What Will Happen to Robarn in Season Four?
By JD
First, you guys are awesome for holding back about this in the main episode recap. I really wanted to know everyone’s opinions on the finale in general so I appreciate it. I’ll have to watch it again tonight but all your positivity has made me realize I was perhaps too harsh. That being said…
What was up with the long lingering stare from Barney to Robin? I know they’ve made little references here and there, but that was a big, flashing-light signal. I have to say, I loved it.
All season Robin’s been in the background. She really only dated three guys that we saw, and none of them were anything serious. She’s been relegated to the occasional goofy Canada joke and laying down the razor’s edge wit that makes her so damn hot. But look again: slowly all season she’s been looking better and better (I’m amazed each week they trump the previous episode.) It’s almost as if we the viewers are falling for her in real time as Barney does. She’s the girl in the group that was always one of the guys until you realize you’re comparing every other woman to her. This slow burn has earned the creators the right to use this plot shift. And I thought it was all build up to the end of Sandcastles in the Sand. I think RoBarn has only just begun.
I’ve said many times before that I wouldn’t like to see Barney in a relationship; that the best part about his character is the balance of a despicable Lothario with a heart of gold. Seeing him as a foil for both Marshall and Ted made each character richer. For all those reasons I felt like anything between him and another girl would seem awkward and something between him and Robin might seem forced, something for her to do since she’s no longer with Ted. In short, I wasn’t a fan.
Now I’m coming around. Consider the following:
- Neil Patrick Harris kicks ass. We know that in real life NPH is not Barney. I think the sly wit is there, as well as the charm, but he’s much more of a kinder, gentler person. He’s also a phenomenal actor. I have utter faith in him as a performer that any new development would serve only to add depth and breadth to the character, not to cheapen it. In dramatic shows, characters are expected to change and grow. HIMYM has already proved a sitcom can be much more than the stereotype, why wouldn’t it also prove that real character growth is possible in the half-hour format?
- The writers love Cobie Smulders as much as we do. When was the show firing on all its cylinders the best? Whenever they were writing a story that had Ted and Robin falling in love. Smulders seems to be their muse, and all of the best moments have involved her and Ted. If it’s her and Barney, that gives the writers an opportunity to do it all again, but this time with wit and sarcasm where once there was sappy romance. In other words, we could possibly see another long courtship that is as awesome as the night of broing out in Zip, Zip, Zip.
- Robin is a different person. We’ve seen her character change the most from the beginning of the series. She’s now more sensitive, forthcoming with her feelings, and she seems to have gotten over a lot of her issues in the past that held her back. I think she’s ready for this plot just as much as Barney is.
All that being said, I don’t expect Barney and Robin to turn into LAME. I think they’ll have their own hilarious issues and if they do date, they’ll be the couple that always seems to make the most jokes at the other’s expense.
On the other hand, they could not get together at all. They could have a really casual on-again, off-again thing happening. I think it’s safe to assume the only thing we won’t see is a repeat of season one where Barney suddenly turns into Ted trying to win Robin’s heart. All the other possibilites seem plausible, and awesome.
What do you think?
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35 Comments to “What Will Happen to Robarn in Season Four?”
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NV | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 10:15 am GMT -4
I think I’ve mentioned it here, but if not, I’ll say it. Before the finale, I would’ve rejected outright any idea of Barney suddenly falling for someone. He’s made too ludcrously extreme, that it would’ve been a slap to the viewer’s intelligence.
But the way they showed it. Slowly they moved the plot, him sleeping with her out-of-the-blue, the entire focus f the post-banging on Ted’s views on the matter, rather than the feeling. And then the stare Barney had towards Robin, and his casual denial… it worked for me. I’m so shocked, but it worked!
The stare sold it for me. The lingering look, while Marshall and Lily continued to crack jokes, with Robin unaware of it… I’m such a pathetic romantic, my reluctance melted in an instant.
Predictions:
This won’t be a Ted/Robin thing. I’m sure of that. Barney isn’t going to chase her for the season.
One of my favourite thing in romances, only when written well (if not, it’s shite), is the person who’s fallen for someone he/she knows already, but the object of affection is clueless of it.
I hope, and think, that the beginning of season 4 will be Barney trying to reject that thought (sleeping around like mad, even for him), then the acceptance of the reality. But he won’t reveal anything. We’ll see episodes of him making a fool of himself trying to get close to Robin, but he won’t reveal anything else.
Then we’ll see someone realise this. Either Barney will tell him/her, or the person will see something to reveal it. I think it’ll be either Marshall or Lily. That person will actually try to keep it secret from the other half of LAME for awhile.
Then, after some other things I can’t even predict, Robin will come to know of this. Here, the show will reach a fork in the plot trail. Either Robin and Barney find out they’re too incompatible to be together and they end it before things get crazy, or they give things a shot, and we see a serious attempt in romance between them (but will it work, or not?).
Well, that’s what I think will happen.
eduardo | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 10:18 am GMT -4
it’s going to be a hell of a ride, and I will love it!
…and I hope they change and grow, that will add a layer of uncertainty and the tension of exploring new situations (perhaps even old ones, but reacting to it differently). If the writers and actors manage to show this and still keep their distinct personalities, we are about to witness an awesome new season.
p.s.: I used all my canadian accent on that “about”
Ae | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 11:32 am GMT -4
If they do a Robarn then I don’t want to see a breakup later on. They better go all the way. They can put the Ted and Robin thing to rest. There are two Bays and Thomas interviews about season 4 that seems to indicate that they will not pursue a Ted and Robin thing anymore. They are just friends but will live together next year. Are they trying to steer us in another direction and then pull the rug?
I’m a big Ted and Robin fan. I wonder do they know that they caught lighting in a bottle with Ted and Robin. They are probably the TV couple of this decade.
Courtney | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 12:09 pm GMT -4
I am so deeply pro Robarn (pRobarn? probably). And to echo everyone, they handled it perfectly. It is such a testament to the show that the Barney staring at Robin moment AND the brother moment were completely real and genuine and without the slightest hint of cheese. Brilliant.
I agree to some extent with a lot of people who took a bit of issue with this season. I think it was hands down one of the funniest, but it lacked the solid arcs of the last two seasons. This is of course the fault of the strike, and probably CBS too for not renewing soon enough (I highly doubt Britney would have come back had they done so sooner, and I hope they tell us on the DVD who Barney’s stalker was actually supposed to be) and doesn’t mean that the season wasn’t good. No show escaped the strike unscathed, and I believe this show was actually one of the least scathed of all. It had some genius moments and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Dustin | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 02:01 pm GMT -4
I’ve really enjoyed the whole Barbin (I’m more Barbin than Robarn…sorry :p) arc this season, and think it’s been one of the standout plot lines especially in light of the fact that a majority of it was put together during the strike (I think). I look forward to seeing where they take it.
I also want to point out that they refer to Uncle Barney and Aunt Robin during the talks with the kids. The conversation at the end of the finale where Barney/Ted/Marshall are all “brothers”, could lead to a more permanent Barbin hookup (Uncle to the kids = Brother to Ted = married Uncle Barney to “Aunt” Robin….who knows, I’m stretching).
And on a slightly different note, am I the only one who thinks that the Barbin relationship is 10x more natural/realistic than the Ted/Stella one? I don’t know…after seeing Ted and Victoria I just feel like the Ted/Stella relationship isn’t that “true” relationship for his character. Not that I expect to see Victoria come back, but the chemistry & romanticism between those too (“I want to know your soul…” lol) just clicked with me more.
Jon T. | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 02:01 pm GMT -4
I’m calling it:
Once LAME moves out of the apartment, Robin and Ted live together briefly until Ted meets the mother (obviously not Stella), moves in with her and Robarn lives together in the apartment.
Just a guess.
Paul | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 02:43 pm GMT -4
Just an idea, I wouldn’t be surprised if, during a presumably long courtship of Robin, Barney does try to emulate Ted in order to get Robin, if she had rejected his advances beforehand. I think going off of Barney’s full dedication to previous “bits” and what not that it is possible. At the very least it should be entertaining.
NV | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 03:26 pm GMT -4
Robarn or Barbin doesn’t work for me. Needs to role off the tongue
> I’m a big Ted and Robin fan.
As am I. They were magnificient. I still have hopes that this show will end in a big, magnificient twist, where Robin is indeed the mother, but Ted changed the name during the story-telling to throw off the kids (and us).
Don’t try to convince me otherwise…
Geri | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 04:06 pm GMT -4
Let me preface this by saying that Barney’s look and Robin not noticing was probably the most romantic thing i’ve seen all season. It was definitely on par with Ted’s 5 minute date from the “10 sessions” episode. NPH is an amazing actor and i’m so glad they have him playing the role of Barney and no one else!
Since when did we start calling “Bro” Robarn and other names? lol! I know someone in one of the Bays or Thomas interviews called Robin and Barney “Robarn”. I’ll stick with Bro anyways.
At this point, I haven’t really thought much about whether I want Barney and Robin to be together. I kind of really liked the teasing we had between them throughout the seasons and when they finally hooked up, it was a fun little one or two episode sort of “thing”.
I just can’t “see” them together. Even dating. I somehow think that season 4 will see Barney keeping his feelings for Robin a secret for a while, though as NV said, someone else in the group will notice how Barney acts slightly different when Robin’s around and will call him out on it.
If they are to start dating, it’s going to be very interesting to see how the Barney character will develop.
As you said yourself JD, Robin is a different person now and has softened a bit and gotten over things that were plaguing her relationship views before. If Bro does happen I have a feeling that we will see Robin becoming the “Ted” to Barney’s “Robin”.
Okay – did I just confuse you all?
natsirt | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 04:23 pm GMT -4
My prediction for the Barbin situation is that they start dating but don’t tell anyone. Then when we find out a lot of odd situations will be revealed. (Think Barney running out of the bar when Lily was brought up, and then much later we find out he was leaving to fly to San Fran to try and get Lily).
I’m not sure if I want the Barbin thing more for the two to be together (because they are awesome) or so that the Ted/Robin thing can finally die and I can stop hearing about it.
I think we might finally find out a little bit more about Barneycorp and Barney’s job (please) next season as well. I don’t know if it was because of the bro breakup or because they are planning on working it into the story more, but most of the scenes involving Barney in the past couple of episodes have taken place in his office.
Rosie | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 04:25 pm GMT -4
Oh God, I was clutching my heart and screaming that whole time. I had to re-watch it three times just to hear those fantastic LAME zingers. (Oh, and cause it was the sweetest thing in the history of ever.)
I don’t hide my love of Bro. I was a little worried that the plotline had been dropped and would only be referred to as “that thing that happened that time.” Kinda like a remember when? for the group. “Oh man, remember when Barney and Robin totally had sex?! El oh el! No emotional repercussions five!” That would have sucked.
I don’t think it’s too farfetched to see Barney in a relationship. It has been hinted throughout the series that he’s not a total cad. The big example that no one has really mentioned is James. He and Barney were exactly the same; trouncing about town, picking up the ladies/fellas. But then James gets married, and his only explanation is that he fell in love. If one has a life-altering revelation, is it so crazy to think that the other will as well?
I think Barney just needs the security that he won’t get hurt again. The one and only time he was in a relationship he got burned. Bad. A relationship with Robin seems logical because they were friends first; sure, she’s not above giving him a strong kick in the ego, but she would never rip him up the way Shannon did.
I haven’t decided if Barney’s going to be amazing at wooing Robin (he DOES know a thing or two about getting a gal’s attention) or awful. (Like “having love, making sex, penis vagina” awful.) Either way, it will be adorable. Or horrible. Depending on how Robin reacts.
(cough adorable because those kids are totally getting married cough)
J | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 04:36 pm GMT -4
woah woah woah….
It’s BRo or no dice.
Rosie | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 04:40 pm GMT -4
OH MAN I totally forgot to mention: anyone else notice that Robin’s face was lit almost the EXACT same way it was when Ted first saw her? Eh? Ehhhhh?
AF | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 05:00 pm GMT -4
I’m all for BRo and I have been since they first started interacting in the pilot (i.e. Barney saying ‘you just know she likes it dirty) to the time he was bribing her to say naughty stuff on the news to Zip, Zip, Zip and of course, all the wonderful BRo moments of this season. The hand on her thigh in The Bracket. The kiss in Sandcastles in the Sand. The morning after in The Goat.
Barney doesn’t act like a sleaze with Robin and that’s the hugest thing. It’s the way he acts around her and the way he has treated her from the beginning of the show that makes these two work.
Bring on the BRo!!! I want Season 4 to be full of it
Ike | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 05:37 pm GMT -4
NPH pulled it off perfectly and the writers did an excellent job building up to this and I know they can make it believable. I try not to speculate much about where any show/book will go. I trust in the writer(s) and in this case in Bays and Thomas to make it work. Whatever they decide while be legendary, and awesome. (I do want to see them in a relationship broing out)
The Mix | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 07:04 pm GMT -4
I think you’re generally spot on JD…
This is a confusing relationship to me, and I’m really not sure where it’s going to go.
I do have a funny feeling, however, that Robin at some point in the show is going to start having ideas about whether or not it was a good thing to have broken up with Ted. You’re right, she has progressed as a character, and I think that will play into where she thinks she wants to end up.
I’d say more, but I don’t have anything more to speculate and expound upon other than the look. Barney is obviously enamored, and that’s something he’s going to wrestle with.
I take it back, there is one more thing to speculate on. The proposal. I don’t know how it’s going to effect. In my head, that progression of her character along with the proposal via Ted is enough to send her mind in a whirl. Sample: So wait a minute, he’s only known this girl for 4 or 5 months and is proposing, I dated him for a year and got nothing?? I know I said “no, no no, etc. you cannot do this to me”, but it would’ve been nice to know that I was worthy of one….
I used to see Barney and Robin together in my head so clearly…it felt good, and every bit of meant to be as LAME, but something has changed and I can’t place what it is. It’s not the fact they slept together and it’s neither character’s individual growing pains. Maybe it’s just that even though they have progressed, there’s still so much of them that’s solitary.
Jason
NV | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 09:24 pm GMT -4
What I’m pleased about, is that the show has returned to the dual plots that made seasons 1 and 2 strong. In both seasons 1 and 2, sure there were alot of laughs, but LAME and Ted/Robin (the break-up and get-together in the first seasons, respectively, and vice versa in the second season).
Perhaps season 4 dual plots will be Stella/Ted and Barney/Robin.
Bro (or BRo) doesn’t work for me, either. Doesn’t it simply remind you of Ted and Barney’s Bro codes and so on?
There must be a term as good as LAME.
Barnin? Robney? Barnatsky? Sherson?
eduardo | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 10:04 pm GMT -4
how about “the awesome & awesome couple” or TAAC ?
maybe BABIN?
BARRO?
BARKLES?
The Mix | Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 11:36 pm GMT -4
I fucking hate acronyms, or anything similar.
Sorry. Rant.
If you can’t take the extra 1 second it takes to type out Barney and Robin as opposed to BRo or RoBarn….then we have issues. Not that any of you care, since we’re states or hundreds of miles away from each other
Jason
Wingman | Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 02:04 am GMT -4
How about Sherbarnsky? Or just R&B.
I think that they don’t mention the look for the first 4 or 5 episodes, but have subtle things that go on that are later backtracked and revealed (similar to the Ted/Robin spaghetti break up).
I also think that Stella will say she needs to think about it, then ultimately say no, after Sherbarnsky is revealed. Then Ted becomes the lone single guy, disgusted by the other two couples’ coupley ways.
Sean422 | Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 04:40 am GMT -4
I think several people have touched on this idea already but I do believe that Robyn and Barney will get together in the fourth season and move in with Ted after Lilly and Marshal move out.
Keep in mind this will happen before Ted’s birthday though, remember Robyn’s wash cloth in the bathroom with the goat on Ted’s 31st.
I also want to reference the episode (which I believe is called Little Boys) where Old Ted talks about how Aunt Robin is in a lot of his kids grade school art. I believe that this could be because Robin and Barney end up together but don’t have kids so she is always willing to hang out with Ted’s.
Barney has always had his soft moment through out the series and I believe that we will see much more of this side of him in the fourth season while he tries to win Robin’s affection.
lethalboi | Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 08:41 am GMT -4
Hi,
this season finale is much better than 318 and 319, it seems to me that scenarist makers had lost the rythm of the serie after the scenarist strike.
By the way, i’m a french himym fan, and i was wondering why lily’s nickname is lilypad. I can understand the joke with Marshall/Marshmallow but i don’t understand why they call her lilypad? Is Lilypad refering to a funny english word?
Brandon | Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 11:03 am GMT -4
sherbarnsky… nice!
Colleen | Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 11:45 am GMT -4
Am I the only one calling them Swarkles?
Slick | Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 12:45 pm GMT -4
lethatlboi,
A lilypad is the English word for the small green leaf pad that floats on the water at a pond (sometimes around a water lily flower). When I hear it, it makes me think of childhood drawings of frogs on lilypads at the pond.
Geri | Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 04:51 pm GMT -4
@ lethalboi
Je m’excuse, ma Français souffre même que j’était né a Montréal et je pouvait le parler bien q’uand j’était petite. Si tu n’avez pas comprendre ce que Slick t’avez dit, le mot “Lillypad” est un mot anglais qui veut dire l’espece de feuille vert que les grenouille s’assit sur.
natsirt | Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 09:56 pm GMT -4
I’m going to throw in my vote for Sherbarnsky. With a honorable mention to Swarkles.
Geri | Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 12:13 am GMT -4
Ha ha ha!
Check out Barney’s Blog: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/how_i_met_your_mother/community/barney_blog/index.php
There’s that 83% again!
lethalboi | Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 04:03 am GMT -4
thanks everyone it’s all right now.
Sean422 | Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 12:53 pm GMT -4
I agree with The Mix, do we really have to come up with a name for Robin and Barney.
Phil Nathanson | Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 12:55 pm GMT -4
I honestly have seen this coming since season 2. Even if the actors did not know about it, the writers have probably had this mapped out from the start. Barney even hints about it in the episode where Robin becomes his “bro” for the night. They are two people with similar interests: They both are attractive people who want casual fun relationships. The fact that Barney cares about Robin more than anything else is simply because she is more “awesome” than he is, and that is what he loves about her.
Love this blog, keep up the great work. Can’t wait till Season 4!
Phil
SeiKen | Friday, May 23rd, 2008 09:15 am GMT -4
Lilypad, it’s in french “nénuphar”. God, I hope they haven’t translated that, the french dubbing is already horrible.
Concerning the R&B situation, we were a lot to think the two of them will get together (in french forums at least). And that really don’t bother me. I was a huge fan of Ted and Robin, even if we knew that it would come to an end ; I loved Victoria and their relationship ; even more for Stella (huge Scrubs fan talking).
), especially by the way they brought it to us. See : they play that game when you joke a lot with the other, sometimes by laughing at them ; they have that weird connection (Barney never called Lily for broing out, and the night Robin was the wingwoman of Barney) ; and that look of Barney towards Robin in the hospital room.
But I definitely love R&B (Robarn and Bro is hard to understand, I took time for LAME, so
What really intrigged me was that it’s kind of a mirror of Ted/Stella : Barney and Robin broke up, Barney has an accident, he realizes something could be missing in his life. Ted changed, to go from the fear of commitment he had before the Pilot to the will to marry Stella. Barney did the same, in his own way.
I think we will see this parallel in the first episodes : Stella refusing to marry Ted, but not by breaking up (or if so, ouch), Robin close to Barney but not together. A few episodes, like NV said, and then, a change. Maybe Stella accepting Ted’s proposal, maybe Victoria back (you’d love that, I would), maybe a sudden fear of loneliness (that will first push her to move in with Ted), and this story will take a great part in season 4, but near the end (The “real” Goat).
Wow, I hope I didn’t forget to mention anything. Long live this blog, long live Bays & Thomas, and I hope we will hear from that R&B next season (had to say it
)
SeiKen | Friday, May 23rd, 2008 09:19 am GMT -4
I forgot something. I talked about the fear of commitment of Ted with Stella before his accident. It’s a thing he had before Marshall’s proposal, and I think he didn’t lose that fear at all, even with Robin : he knew she won’t be taking that huge lifechanging decision easily, and he didn’t really engage it.
Even when you know that you fear something, it could take a while to understand it.
And that’s what the accident really changed Ted.
Bruna | Friday, January 16th, 2009 07:27 pm GMT -4
I Agree with SeiKen!
Ted was desperate to find LOVE, not a relationship! He wanted to get married, but he just couldn´t commit when he saw some imperfection in the beloved one, he just freaked out. It happend with the socks-monkey girl in season 1; VIctoria; Stella (he had just broken up with her)… but not with Robin… I don´t know, I´m a huge ROBIN fan! And I think she just wants a TED, and not a BARNEY… But that is very important and cool to her having a Barney for a while!
Sometimes is just better to break up with someone you have future expectations with (like when Robin told Ted she had the hope he would be there for her when she wanted to finally commit!), then really try harder to make things work when they were just not supposed to work!
I think Robin´s love is TED! And she is just the kind of person that will not say nothing about her feelings. She saw TEd´s almost weeding without saying nothing.. but then she just exploded with feelings! That is really cool about the character…. is a very complex character… even more then Barney! I JUST LOVE BARNEY as well! And all of then… but i guess i just identify with Robin the most!
George | Monday, March 23rd, 2009 12:03 pm GMT -4
Every time i come here I am not dissapointed, nice post