into reruns), but one more thing:
JD!
It’s 22 minutes, not 30!
JD | November 20, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
I don’t get too hung up on continuity errors. The wrong slap didn’t bug me too much, maybe because I’d just watched Slap Bet before Slapsgiving (for an unbiased Season vs. Season discussion). It would’ve been hard to cut into the first of the five slaps since it followed up the penultimate moment in the episode—Robin realizing it felt good to share. The slap followed the ‘awwww’ moment and might have seemed awkward if cut into directly. The slap in the bar was meant to be cut directly to, as it was in the original Slap Bet episode. Such are the woes of editing.
As I’ve said before, the thing that sets this show apart the most from other sitcoms (save maybe The Office) is how much time they spend on characterization and dramatic development. On the nights where they balance that with hilarity, even better.
Who’d have thought a few slaps across the face would bring a show so much success?
Elizabeth | November 20, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
This episode was so good, it felt like a full 30 minutes!
Marcus P | November 20, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
Check out the “video clip” they (CBS/HIMYM) made of “You Just Got Slapped” here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzpYeHTiEGY
The Mix | November 20, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
Alright….extended thoughts.
“The two obvious continuity errors (slap #1 and Marshall saying “we’re in the last hour of the countdown” when it clearly says 2 hours on the count) were pretty bad for us hardcore fans, and the misuse of “Young Bob” throughout (it would have been much better to switch back and forth between the two), and Barney singing harmony was a little lame.”
Steve, I think if we started getting caught up in the minutia of the different continuity errors we would never like any show, well, ever. I actually thought the fact that it said 2 hours and 45 minutes left on the countdown was hilarious. The people in editing would’ve changed it if they really wanted it to say something different. As far as young Bob goes, the story is being told through Ted’s eyes and from his brain, even if he’s not present. Switching to a young Bob would actually make LESS sense in the way of cohesion. At the beginning of that plot line Ted says “Now in reality, Bob PROBABLY looked like this……..But in my mind he looked like this….” , so switching back to something he probably looked like makes less sense, at least in my mind, than staying with the old Bob for the duration.
I very much liked the heart of this episode. As much as I do love the persistent hilarity of this episode, I love it’s heart more. And it’s real heart, not a disingenuous version of love or strife that so often gets thrown into sitcoms as a mere aside to the normal antics that surround the show. With this show it’s meant to augment the characters and their interconnectivity. I liked that Ted and Robin did what they did. It makes them fallible. I think it’s ok to not like the heart in a comedy if that’s what you’re there, however.
Barney singing back-up was wonderfully priceless.
On top of all of that, I think you’re completely correct, it closely followed the lines of Nothing Good Happens After 2am. Which I thought was great.
This episode hit pretty hard, namely because I along with most people have had a relationship much like Robin and Ted’s. One that we wanted to work out so badly, ended well, but the remnants stuck around for longer than they probably should have….and bad things happen. In fact, I’m currently dealing with one such situation. Yay!
eduardo | November 20, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
Loved it
I was a bit afraid that the plot would rely too much on the slap; it was a great surprise to get a great Ted and Robin episode.
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one to question their relationship after they broke up; it seemed a bit weird that it all went too well. This episode addressed the matter in a really honest way, there isn’t much to be said actually, it’s just awesome. Congrats to the writers and actors for this, they made it really intense but sweet.
I like that you pointed out how similar Ted and Robin are, I used to see their differences, based purely on the fact that Ted wants a marriage and family, and that Robin doesn’t; but this shows why they became friends, and why they chose to remain friends by the end of the episode. I can see Ted and Robin with the same intimacy that Barney has with his brother, a partners for crime kind of thing. That would be really different from Ted’s relationship with Lily, which seems more like a mother and son thing (especially after this episode; angry Lily kicks ass!).
Marshall was very awesome and very Marshall, which is always great.
I also like that Lily and Marshall got different plots this week, we got to see more of their characters, it reminds us that they can be awesome by themselves as well.
A great episode and a great review, thanks JD
I’ll re-watch “Robin Sparkles” now. Get ready for season vs. season, it’s going to be a tough one.
JD | November 20, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
“And if you two have sex again neither of you are having dessert” – I love angry Lily. Good call Eduardo.
Omnijonn | November 20, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
Why are they having Thanksgiving dinner at Ted’s as opposed to M&L’s new place? And, the night before, if they’re preparing at Ted’s place as it appears, why does Ted not know about it until after he arrives at Robin’s in Brooklyn 2 hours after they were supposed to be there? It does not take 2 hours to get from lower manhattan to brooklyn at that hour…
The Mix | November 21, 2007 @ 12:11 am
“And, the night before, if they’re preparing at Ted’s place as it appears, why does Ted not know about it until after he arrives at Robin’s in Brooklyn 2 hours after they were supposed to be there? It does not take 2 hours to get from lower manhattan to brooklyn at that hour…”
………
“I think if we started getting caught up in the minutia of the different continuity errors we would never like any show, well, ever.”
My opinion is that talking about travel time is getting a bit ridiculous….just a thought.
JD | November 21, 2007 @ 12:35 am
“Why are they having Thanksgiving dinner at Ted’s as opposed to M&L’s new place?”
Honestly, they could be closing on the place for another six months or so. Buying a home isn’t instantaneous. There was another family still living there.
“And, the night before, if they’re preparing at Ted’s place as it appears, why does Ted not know about it until after he arrives at Robin’s in Brooklyn 2 hours after they were supposed to be there? It does not take 2 hours to get from lower manhattan to brooklyn at that hour…”
It could take 45 minutes to an hour, especially on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, a huge travel day. Also, Ted lives on the upper west side, not lower Manhattan. Third, the whole point was that no one was helping Lily–Ted was probably at the bar or still at work. Plus he showed up with groceries, that’s another 30-40 minutes.
The more granular we get the less enjoyable it is. This show wins the continuity award for some of the tricks they’ve pulled on us over the years. Number one being that in ‘Showdown’ where Lily was staying with Robin before the marriage, the blue french horn was already missing from Robin’s shelf–Ted and her had broken up at this point but not told anyone–but it wasn’t mentioned explicitly and no one noticed until the reveal in the finale. That buys Bays and Thomas some get-out-of-editing-free cards.
NV | November 21, 2007 @ 9:22 am
I thought the episode was decent, but didn’t think it was one of the best this season (that goes to Spoiler Alert for me) forget the entire series (too many gem episodes for me to pick favourites, but Slutty Pumpkin and Something Blue would be right up there).
Back to this episode. There were some good parts, like the Marshall-Barney slap ‘issue’ (Barney appearing nonchalant at first, then slowly reaching the point where he begs not to get slapped before Lily stepped in was classic), and the awkward moments between Robin and Ted.
But there were some bad parts I didn’t quite like. I thought the old Bob was only funny at the very beginning, when Ted explained that he could only see his flaws. After that, he was pretty much pointless in the plot for me and they showed’ve only had him in that bar scene and be done with that. Also, while I thought the awkward moments between Ted and Robin were great, I wasn’t impressed with the having-to-deal-with-sleeping-with-one’s-ex moments. Cliche was all over it for me.
The best part of the episode was when they came to the ‘realisation’ that they weren’t realy friends and they should’ve ended it. I think the episode would’ve been much stronger if this was the main point of the episode, where they had to deal with that throughout the episode. I wish that they came to the ‘conclusion’ at the beginning of the episode and they had to deal with that throughout the episode. I think the uncomfortable moments in the table and then the slow realisation that they were friends (topped, of course with, the military inside joke they shared) was where they concentrated the non-humour dialogue on would’ve resulted in the episode being much stronger in plot. Heck, they could’ve stretched the awkwardness for two/three episodes.
Instead, they leave Ted’s bedroom, go have dinner, share an uncomfortable look or two (which was fine) and then they were back to friends. It was a way too quick for me.
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Bhargav | April 9, 2010 @ 3:49 pm
Hey, did anybody notice a guinness world record trophy in ted’s room, it is seen when lily locks up ted n robin to sort out things in ted’s room ….
It just caught my eye after watching the episode maybe 10 times, n i found it really really interesting … if anyone knows the reason for it … plz let me know …..