Season 4, Episode 10: “The Fight” Discussion

So, my television situation has recently changed so until I find a way to watch the episodes live when they aire again, I’m going to have to delay my recaps for just a little bit. Sorry guys. I’m sure the episode was legendary. You go ahead and discuss here and I’ll jump in tomorrow once I catch the ep.

And, we’re back. So I just watched, I haven’t read any of your comments yet, so here we go. And just because I feel bad making you guys wait, pictures are back!

So here we have another one-off, as promised. I have yet to see anything to complain about. Ted is still telling important stories, the show is still crazy-funny, there’s nothing wrong with that at all. While I still think The Naked Man was superior, I laughed a lot at this episode, and thought it was very well conceived.

What Was Good

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I love when Wendy the Waitress is in an episode. She’s adorable. <3 Charlene.

I have a feeling some people will take issue but I kind of enjoyed the “Paulo and Nikki” intercutting of Doug into old memories in the bar. Speaking of Doug. How freaking great was that actor? First we get the amazing Mitch, and now Doug? The supporting characters are really stepping it up. Who’s next, Forest Whitaker?

Barney’s ignoring conversation was funny by itself. The addition of the 80s black sitcom titles made it so much more sublime. Bays and Thomas are two freaking clever dudes. Additionally, If you’re ever looking for a specific technical detail to see why HIMYM is better than other shows out there, make note of this. Lately I’ve been rewatching season 2 and one of the things that makes great episodes like Brunch, Ted Mosby, Architect, and First Time in New York so wonderful is the scripts habit of introducing a joke, then later bring that first joke back in the middle of another joke, creating a double-header of funny. That tactic was used tonight when, as you’re already laughing at the situation of Doug expecting the boys to join him in the fight, Barney says “What’s happening now?” Callback joke = double funny.

I like how they are maintaining Barney’s interest in Robin without making it the focus. In a way, he’s doing what Ted did in Season 1. Robin likes what she likes, so Barney is trying to fit into that. It’s cute really.

Robin is sooooo the girl that thinks guys who fight are hot. Perfect. She’s from Canada where she played hockey. Of course she likes to fight. What else is there to do there? They actually have pads on the base of the meters in the Timmy Horton’s parking lot because so many head injuries from fights had corporate worried. True story.

I love Robin’s come-on tactics too. She immediately reverts to a 17 year old. “I’ve been looking for you. I got these tickets, it’s stupid.”

Maybe because I managed to avoid spoilers for the episode but I found myself constantly surprised by the turns the plot would make. I don’t know if it’s possible for General Tso’s to come out your nose but it almost did when Barney punched himself.


I’ll give them that returning from a fight could be considered hot by the ladies, when you’re caught up in the moment. Bragging about it later is up the street and down the avenue of Douchevillage however. Shame on them for coopting that with those (rather young looking) girls.

I like seeing Marshall able to make fun of the other guys. He’s so often the butt of jokes. While I suspected something, I didn’t think it’d be that the Ericksens ran a fight club in their basement. That was disturbing. And awesome. Did you guys recognize the song? It’s from the band The Four Skins, fronted by James van der Beek’s character from “Sandcastles in the Sand”. It’s the song Robin played on aire.

Lastly, while Lily didn’t have much to do, I love her calling Robin out. “Bitch, don’t even.”

What Was Bad

Not too much to complain about. It’d kind of had been cool if Doug wasn’t Doug but was Carl, it’d be nice to see him back again.

I also tend to not find the scenes in Lily’s classroom funny. Unless Schwarzenegger is there, I don’t want to see kindergarten.

Not really a complaint but they’re writing an awfully big check with all this allusion that I really hope The Goat can pass.

Favorite Moments

  • I love that even though you only see it for a second, in the flashback montage of Ted and Marshall in college, Marshall has a huge sandwich.
  • “Timesies…cocoa break!” I had a feeling there might be more to Marshall’s sibling rivalry than that. Between baskiceball and the hot coffee prank, those brothers are a little sadistic.
  • “In three to five Thanksgivings I’m going to be carving the turkey with ‘old green’.”
  • “No I do not, alot!”
    “It’s kind of way hot”
    “If he’s got a scar, he’s got a Robin. And if he’s missing teeth, I’m missing my pants.”
  • It’s nice they explained why the gang always has the same booth.
  • “Are you crying?”
    “Yes I’m crying, you just punched me in the nose.”
  • “Wow, look at your eye. You look like a bad ass. Surprised to see you had it in me…you.”
  • All of the “I’ll tell you what I was doing…” responses although I think Robin’s is my favorite. Notice she’s sitting, holding Barney’s arm in that scene? Nice detail.
  • Mahatma Panda and Martin Luther Koala? It’s the details people, that’s what makes this show.
  • “Did you at least tell them we were one of the premiere mediæval chamber groups in the little Ivys?”

Closing

In many ways, this show captures the pop culture zeigest in a very interesting way. The whole premise of what it means to be an adult and get in a fight is an interesting one. Marshall is right, of course, but Barney and Ted aren’t necessarily wrong. When they came back in to the bar after the fight and were met with such fanfare, something stirred in me that made me believe that, somehow, fighting does make you more of a man. Who’d have thought a sitcom would bring up the battle of the id and ego?

Also, look at the three things Barney said he fights for:

1) The stubborn clasp of a bra
2) Sexual Harassment charges (I wonder if the ‘9 for 9′ was an ad lib)
3) Brown shoes with a black suit

Is that not a perfect cross section of the urban, post-metrosexual male human psychy? This show nails it.

Same goes for Marshall’s three-to-five-years-in-the-future Thanksgiving. If light sabers are available would he need one? Of course, but he’d use it for stupid stuff like carving a turkey. As much as Barney encapsulates the modern dapper gentleman, Marshall is indicative of the post-modern geek.

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In Episode Discussion, Season 4 @ 08/12/2008 | By JD
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100 Comments to “Season 4, Episode 10: “The Fight” Discussion”

  1.  JustinDickinson | December 9, 2008 @ 2:05 am

    So I have the episode now but am slammed all day. I'll watch it as soon as I get home tonight. The recap should be up by 7 or 8 tonight. Sorry guys!

  2.  natsirt | December 9, 2008 @ 2:59 am

    I fought my sister as well and wouldn't call that a fight. If I'd had a fight club with my brothers that involved throwing hot cocoa at them, I would call that a fight.

  3.  Geri | December 9, 2008 @ 3:10 am

    Awww JD that sucks. I'm sorry. Out of respect for you, I am waiting to discuss, though I do have to say that the final scene made me pee my pants with excitement!

    Carter and Craig, if you're out there, I want to hug you two soooooooooo hard!

  4.  Amy | December 9, 2008 @ 3:11 am

    Can I say that the episode itself was great… but editing in the bartender…. really crappy. They easily could have just shot a bunch of scenes of years through the bar, changing hair, discussing situations. I really didn't like the weird attempt to edit him in.

    Other than that… great! Plus I love how Marshall is and always will be the tough guy! Remember when he told Ted a long time ago that he didn't need him in a fight. :) I also love how Marshall, true to character, won't fight for just anything but when Ted gets punched in the face… there he is. :)

  5.  daaan | December 9, 2008 @ 3:18 am

    gooood! i live in Argentina and the show airs in a network that's not in every cable, so i cant see it, i was downloading it, but my computer broke and i haven't seen neither the naked man nor the fight :(
    but, comment # 1 has got me intrigued, what happened in the final scene??! pleease do tell!

  6.  Skye | December 9, 2008 @ 3:20 am

    I just want to say, I'm so happy Marshall got a haircut.

  7.  blarg | December 9, 2008 @ 3:27 am

    i love randy robin, i almost prefer it more than horny lily. so many great moments in this ep, cant wait for the recap

  8.  Gravity | December 9, 2008 @ 3:36 am

    This was another great episode. I actually loved them inserting the guy into those past scenes, it showed off more of Older Ted's poor storytelling.

    Plus, loved all the references to past episodes. Marshall eating a sandwich in the dorm room, the goat (again), and playing "Murder Train" during Marshall's fight club scene. Classic HIMYM.

  9.  Garota | December 9, 2008 @ 3:50 am

    I don´t know what to think about the episode… wasn´t the best ever, but had some really great parts!
    I liked the part where Robin asks Lilly if the bartender is seeing someone and Lily answers: YOu should be seeing someone!
    I think also that Robin and Ted should have a rebound thing… they´ve been living together for a while and we don´t know much about tehir life together… Just about the fantastic NAKED MAN! :P
    Don´t you guys think that Robin has been a little bit weird lattely? Like… the guys who right the show need to put some new subjects, so they always choose Robin to do really weird stuffs…

  10.  KJO | December 9, 2008 @ 4:12 am

    That character was named Carl, not Carlos. Carlos is the random guy at the party in The Purple Giraffe.

  11.  natsirt | December 9, 2008 @ 4:21 am

    great episode but one minor problem with it. In S1Ep3 "Sweet Taste of LIberty" Marshall says "Oh thank god I've never been in a fight before" kind of doesn't work with this episode.

  12.  John Darc | December 9, 2008 @ 4:24 am

    You could always sort of see it as, I dunno, not a real fight. Rough housing, no matter how hard, isn't an attempt to hurt the other person if they're your brother.

  13.  Season 4 Episode 10: The Fight | be awesome instead | December 9, 2008 @ 12:26 am

    [...] note: Thanks again to J.D. for being too busy and popular to post tonight, His posts are awesome though, I always look forward [...]

  14.  KJO | December 9, 2008 @ 4:28 am

    I'm really surprised to hear people praising this episode. I feel like this was the most uninspired and BY FAR THE WORST episode of the season. There was no real side story, and the main storyline was totally weak. We don't care at all about this bartender guy, because he is someone we have never even seen before. Perhaps if this episode had featured Carl, or another side character that we knew very well, this episode would have been worth more attention. When the series is all said and done, people probably won't even remember this episode exists like That's Not Me.

    O yeah, this totally makes no flipping sense. This totally goes against the soft Marshall we have grown to love…who by the way cowardly (and lovably) admitted that he had never been in a fight before when he found out that one guy was gay in The Sweet Taste of Liberty.

    Another thing…is anybody else p'd off that Robin has become such a one-dimensional character? They're fighting and it becomes a joke that Robin is Canadian and likes hockey players? Aside from the one moment where Robin talks to Ted about how rushing into the wedding is a bad idea, all she has been is the butt of silly jokes. Is this to help us feel better that we know Robin can never end up with Ted or something?

    Alright, since I've finally gotten all of that off my chest I would like to say that overall this season has been excellent, and this is in my opinion the only bad episode so fall this fall.

  15.  Francisca | December 9, 2008 @ 4:33 am

    Yup, agreed, the editing of the bartender was awesome, very hilarious. Will Sasso is soooo great!
    Loved Robin's "I got that huh… that huh… that huh… that huh…"

    Great episode

  16.  Ike | December 9, 2008 @ 4:58 am

    Your concerns are valid. Marshall is the same person. He's never had to fight anybody because no matter how rough rough housing is it's not fighting, it's playing. That however does not explain how afraid he was when squaring off against that guy and how he gets taken out by that guys boyfriend. Overall we must remember that this is Ted telling stories to his kids 20+ years later. Memories fade, stories change.

    I can really see your point about Robin too, I hope we can see some more serious stories for her, but one explanation is that she doesn't share her stories with Ted so he has nothing to share with his kids.

  17.  Mothership | December 9, 2008 @ 5:00 am

    I liked this one. We learnt a valuable lesson about violence. The characters where their usual selves. But I have mixed feelings about “Randy Robin”……

  18.  slightly | December 9, 2008 @ 5:09 am

    eh, i can still see why marshall wouldn't call it a fight. no matter how brutal the fight was, it's still his brother. it's not bold or brave to be in or even instigate a fight with your sibling and it's very different from a fight with a stranger. but i think in this episode he was trying to save face and so started calling it a fight. either way, he clearly knew how to handle himself physically.

  19.  _j_ | December 9, 2008 @ 5:11 am

    yea but marshall also said he used to box in the army….

  20.  Sancty | December 9, 2008 @ 5:19 am

    That was adlibbed though

  21.  slightly  | December 9, 2008 @ 5:22 am

    i fought with my sister a lot growing up. seriously, physical fights (don't let anyone tell you girls can't throw down. she sent me to the emergency room once, and she has a huge scar on her knee from me). but if anyone ever asked me if i'd been in a fight i think i'd say no. even if sibling fights are brutal, there's still something about them that feels safe. so maybe that's why, even thought marshall can physically handle himself in a fight, he was nervous because he'd never been in a "real" fight with strangers.

  22.  Chrysee | December 9, 2008 @ 5:30 am

    I think that's the point, although it's a mechanic that's underused enough that it might look dumb when it actually happens. The only similar situation I can think of is the goat last year when Old Ted forgot that that didn't happen until his next birthday. Or maybe not remembering Blah-Blah's name. Old Ted is telling a story, and if Doug was never important before the fight story, of course he'd probably be "left out" (I guess literally) of the previous stories. Blatantly inserting him into old episodes like that is Old Ted's way of trying to retcon for his kids. When you look at all the instances of this together, it make sense. Old Ted is telling stories that happened like 20some years ago, he's gonna forget things and mess up. But it isn't mentioned enough in the series so things like Doug just seem way out of place.

  23.  Chrysee | December 9, 2008 @ 5:38 am

    I agree about Robin. People have their fetishes, but all of a sudden making her act like a slobbering horny idiot for violent guys is a bit much. Even if the Platinum Rule (which I watched yesterday lol) she admits her fondness for hockey players but not in such a… stupid juvenile way like she was portrayed last night. She is being the butt of stupid jokes this season and played off as one-dimensional. Maybe it's her unemployment getting her down? Woo Girls + last night = just more proof of sad sad Robin. Her and Ted living together definitely needs some attention. It's been going on for a while now and I can't believe it's going smoothly enough to not warrant a story. Ted works from home sometimes (at least I think? drafting table and all) and Robin's unemployed. They have to be interacting fairly regularly and I wanna see it.

  24.  Wingman | December 9, 2008 @ 6:44 am

    I loved that they played "Murder Train". Foreskins rock! I was really hoping that Barney would have another go with Robin, and then she finds out. just to kinda open things up again. but at least we know he's still interested.

  25.  Tash | December 9, 2008 @ 7:05 am

    I just realized that the 'hot cocoa' was in both the scene where Barney and Ted are making fun of what they think Marshall's fight would have been like (where they break for a drink), as well as the actual one (where they throw it at each other)….I dunno why, but I think that's so funny! lol

  26.  danielle | December 9, 2008 @ 7:48 am

    i literally got tears in my eyes i was so happy jason segal cut his hair

  27.  John Darc | December 9, 2008 @ 4:30 am

    It reeked a bit of Scrubs and its editing of Kim Briggs into the show. The difference here is that I'm pretty sure Will "Doug" Sasso won't be back, so it won't be ruined like Scrubs was ruined by Kim.

  28.  Garotinha | December 9, 2008 @ 8:43 am

    Yeah guys! I think that exactly because Robin is been sad, stupid and crazy (so crazy that it doesn´t make much sense!) in the past two episodes and Ted so unhappy because of the "being left in the altar stuff", they should have something more intimate living together. And I don´t mean necessarily sex by "being intimate". I really liked Robin´s speech in the episode of Ted´s almost weeding. What she said about them and stuff.. These things do not disappear in such a short time, at least for me (1 year apart form who you called the love of your life, it´s a short time…).
    I think that maybe the writers of the show are really trying to built the relationship between Robin and Barney, and that´s why they´ve been so silent about Ted´s and Robin´s relationship… But I really liked Robin´s character and now, she´s been just…. LAME!

  29.  Squeaks | December 9, 2008 @ 8:55 am

    Long time reader, first time poster…I have to add to this since no one has yet…I died laughing at Mahatma Panda and Martin Luther Koala and their fight for non-violence! Hilarious!

    JD, love the blog, keep it up :)

  30.  cheetachica | December 9, 2008 @ 9:03 am

    Loved it when Barney put on the headband and was going to pick up a lesbian, and have to agree with Squeaks Mahatma Panda and Martin Luther Koala were great!

  31.  Luke from Australia | December 9, 2008 @ 9:14 am

    Hey all, this episode was good apart from the slipping in the new bar tender, where has carlos gone he was cool, like a vampire. I was really disappointed at the half-arsed editing in the bar tender which in my point of view devalued those episodes a bit. But I still love HIMYM

    Catch ya

  32.  John Darc | December 9, 2008 @ 10:00 am

    I heard someone say they reshot the "Doug" flashbacks, so I went back. For some reason, they reshot the "seduce a lesbian" scene from I Heart NJ. Marshall has his short hair again, and he and Lily are in the wrong seat. Yet Doug still seems poorly greenscreened into the scene.

  33.  BGeo | December 9, 2008 @ 10:16 am

    Where to start. I really liked this episode, and I did like the Doug bits. Having him in stories worked, for me despite the editing.

    There were a lot of references to past and future (the goat) episodes which I really enjoyed.

    Being from Canada, I would like to say that Robin getting turned on by fighting is 100% true. It's totally the hockey culture.

    The "Fake" fight was pretty funny, and was done the exact same in the movie "Detroit Rock City"… any one seen it?

    There are literaly dozens of things I really enjoyed about this episode, but you all saw them so I won't continue too much longer with it.

    I would like to believe that Bays and Thomas do search these blogs and forums. There was a lot of continuity in this episode, but the one thing I noticed was when the kids saying Marshall was fat. There have been a lot of comments regarding that… just makes me think they're on to us.

    one final note I love the 7 layer salad in the final scene carving the turkey.

    great episode.

  34.  John Darc | December 9, 2008 @ 10:22 am

    that wasn't the point i was trying to make. the point was that they just greenscreened Doug into the Pilot and Miracles, yet they reshot the scene from I Heart NJ, just to green screen Doug in there too. If they had the actor available, why didn't they just have him physically there?

  35.  John Darc | December 9, 2008 @ 10:24 am

    Yeah, like I mention above, that last flashback was sort of weak. It was reshot, but Marshall had short hair and wasn't even in the same seat. How hard is it to get the seating right? You can't be expected to grow hair back, and that's fine, but now it's just a tad lazy :-P .

    Still don't get why Doug was greenscreened into a reshot segment.

  36.  John Darc | December 9, 2008 @ 10:27 am

    I figure they wouldn't want to sully anyone else's character by making them violent, loyal, and prone to blackouts. If it was someone we knew, like Carl or Wendy, it wouldn't make much sense, would it? Had to be a new character. And at least he essentially got Nikki/Paulo'd out of the show too.

  37.  John Darc | December 9, 2008 @ 10:31 am

    That is true. We haven't seen much of the dynamic with Robin and Ted living together. According to Lily and Marshall, she had bad habits like hogging the tv and couch and shooting cans on the roof.

    I understand we might get a glimpse later, but as of right now, it's pretty ho-hum. It's funny that two seasons ago, them living together was the plot of an entire episode, if not more.

  38.  John Darc | December 9, 2008 @ 10:33 am

    I like how they always keep good continuity with Marshall and his brothers. And since I assume they couldn't get Bill Fagerbakke back, they just shot him out of frame.

    I didn't see any baby seat though.

  39.  María | December 9, 2008 @ 11:08 am

    I didn't like at all this episode… it was funny when Barney hits himself, but I think it was kind of a Sesame Street episode for us to not fight…
    Robin is more superficial everyday.
    At least it had 2 funny points: Marshall with the turkey and Marshall with his brothers.

  40.  Geri | December 9, 2008 @ 11:53 am

    I loved the poorly green screened Wil Sasso. At first I was like "wha?", but then I just started laughing. I get it Bays and Thomas and I love it!

    The nod to Fight Club was fan-flippin-tastic! Marshall will always be my favorite character. Jason just does an amazing job at making him feel so complex.

    Robin cracks me up. Being Canadian and female I can vouch for the fact that hockey players are hot! Guys who just pick random fights at bars=douchebags. Hockey fights=HOT!

    I love how they continue to toy with us and throw in references to the Goat.

    As for the final scene, this fangirl has fantasized many a time about slicing meat with lightsabers, so to have Marshall do it blew my mind hole!

    Now all they have to do is get Jay Baruchel on as a guest star and this show would have the ability to give me an orgasm!

  41.  Ike | December 9, 2008 @ 12:30 pm

    Sorry to hear about the TV situation. Good news is most of the shows you like are online friendly and up the next day.

    Wonderful episode. So many callbacks I lost count. Marshall and his brothers having a fight club was awesome and Murder Train by the Foreskins is a welcome return. I like Marshall's new hair, but wish they would have done better with the Doug flashbacks. A couple were nice because he was in the background just out of frame, but the last one was horrible because we would have noticed him and there's no hair continuity. Pam used to be so good at keeping continuity when they had to reshoot scenes for flashbacks, but it's like they've given up this season. I'm not asking for perfection, but come on. Y'all even talked about how you used the hair to orient the timeline on the season 3 dvd!!!

    So Ted fights the Goat, that should be interesting.

    Favorite line, Lily telling Robin to back off.

  42.  Ashley | December 10, 2008 @ 1:00 am

    Jay Baruchel on this show would probably cause me to become incoherent with giddiness.

  43.  JasonCooper | December 10, 2008 @ 1:22 am

    well, just read all the comments here. I must say that most of the gys here are all so concerned about the details. Wherein the real purpose of the episode was lost. For me, the episode was kind of cool because we get to see how most people behave when they get face to face in a fight. I know i would personally like to be friends with Marshall but hey, Barney even came back. LOL!

    Now, i just think that the episode rocked. Though I wish the goat episode would be great since they've build all this expectation to us as far as Season 1..

    Favorite Moment:
    Barney asking for a wood hanger.

  44.  Amanda | December 10, 2008 @ 1:44 am

    I wasn't too bothered by the Sasso cut-ins, because I thought he was great in this ep. So funny. I do miss Carl, as well, though.
    I love the return of slutty Robin. She's becoming more funny to me, as I originally was not a fan of her character. Also glad they reminded us that Barney still wants her by trying to be tough so she'd notice him.
    This ep wasn't as superb as The Naked Man, but was still one of the best of the season. Barney punching himself was legendary.
    I also love how Marshall tells Lily to put it in her pants. It's really becoming a theme where their gender roles are reversed.
    Kudos to the cut hair, Jason Segel.
    Can't wait to hear your thoughts, JD!

  45.  DarkeSword | December 10, 2008 @ 2:43 am

    Are you kidding!? I loved how obvious they made it that he was just shoved into all those classic scenes.

  46.  Geri | December 10, 2008 @ 2:52 am

    Oh Ashley, we are going to be great friends ;)

  47.  Geri | December 10, 2008 @ 2:54 am

    Justin, eager to hear your thoughts on this ep.

  48.  Geri | December 10, 2008 @ 2:56 am

    The fake fight scene in Detroit Rock City is wayyyyy better though.

  49.  JustinDickinson | December 10, 2008 @ 3:16 am

    And……recap is posted. With images! and it's long!

  50.  Ashley | December 10, 2008 @ 3:28 am

    I did completely forget about her! I don't really care for her acting style, so perhaps I blocked it!

  51.  Ashley | December 10, 2008 @ 3:31 am

    :D
    They've had Martin Starr and Samm Levine. Jay MUST be next!

  52.  Humberto | December 10, 2008 @ 3:32 am

    Robin was/will be awesome but most of the comments on this board are not criticizing her for being a sexually active woman which she has always been, but instead for being a spineless, immature, female sex toy and what's more misogynistic than that?

  53.  BGeo | December 10, 2008 @ 3:55 am

    with out a question. Still funny though

  54.  Humberto | December 10, 2008 @ 4:08 am

    CONGRATS to ROBIN for not sleeping with anyone this week!!! The reason so many are unhappy with her lately is that she's become so weak. What happened to the gun-totting, in-your-face, multi-dimensional Robin we know and love?

    I was so looking forward to her calling-out and humiliating Ted and Barney when she found out the truth, but instead she just slinked back to her bedroom which is where she spends most of her time lately.

    I hope the SLUT gets her backbone back otherwise what's the point of Barney pursuing her if she is no better than all the other bimbos he bangs?

  55.  JustinDickinson | December 10, 2008 @ 4:16 am

    Whoa, harse language for our favorite Canadian pop star! She's unemployed and going through a rough patch, cut her some slack!

  56.  JustinDickinson | December 10, 2008 @ 4:30 am

    Umm…. AGREE!

  57.  JustinDickinson | December 10, 2008 @ 4:32 am

    She's from upstate New York. They say it like that up there too. Well, actually they say "pop" but if they said soda, it'd be like that.

  58.  KJO | December 10, 2008 @ 4:41 am

    Looks like a lot of people, including my brother who usually agrees with me on the quality of the episodes, liked this one. I've still got it saved in my DVR, so I guess I'll give it another shot, but I'm not making any promises.

  59.  frida | December 10, 2008 @ 4:42 am

    its funny the double standart isnt it? ted can do the naked man and sleep with a random girl as well, he had plenty of one night stands, did anybody called him a manslut? no. and also there's barney who is barney and everybody loves him, but if robin does it, she's a slut.

    i hate this type of misognistic crap.

    robin is awesome!

  60.  JackAtak08 | December 10, 2008 @ 4:57 am

    One plot hole:

    In season 1, Sweet taste of liberty… Marshall tells the gay guy he's never been in a fight before.

  61.  KJO | December 10, 2008 @ 5:35 am

    I already mentioned that in my rant about how this was the worst episode of the season and that i hate one-dimensional robin.

  62.  Amy | December 10, 2008 @ 6:03 am

    I have a second comment… So Marshall and Lily should probably have been having thanksgiving with Ted, Barney, and Robin. As Ted said, it was the new tradition and that's why every year for Thanksgiving they go to Marshall and Lily's for Thanksgiving

    But yes. the episode rocked. I've already watched it twice more. And yeah… where is Carl, I miss him too.

  63.  JustinDickinson | December 10, 2008 @ 6:36 am

    Haha, I thought of nikki and paulo too regarding Doug. Nice!

  64.  roland | December 10, 2008 @ 7:04 am

    Definitely my fav episode so far this season!
    Thanks for the great review and screenshots JD =)
    Avoiding spoilers makes the show that much better! Robin's revertigo, Eriksen Fight Club, Barney's *hot* black eye, Lily wearing the pants in their relationship, all made for awesome moments! Totally knew that Marshall's brothers were too sadistic for tickle fights! And I found Lily's kindergarten kids quite cute and funny actually =)

  65.  BGeo | December 10, 2008 @ 3:27 am

    I noticed Jason's haircut but forgot to mention it. This is another reason why I think the people associated with the show read these forums. All be it his hair was getting long.

  66.  Sara | December 10, 2008 @ 7:58 am

    Most everything has been said, but I had to give props to Ted's "mediæval." I just about bust a gut when he said that!

  67.  Geri | December 10, 2008 @ 4:02 am

    ACK! I totally forgot to mention how HOT Wendy the waitress is! I still want her to be the mom. More Charlene Amoia please!

    And yes Ashley, it's true, some of Apatow's crew has been on there. Don't forget Busy Phillips. She was in Freaks and Geeks too (even though I don't particularly like her).

  68.  Gravity | December 10, 2008 @ 8:11 am

    Little kids fighting is funnier than I could have ever imagined.

  69.  SiriusDa | December 10, 2008 @ 8:15 am

    Hey guys, I'm gonna post for the first time now, even though I've read your blog for a while already JD, when I found it I really liked the way you run things around here, I love How I Met Your Mother, I think it's awesome. So, I've watched the fight only twice yet, I'm gonna give it another go soon and might add something more but now I can definitely say that I loved it, it was hilarious and legendary and I don't see why some of you folks dislike it so much. Okay, I get your point about Robin, and I admit some editing was rough to say the least but nevertheless I found it so enjoyable that I overlooked those and other flaws. I loved the huge sandwich, it made me laugh out so hard my stomach hurt.. must've been a nice bong those two had in the old days :D
    Yeah, by the way, I'm watching the show from overseas, since I am from Slovakia (middle Europe in case anyone was wondering). I always download episodes off the web and watch them. I couldn't wait to see this episode so on Tuesday I got up early in the morning (4a.m. which is about 9p.m. central in the US, Monday) and downloaded it right after it aired, so go ahead call me crazy but I love this show that much :)
    I'm really looking forward to the next one and I hope they're finally gonna bring up the issue of Ted & Robin, and let's hope Robin will get back to her Ted's-almost-wedding-still-not-over-Ted self and I sincerely hope it's not going to be standalone episode this time. So who's with me?

    Andy, huge fan :)

  70.  netia | December 10, 2008 @ 8:27 am

    This wasn't my favourite episode, but it did have some funny parts. I loved how Barney tried to impress Robin by saying that he didn't have any wisdom teeth left=)

  71.  DougOLis | December 10, 2008 @ 8:58 am

    If the show is still on in 3-5 years are they going to have to somehow introduce light sabers? Were there any other major tells from that final scene?

  72.  Jan | December 10, 2008 @ 9:46 am

    I think the point was to to edit him in badly on purpose. that`s why they also edited him in the reshot scene.

  73.  John Darc | December 10, 2008 @ 10:47 am

    Clearly, the third Geek should be next. John Francis Daley, that is.

    Also Linda Cardellini, plz.

  74.  John Darc | December 10, 2008 @ 12:03 pm

    but then why did they even bother reshooting the scene closely at all? make them wear clown outfits if you want to be so outrageously fallacious.

  75.  High_Hoper | December 10, 2008 @ 12:23 pm

    Well, I thought this was going to suck, and I'm 60% right. I didn't like almost anything from this episode, which (for me) makes it the second worst episode of all time (the worst is the burger one) and it only had 3 or 4 moments good, the rest was all to me kinda sad.

    The Robin character is stupid. Really stupid nowadays. What happened to the lovely Robin from Season 1 that everyone fell in love with her? Now she's a 14-year-old girl in a body 10 years older. I can't understand why her character is this now.

    Good for Marshall! I really liked him in this episode.

    About Ted, nothing new. And Barney, OH MY GOD, I couldn't stop laughing when he escaped to fight Doug.

    But, definitely, 4 or 5 moments apart, this episode was bad for me. The 7 first minutes were truly slow, I didn't like the flashbacks to Pilot and I heart NJ (very forced)… Although I liked the sandwich reference lol What a HUGE sandwich!

  76.  Ashley | December 10, 2008 @ 12:59 pm

    I'm Canadian too and I don't know why everyone's up in arms about horny!Robin. Hockey players fighting is very hot.

  77.  John Darc | December 10, 2008 @ 10:48 am

    Is Charlene Amoia from the Midwest? The way she says "soda" sounds like a Minnesotan.

    edit: It was weird to see Will Sasso in this episode. Where's he been all these years?

  78.  TheMix | December 10, 2008 @ 11:14 am

    This is easily the best post you've made on this site J.D.

    I was going to make a nice long post about why this episode was great, but pretty much encapsulated all of it….so I'll just stick to quoting you, and quoting you quoting someone else.

    "It’s from the band The Four Skins, fronted by James van der Beek’s character from “Sandcastles in the Sand”. It’s the song Robin played on aire."
    —- This was a sad moment in the dorky history of one Mr. Jason…..I heard "Murder Train" and nearly went ballistic with glee. I started moshing all over my apartment….by myself.

    "Not really a complaint but they’re writing an awfully big check with all this allusion that I really hope The Goat can pass.
    —-Exactly what I was thinking. I was thinking "damn, if this episode isn't right up there with 'Stuff', 'Slapsgiving', etc….then somebody's balls are going to end up in a vice. (note, I specifically won't be putting anyone's balls in a vice, I just know there are crazy people in the world)

    "'Wow, look at your eye. You look like a bad ass. Surprised to see you had it in me…you.'"
    —-Ya, Freudian slips/references all over the place in the episode.

    Re: Your Closing….
    —-Absolutely spot-frickin-on. As a late-20-something male who has never been in a fight, I can tell you this one really hit home. I've got like 7 scars though, so I'd still be hot to Robin. There have been more than a couple times when I've almost been in fights at the bar. Some of them we for fairly chivalrous reasons, others, well they were more dubious. I think usually what's going through my mind is "well, I'm skinny, but I've got really good reflexes and and extremely high tolerance for pain….so I should be able to just wear the other guy out. It was certainly a fun episode to watch, and re-watch because of the details.

    Re: Robin's Love of Rough Men
    —-I think that, much like her hatred for all things child-like, it will eventually go the way of the dodo. Robin is perhaps the character that has changed the most over the course of the last 3 1/2 seasons. Her outlook on what matters in a guy has completely shifted. I wouldn't call it a complete and total alteration from her former self. Think of these traits as a parallel to wanting to go get hammered after you're 27 or so. It sounds like a great idea at the time, and while you're doing it you have a crapload of fun, but afterward you look back on it and think "what the hell was that?". I like this part of Robin, it makes for good television watching, but that part of Robin is just a hangover from 16 year-old Robin. It won't be there forever. Edit: and having read all of the comments, I feel like I need to mention that the reason that Robin is so one-dimensional (even though I tend to disagree with that assessment) and 16-year old-ish, is because she's not exactly in the best place in her life right now…..and that's kind of what people do when they aren't in good places. They revert back to something they used to be, or they try new and incredibly stupid things. There really is not need to get down on Robin, and absolutely no reason to call her a slut (wow was that a ridiculous comment). She just needs to jump out of that hole she's in.

    -Jason

  79.  John Darc | December 11, 2008 @ 3:08 am

    JFD is on Bones.

  80.  frida | December 11, 2008 @ 3:48 am

    but like justin said, she is just going through a bad moment in her life. a moment which is similar to much of what ted is going through, still nobody calls ted a slut. or fickle, or immature.

    i think robin is very funny this season and i quite liked her in the naked man… i thought she was funny and not at all spineless or immature, stuff like that just happens you know. but i agree that her parts in "the fight" felt a bit forced…. i think they are just trying to elaborate her story with barney.

    and oh, boys with scars are definitely very sexy.

  81.  DuckRobin'sGotAGun! | December 11, 2008 @ 3:49 am

    I liked this episode. Not love, but the one-liners were fantastic.

    Loved Ted again with his wierd pronunciations like medaevel. Being someone who always makes an attempt to make as correct a pronunciation, I now wonder how many times I've made a fool of myself.

    And in case anyone wonders if someone who never fought would get into a fight just to impress a girl… if I was in Barney's shoes, I would've surely jump right into it.

    Robin's change in mood the moment of seeing a fight was hilarious. I wished the joke she makes with Marshall when Marshall beats the guy was physical rather than verbal, though. Her talking to Lily about Marshall seemed to not be a very good delivery.

    And I so knew that Marshall didn't have bloody tickle fights with his brothers, and knew something was going to come.

    I'm very pleased at the strength of episodes coming week after week (with one or two exceptions). But I feel like it's time for the story side of the show to continue next episode.

  82.  JustinDickinson | December 11, 2008 @ 3:53 am

    I'm actually working on a write up about why Robin is legendary. Stay tuned! It's co-written too!

  83.  Geri | December 11, 2008 @ 5:13 am

    Damn you Justin! I want to co-write!

  84.  Geri | December 11, 2008 @ 5:15 am

    I was going to say that, but what ever happened to JFD? I haven't seen him since "Waiting", in which he was brilliant by the way.

    Linda was Great on F&G, but I haven't dug too much else she's done and if anyone mentions "Grandma's Boy", they're gonna get a kick in the head courtesy of me ;)

  85.  Geri | December 11, 2008 @ 5:21 am

    Me either. She was the exact same character on Dawson's Creek (I admit I watched that) and was equally as annoying.

    I'm still holding out for Baruchel though. He's a really talented actor. He's great at playing awkward and funny, but if you check out any of his serious films, he's amazing! Plus he's from my neighbourhood (yes, we spell it with a U) AND he's Canadian. BONUS!

  86.  Ashley | December 11, 2008 @ 5:25 am

    Last I heard of JFD was on the Freaks & Geeks commentary with a ridiculous deep voice. I couldn't wrap my head around it!

    And Linda Cardellini on the show may be…. awkward. No matter how amicable a break up is, I would still find it… well, awkward.

  87.  Ashley | December 11, 2008 @ 5:26 am

    I spell everything with superfluous u's. I'm Canadian too ;)

    His brand of humour would fit in perfectly on himym.

  88.  frida | December 11, 2008 @ 6:41 am

    oh great!
    i love her

  89.  Chris | December 11, 2008 @ 7:58 am

    Did anybody else notice that in the last cut scene at Thanksgiving that Mrs. Erickson's gigantic salad was sitting on the table in front of Lily. Good to know their still eating their mayo 3 to 5 years in the future.

  90.  Whacko | December 11, 2008 @ 12:41 pm

    Yeah I Agree, and it was legendary. (JD, I loved your Paulo and Nikki from Lost comparison :)

    I agree that the Kindergarten scenes often are not that funny. But I loved it this time, the kids being all smart-ass:
    Lily: "Fighting is immature and childish".
    Kid: "We're kids, we ARE immature and childish"
    cracked me up xD

  91.  April | December 12, 2008 @ 3:47 am

    I thought this episode was great! I love how they got will sasso to be doug the bartender. I always loved him in madtv. I also love how they brought back the foreskins song……i love when they show marshalls families fightclub and he screms "hot cocoa break" and throws it in his brothers face. That is a crazy family! Love this show!

  92.  PUNKBOOKKEEPER | December 12, 2008 @ 9:21 am

    I guess I'm wrong, but I thought that "huge sandwich" was a giant bong!
    And just what is with the prejudice against long hair on guys?

  93.  friedrich | December 12, 2008 @ 11:42 am

    i just rewatched the platinum rule, and in it is already clear thar robin has a soft spot for hockey players and that missing teeth are a huge turn on for her. i had forgotten about this, and after it her reactions on this episode made more sense.

  94.  ashlee | December 13, 2008 @ 3:55 am

    Thanks :)

  95.  ashlee | December 13, 2008 @ 4:20 am

    I thought about Detroit Rock City when I saw the fake "fight" too, but remember in Detroit Rock City how they all had bloody knuckles afterwards? I thought the same would happen in the fake "fight", but I don't remember Barney having bloody knuckles. And yeah….the fight scene in Detroit Rock City is way better and more violent than this one. But would we really want an intense "fake" fight?

  96.  ashlee | December 13, 2008 @ 4:27 am

    I was so excited when they played Murder Train by the Foreskins. I think that song fits the scene really well.

    The Goat keeps getting built up and up and up, so I hope we don't have really high expectations and then it turns out not being what we expected. Just like Ted with his potato skins.

    Overall this was a great episode. I hope they continue with the Barney-Robin thing. I'd like to see where that will go.

  97.  JustinDickinson | December 13, 2008 @ 7:53 am

    “Just like Ted with his potato skins” I love it. Great reference.

  98.  The Modern Gal | December 14, 2008 @ 4:57 am

    I said the same thing about the goat references. If that episode isn't legendary, it's going to be a huge letdown

  99.  BGeo | December 14, 2008 @ 6:57 am

    "victory drinks… free, free, free, free, $7.50"
    Is it actually $7.50 for a beer in NY?

  100.  JustinDickinson | December 14, 2008 @ 10:39 am

    At some places, yes, that's about right. Happy hour near my work is “any domestic draft $4″ which is about 50% off.

    That's why you drink alot when you're on an expense account.

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