Season 4, Episode 23: As Fast As She Can Discussion
This is one of the finest crafted episodes of the series. This goes beyond laughs and popcorn, it’s something more. It’s classy and funny. Moving and poignant. It takes its time with a resolution that we the audience not only wouldn’t miss but might actively not want to see. It respects its characters and their lives.
What Was Good
Stella. First, let me lay it all out. I love Sarah Chalke. A lot. Like a whole bunch. She can kind of do no wrong for me. That being said, she’s a better Elliot Reid than she is a Stella Zinman. My feelings notwithstanding, before you hate Stella (as you’ve all done so well this past week) let’s think about why. We hate her because she hurt Ted. That’s a friend defense. Props to the writers for evoking that kind of response. But before you hate her forever, think of her as a female Ted. Listen to her talk about Tony. She’s the same kind of romantic with the same love of love. Can we fault her for doing everything she can to be with her “the one”. Even if it is Tony. She’s from Jersey, it’s not her fault.
Despite the episode being incredibly moving it didn’t scrimp on the funny. Barney and Marshall might argue about who is Ted’s best friend but I think they’ve slowly become each other’s . I love their interpretation of Ted’s reaction to seeing Stella vs Robin’s. Marshall’s scale was great too, I especially love French Stella.
I will often complain that episodes try to fit in too much. This one, somehow, featured the creepiest scene I’ve ever seen in a half hour comedy (the murder house) without breaking pace or feeling overly complicated. I really enjoy Robin and Marshall’s response. I had read a spoiler about this so I knew it was coming and it still impressed me.
There’s a good way to edit together a B-plot and then there’s the awesome way. Look at how the above scene works off the tension built in the previous (murder house) sequence. All that builds toward the emotional climax shared between Ted and Stella in the following scenes. Plus, it took Barney being in jail for Ted to rediscover his kind side. Had he not, he would’ve left Stella in the hallway. The drive to and from Jersey was what it took for him to come back around.
I love Barney talking about Ted’s hot French girlfriend. That’s totally something a guy would do, and Stella realizing what was happening is just as realistic.
Lily’s back!
What Was Bad
Nothing. You might say Tony. He is a caricature. But keep in mind that this is all Future Ted telling the story. Much like Bob was 20 years older in Ted’s story than he really was that Thanksgiving, maybe Ted is telling the story in a way that plays up Tony’s doucheyness.
Favorite Moments
- “Give it a week, you’ll get her back. And her front.”
- “A check so big it doesn’t take its shirt off when it goes swimming.”
“A check so big if you had sex with it you wouldn’t tell your buddies.”
“A check so big that when you sit next to it on an airplane you find yourself wondering if the check should’ve bought two seats.” - “You a brat man, officer Yorgenson?” I love the entire flashback of Marshall talking his way out of a ticket. You have to love the midwest.
- “Challenge accep…wait for it”
“I don’t get it…”
“Accept-TED” - “That is outrageous. And factual.”
- “You got Tony to dump Stella? I’m very sorry but I am going to have to insist that you bump this.” – Robin is perfect for Barney
- “No. False. Did not happen”
“That’s a scene from a porno. I’ve seen that porno. Hell, I’ve made that porno.” - We’re conditioned now to get excited when we here Future Ted say “we’ll get to that later.” I want to know about “The Wedding Bride.” Could this be a movie Tony bases on Ted meeting The Mother?
Barney’s Funnier-than-it-should-be Line of Dialog
What was that high-pitched voice he took on when he was declaring he could get out of a ticket? I was drinking when it happened and I had to pause or I might have spit Riesling all over my computer. It must have been inspired by Robin finding Marshall’s avoidance of the law hot.
Closing
There was a moment tonight when Stella told Ted that Tony was “the one” for her. At the same time that it happened to Ted it happened to us. It was a mental eye roll, or a snort. Whatever it was, it was cynical, and it came from a place of pain. It wasn’t season one Ted, and it wasn’t the reaction of a romantic. When Ted said Stella couldn’t pull his strings because they weren’t attached to anything he meant it. This poor guy has been through a lot the past four years. And we’ve been there with him. When he says “I want that” it might be the most you’ll ever hear someone want something.
Scenes in this episode silence the room. The weight was such that a kind old lady neighbor had to be introduced to alleviate the tension. More than just comic relief, the presence of the lady is a commentary on the superficiality of a lesser sitcom and how this scene between Ted and Stella would play out to a happy ending, the ending we were all so worried would happen. But it didn’t.
Pay attention to the details of the hallway scene. Stella in a shirt that has a literal dividing line. Ted with collar and cuffs unbuttoned and exposed. This is Ted realizing what has happened to him since Shelter Island. It’s Stella trying to right what she knew was wrong. These are complex emotions through which Ted remains a gentleman. He tells Stella how she hurt him, but you can see he doesn’t hate her for it. We know he’ll help her win Tony back before he does. Ted might think his romance has died but we can still see it.
I like Stella’s joke about the speeding ticket. I also like the sentiment that Ted’s “the one” is getting here as fast as she can. I just wonder, how soon will that be?
Oh, and one more thing. Ted had the yellow umbrella the whole time. Yet we didn’t see Stella comment on recognizing it. Does this eliminate the possibility of The Mother being one of Stella’s friends?
Anyone know that song in the end?
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Desmond Ong | May 12, 2009 @ 1:06 pm
Yeah I love Sarah Chalke too at some point. LILY'S BACK!!!! YEA!
Tim | May 12, 2009 @ 1:31 pm
Why didn't they explain why Barney drives a car all the sudden? I hoop this wasn't a mistake and they explain it i a future episode.. Did they ever explain how Barney could drive Ted's moving truck?
JRod37 | May 12, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
Umm, dude, you need a reality check. This week's episode was weak. It concentrated too heavily on moving the story forward (which I understand is important) but at the end of the episode it really didn't move anything forward in the story. I'm left at the same point I was last week – the only difference is that I (still) know Stella isn't the mother. The writers spent too much time developing the main theme of the story and then didn't actually move it anywhere. They're leaving tension for the viewers just for tension's sake. This week's episode was a waste – and only a few of the lines were actually funny. You've got HIMYM colored glasses on, which does nothing more than to hurt your credibility.
By the way, I love HIMYM as much as anyone in the history of people who love television shows. So I'm not here just to "hate". I honestly thought this was one of the weakest episodes in the entire series.
CourtneyE | May 12, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
I got a little chokey during Stella's "she's getting here as fast as she can" bit. That was touching. I thought this episode was beautiful more than it was funny. Lots of sitcoms can't (or don't try to) pull that off.
Now bring on the finale! Pleasebarneyandrobingettogetherpleaseohpleaseohplease.
Thomas | May 12, 2009 @ 2:01 pm
I thought the same for a moment Tim, about Barney driving. I'd put it down to despite being afraid to drive in the 'Arrivaderci Fiero' flashback he has probably since learnt.
I really enjoyed this episode. I don't know how it will end but I felt that it kinda wrapped up the progression of Ted and everything he has gone through over this season and has positioned things nicely for whatever comes next. It was great to see Lily back too. I wouldn't say I've missed her that much the past couple of episodes but she'll be a welcome presence once she is back full time.
Has anyone tried http://www.weddingbridemovie.com/ yet? It comes up saying "This link appears to be broken". I assume since the movie was supposed to come out in 2010 they are holding onto it for a little longer.
DEC | May 12, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
The song is "Careful" by Michelle Featherstone.
I'm curious how Stella is going to lead Ted to the Mother, especially with the fact that after Ted talked to Tony, Tony & Stella flew to California the next day. I thought Stella was going to be around for a while. Then again, let's just see how the storytelling goes.
I was so happy to see Lily back! I was quite worried that she won't be present in the finale.
Speaking of finale, I read a while back that we would have 26 episodes this season. But next week's the last one, right? Hahaha I'm just basing this all on what I see on Wikipedia.
I loved the murderhouse bit and Barney's girlish scream the most. Such LOL moments. Hahahaha.
Jean Pierre | May 12, 2009 @ 2:24 pm
Hi I believe that the song is Careful by Michelle Featherstone, and keep up the good work. I too loved this episode it had so much material. I can't wait for the season finale
.
Dave Levy | May 12, 2009 @ 2:27 pm
I would absolutely argue that one of the reasons I hated Stella because of my love for Elliot Reid. I mean, these shows have the same audience, many of us all went, "Hey, that's Sarah Chalke from Scrubs." She doesn't look right on TV with anyone *other* than Zach Braff.
Brynne | May 12, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
Can we comment on how awesome it was that Ted's ringtone was Robin's "Let's go to the Mall!" God, I love this show!
JustinDickinson | May 12, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
I forgot to mention that. It was awesome!
viv | May 12, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
Ok i LOVE robin's "Ted I must insist you bump this"…but other than that…i found the episode fell a little flat. Good thing is…good old romantic ted is back!
Samuel | May 12, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
First time commenting, even though I've had this site in my google reader forever. This was a terrible episode. Sure, murder house was amazing but… come on.
1. The story was supposed to be so good for Ted he went around hugging clowns and homeless people! And yet it's just… another episode where he gets over Stella. It was pointless. There was nothing this episode added that hadn't been done before (especially in the one where they hide under the table etc.) If this episode didn't exist, no-one would notice. There was the big post-wedding episode and over time he got over it, dated over girls etc. The way the previous episode built it up to be the most significant thing ever made it an even bigger disappointment, considering how little the story achieved.
2. It's oh so very possible in the years since Barney's freakout that he could have learnt to drive. He seems the type to conquer his fears, to prove people wrong and so forth. Hopefully he's just about to with Robin. But a hint in between 'going 1 mile an hour makes me wee myself' and 'formula 1 speed barney' would be nice.
3. I don't think I've laughed so hard because of a single joke (murder house) since I dunno, whichever came last out of slapcountdown.com, the episode of pulling where he accidentally gets stuck with a hitler moustache or 30 rock's jefferson the movie.
raf | May 12, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
this episode was really kinda weak, i think robin was the best part of it though hehe. honestly i spent all of this morning listening to LETS GO TO THE MALL while getting dressed and i love this show, but yah this episode was weak. which was sad, because the previous episodes gave me goosebumps, it was so goooooood. and oh yes ted's ringtone is AWESOME =)
raf | May 12, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
btw stella has a killer wardrobe…
The Bens | May 12, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
Great episode!
My guess is: "The Wedding Bride" is what'll ultimately lead Ted to The Mother. Remember his little spiel about "the little things" in the last episode? The thing Future Ted is most thankful for when he bumped into Stella, isn't that he finally got the closure, or her encouragement that his "the one" is coming. He's most thankful that he got Tony to write that screenplay. It's the biggest "little thing" ever.
My guess is: he'll watch the screening and bump into The Mother that way.
Sara | May 12, 2009 @ 3:53 pm
I also noticed that, and was hoping others did as well. Too funny! I'll bet Robin is annoyed by that.
Josh | May 12, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
Just watched this episode for the second time. I agree that the "Wedding Bride" reference, which by the way had a May 2010 date on it, is setting up next season for some serious potential. But overall I thought this episode was a letdown after Right Place Right Time, and with next week (probably?) being more focused on Barney and Robin, and Stella/Tony being out of the picture (at least for a while), it seems doubtful to me that we'll see any meaningful progress in Ted's love life in the finale.
JonnyK | May 12, 2009 @ 3:57 pm
One thing that I just thought of is the fact that if they had redesigned the close of the episode and had Barney driving with "fake" pregnant Lily to get out of the speeding ticket when she was in fact actually pregnant would have been even more hilarious than him saying that earlier in the episode.
Sara | May 12, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
I don't hate Stella, I was just disappointed that it was her at the end of the last episode after all that build-up. I was hoping it would be the mom, or at least a new girl that might be the mom. I think others would agree.
Also, I was shocked that Tony is the same age as Stella. He looks so much older.
I think the guys in jail with Barney should have been Harold and Kumar. That would have been hilarious!
Josh | May 12, 2009 @ 3:59 pm
So, was the yellow umbrella just a fake-out the last two episodes? It sure seems so with Stella and Tony temporarily out of the picture….
GeL | May 12, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
OMG!! it's my ringtone too and when i heard it I was like "YAY YUH!!
duff | May 12, 2009 @ 4:25 pm
So, who's the police officer that arrested barney?
nicotine | May 12, 2009 @ 4:39 pm
Where did you get it? I want it!
Major Buzzkill | May 12, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
Same here. That's the ringtone I use for all my HIMYM loving friends. For everyone else, the Doogie Howser theme song
little barney | May 12, 2009 @ 4:41 pm
I don't get it, what was so big about this episode that made Ted hug beggars and people in the street. This episode was great but I was pissed off that Ted talked to Tony to take Stella back, no man would do that in real life.
The B-plot was funny and realistic but I don't know why they hyped up Stella so much last episode.
Don't get me wrong, I loved this episode, but I hated the hype of Stella.
Major Buzzkill | May 12, 2009 @ 4:42 pm
Sorry JD, I kind of have to disagree. Don't get me wrong, the stuff you said about Ted's progression in this ep is spot on. That was touching and wonderful. And the way the b plots were structured was fine.. it's just that I felt like they came out a little too forced and not that funny. I hardly laughed at this ep. I love, love the romance but I dunno, maybe it'll be funnier a second time.
Beth | May 12, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
Not my favorite episode. I don't think it told us anything new–just set up a few things for the future. We already got closure between Ted and Stella. Because future Ted wanted to go back and hug everyone who led him to the street corner, something mentioned in this episode is very significant–and it's not that he got closure. I think that it's a possibility that Ted will take the teaching job at Columbia, and that will lead him to the mother (next season.) I also think that the "Wedding Bride" was about Ted, Tony, and Stella, not Ted and future mom–there were two grooms and a bride on the cake.
Awesome | May 12, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
First I thought that wedding movie was going to be about Ted, but when i saw it again, i noiticed that they look like Stella and Tony, with Ted as best man. Maybe becouse Ted has brought Stella and Tony back together.
Great episode btw.
Danielle | May 12, 2009 @ 4:55 pm
Barney and driving….
In 'Arrivaderci Fiero'…we get a flashback of Barney not being able to drive. We do not know when that was do we? Did they tell us how long ago that was from the present time in 'Arrivaderci Fiero'.
So I do not think it is weird to think he could drive in "moving day" or last night.
ps..loved the episode.
Awesome | May 12, 2009 @ 4:58 pm
First I thought that wedding movie was going to be about Ted, but when i saw it again, i noiticed that they look like Stella and Tony, with Ted as best man. Maybe becouse Ted has brought Stella and Tony back together.
Danielle | May 12, 2009 @ 5:01 pm
I am assuming that Stella is about 27 or 28. She said she got pregnant at 19 and I think Lucy is 8 right?
And if Tony is supposed to that age I am 21.
Ike | May 12, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
JD amazing recap. You're spot on. I enjoyed the episode and am glad the writers gave Ted and us some more resolution with Stella. I think he'll be able to move on for real now. I think this episode will become more liked once we find out how the events portrayed lead to the mother. The writers do the most amazing job ever of making us feel connected to the characters (thus hating Stella) while bringing the funny.
jonathan | May 12, 2009 @ 5:20 pm
the continuity error of barney being able to drive really really bugs me. i guess we're supposed to assume that he can drive now as with the moving truck, but that's pretty weak since there was a full scene with him being terrified of getting behind the wheel.
David | May 12, 2009 @ 5:27 pm
From the expectation left from the last episode, I was waiting a lot more from this episode. I was little disappointed. What I did enjoy wer the romantic moments that the writers brought back from the old HIMYM-season1/2 episodes. Again, disappointed by the episode, I just hope that the season finale is going to be 10000 better
jonathan | May 12, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
also, the movie couldn't be the movie based on ted meeting the mother b/c the release day is may 2010. unless we're meeting the mother next week and then the show is ending and nobody knows about it yet.
another note, http://www.weddingbridemovie.com doesn't link to anything sadly. first time a site like that from the show hasn't worked.
Yohanan23 | May 12, 2009 @ 5:31 pm
kinda of weak.
i guess that the movie is like a HIMYM sequel , i dont know, maybe it's just advertising, all i know is that this episode was weak, and pointless just like ' best burguer in NY '
i was really hopeful that this would be 'the' episode, but it turned out to be 'an' episode.
and what about barney choice of moving on , and forgetting the whole ' womenizer ' life-style? seriously, i really want the BRo-love to be real.
Danielle | May 12, 2009 @ 5:34 pm
I posted about this above.
During 'Arrivaderci Fiero', we see a flashback of Barney being afraid to drive. We do not know when that was. So it is logical to think that he learned how to drive before the move and that means he could drive now.
That is just my idea about it.
Beth | May 12, 2009 @ 5:40 pm
I bet the wedding movie website isn't up yet, because Tony just moved to L.A. and therefore, the movie cannot be in production yet.
Sterling | May 12, 2009 @ 5:44 pm
i only just discovered this blog/forum, and i don't know what took me so long!
i love this summary/review/analysis. i also loved the "getting here as fast as she can" bit. that's how we've all felt, and while we know we won't know who the mother is for a very long time, it's a nice checkpoint for the audience. a good way to close that storyline, but still possibly continue with the yellow umbrella?
and alison hannigan is really pregnant. and super excited for "the wedding bride." and the goat. eventually.
Rjfv | May 12, 2009 @ 6:05 pm
Hey JD, thanks for this great text about this amazing TV show, once again! I love Sarah Chalke too, I loved this episode, although I don't seem to get one thing. Wasn't Barney freakishly scared of driving two or three seasons ago? Why does he only appear now driving so confidently?
Besides that little detail, this episode was awesome! ("Wow, did you all feel that?? I think it was a whar'up-quake!")
Keep up the excellent work, JD, we apprecciate it!
GeL | May 12, 2009 @ 6:20 pm
I found it at http://www.zedge.net Just do a search for the title and you should be able to preview it and download it if you like it. It's also free, which is hella cool!!
SoDoI | May 12, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
I wonder what the big deal with Lily is. She isn't important to the show any more, the last few episodes without her worked perfectly. I did not miss her. You guys are like "Yay, Lily is back" but she had 3 lines that weren't much fun after all. Well, that probably was just a setup for the finale as they shot it earlier and Lily is in there
SSJ | May 12, 2009 @ 7:39 pm
It wasn't bad episode, but it wasn't good either. I think that writers focused too much on character development and stuff and forgot about what this show truly is, was and will be – a sitcom. It suppose to make you laugh, not worry, not think, not cry, just laugh. I just hope that season finale will be funnier.
Amy | May 12, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
I was going to post this as well: I would say by the poster and placement of people on the cake that "Wedding Bride" will most surely be about Ted and Stella and Tony. I would assume that it will be a story about getting the girl from the groom at the last minute.
T.I.P. | May 12, 2009 @ 8:05 pm
My first Idea was that the story of the movie would be about Tony stealing his "the one" from Ted. But your "little thing" theory actually makes ALOT more sense. Like Josh says this will put some serious potential in the next season.
Amy | May 12, 2009 @ 8:06 pm
How can you not love Lily?
I would be devastated if any of the 5 main characters weren't around. Its just not the same when one of them is missing.
Westfall | May 12, 2009 @ 8:09 pm
What show have you been watching? Thats not HIMYM. If that is what you want, there are many other sitcoms out there. HIMYM has been different from the start because its not just about laughs, it has heart, its smart and every now and then some drama and a few tears. And all this while being awesomelly funny.
Samuel | May 12, 2009 @ 8:12 pm
The movie is obviously about Stella and him off the daily show/Ted considering the placement of the two grooms on the cake. Why would Jason Jones (that's his name! d'oh) write Ted's HIMYM?
Emilie | May 12, 2009 @ 8:17 pm
It's not fair to almost never have anything negative to say about an episode. And it blows my mind that you didn't mention the fact that just two years ago, Barney was terrified of driving. There was no transition, not even a line of narration, that closed that gap for us. Sure it's plausible, but an explation was needed.
Also, I definitely admit that the diolgue was great, especially the hallway scene. But bringing Lily back was a pointless tease. They should have found another way around getting her off the show for a while, other than that she's mad at Barney. Barney's always been that perverse; what made Lily stop accepting that fact?
TheMix | May 12, 2009 @ 8:42 pm
I don't think it was the looking right next to a person thing, or at least perhaps not in the way you're describing it.
I think it was more that she just never seemed totally comfortable in the role. She wasn't playing off of the other characters as well as she did with the Scrubs cast. When you're used to interacting with a certain cast for so long, it can be really tough to adapt to a new scene. She did have a couple moments that were genuinely entertaining or emotive, but she never seemed like she felt comfy working on the HIMYM set.
-Jason
TheMix | May 12, 2009 @ 8:55 pm
They never said outright that this episode was going to be a mind-blowing episode where everything gets solved. They may have left it lingering and left it a little too much to the imagination, but this episode is just about as far from a one-off episode as it gets. It's not just another episode where Ted gets over Stella. Ted was already over Stella….I've already had 3 people telling me that they didn't like how Ted was still trying to get over her, but I didn't see one semblance of that in the entire episode. It was about Stella making amends more than anything, and Ted trying to get Stella and Tony the hell out of his life…..but most importantly, and perhaps the absolute most important thing this season came out of this episode. The conversation with Stella in the car may not seem important to you, but it's incredibly pertinent. Without that conversation we're left with the Ted that we've seen for the last 2 years, a Ted that's having fun, but isn't fulfilled. Ted's "the one" side has been almost completely lost over the last 2 years. Yes, he loved Stella, but any one of us could've seen and did see that he was just trying to push things when he proposed. it was completely un-Ted-like. And that conversation in the car gives Ted a glimpse of what he has been before and can be again. Perhaps there's more coming in relation to the Stella-Ted thing and what happens because of their meeting. But although this realization was a little more subversive than actually meeting a girl, it's just as potent, because it forces Ted to find what he wanted to find all along, but had since strayed from.
-Jason
steve | May 12, 2009 @ 9:16 pm
Explaining away the driving continuity wasn't needed – check all the posts from this episode's preview comments and you'll see that there are plenty of indicators that Barney does indeed now know how to drive (and in fact learned the very next episode after "Arrivederci, Fiero"). That episode was a series of flashbacks and it's certainly not out of the question to think that it was many many years ago.
Plus, Barney's probably still a teenager in driving time – of course he's going to drive recklessly!
I think with Lily, you need to understand the ploy and accept it for what it is: maternity leave. So a character was missing from a few episodes – big deal! We all know WHY it happened, it just needs to be explained later to the newer viewers (i.e. after the show finishes its run) that both leading ladies had buns in the oven this season. Business concerns can actually spice up a show a bit, when mentioned as a plot device (Arrested Development Season 2, anyone?).
boy with no name | May 12, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
I was disappointed with this episode. I waited excitedly for a week to see what the big deal about him using the yellow umbrella, founding Stella at the junction have to do with this episode, but it kind of went nowhere. I dont know if they will reveal more in later episodes, but I was expecting a bigger closure after the hype last week. And now I find it has kind of lost momentum.
steve | May 12, 2009 @ 9:23 pm
I liked this episode, but there are parts of me that didn't – usually what my opinion boils down to is "will I watch this one more than the last…" well, I thought last weeks was better.
I thought the Murder House was kinda lame, and the way that they brought Lily back could have been done better (or later), but like I wrote in the reply above, I understand why and don't think that it could have been done well another way without ruining the finale.
I do think that Barney's getting a little bit sad. 15 tickets in 3 days to try and prove a point? Doing everything on the Murtaugh list? He's still the lovable fool, going to extremes, but if they really wanted to expand on his character this season they wouldn't have made him such a contradictory idiot. But he's really a "B" plot character most of the time, so the Barney-Robin relationship is a little strange to begin with.
Of course everything should be different next week after the finale.
Westfall | May 12, 2009 @ 5:29 pm
As much as i loved last weeks episode, i liked this one better. And i have agreed with your episode reviews before but i think this one hit the mark especially the bit about Sarah Chalke. Sure, what Stella did to Ted was BAD, but lets not demonise her, especially after this episode. And Marshal and Barney have become more than Teds best friends (or contenders for the spot), they have slowly become best friends to one another. But its been written in such a subtle way that i don't think even the characters have noticed it. "The Three Day Rule" was the perfect example of this.
Barney's story line was gold, as per uge, Robin's "bump this" rocked, and Lilly's return was awesome, especially how after just one sentence by Barney, she just left again. "Ease in to it" ROFL. The big fat check jokes were awesome, even Robin, who usually falls flat in these, nailed hers. Get her back… and then her front… who didn't laugh at that one ? Theres a lot to love in this episode. But hey, to each his own. That's my opinion, others may differ, but i loved it. Bring the season finale and THE GOAT.
TheMix | May 12, 2009 @ 9:38 pm
I'm sorry to take this comment and take you/it down in any way, but, and I mean this in the nicest possible sense….have you been watching the show AT ALL?
The entire show is about character development. Hell, the title implies MASSIVE character development. It's a sitcom, yes, but situation comedy doesn't just imply "only laughs, no character deviation" anymore. There are plenty of shows on TV now, beit the big network or cable that stray away from the typical Two and a Half Men-type of show, where nothing really changes, people just get older and get plopped into different situations with the same jokes in different format. If you want that kind of show, then HIMYM isn't and never has been that kind of show. I don't know where you would ever get that from. This show has always been about making you think or feel something for the characters….thus episodes like Slutty Pumpkin, Nothing Good Happens after 2 A.M., Slapsgiving, and this last episode.
Westfall | May 12, 2009 @ 9:53 pm
Thank you! I was going nuts trying to figure out where i knew this guy from.
Taryn | May 12, 2009 @ 9:54 pm
i have to disagree a bit. i thought the barney subplot was very weak, and i found it obtrusive more than anything else. and i do wish they would have thrown a comment in about him having learned to drive, just to satisfy the picky fans like me.
i absolutely loved Robin's reaction to Stella showing up. It shows just how much Barney is rubbing off on her, and it gives me hope that this might just happen.
Westfall | May 12, 2009 @ 10:32 pm
I think that can be it, it's not Stella herself that will bring the mother to him, its the change in him, caused by their encounter, that will lead to her.
Ash | May 12, 2009 @ 10:40 pm
I got mine through iTunes for my iPhone. It might be simple depending on your phone.
Westfall | May 12, 2009 @ 10:58 pm
I totally agree with you. I don't understand whats going on, most people are picking things that can be easily explained in-show like Barney's driving – he learned to drive after the Fiero incident – or totally obvious off-show events like Hannigan's pregnancy – Lilly gets pissed at a dirty joke. Accept things for what they are. Would people be happier if there was an episode with Barney in driving school? If they had done that, those same people would come out and say that the writers had wasted our time with an episode about Barney learning how to drive instead of focusing on Ted finding the mother. I accept that not everyone will like every single episode but there seems to be a whole lot of nitpicking lately that doesn't even make sense.
aaron | May 13, 2009 @ 12:08 am
I'm pretty surprised that you liked the episode JD. I was mildly entertained but thought it was average at best. There were some funny moment…but well crafted? No where near as good as last week.
Anyways. Still looking for a great season finale.
aaron | May 13, 2009 @ 12:10 am
the officer? must have been "the mother" =)
Herbert | May 13, 2009 @ 12:23 am
That was a really good recap! Probably your best one so far, made me enjoy the episode alot better. One think i didnt like about the episode was that of Barney driving, wasnt it in the episode when they see marshall's car gets to 200,000 miles that it shows how Barney has never drove. Also at marshall n lily's wedding, Ted mentions something about barney's car. Apart from that mishap, i did enjoy Barney's attempts, sad sad so many times. Also his funny antic in the jail cell! I agree with on your comment how Robin and Barney are perfect for each other! They are how cannot you see that, go through all four seasons and you can see the build up off their chemistry!
Derek | May 13, 2009 @ 12:46 am
Thank you Westfall! I was getting really annoyed by people freaking out about Barney driving a car.
Tash | May 13, 2009 @ 12:55 am
Anyone in Canada see the quick preview for the next episode?? It looked so good!
duff | May 13, 2009 @ 4:10 am
Registrant:
Intellectual Property Department (TCFFC)
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills CA 90213-0900
US
wmf@fox.com +1.3103691000 Fax: +1.11111111
Domain Name: weddingbridemovie.com
Eugene | May 13, 2009 @ 5:55 am
The wedding bride is gonna be the movie about the the shelter island episode. The two guys on the cake in tux'a in the poster and the expression on one of the faces gives it away cause a guy like tony would write a movie about him winning the girl. I agree that this wasnt one of the best but still solid because they always kind of tie the last 2-4 episodes together without us realizing it till the end. Robin and Ted actually broke up 2 or 3 episodes before the season 2 finale and we didnt find out till the last 2 minutes of the season. This meeting with Tony and Stella will lead to something bigger
Emilie | May 13, 2009 @ 11:18 am
I've been watching since day one (unlike a lot of nit-pickers) and there is a grave contrast between the quality and continuity in the first two seasons and the last two. I've seen these character develop. No, we didn't need a whole episode about Barney in driving school, but at least eluding to the prior events would have made everyone happy. The writers used to be really good about referencing prior episodes and pulling in long-time viewers. There's no denying that it's dropped off.
Jason | May 13, 2009 @ 3:21 pm
ummm. put 2 and 2 together. Ted will be the best man (this is based on the Movie image), Stella's friend, the one who lost the yellow umbrella will be her Maid of Honor, Ted will meet the mother at the Stella's Wedding. Was that so hard?
Randsome | May 13, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
So how exactly do I get the Robin Sparkles ringtone? Does anyone know?
David | May 13, 2009 @ 5:35 pm
Wasn't 200000 miles, it was the 100K fiasco
Herbert | May 13, 2009 @ 5:56 pm
yea dnt remember where read 200000 miles
TheMix | May 13, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
considering that pretty much nothing that we necessarily thought was going to happen HAS happened, yes…..it is hard. I don't mean to be rude, but you're speculating and assuming you're obviously correct based on figures in a movie poster that we saw all of 5 seconds of.
And did I miss something….since when do we know that Stella has a friend that lost a yellow umbrella? They aren't exactly commonplace and one would assume that they would've breeched that topic sometime within their relationship, or when she saw Ted holding the yellow umbrella. Or maybe I just missed a second of dialogue, stupid HD antennae.
JustinDickinson | May 13, 2009 @ 6:42 pm
That was my point with As Fast As She Can that no one else seemed to notice. Ted had the yellow umbrella in the car with Stella, you'd think if it was hers or a friends of hers that she'd make reference to it. She didn't, which to me proved that Stella+yellow umbrella is a red herring. It's the writers messing with us. Stella never said she was at the same St. Patrick's Day party that Ted attended either, it was all assumptive.
westfall | May 13, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
I agreed with TheMix on another post he made, where i believed this story was about the change in Ted's heart, returning to what he was in the first seasons. As for the yellow umbrella, i think it appeared in these 2 episodes for 2 reasons. The 1st and most obvious: getting everyone who was watching on the edge of their seats. It was a teasing tactic, i for one spent the whole "Right Time(…)" episode in antecipation of the reveal. The 2nd is IMO a symbolic one, as if to say, especially to those who are constantly acusing the writers of straying from the mather story, "hey, this is about Ted moving one step closer to meeting the mother". Stella doesn't know the mother, her part in changing Ted's life was in changing his heart and believing once more that he will find "the one".
DaveR | May 13, 2009 @ 8:42 pm
I absolutely have to disagree with everyone who thought this was a weak episode. For many of the same reasons TheMix has already identified. The story was supposed to be so good for Ted that he went around hugging clowns and homeless people? Well yeah, but guess what .. the story aint over yet!
Amy | May 13, 2009 @ 8:50 pm
You can download the song onto iTunes and then upload it into your phone
DaveR | May 13, 2009 @ 8:57 pm
Sorry folks, but if we're wating for THE episode, we may never get it. Maybe not until the series finale. The whole series is about Ted's JOURNEY, and this was yet another step along the way.
DaveR | May 13, 2009 @ 9:58 pm
Hmm .. see, and this is exactly why I love HIMYM so much more than any other sitcom on television. It's because it makes me think, it's because it makes me worry, and it's because it makes me cry. Well .. you know .. only sometimes. lol. And it does all that while still being awesome and hilarious. Yeah, the comedy was a little weaker on this week's ep, but the story more than made up for it IMO.
DaveR | May 13, 2009 @ 10:01 pm
I'll agree with you on the Barney thing. The writers are usually careful with stuff like that, but at times have disappointed me. Barney's driving is one, and another point I remember distinctly is the whole "I remembered it wrong" gag from Older Ted.
As for Lily though, it's just mat leave. I think they found a unique and funny way to write her out of the show for a few eps. I'm cool with that.
DaveR | May 13, 2009 @ 10:11 pm
Exactly, thanks Eugene. Lets not forget the big picture here people!
The Goat | May 13, 2009 @ 10:54 pm
I'm going to have to agree with Jason on this one (kind of, but we'll get to that later…). Check out the website for the movie: http://www.weddingbridemovie.com
I don't think that Ted would have been as excited at the end of 'Right Place Right Time' if all he was going to get out of Stella and Tony was closure ("So there you have it kids. There's a lot of little reasons why the big things in our lives happen. If I had known then where all those little things were leading me, and how grateful I'd be to get there, well, I probably would have done something, like this…."). The Stella/Tony encounter has to be leading directly to The Mother in some way, and we certainly didn't get that in 'As Fast as She Can'.
Based on the image for The Wedding Bride movie, it's fairly clear that the screenplay will be at least loosely based on what happened in the Ted-Stella-Tony love triangle.
I'm not going to go so far as to say that The Mother is Stella's maid of honor, but she'll likely be at the wedding.
RobinFTW | May 14, 2009 @ 12:12 am
So I went to theweddingbride.com, and noticed that the date was May 10 2010. And the seasons always tend to end in May. And considering this seems to be an extremely important event and all other things didn't seem to be so important that Ted would jump joy and hug hobos…As well as May 10, 2010 being a Monday…which is the day that HIMYM airs…this can only lead us to believe that…Robin is the mother…jk…that we might have to go a whole nother season b4 we know..maybe?
OhEmGee | May 14, 2009 @ 12:51 am
I thought of the same thing! I liked how Barney couldn't drive…
but the moving truck never occured to me, although I was freaking out when I saw him trying to get a speeding ticket.
BGeo | May 14, 2009 @ 2:00 am
I am quite surprised that several people disliked this episode. It had a season 1 like emotion to it, which is why I fell in love with this show.
I was out of town until tonight and was unable to watch it until half an hour ago, and I thought it was a terriffic episode. It seems to me that in lieu of Lily Marshall has developed a very strong relationship with Barney, which is awesome because Jason Segel and NPH work really well together.
There are so many funny parts that JD has already mentioned that it would be unnecessary for me to repeat. I loved Ted's ring tone!!!
Five more sleeps until the Goat!
High Hoper | May 14, 2009 @ 2:15 am
awesome episode. I laughed my ass off.
Finally, I (at least) got what I wanted… My old series back. This last episodes have been the salvation of the season for me. And the thing with Tony/Stella, it was really good. It gives a proper and "less hateable" ending to the story, although it leads some way to the mother (i will not reveal, I do not like to comment spoilers unless it's a spoiler topic LOL).
Nevertheless, I feel that the speech of Ted in the car…. needed something else. More dedication, more emphasis, more heart to it… The guy's devastated, isn't him? Everyone he dated since he's searching for the one went wrong, lost his job, living with his ex, and still finds reasons to laugh and move on. Yeah, Ted is one of the best characters ever.
Speaking of Barney, I hoped they would make another step into the finale thing with Robin.
One last thing to end: what role will Wedding Bride Movie play in Ted's quest for true love? It will be a movie that he watches with the mom, but he does not know she'll be the one? Or just one random reference they'll not call back in the future?
Starbird | May 14, 2009 @ 2:47 am
Great point!
So all these building-ups–from "Miracles" to "The Leap" to the Season5 finale (and I think it would be too much to put into just one episode for the big met-mother scene with Tony's movie)–we have to wait until maybe by the end of SEASON6 to find out why these are so relevant, important, and miraculous?
I love this show, i really do, but does anyone wonders when you have a heart hanging for too long, sometimes it just stops beating for you anymore.
Travis | May 14, 2009 @ 5:39 am
Seriously?!?!? This was one of the worst episodes of an already crappy season. I'm praying that season 5 is way, WAY better.
TheMix | May 14, 2009 @ 6:43 am
quite the insightful comment. very full of unique commentary and explanation of your point….
I'm all for expression of opinion, but hey man…..at least explain WHY you hated this episode/season
DaveR | May 14, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
OK, crazy thought here. But how far off am I to think that The Wedding Bride movie may end up being a 2 hour series finale for HIMYM?
OK, yeah, thought so.
Clyde | May 14, 2009 @ 9:30 pm
I'm sorry but the writers regressed Ted and made him look like a bitch. You do not help the woman who left you at the alter to straighten out the relationship with the man she left you for! NEVER!
I'm sick of this, just as they make Ted grow a pair and have him say whats on his mind and be real, they immediately take his balls back and have the show go into a "happily ever after" "ABC after school special" moment.
Thank God for Barney. The only man in the show.
Starbird | May 15, 2009 @ 2:12 am
Me too, for a minute I even thought they are going for big screen!
But then I noticed it's about Ted & Stella's wedding. Nothing says romantic when we watch our hero get hurt, right? If they are going to make a movie, it must be about Ted, not Tony.
Starbird | May 15, 2009 @ 2:28 am
Actually I think it's sweet. Giving bless to the one you cared or helping others find true love is a worthy course, even though they have hurt you. It doesn't make you a bitch. If you are man enough to take it, then do it. Stella is not a bad person after all, I kinda like it when she and Tony are together, at least for little Lucy's sake, and for Ted's sake.
Knasen | May 15, 2009 @ 9:38 am
Agree. This blogg is going to the advertising side, more and more every week.
Agree to everything JRod37 says. This was a not so funny episode that dident push the story forward.
leah | May 16, 2009 @ 9:13 am
Yeah, I wondered about that too… The show seems to have more and more holes in consistency
May | May 17, 2009 @ 6:43 am
"The Wedding Bride" is totally based on Stella running out on Ted… at least that's what I thought the moment they mentioned it.
Clyde | May 18, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
Stella is a horrible person. You don't leave someone on your wedding day to go back to your ex. You must be a hot chick, because you could never imagine some guy doing this to you and the resulting devestation.
TheMix | May 18, 2009 @ 9:32 pm
I don't think that makes her a bad person. It just means she made a mistake.
Ted obviously doesn't think she's a bad person….that's solace enough for me.
Clyde | May 19, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
This does make her a horrible person because she should not have chosen that moment to do so. I have no problem with her breaking up with Ted but to do so at that moment makes her a horrible person. If she had the doubts that she expressed then she should not have accepted Ted's marriage proposal. The End.
TheMix | May 19, 2009 @ 8:38 pm
There is no The End. It's a totally subjective argument. She's a horrible person in your eyes. That doesn't make her a horrible person in Ted's eyes. And as far as I'm concerned, the one who got left at the altar has the last word on that…..No offense, but I'm going to go with the character's opinion of her over yours.
becky | June 22, 2009 @ 10:32 am
i need to know the name of the song that was playing at the end of the stella ted part some thing bout b careful with my heart…. if any1 knows the actual name of the song and who its by plz post it
Anna | June 25, 2009 @ 1:04 am
It's Ted and Stella getting married and Stella looking back at Tony.