Season 5, Episode 2: Double Date Discussion

two-blind-dates

Have we all not thought about having the opportunity Ted and Jen got to have tonight? How many dates have we thought back on, realizing in hindsight all the things we could’ve done better, the things we could’ve said or not said, the missed opportunities? How often do we wonder what today would be like if we had done things differently? We never get to see what wonderful life we could have had but tonight Ted did.

Has this been done before? The blind date with the same girl? I’d be surprised if it hasn’t. Not that it’s particularly clever, but it’s viable, and rife with opportunity for split screen and hard-won lessons about growth. Also, what does it mean when your lame Dad-puns are more memorable than your face? Even if it is now clean shaven and no longer drawing attention to your lips by circling them with hair?

What Was Good

Lily’s hair is the hottest this season that it’s ever been. Her colorist deserves a medal.

lindsay-slone

Casting Lindsay Sloane was a good move. She’s the perfect blind date girl. She’s pretty, but in a more wholesome way than a get-invited-into-a-bar-for-free-bottle-service-on-the-way-back-from-the-laundramatte-on-a-Sunday-afternoon-with-no-makeup-and-chipped-nail-polish way. She’s the kind of girl you might pass up in the lush times, but that you’d think back on fondly and wonder “what if” during a lean, cold winter. Plus, she can look into someone’s eyes with more fake devotion than a lot of people I’ve seen who mean it. Well done you.

Marshall’s elaborate fantasy reminds me of an episode of You Look Nice Today where Scott Simpson talks about his sexual fantasies involving an entire day of activity before it is reasonable enough to assume intercourse would be possible. If you haven’t listened to the show, check it out, just not that episode because it isn’t the best one.

The whole episode I was waiting to see Ted and Jen go back to MacLarens. I wondered what it’d be like to bring a date around your friends. They didn’t disappoint.

I had already paused to write about the roof moment in the ‘what was bad section’ but then Ted calls her, from the roof, to apologize. Lame? Yes. But so is Ted, and it kind of works for him.

Props to the EyeLab dudes for all their great work on the two-of-the-same-actors-in-the-frame action tonight. You guys rock!

What Was Bad

While the “unless you go in the back, but then you’ve got to pay” was funny (as is Lily being turned on thinking of a stripper who looks like her) the reversal of Robin being mad while Lily wasn’t after Marshall was so worried was too predictable. For one, long term viewers know the depths of Lily’s filth so it’s no surprise she’d be into it. Two, I don’t think it’s in Robin’s character to actually care. It violated sitcom rule #1: joke at the expense of characters. This is an oft broken rule but I expect more from HIMYM.

hot-delivery-girl
Girls this hot don’t deliver packages. They accept them. What up!

Calling her from the roof or not, that sudden conflict was lame. Maybe if they didn’t have such crazy chemistry the whole episode but they did, and the roof bit didn’t sit right with me.

Lily therapizing Marshall to be comfortable with fantasies of other women might be cute but Robin had very little to do in this episode and just feels really out of character here.

What else is bad: you d-bags calling Hannigan and Smulders fat in the comments. It’s true they haven’t lost all their baby weight but I think they both look damn good and the way you talk about them like a photographer casting for a fashion shoot is just gross. You are not so far removed that you can be so judgmental, they’re people whose job is to be funny on this show, not to be stick thin for your enjoyment. Stop it.

Favorite Moments

robin-dopple
marshall-dopple

  • Doppelgängers!
  • Front row seats for a lethal injection = fantastic. I’d pay good money to brainstorm just once in the writers room. I suppose that could be NPH adlibing but no one is that funny on the spot…are they?
  • The subtle commentary on the disappointment of career aspirations is enjoyable.
  • “but first I’m going to make Marshall watch as I wedge Ulysses S. Grant between his wife’s ta-tas” That’s a lot to drop on a dancer. And wouldn’t Andrew Jackson appreciate the gesture more?
  • “You dress your cats up in weird costumes”
    “They’re not weird, see, you’re being snobby again.” ADORABLE
  • The check dance. I didn’t even know that was a thing but now that I think about it, it totally is. Ladies, do you do this? Do you expect the guy to pay? If you do, do you at least offer? Guys, is the check dance something you look for? I really want to know. Tell me in the comments (it’ll also let me know who reads this far)
  • “And then there’s Tabbygail Adams, the Jester of the group”
  • “Even his shockingly small wiener?”
    “See, why didn’t you lead off with that?” Why do I love watching Ted on a date so much?
  • “Was there a shower on stage? I bet stripper me would get in there with another girl and just go bananas”
  • “I remember him coming across as kind of a player” – notice how they all say “Ted?” and he says “me?”
  • “There’s the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, and at 12 o’clock, a rotund couple going at it against the glass.” I didn’t know they could see the Standard hotel from Ted’s apartment.
  • Did I mention I sort of love Lindsay Sloane? There’s something about her. Before you freaks find me her number and home address, it might just be the writing—her timing and intonation reminds me a lot of Charlene Amoia (who, in case you’re new, is awesome).

Closing

The resolution to the roof scene, despite my back and forth, ended up being OK.

dinner-old
dinner-new

I loved Ted’s blind date scenes. I don’t know why. Actually, I do. This is when I really like Ted. Last week was mostly season premiere goggles because his professor stuff was sort of lame. My friend Dan put it well: he’s treading dangerously close to the David Schwimmer “neurotic” zone. Ted is best dating, trying (sometimes successfully but almost better when not) to seduce women because that’s what made his character, the whole show really, initially attractive: sensitivity. Every word Ted says to a girl you know he’s memorizing for a potential wedding toast or “how we met” story. There’s a purity to that that isn’t often seen on a sitcom or in a real person. We all fell in love with Ted because he’s brave enough to keep putting himself out there. Now we have Barney’s awesomeness, Lily’s evil manipulation, Marshall’s childlike wonderment, show more of Ted being moody, needy, romantic. It’s what we like to see.

pineapple-in-jens-bag
Nice subtle touch: in the “what if” sequence, Jen has a pineapple in her shopping bag.

Songs from Tonight’s Episode

The song played during Ted and Jen’s “what if” sequence is Rewind by Goldspot

Editor’s note: this is a weird ass video.

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In Casting/Gueststars, Season 5, Show Analysis @ 29/09/2009 | By JD
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107 Comments to “Season 5, Episode 2: Double Date Discussion”

  1.  Andy | September 29, 2009 @ 5:58 am

    I got really upset in the middle of the episode because I thought that they had jacked up the timeline (thinking Barney met Ted just one year before the show began) but now I think about it, I think I remember it being three years before, which would make it possible – if not at all logical – for Barney to have been on this date and already have inside jokes with the gang.

    Anyway, it was a pretty good episode. Nothing too special, nothing too bad.

  2.  Jenn | September 29, 2009 @ 6:09 am

    This was a decent episode. Not my very favorite, but I thought the whole story line with Ted was cute. It's amazing how after 5 seasons you can still want him to find someone so badly! I don't actually think that meeting the mother necessarily has to be the finale. I think the show could still be really funny after they've met and been dating. Maybe the finale could be their wedding after like 2 years.

  3.  Jenn | September 29, 2009 @ 6:10 am

    By the way, I really liked the write-up tonight. You've got a good "voice" and really think about the show. Whoever you are :)

  4.  TheMix | September 29, 2009 @ 6:35 am

    Two things before I watch Transformers 2 (which I have no doubt will completely suck, but I plan on watching it about 5 or 6 beers in, so that will make it better):

    1. "I don’t think it’s in Robin’s character to actually care." I do. This is one of the few times we disagree JD. I think it's in Robin's character to care simply because she's aware that she's definitely in a relationship. Barney's still trying to deny it, even though he knows he is….thus all of his "she's ok with it" comments. The reason I think it's in Robin's character to care is that though she may be the "whatever" character much like Barney when outside of a relationship, she's quite serious when inside a relationship. The talks that she and Ted had when inside the relationship definitely had a level of introspection and seriousness to them….and even semi-outside the relationship (Slapsgiving).

    2. I don't think it's so much Ted's "sensitivity" that gets him the girls that he's gotten so far on the show (though that's a part of it). I think it's more his creativity than anything, simply because not only is he creating these scenarios that not many other men would think of, but those same scenarios include a certain level of sensitivity in that he would take the time to think of them in the first place.

    That's all for now. I think I've got more rolling around in my brain for later though. Also, good discussion concerning Lindsay Sloane…..couldn't have put it better myself.

  5.  Chelsea | September 29, 2009 @ 7:13 am

    hmm I don't have any complaints about this show. Just happy to have the show in its 5th season with great actors & great writers!

  6.  Chelsea | September 29, 2009 @ 7:17 am

    BTW to comment on those d-bags who are calling the lovely main cast ladies fat. Obviously they are either male or never gave birth. I hope to look as gorgeous as Cobie or Alyson after I have my child. I'm guessing those who think these talented ladies are fat apparently think that showing your full rib cage is healthy.

  7.  sydb | September 29, 2009 @ 7:30 am

    im not sure what i thought about this episode. i didn't find it very funny. and there was not enough robin.

    my favourite bits tonight were the doppelgangers (marshall and robin's) and jason segel being hilarious during the dream sequence.

    i do the check dance, JD. it would feel weird to simply assume that the guy has to pay, but i sure do like it when they insist and pay for all of it. :)

  8.  sydb | September 29, 2009 @ 7:36 am

    also, thank you for defending the girls. there were a few comments which were just plain mean. they both look great, even better now, i'd say.

  9.  katie89 | September 29, 2009 @ 7:55 am

    i loved that jane didn't think of catwoman btw ^^

    i don't think robin was out of character either, for the same reason as that guy above. i kind of liked that she was jealous/mad, even though it was such an obvious move after barney said she'd be fine and marshall was so afraid of lily. agree that she was sooo under-used in the ep, though. also i'm kind of sick of dirty lily/sweet marshall, they've gone a little too far with that altogether. they started out as equals in the show, most of the time sweet, sometims totally kinky (crazy monkey sex etc ;) ) but now the'y ve grown so different, i actually don't know if they'd still be together in the real world.

    loved that they had ted with the lame "super-corny dad jokes" they mentioned him telling in an earlier episode

    what i really liked was that realization in the end about how they'd want to marry someone who accepts them for who they are. it was just SO ted, i'm really glad we got "old" ted back after stella broke his heart and was not the big romantic he used to be anymore. also i love how ted's still just looking for THE ONE. he could've easily jumped into bed with that girl or even dated her for a good couple of months because things seemed to be working out, but it's just not him.

    "it's gotten to the point where everytime i drive past a cemetery, i'm sportin' a partial" – anyone else find that totally creepy? :D

  10.  katie89 | September 29, 2009 @ 7:58 am

    also i think it's great how ted was already that same romantic at 24 hence the not calling her back. altogether it must be interesting (sad?) to realize you haven't changed in seven years..

  11.  tinyeurekah | September 29, 2009 @ 8:11 am

    I honestly thought they looked kinda hotter with some post-pregnancy weight. But that's just me.

  12.  max | September 29, 2009 @ 8:30 am

    thank gods you knew which song that was (at the end..) this was going to haunt me the next week. loved the episode.

  13.  Ricky Kidd | September 29, 2009 @ 8:45 am

    I CAN'T BELIEVE they didn't callback to the blind-date girl from "Milk." She is a perfect candidate for the Mother (she matches Ted's profile in every category, for God's sake) and this would have been an excellent way to reintroduce her.

    Other than that, a fun episode. Will be watching in hopes that the writers realize the error of their ways and bring back "Milk" girl soon this season.

  14.  katie89 | September 29, 2009 @ 9:19 am

    i don't think they'll bring milk girl back, i think she'll actually be the mother. or "shellfish lady" as she'll henceforce be known :)

  15.  bam | September 29, 2009 @ 10:16 am

    Liked the episode, but the last one was far superior. the "having to kill your wife in my fantasy, so i can fantasize about other women" reminded me of that one King of Queens episode, where they had like exactly the same situation.

  16.  Stephen Duncan Jr | September 29, 2009 @ 11:41 am

    While Robin not being ok with it was predictable, Cobie's delivery of "Did your whores tell you that" was fantastic.

    I could see it being in character, but I'm not sure they earned it. The discussion with Barney at the end about the relationship was a start, but since they didn't work towards any closure, it kept it feeling like a cheap gag.

    Marshall's elaborate fantasy was great.

  17.  Thomas | September 29, 2009 @ 11:41 am

    Not as good as the season opener but still an enjoyable episode. Ted's blind date stuff was a lot of fun. A big part of HIMYM's charm is this story that we're being allowed to witness and its episodes like this that feel part of this journey and seem natural.

    Marshall's fantasy made me crack up and I think I was as disappointed as he was they didn't go to the 'Origins of Chewbacca' (?) convention!

    Also I noticed for last week's episode some comments about Cobie Smulders and Alyson Hannigan post pregnancy and have to agree with JD and say shut up to those people. Firstly why their respective figures particularly needs critiquing I do not know. Secondly they look pretty damn good to me anyway so I don't know what they are seeing wrong!

  18.  JustinDickinson | September 29, 2009 @ 12:31 pm

    Thanks Jenn!

  19.  Abhinav Mall | September 29, 2009 @ 8:51 am

    YEs i look forward to a check dance. I think every guy does

  20.  nini | September 29, 2009 @ 12:56 pm

    1. First one was better but this one is still better than the ones of season 4. I don't know but season 4 , apart from a bunch of episodes (shelter island, the stinsons…), was very lame. I thought the Robarn thing was going to suck hard, but seeing how it began is going to be pretty good.

    2. I don't know if the people around here are Casanovas that use to date broom sticks or think that Calista Flockhart and the Olsen twins are role models… Usually people that say this aren't very fit themselves and haven't seen a ·3D female in real life.
    (advice for being fit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSOZtXYMycY ).
    They look great.

    3. The episode is not plausible. Women do remember you ALWAYS. They know that you once bought a car wash ticket in a shop that belonged to the friend of the cousin of the neighbour of their boss. And men tend to forget. So they catch every little lie (i am the son of a swiss banker and have a fleet of bmws and mercedes benzs, but I ride in a crappy bicycle because i like to be in touch with the people) and they can tell you wathever they like. Reality proven.

    ??? I used to comment here but i always forget the name I put. And I remember JD that you said you wanted to make another blog, are you still doing so?

  21.  Trevor | September 29, 2009 @ 1:18 pm

    My GF and I were watching this episode and she said the kids look like Jen. And Ted does mention that the Mom does laugh at the corny joke. Any possibility these two meet up again on another blind date and dont remember (seriously doubtful) and of course she would have been in the economics class and said, Oh you are the guy who made a fool of himself…. Too bad because lindsey sloan would have made a great mother and would have had great chemistry.

    Also, who is this milk/shellfish lady? I still want Victoria back. And the check dance is real. I know I am going to pay, but I want the woman to at least offer so she doesnt show its expected.

  22.  fhsambuichi | September 29, 2009 @ 1:21 pm

    your not alone dude hahaha

  23.  fhsambuichi | September 29, 2009 @ 1:36 pm

    True,

    If you rewatch episodes from the second season you'll see that when Robin and Ted were a couple, she had her jealousy moments, especially in the "Ted Mosby, architect" episode, where Barney pretends to be Ted and she ends up with lily at that girl's appartment (forgot her name hehehe). So yes, i also think that she is the kinda person that would not appreciate barney going to a strip club while in a relationship with her. In my opinion that's Robin…even though she always claims not to want to be in a relationship, whenever she is in a serious one, she really becomes the girlfriend type.

    As for your other point TheMix, i think your mistaken…. Ted's sensitivity is just cativating. He's never affraid of putting himself out there. He says what he feels. I just love that about his character.

    I think producers are doing a hell of a job coming up with original and funny stories – at least in my opinion.

    I still love the show and it is really living up to my expectations. and they were pretty HIGH!
    :)

  24.  fhsambuichi | September 29, 2009 @ 1:44 pm

    I think the check dance is something expected for us guys. When we take a girl out to dinner….it is implied that we're going to pay, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the girl cant at least pretend to intend to pay hauhaueaueh (weird sentence)

  25.  Raiger | September 29, 2009 @ 2:27 pm

    Loved the episode. So excited to see the two remaining doppelgängers! I bet we see Ted's in connection to The Wedding Bride.

  26.  Daniel Saks | September 29, 2009 @ 2:38 pm

    They really do!

  27.  Daniel Saks | September 29, 2009 @ 2:40 pm

    Heck I do the check dance with my parents and in-laws. Neither of whom ever let me pay.

  28.  Shelley | September 29, 2009 @ 10:56 am

    I don’t think it was out of character for Robin to be upset – after all, she is the one who got super-pissed at Ted for keeping stuff that belonged to his ex-girlfriends in “Stuff” and she got really jealous in “Ted Mosby, Architect”. I think Robin may be cool to “bro out” with and be friends with, but as a girlfriend, she does have a jealous streak. I was disappointed that Barney completely ignored her though, but that is in character for him, I guess.

    They spent an entire year building up to Barney & Robin getting together, so I guess I was hoping that we’d get to see Barney & Robin be happy for a while before they started showing cracks in their relationship, but I guess we’ll see what is to come.

    Regarding the check dance – ALWAYS. I am a girl and I always do the mock argument about the check even though it’s pretty much expected that the guy will pay. I think it would be rude of me to not at least offer though and mock argue that I want to pay my share. However – on the odd time I have done the check dance and the guy does let me pay my half, I feel kind of like, “Really, dude?!” But only for the first date – after a while, I think the girl should start paying her share.

    Lastly, in what world are Cobie & Alyson fat? I didn’t read your comments last week, but if people are saying that, they are on crack and thank you for defending them. These women just had babies and they are thinner than the average woman in North America already. If only I could be their weight (and I’m maybe only 20 lbs heavier than Cobie Smulders) and I don’t even have the excuse of having had a baby to have my extra weight. Thank God that Alyson and Cobie are healthy looking and aren’t lollipop heads like some emaciated female celebrities. I think they look awesome. So to all of the people who think they look fat – suck it, d-bags.

  29.  DaveR | September 29, 2009 @ 3:14 pm

    Hmm .. interesting. I have never expected the cheque dance. (Yes, 'cheque', as the way Cobie would spell it!) I did love the dopelgangers though! Didn't future Ted say we'd see another one? Who's left .. Barney?

  30.  DaveR | September 29, 2009 @ 3:17 pm

    Creepy, yes .. but so damn funny!

  31.  apsutter | September 29, 2009 @ 3:30 pm

    I love, love, loved the doppelgangers!!! Jokes like that are why I'm obsessed with this show! This season has gotten off to a pretty good start. I was disappointed with season 4 and want to get back to romantic ted looking for the right girl. I also wasnt sure about robin and barney together but I think its going to be a good thing. I'm going to best buy tonight to buy season 4 and rewatch it and hopefully it'll have grown a little on me. Anyone who would dare call our girls fat are complete jerks. Honestly, I was thinking that before, especially season 3, they were too skinny. And I missed their awesome sense of style last year. I was actually thinking that in the premier episode, last scene where lily, marshall, and ted are standing on the stoop talking about robin and barney that she looked great! She had a cute top on and jeans and looked very voluptous!! Keep it up girls!! I definitely need some more Robin though, she's probly my second fav and is just sooooo hilarious!

  32.  Josh | September 29, 2009 @ 3:43 pm

    Season 5 is starting off SO much better than season 4 (which I AM going to pick up on DVD today).

    I love the creativity in which they had to develop jokes and payoffs throughout the blind date scenes – her joke about needing a job paid off in the past, then they stayed in the past so that Ted's joke could land in the present (I'm sure I'm the only one who noticed or cares or gets off from good writing structure). Regardless, it's tough to do and they did it well.

    My ONLY real problem with the ep is that the Marshall-mentally-killing-off-Lilly so that he could fantasize about other women was done EXACTLY the same way on a "King of Queens" episode a couple of years ago. I know there is nothing new under the sun, but doing the exact same concept so soon just looks a little lame.

    My favorite HIMYM eps are the ones with a little mystery built in and this hit the spot for me – not a classic for sure, but another solid entry in an already solid start to the season

  33.  Josh | September 29, 2009 @ 3:43 pm

    PS – LOVE the Doppelgängers, can't wait for the other two (Alex Baldwin won his Emmy because voters freakin love when actors play two roles – here's hoping NHP's upcoming dual role FINALLY lands him the Emmy he deserves).

  34.  A-Face | September 29, 2009 @ 3:48 pm

    Hi everyone,
    D-bag here. I'm a woman, but no, I've never given birth, so forgive my lack of understanding on that count. First, let me apologize for needlessly crossing the line and calling these two actresses fat. I'm a feminist, and I realize such a comment directly undermines my belief that women should not be bound to the societal norms that dictate beauty. It's complicated being a girl and wrestling between the rewards you are given for conforming to femininity (which often equates, among other things, to thinness) and the liberation you can achieve through loving yourself the way you are. Something that trips me up constantly.

    That said, I first want to point out that these women have chosen to display themselves on screen, in the entertainment industry, as their careers. Anyone who thinks actors and actresses aren't judged based on appearance in Hollywood every single day is naive, to say the least.

    Furthermore, I think it's hypocritical for the comments on this blog to represent disgust at the discussion of either Hannigan's or Smulders' figure or appearance. There have been countless comments (and JD is not exempt) about how hot they are, and whether we are praising or condemning women's bodies, we are still objectifying them.

    Again, I apologize, and I remain a huge fan of the show.

  35.  BGeo | September 29, 2009 @ 3:50 pm

    There was some really funny material in this episode, especially the Doppelgängers… lesbian Robin was hilarious. As much as the episode wasn't solid from start to finish, there was still a lot of positives to be taken from it. The clues of the mother are starting to accumulate, and it almost feels as if we know her, without meeting her (which of course we have NOT yet). As much as Robin's actions seemed foreign to us this episode, it isn't the first time we have seen her act this way (a la "Ted Mosby, Architect), so even though many people weren't feeling it, I thought it was realistic.

    P.S. someone posted an article in the forum section of the site in regards to the 100th episode. It is a must read!!!

  36.  JustinDickinson | September 29, 2009 @ 3:54 pm

    A-Face,

    Thank you for the response! I appreciate your point but I lose your argument when you equate complimenting the actresses with calling them fat. If I was being lewd in my compliments, I could see your point. Saying one of the actresses looks good does not seem to be the same type of objectification as saying they're fat. At the very least, one is a compliment and the other an insult, the two seem unrelated.

    And much like there's a difference between a vague comment of beauty and a lewd cat-call, saying \”it's obvious they haven't lost all their baby weight\” wouldn't have garnered a response from me. It was the \”they're fat\” statement, in it's absolution and extremity, that bothered me.

    I appreciate you stepping forward however, it's a rare act on the Internet. I hope you continue to contribute to the site.

    JD

  37.  fhsambuichi | September 29, 2009 @ 4:37 pm

    dopelgangers were indeed funny ! only ONE left? so that means either barney or ted is going to be left out of the dopelgangers joke… unlikely. Hope to see the barney one though lol

  38.  TheMix | September 29, 2009 @ 5:51 pm

    As per your P.S., as I said in the forum…. "Holy Hell"….awesome.

  39.  Tim | September 29, 2009 @ 5:57 pm

    No, there's going to be two more.

    Older Ted said, "By the following summer, we would find the remaining two doppelgangers, but I'll get to that."

    I love these future jokes.

  40.  Danielle | September 29, 2009 @ 6:18 pm

    Great episode!!

    ps..someone called the girls FAT??? I do not think either one of them could be fat even if they tried. They were not even fat pregnant girls..they were just PREGNANT.

    I am 8 months pregnant myself and I hope to look as good as them when my baby is 6 months in Alysons case and I believe 4 months in Cobie case.

    To be honest..I thought at the end of Season 3 beginning of Season 4..Cobie was TOOOOO skinny.

  41.  TheMix | September 29, 2009 @ 7:22 pm

    Well ya, and you have to remember. Filming takes place earlier. So we're talking more like 4 or 5 months and 2 or 3 months.

  42.  R2 Sweet Tooth | September 29, 2009 @ 7:44 pm

    Another funfact I noticed, the shirt Jen wears in a scene is the same shirt that penelope wore in "Come On", S01E22. Picture:

    http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3466/samecloths….

    I guess I've been watching too much HIMYM since I recognise a top ;) .

  43.  blarg | September 29, 2009 @ 8:06 pm

    wow great catch

  44.  Danielle | September 29, 2009 @ 8:19 pm

    Right and they look GREAT for just have babies..like I said I hope to look like that after my little one enters the world in Nov.

  45.  BSMOOTH | September 29, 2009 @ 8:32 pm

    Don't think this has been posted yet, but solid ratings for Episode 2 (8.73 million viewers 3.6/10 18-49 demo). HIMYM is performing better than BBT did last year in the same slot with much tougher competition (House). Definitely a great sign for the longevity of the show.

    As for this episode, it was good but not great. I would agree that it is Ted's sensitivity that sets him apart as a great character that we are emotionally invested in on the show.

    Anyone else feel like any girl Ted dates right now is a dead-end? I mean, we know that the mother was in the class that he made a total fool of himself in, so any girl he's going on a date with definitely isn't the mother because they definitely would have remembered him for something that happened so recently if they were in fact in the class. It's almost like Bays and Thomas have lost their option of tricking us into thinking someone is the mother (like they did with Stella). What does everyone else think about this?

  46.  JustinDickinson | September 29, 2009 @ 8:36 pm

    I think I enjoyed watching Ted with Robin throughout season 2 knowing she wouldn't eventually be the mother. It doesn't bother me at all.

  47.  Fabio | September 29, 2009 @ 9:17 pm

    Wow impressive catch

  48.  Fabio | September 29, 2009 @ 9:23 pm

    I don't know man… i mean… carter and bays and really intelligent. They wouldn't put themselves in a position where their options would be so limited. I'd say they know what they're doing. The only thing that bugs me is that since the pilot of the show back on season 1 they've been saying that they know who the mother is…that's why i have this theory that the mother is someone already in or who has already been on the show (not an accurate guess).

    I wouldn't say that every relationship Ted has now is a dead-end for sure…. somehow the writers always find a way to get us and that's what makes it interesting and worth-watching.

    Great new about the TV ratings man! i'm still hoping for a few more seasons. I don't wanna see HIMYM ending. It would definitely be a sad, sad day

  49.  eDravis | September 29, 2009 @ 9:45 pm

    I loved Jen's ringtone — "No! No no! No no no no no no!" The "No Mozart" Ringtone? Does anyone know what that was / where to find it?

  50.  JustinDickinson | September 29, 2009 @ 9:49 pm

    I thought it was cat's meowing.

  51.  BSMOOTH | September 29, 2009 @ 9:52 pm

    I would agree with you, but I think lots of people up until this season still held out hope that Ted and Robin would end up together (even with her being referred to as Aunt Robin since the pilot). I know Bays and Thomas will make it work, as they have in the past, it's just an interesting predicament that they have to deal with now that they dropped such a huge hint on the mother's identity. I have the utmost confidence for the show to still be legendary, I just knew in the back of my mind throughout the episode that there was no way this girl could be the Mother, even though they were having a really nice time with each other. Can't wait to see how everything progresses.

  52.  eDravis | September 29, 2009 @ 9:58 pm

    It's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" by Mozart, but when you listen to it, it's a voice saying "No. no no!" which is pretty funny since it's her ringtone for Ted. NO No!

  53.  Jordan Rockwell | September 29, 2009 @ 11:23 pm

    And if memory serves, the strip club music has been used before, in other strip club sequences.

  54.  rayray79 | September 29, 2009 @ 11:42 pm

    I also would like to see Victoria come back. I have this feeling like she'll be back, possibly as the mother. They had great chemistry.

    I don't necessarily agree that the mother has to be in the classroom in the 1st episode. If you notice, there was an empty seat when the camera panned to that section.

    It might be that the mother had enrolled in that class, but showed up late that day and somehow they meet later. Who knows?

    Last night's episode was a great one for Ted's character. He wasn't as annoying as in Season 4, and it is definitely nice to see the hopeless romantic Ted back.

  55.  TheMix | September 29, 2009 @ 11:45 pm

    I'm pretty sure JD's right. I knew it was Mozart, but it definitely sounded like cats meowing…which to me would make more sense considering she was such a cat person.

  56.  jen209 | September 30, 2009 @ 12:10 am

    Re: the Check Dance. I can't believe this is NOT a commonplace thing for JD or some of the commenters! I knew exactly what he was talking about when he said the "check dance", I had just never heard it called that (of course now I will start calling it that). My coworkers and I have had many a lunchtime discussion about this very thing. The consensus seems to be that the guy should pay, but the girl should engage in the dance – ie, reach for her wallet, and be told to put it away.

  57.  John Darc | September 30, 2009 @ 12:39 am

    I wanna say it's just the show's wardrobe department. Maybe the wardrobe loops around like Ted and Jen did?

  58.  Jenn | September 30, 2009 @ 1:28 am

    Yup, me, too.

  59.  nitzthebloody | September 30, 2009 @ 1:38 am

    Taken from a purely logical standpoint, it's not only out-of-character for Robin to be with Barney in the first place, it's out-of-character for anyone in the group to be Barney's friend, and for that matter, for him to not be arrested, executed, or deported in some fashion. The character's humor stems partly from the depths of his depravity, which are only tolerated by the cast because it's a rather surrealist sitcom universe that gets comedy from audacity ( much in the way Scrubs, albeit to a greater extent, treated its characters' flaws; for example, Dr. Kelso's abuse towards his invalid wife ).

    Robin's disgust at Barney's lifestyle is understandable now that she's seeing it firsthand; she's far from uptight about sex, but what emotionally healthy woman would be okay with a boyfriend who's on a first-name basis with the management of a strip club?

  60.  Derek | September 30, 2009 @ 1:40 am

    i somehow liked the episode because Jen was so pretty! because of her beauty I forgot to even notice other details like the pineapple and the barney-is-not-yet-his-friend-7-years-ago thing.

  61.  Derek | September 30, 2009 @ 1:40 am

    i somehow liked the episode because Jen was so pretty! because of her beauty I forgot to even notice other details like the pineapple and the barney-is-not-yet-his-friend-7-years-ago thing.

  62.  Jenn | September 30, 2009 @ 1:50 am

    Haha- so true! About both things. I love that you said deported. :)

  63.  BGeo | September 30, 2009 @ 1:58 am

    I thought it was "Meow", not "no" as well

  64.  Tash | September 30, 2009 @ 2:46 am

    Haha, it's funny because I just saw a comedian talking about that same thing.
    Whitney Cummings, youtube her! She's HILARIOUS! :)

  65.  Kelly | September 30, 2009 @ 3:16 am

    I'm a girl who does the "check dance." But not because I expect the guy to pay and I just want to look like I'm offering, but because I actually want to pay my half.

  66.  Fabio | September 30, 2009 @ 3:26 am

    true but that one was almost impossible to catch… unlike marshall always wearing his green Kawasaki t-shirt

  67.  Fabio | September 30, 2009 @ 3:31 am

    man I thought the exact same thing! i also think that the mother was not at the class for the rough 20 minutes that Ted was being a d-bag teacher hahahah cool… so maybe when they meet outside the classroom they really won't know each other. As for the empty seat, i hadn't realized that. I'll rewatch it later.

  68.  Fabio | September 30, 2009 @ 3:35 am

    Ok assuming you do the check dance because you genuinely want to pay for your half or "fair share", when the guy lets you pay for it without even doing the check dance himself, isn't it weird? Cause if he expects you to do it, i bet you'd expect the same from him.

    I think as you go deeper into a relationship you can work these things out but on a single date, it's tough :)

  69.  JustinDickinson | September 30, 2009 @ 4:20 am

    The strip club music sounded like a variation of some stock clip. I've heard it used in a lot of low budget audio production like podcasts.

  70.  TheMix | September 30, 2009 @ 4:54 am

    Anything involving love and friendship is rarely logical, beit real life or on TV.

    Plus in your examples, either Barney or Kelso, both are displaying a character on the outside, while real feelings are held tight to their chests. Kelso, despite his outward disdain for his wife still showed he loved her every now and again. Barney's done the same. And despite Barney's depravity, if it was really important, Barney would do almost anything for his friends.

  71.  katie89 | September 30, 2009 @ 9:53 am

    i'm re-watching the ep right now and am wondering: how did they even end up on that second blind date? i mean, did one of them answer a personal ad, did a mutual friend set them up, ..? If the latter was true, it's a pretty big coincidence that all three of them totally forgot about that

  72.  WillNZ | September 30, 2009 @ 10:20 am

    Hey guys loving the blog. Im from New Zealand (small country in the pacific if you didnt know lol). Am way to addicted to HIMYM, im not even sure if the 4th season has aired here yet but ive got the every episode to date including the Season 5 ep 1 and 2.

    Re the show: I think both robin and lilly both look great how they are, if anything they were a little bit skinny in the first seasons. It was ironic how barny thought he was sneaking marshall out when in fact it was robin who was the one who disliked the strip club idea more but it was to be expected even though she knows exactly what barneys like. (hasnt she even been to that strip blub with him??)

    The deja vu date with ted and jen was very good. It gives ted an insight into what he does on first date and how he comes across. But i dont think he should change, his lame jokes and his nit-picking of the menu's are what makes him ted.

    Katie89 – Its likely that ted was set up on the date by another one of his friends or colleagues.

    Sorry for the novel!

  73.  WillNZ | September 30, 2009 @ 10:26 am

    Hey guys loving the blog. Im from New Zealand (small country in the pacific if you didnt know lol). Am way to addicted to HIMYM, im not even sure if the 4th season has aired here yet but ive got the every episode to date including the Season 5 ep 1 and 2.

  74.  fhsambuichi | September 30, 2009 @ 11:57 am

    hahahaha its a tv show dude… but it could happen somehow i don't know….small world :)

  75.  Mike H. | September 30, 2009 @ 12:49 pm

    First of all, Lindsay Sloane is gorgeous. I sort of wish they had cast someone else here and saved her for the Mother. I agree with the poster that said he had trouble noticing things like the pineapple because he was looking at her. Totally true for me, as well.

    Having said that, it was a nice episode. It wasn't one of those that are necessary to the story, but it will stand as a sort of cute filler episode.

    As for the 'check dance'–I wouldn't say that I have ever noticed myself wanting her to reach for her purse, but I also can't say I haven't been gratified when she tries to. I guess every guy wants to feel like he is doing what is right there. Now I will just notice it more.

    Also, Alyson Hannigan and Cobie Smulders are not fat. They are hot. I think they actually look great.

  76.  fhsambuichi | September 30, 2009 @ 1:22 pm

    I guess it's like what Ted says: we just wanna feel like mr big shot when paying the check hehehe it's true

    I'd never heard about this actress before but she is indeed gorgeous.

    As for the pineapple…it was a great catch, but i don't know if that has any deeper meaning. But i could be wrong. cause like you guys all know, they don't usually do things for no reason on himym.

  77.  Ying | September 30, 2009 @ 4:55 pm

    Great writeup and thoughts! Also loved the picture you caught of the pineapple, I didn't catch that at all.
    I stumbled across this blog when searching for the song in the Shellfish Lady bit so I will be checking back here every week after each episode. Thumbs up.
    I think the doppelgangers were probably the highlight of tonight's episode and Ted's sensitivity is still endearing.
    P.S. Definitely I do the Checkdance, and sometimes Dutch wins.

  78.  Jazzer | September 30, 2009 @ 5:18 pm

    Dopplegangers were EPIC!! xD Can't wait for the other two to be revealed.

  79.  ChF | September 30, 2009 @ 6:00 pm

    Amen to that!

  80.  KJO | September 30, 2009 @ 6:22 pm

    Hey JD ur unbelievably long hyphenated word reminded me of Barney calling Marshall's high-five like a declawed pregnant cat swatting at a fly on a lazy sunday afternoon. Wow, that was really specific!

    Overall I enjoyed this episode. The whole 7 years apart date was something that felt like a HIMYM type of non-chronolgical story that Pam Fryman could tell really well.

    O yeah, and I do totally agree with Ted on the "check-dance" thing JD.

  81.  anon9631 | September 30, 2009 @ 7:05 pm

    "…these women have chosen to display themselves on screen, in the entertainment industry, as their careers"

    Yes, their careers – as actors – NOT as super models. Models who have to wear size 0 clothing are held to that type of standard, actors should be held to a very different standard – how good they are at their craft – in this case comedic acting, NOT being unhealthily skinny.

  82.  anon9631 | September 30, 2009 @ 7:12 pm

    I do "the dance" on first dates. (And I'm ashamed to admit, it really bothers me when the guy doesn't dance back and lets me pay either some or all of the bill! LOL)

  83.  anon9631 | September 30, 2009 @ 7:19 pm

    What is it about the pineapple? It seems vaguely familiar, as a concept, but I can't remember what it is….

  84.  katie89 | September 30, 2009 @ 7:30 pm

    yes i know it's a show.. well, we're generally talking about it as if it were real (i.e. is the character development realistic etc) so i was just pointing out that that part seems a little off/unrealistic to me

  85.  katie89 | September 30, 2009 @ 7:32 pm

    the pineaple incident in season one, when ted wakes up with a girl and a pineapple but no knowledge of what happened the night before :) great episode

  86.  jen209 | October 1, 2009 @ 12:18 am

    BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PINEAPPLE?!

    Hehehe it's one of my favorites.

  87.  sapphire | October 1, 2009 @ 12:22 am

    Check dance… well I’m in high school so no fancy dinners for be but there are dates at much less fancy places. I'm a bi girl and I dated this girl for awhile and we would all was split/pay for our own. So when dating this guy he insisted on paying… and I felt bad about it…. cause I’m not used to that…

  88.  Frank | October 1, 2009 @ 4:19 am

    Have to agree with the Cobie and Allison defenders. They look amazing this season.

  89.  Steve | October 1, 2009 @ 1:08 pm

    omg stop talking about the show for a minute and find out who the delivery girl was…

  90.  How I Met Your Mother Season 5 Episode 2 Review | blog.crasp.de | October 1, 2009 @ 10:28 am

    [...] (Bild via) [...]

  91.  DaveR | October 1, 2009 @ 6:08 pm

    I thought the one was a Robin/Ted combo one?

  92.  Clyde | October 1, 2009 @ 6:39 pm

    "Hi everyone,
    D-bag here. I'm a woman, but no, I've never given birth, so forgive my lack of understanding on that count. First, let me apologize for needlessly crossing the line and calling these two actresses fat. I'm a feminist…

    That's all I need to know.

  93.  Clyde | October 1, 2009 @ 6:43 pm

    I have one question for you… will you marry me?!

  94.  Clyde | October 1, 2009 @ 6:47 pm

    I can forgive Ted for forgetting about the girl initially, but how could he forget about going to the building without recognizing it (especially being an architect), knocking on the same apartment number, or for that matter arriving in the same neighborhood as he did seven years ago assuming he doesn't venture to that part of town often.

  95.  JustinDickinson | October 1, 2009 @ 7:03 pm

    You go all over the place in the city, the same neighborhood/building wouldn't be enough to rack your memory. I've eaten in restaurants I forgot I'd been to before.

  96.  nitzthebloody | October 2, 2009 @ 4:49 am

    another note about the episode, albeit of less consequence; the Chewbacca convention and its reception is yet more evidence of how the three men in the cast are major Star Wars geeks. And all three men look perfectly presentable in social situations and have good records with the opposite sex ( though Marshall's is via pure monogamy, and Barney's is the result of unethical deception ). It's nice to see a show that presents characters as having obsessive fan interests without making them obnoxious stereotypes ( like on, say, the Big Bang Theory ).

  97.  CanadaGirl1 | October 3, 2009 @ 4:39 am

    1. Yes we do the check dance
    2. As someone who's usually more Lilly when it comes to strip clubs I actually think they did the right thing with Robin. Think about it, she's with Barney. The guy they load up ACDC for and who has a favourite lap dancer and now she has to accept that reality.

    It makes total seance that she would be pissed even if she wouldn't be if she was dating anyone else. I mean Barney punched Brad, who was going to kiss Robin on a kiss cam, and now she's supposed to be cool with him being 'ground like fresh pepper'
    btw awesome Marshal line

    3. so glad you pointed out the pineapple lol

  98.  CanadaGirl1 | October 3, 2009 @ 5:07 am

    It would be so awesome if Ted's doppelgänger played Ted in the wedding bride, i also cannot wait for that episode
    I heard Barney sings on episode 100, Bollywood Barney anyone??

  99.  CanadaGirl1 | October 3, 2009 @ 5:17 am

    I went through this sand in my mind a mutual friend set them up on the first date and a second on the later date, I feel it's realistic since generally you know lots of people who know the same lots of people. I know on facebook I'm always surprised by the friends in common section, and social groups get new members over the years. Plus they are both looking for something serious and they are both cute it would make seance to think to set them up

  100.  Kelly | October 4, 2009 @ 3:38 am

    I guess that's a good point. But I really don't know. I've never had a guy not attempt to pay at least his half.

  101.  Kelly | October 4, 2009 @ 3:39 am

    haha Thanks for the offer, but I tend to like to get to know guys and date them a bit before attempting to make a decision like that.

  102.  szergely | October 4, 2009 @ 7:49 am

    I wanted to say thank you mate for i get the song name from E02 :) awsome webpage! Have a nice life!

  103.  Alex | October 5, 2009 @ 12:11 pm

    Worst one yet – fell asleep while watching Double Date – seriously, what’s going on?

  104.  GoForBarney | October 6, 2009 @ 1:13 am

    I was actually disappointed by this episode :-X I mean, it wasn't terrible, but there wasn't really anything amazing about it. It just sort of was. Sorry all.

    But yes, Lindsay Sloane has that something about her :D

  105.  Legendary | October 28, 2009 @ 4:14 pm

    I thought Jen’s ringtone was “meowing” as well. I really want it!! It’s awesome. If you know where to get it, please let me know! (gibaked@gmail.com)

  106.  Mary | November 9, 2009 @ 8:53 am

    I also want the ringtone.
    Did you get it legendary?

  107.  kanin | February 14, 2010 @ 9:12 pm

    I don’t think there was an error regarding the timing of Barney and Ted’s friendship. Remember in Season 3 when Ted stopped being friends with Barney and Barney was in the cab with Abbey (Britney Spears) he said, “I was Ted’s best friend for seven years.” So by Ted and Jen’s first blind date, Barney and Ted were into their first or second year of friendship. :D

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