Season 5, Episode 16: Hooked Discussion

By JD

It’s been awhile hasn’t it? How are you? Winter treating you OK? Good to hear. Let’s talk about tonight’s episode shall we?

Being ‘on the hook’ is a very real thing. I know plenty of guys who get hooked early, sometimes in junior high, sometimes earlier, and they sometimes stay hooked for years, well past college even. It’s a problem. They build up a shell of lies and false self-encouragement waiting for that late night call where, in tears, the girl they pine for cries to them about the latest douchebag she’s dating and how she just wishes she could find a guy like him. Granted, that’s an extreme case but being on the hook is something we’ve all been through on one end or the other.

It’s also on the sitcom Road Less Traveled proving yet again that How I Met Your Mother takes a sitcom trope of discussing milestone cultural norms and makes it new by forging into hitherto unclaimed lands. Bravo!

What Was Good

Maybe I’ve finally made it into the late 20s demographic sweet-spot but HIMYM continues to make me say “that’s so true” in a way I’m not entirely comfortable with regarding the social norms it takes on. All guys have invented some reason to invite a girl back to their place. We’ve even seen Ted do it when he was trying to ride the tricycle, in that case the new Wilco CD was the artistic artifact in question. Gentleman, I’m curious: what’s your bauble with which you entice ladies into your inner sanctum? Mine’s a scale reproduction made in Lego of the battle of Gettysburg if the rebel forces were the rebel forces from Star Wars. OK not really but isn’t that something you’d just have to see?

“Is Tiffany a…pharmaceutical sales rep?” This is fantastic and yet again makes me think this show is being written just for me. Recently we had a going away party for someone who left my company. We went to a local Mexican restaurant that has become legendary for it’s depravity potential. Sure enough the back of the place filled up with 20 or so women who got rowdy quickly and ended up dancing on tables and singing to Bon Jovi and various other songs written to manipulate intoxicated women. What did they all do? They were sales reps in town for a all-hands meeting. While not pharmaceutical, the fact remains: hot ladies are in sales.

Oh hey, look at that, a good LAME plot line finally. Am I such a carnivore that all I can think when I see that teacup pig is how delicious it would be baked into a frittata? It’s all squinty and has the weird wiry pig hair, it’s not that cute.

You know who’s chemistry is really good? Ted and Robin. They’ve managed to be very close and emotionally open with each other without the sensation of lingering romantic feelings on either side. Smulders and Radnor have always been good together and as much as they once seemed like the perfect couple, they now seem like perfect exes. It’s sort of nice to think you might someday be as close with someone you were…that close with after it was over.

What Was Bad

Right off the bat I knew the girl Ted showed his oink to was the Guest Star because her acting sucked and she wasn’t as cute as the non-famous ladies that play Ted’s usual dates. When she was talking about having/not having a boyfriend I could tell the writing was good, it was clever, I just wanted it to be coming out of a different mouth. For the record, I known I’m not a lover of blondes but this one actually reminds me of a girl I used to have a huge crush on in high school so it’s not even my anti-Arian racism at work here, I just was really confused by her faultering description of a boyfriend who she’s only sort of dating while confirming she didn’t want to lose Ted. WTF, mate? She did make a hot cave-woman.

I really liked the premise of this episode as a whole so I’m wary to complain about this but it did feel a little strange that Ted would be so into this girl and willing to stay on the hook. As others have said before about Bilson, etc, it might be nice to build up to these girls Ted dates, not just drop us into the story (though, to be fair, that’s what Future Ted is doing with his kids).

Favorite Moments

  • I like that in the first line of the episode a lot of criticism regarding seasons 1, 2, and 3 is immediately addressed. “Kids, in many of my stories I’m a starry-eyed romantic on a noble search for true love. In this one, I’m just a jerk.”
  • I love that Barney has an apartment so big he can fit a trampoline inside it.
  • I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a teacup pig. I’m going to just assume it was conceived, bred, and raised purely for this episode of this show until I’m shown proof otherwise.
  • The trend of addressing audience concerns continues: Robin admits to being a little loose but assures us she’s never accepted cash payment for, um, services rendered.
  • Put all the pimples on Segel you want, it’s still clear he’s at least ten years older than that girl in the flashback. Where’s Chris Hansen when you need him?
  • Barney’s illustration of the opportunity door opening a crack is fantastic. I’m using that.
  • Future Ted giving Past Ted advice was particularly good this episode “Things are going to work out” “No they’re not, dumbass”.
  • “Looking sexy enough to render the very erection pills they were peddling ironically redundant” <– fantastic line.
  • I like Barney’s theory of the rise and downfall of the hottest professions.
  • I really liked Scooter in this episode. There, it finally happened. Happy now?

Closing

This episode is chuck-a-block full of ice-cold, villainous activity. I like it. It’s a good level of cynicism, just enough to be funny and give that satisfying “what goes around, comes around” turn. Tiffany might be a jerk to Ted, but no more than Ted is a jerk to Henrietta. I love it.

I’d like to go on record that going up to a dudes house to check out his tiny swine friend is universal code for “you’re going to get some boob”. It’s dirty pool to do that then drop the “I have a boyfriend card”. Not cool ladies. I’m not saying men are never guilty of putting someone on the hook but it’s usually much more transparent and just a play for sex rather than the emotional warfare that can be wrought while a girl keeps a nice guy on the line. Dudes, if you see the hook dangling in front of you remember the immortal words of Jack Donaghy:

“I’ll wait, not forever”
“I’ll try, wicked hard”

And ladies, stick to your guns no matter how sad the man’s eyes are. Keeping him on the hook isn’t doing him any favors.

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In Episode Discussion, Season 5, Show Analysis | Monday, March 1st, 2010 09:56 pm GMT -4 | By JD
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47 Comments to “Season 5, Episode 16: Hooked Discussion”

  1. Katie |  Monday, March 1st, 2010 11:18 pm GMT -4

    I haven’t watched the whole thing yet
    in fact, i’m only a couple minutes in
    but i just want it on the record that I too squeed about the teacup pig- right before the two girls and marshal did.

  2. BGeo |  Monday, March 1st, 2010 11:31 pm GMT -4

    I found tonights episode to be really enjoyable. Pretty funny, classic barney, Ted being Naive when it comes to the dating world/love, and Marshall and Lily just being themselves. Even Jason Segel’s hair looked good in tonight’s episode.

    Thought Carrie Underwood fit the role well.

    Spolier:

    Nice to see Scooter again!

  3. Brody |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 01:06 am GMT -4

    episode was solid i thought! no real complaints from me. everything was pretty funny and enjoyable

  4. Jenn- GCWOK Approved |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 01:19 am GMT -4

    This episode was fun. It’s weird to root AGAINST Carrie Underwood! :) I liked Scooter as a lunch lady. I probably would have enjoyed the episode more if I wasn’t overcome with guilt for my past hooks! :) Ha.

  5. John Darc |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 02:20 am GMT -4

    As I said on the IMDB boards (yes yes), this episode gave me PTSD.

  6. Katie |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 02:28 am GMT -4

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_pig#As_pets

    Teacup pigs :)

  7. GT |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 06:14 am GMT -4

    I liked this episode, but is it just me or does season 5 have no discernable story arc? So far every season has had a major story arc, but season 5 isn’t doing it for me. It’s full of highs and lows, but it’s inconsistent. HIMYM has amazing finales that sum up the story in sumptuous fashion and lead into the next chapter of Ted’s life: the season 5 finale will have nothing to sum up.

  8. Colin |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 06:39 am GMT -4

    I was actually more interested in the Marshall/Lily storyline than Ted’s. Am I the only one who thinks the entire Scooter issue deserved more than to be a random episode’s B-plot? That said, I loved Marshall’s dimwittedness involving “Lunchlady Scooter.”

    I agree that Ted and Robin have a great relationship and it’s actually sweet to see them interact the way they do. I almost want to hear Marshall say he’s Ted’s best friend, only for the latter to say he’s not, only to look toward Robin.

    And as a final question, what was up with the ring at the end? Other than serving as a plot device for the final joke, were we to believe that the guy was planning on proposing to Tiffany or something? Help.

  9. Jez |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 08:06 am GMT -4

    the guy at the end was the best man. hence the ring…

    good episode but i kinda felt bad for ted..barney rocks!! oh how i wish engineering were the next hot girl profession…

  10. LiamG |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 08:32 am GMT -4

    “and you never thought to mention that?”

    NPH = best actor ever!

    I am still laughing

  11. bertil |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 09:08 am GMT -4

    Colin: No, he was the best man att the wedding they attended. So, he had the ring in his pocket and I guess you know the rest… :)

  12. starley |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 10:34 am GMT -4

    Is this still you JD? the writing doesn’t sound like how you usually write?

  13. CourtneyE |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 10:48 am GMT -4

    How did I never notice before that Scooter is NPH’s boyfriend David? I feel dumb.

  14. Richard |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 10:52 am GMT -4

    Lunchlady Scooter was hysterical – Segal’s thought that it was a transportation device for those old women had me pausing to roll on the couch.
    I kept thinking the teacup pig would look make some good bacon, so JD it’s all good to think about it as a piece of meat.

    At least Ted realized the hook and let Henrietta off of it at the end…though seeing her slap him would have been a great ending to that scene.

    Robin and cameraman Mike? Really?

  15. Dandolion |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 11:28 am GMT -4

    Yea I ate abut 10 Pieces of bacon that day. Boy that little bugger would not stop squealing. That’s a good way to get smoked fried and eaten. Personally I thought the girl who played Henrietta was Hysterical. But then she does have a comedy pedigree.
    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0718642/bio

  16. katie90 |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 11:53 am GMT -4

    i don’t like that they messed up the golden girls reference.
    “picture it, 1994, st cloud, minnesota” was obviously a reference to sophia always going “picture it: sicily, 1922″ .. but they messed up the word order :(

  17. katie90 |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 12:11 pm GMT -4

    ok now that i’ve watched the whole thing: i didn’t like it. the hooked people (except for scooter) were really bad actors and the foot rubbing and cake eating scenes were annoying

  18. JD |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 12:43 pm GMT -4

    It is still me! I’m writing more like I talk about the show in real life and a little less wistful and nostalgic. As the show is more cynical, as I am as well.

  19. Jazzer |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 01:02 pm GMT -4

    Wooh. Was a lot of time since I watched a new ep of the show. These breaks are killing me. I just don’t have the wish to check every monday for it. Good thing, it’s back.

    Downloading the episode, writting opinion later.

  20. Danielle |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 01:14 pm GMT -4

    best line of the episode

    “Um, who’s buying canned chili and not eating it immediately?”

    it is so true about chili

    Also being “on the hook” is so so so so true.
    I spent most of my teens 15 to 18 being on the hook to one guy…and most of my early 20s being on the hook to another guy.

    BLARGHH

  21. Zidge Dog |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 03:38 pm GMT -4

    First off, my teacup pig/Wilco CD was a bootleg copy of Pulp Fiction I had back in the day, before it was out on VHS or laser disc or whatever we used back then. At some point, I’d find a way to discuss the movie, and then there was the “Hey, we should watch it” that either brought us to my dorm room or brought us to hers to watch it. Good times. Then, once the video came out and my bootleg copy was useless, I was forced to make reference to either my book of pictures of my toaster (worked well) or my smurf collection (yeah, not so good). Now I have the wife, so I can just blatantly say something about “hey, you should come check out my penis.”

    Hook – so true. Still Facebook friends with my “hooker” and my “hookees”.

    Chili – also true. In fact, as I watched I realized we were out of chili and I had just bought Fritos for some Frito pie. Great bit of LAMEness. Also great – Wu Tang reference and the rat-tail in the flashback. Actually, that whole sleeping on the porch in the snow bit was pretty great.

    Barney’s delivery of the Pharma-girl side effects line followed by the emphatic “what in the world is up?” line was my hardest laugh of the week, at least until 30 Rock comes on. (I heart HIMYM more, but 30 Rock is the funniest show on TV.)

    Who played Henrietta? She looks familiar, kinda like Milly from Freaks and Geeks, but probably not. Answer me, internet.

    Barney’s lady on the slot machine got really into her fifteen seconds of fame. ‘Twas awesome.

    I also liked Barney and Robin being more chummy now and joking about their relationship. The whole plot about them still irks me because it made me lose some faith in the show, but her relationship with Ted and Barney now reminds me of how awesome she was in the first seasons.

    My jury’s out on the Barney winks. Worked in the Playbook episode, worked less here, but I feel like that dead horse can be beaten further until it whinnies anew.

    And, as a side note, I have won two slap bets against a fellow teacher, and I have saved the last slap to deliver randomly. I await his guard being dropped with a wicked anticipation that delights me as much as it scares me. I highly recommend everyone embarks on a slap bet as soon as possible. It is a fascinating journey into the heart of darkness.

  22. Ernie the Dancing Weasel |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 03:41 pm GMT -4

    Great episode, excellent review and a “30 Rock” reference to boot. Life doesn’t get any better than that… :-)

  23. Dandolion |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 03:48 pm GMT -4

    @ Zidge Dog
    As I mentioned Henreitta was hysterical. She Is Ivan Rietman’s Daughter.
    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0718642/bio

  24. Dandolion |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 03:49 pm GMT -4

    Catherine Reitman
    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0718642/

  25. Zidge Dog |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 05:52 pm GMT -4

    @Dandolion – My bad – “I guess I shouldn’t have skimmed the evite.”

    Thanks for the link.

  26. Thomas |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 06:08 pm GMT -4

    After an excellent run of episodes this one was a little weaker for me. Nothing particularly bad but it just didn’t have me laughing so much. I agree with what Colin said further up the page that the Scooter storyline could have been the main focus of an episode. Saying that I still enjoyed what they did there, and any chance we have to see teenage Marshall is always funny.

    Favourite bit was Barney’s drug induced poetic moment at the end. Neil Patrick Harris is the master of those grand, oratorical moments!

  27. @omega21 |  Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 08:24 pm GMT -4

    I really enjoyed this episode. Once again Barney stole every scene he was in. I though Carrie Underwood did a good job. Then again I also wish I was that hockey player she is engaged to. I do agree, that pig did look like it should have been a side dish on a Denny’s grand slam breakfast. I was happy to see the show back on track. I hope it stays that way for a while. I am getting tired of going from Ted to Barney and Robin to Lilly and Marshall back to Ted on different episodes. I am glad to see new episodes on.

  28. GT |  Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 04:50 am GMT -4

    am i the only on frustrated with the lack of a credible story arc in season 5?

  29. Fon |  Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 07:08 am GMT -4

    i like this episode, still i feel like there’s something missing in it! yes it’s funny, but i think it could be better! anyways, i still have high hopes for this show!!
    ps. i love teacup pig! it kinds of make me happy to know that i’m not the only one who likes it

  30. NCUK |  Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 07:44 am GMT -4

    I’m not sure I laughed out loud at this episode at all, which I have done the last 2 or 3, (and I usually did before season 5 started.) However I did think it was clever, and I was pretty tired yesterday when I watched it so maybe it was just that. I liked the whole hook thing. I agree about whatshername the guest star it seems like she was just thinking “I’m famous, I just sang in the superbowl, I’m awesome” rather than actually acting. Bit lame. That said I liked the professions through time thing. Oh and you can buy tea cup pigs…

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1218472/The-700-teacup-sized-pigs-latest-celebrity-pet.html

    (apparently rupert grint – Ron weasley in Harry Potter has one!)

    http://www.hoobly.com/0/0/1245801.html

  31. bagga |  Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 09:47 am GMT -4

    it was funny… specially robins dialogue of a hooker but cash never chanced hands and the tea cup pig lol they sure bring new things every time

    the guest celeb was like shi*

  32. Toby |  Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 01:19 pm GMT -4

    JD, for the record plenty of girls are on the hook also; especially when it comes to listening to their ‘guys’ complaining about all the evil girls whom they are dating.

    I didn’t love this episode, but thought it had some funny moments. I liked the whole pharmagirl phenomenon, and LOVED lunch lady scooter. It was funny watching Lily breakup with the teacup pig, and MOST IMPORTANTLY it was great seeing Robin’s reaction to Barney and his womenizing. Finally they are showing some real fall out from that relationship

  33. Jazzer |  Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 04:23 pm GMT -4

    Watched the episode. Well, it’s not bad. ["It's not you, it's me..." - Robin breaking up with PJ xD] The episode was solid, nothing too special or funny, but nothing too boring. I agree about the story arc. Sometimes, the show has no way to go, no actual story, just some random events that aren’t connected to each other.

    That’s pretty much it. No more things to say. The next weeks ep better be damn fine…

  34. NCUK |  Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 07:29 pm GMT -4

    Can I just ask… when are we going see Robin’s and Alan Thick’s failed Canadian variety show – Barney (or anyone else) have not mentioned it. Usually he is so on it with finding our old robin sparkles stuff. It will have to be epic now. It isn’t like the writers to forget it..

  35. Jenn- GCWOK Approved |  Thursday, March 4th, 2010 02:48 am GMT -4

    Ok, I read all of the above comments but I still don’t understand what a ring was doing outside of Henrietta’s door. That was her apartment, not the hotel the wedding was at. And I know they flashed back to that guy being the best man, but I don’t see how Ted ended up with the ring! WHAT?!

  36. Dandolion |  Thursday, March 4th, 2010 03:38 am GMT -4

    @jenn-gcwok
    Ok here’s the deal. Ted threw his coat on the bed and the best man thew his coat on the bed. Both were Tux jackets. Ted picked up the wrong jacket. Later when he arrived at Henrietta’s apt he notice his shoe was un-tied. when he bent down to tie his shoe the ring fell out of his pocket. and of course when he picked it up and realized what hapened (we see him figure out that he picked up the wrong jacket) is exactly when Henrietta open the door. Now does it make sense?

  37. Cupcake |  Thursday, March 4th, 2010 12:41 pm GMT -4

    Did anyone notice how Carrie Underwood mostly addressed Ted as Brown Eyes? I thought there was going to be an element where the “hooker” has trouble remembering the name of the hookee…

  38. SundaeQueen |  Thursday, March 4th, 2010 12:42 pm GMT -4

    Enjoyable episode. But I have to agree that I’m a little frustrated with the lack of continuity this season.

  39. rey |  Thursday, March 4th, 2010 03:36 pm GMT -4

    I think this episode is actually a clever set-up. I think the jacket switch plus ring will be a plot point in a later part of the season…

  40. Jenn- GCWOK Approved |  Thursday, March 4th, 2010 09:51 pm GMT -4

    Dandolion, thank you!! I get it now! I watched it twice but you explained it better. :)

  41. Jenn- GCWOK Approved |  Thursday, March 4th, 2010 09:52 pm GMT -4

    JD, I’ve been making a website for a few weeks now and have barely scratched the surface on getting it all ready. I have such a newfound respect for you that you did all this for HIMYM! It’s really hard!!

  42. chas |  Thursday, March 4th, 2010 11:47 pm GMT -4

    anybody think that the wedding w/o a ring will surface in a future episode? seems like a great setup to revisit down the road when no one is suspecting it.

  43. Matt |  Friday, March 5th, 2010 10:37 am GMT -4

    speaking of down the road… someone earlier mentioned the robin’s show with alan thicke, we are also waiting to see what happened to the book of information that barney lost in robin 101. Also we have been told that we will see the two remaining doppelgangers.

  44. Butze |  Friday, March 5th, 2010 12:43 pm GMT -4

    @Matt: Barneys doppelganger is the baseball guy who achieved both, a perfect game and a perfect week. A picture of Barney in a baseball outfit with a mustache was shown in “The perfect week”.

  45. Jenn- GCWOK Approved |  Friday, March 5th, 2010 03:45 pm GMT -4

    I still love someone’s idea (it was on this blog but I don’t remember who said it) that it would be hilarious for doppelganger ted & barney to be a couple. Haha that would have been so funny. I can just picture the looks of horror on their faces when they saw.
    They don’t have all that many episodes left to get in the doppelgangers, Robin’s new relationship with that underwear guy, the show with Alan Thicke, and The Wedding Bride! They’d better hop to it!

  46. lulz |  Saturday, March 6th, 2010 08:16 am GMT -4

    @Butze: really? did they mention that it was barneys doppelganger?

  47. Fabio |  Monday, March 8th, 2010 08:00 am GMT -4

    i really liked the episode… but even though i love carrie underwood and think she’s adorable, she just can’t act… :)

    wow @butze i totally forgot about the baseball card with Barney’s doppelganger… so much for the barney&ted-doppelganger-couple…. hehehehhehe

    the scene where ted kneels to pick up the ring and accidentally proposes to henrietta reminded me of joey’s proposal to rachel on friends…

    anyway… you guys saw NPH opening the oscars last night, right?

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