Season 5, Episode 17: Of Course Discussion

By JD

Oh, that’s right Jennifer Lopez is on the show tonight. I forgot. Boy oh boy was this a musical episode.

What Was Good

I liked Lopez. After the varied history this show has with one-time musicians showing up in guest roles I had low expectations but that opening “let’s call it a tie” joke was delivered well. I’ve never really had an opinion regarding Lopez so I don’t bring any baggage to this episode. She’s sexy alright, and a lot more impressively feminine than guest stars like the American Idol hooker and that pro wrestler who are so terrified of not looking cute you can hear the air escaping their ass cheeks as they clench them shut with the fear of their inevitable, fast approaching, total annihilation into mediocrity. Much like the better women you actually talk to in real bars, Lopez has experience, lessons to teach, and thus beguiles intrigue in a much more visceral way. Or maybe she just talks slowly.

I have a lot of friends who are into the PUA books. I’ve read a few and find them interesting. They’re often belittled and made fun of but it’s usually by people who’ve never read them, and that just seems stupid. It’s nice to see an episode take on the trope of the self-help dating/sex book genre with cleverness, originality, and charm. The subject matter that makes up the episodes of this show is continually top notch. Bonus points for the clever twist of using Anita’s own psychology against her in the end.

I love Marshall pretending to be Robin on the phone with Don and her climbing all over him to get the phone away. There isn’t enough Marshall and Robin horsing around.

“Actually, Anita’s going after Barney because I told her to”. INTRIGUE! I was much more curious after that comment than to find out how the Barnacle ended up in the Hudson. I really like Robin in this episode. She looks cute, she’s not helpless or slutty. She’s hurt and vulnerable but in a realistic way and is finally getting enough screen and story time to have a real arc of her own. All of her emotions tonight felt totally real, deserved, and rationale. Of all the things to complain about regarding Barney, these few things that put her over the edge make sense. It’s easy to poke fun at ensemble shows and ridicule them for portraying life among these friends, exes, etc as perfect. Kudos to HIMYM for showing the hard part of friendship.

What Was Bad

I came up with a theory during one of the recent Modern Family episodes: The Tarantino-style time-jump storytelling doesn’t work in sitcoms, if at all any more. What little intrigue was built from starting a story in the middle is now lost since that conceit is so overused now. Think about any episode of any show, or even any recent movie, that started in the middle then went back to the beginning. Was it better? Did it make the storytelling more enjoyable? Would you have been just as interested if you were there from the beginning? Hang it up, non-linear timelines!

Favorite Moments

  • “Of Course You’re Still Single, Take A Look At Yourself You Damn Slut” sounds like a book I’d like to hand out on the Subway. I also want to read her follow up.
  • “A jogger slipped and fell in horse sex-crement”. The concept of subtly working suggestive words into conversation while flirting is a big tenant of PUA artists. Nice to see a girl switching the script.
  • “Mine’s the tiniest. And the more you touch it, the softer it gets”. This is a funny episode.
  • Mmmm, Turkish Coffee
  • Marshall is hilarious, “bang, bang, bang”. I noticed it last week and didn’t say anything, waiting for it to be a trend and now it is: he’s walking/skipping/prancing like Johnny Weir.
  • This musical number might be better than the Girls vs. Suits from earlier this season. I’m a big fan of the sliding-background transition effect as well and not just because it reminds me of that Old Spice commercial.
  • I like that both Ted and Marshall, sensitive guys by any measure, still managed to be insensitive to Robin’s feelings after the break up with Barney. This is why it’s so hard for guys and girls to be close friends.

Closing

Why haven’t we seen a tough self-motivated woman take on Barney before? He’s been slapped a few times and demanded to change out of a suit but a worthy adversary is long overdue. I love this plot line.

All the fun being made of Ted for being the real owner of that book is a great way to cover up that otherwise he’s barely in the episode. Never mind, I spoke too soon. Singing while planning his super date? This whole episode is filled with unlikely pairings. Marshall helping Robin hook up, a woman challenging Barney’s mojo, Ted helping Barney get laid. This has got it all. Also, this is the romantic Ted from season one, good to know he’s still in there somewhere. High Hoper, you were working on a song for the show, did you write this one?

Barney really stepped his game up in this episode. When they said he gave Robin the date she always deserved I was worried he’d be on it with her and that’d stir up all the dirt in that murky RoBarn lake that had just started to settle. Instead he did the gentlemanly thing and threw himself into an entirely different river.

This episode is fantastic. It’s got the heart and romance of early HIMYM but is grounded in a more realistic, mature point of view. Everyone has something to do, classic team-ups top their previous levels of awesome and newer pairings make you wonder why they haven’t been around more often. I could go on for a long time about how great this was but I’ll turn it over to you all.

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In Episode Discussion, Season 5, Show Analysis | Monday, March 8th, 2010 11:48 pm GMT -4 | By JD
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68 Comments to “Season 5, Episode 17: Of Course Discussion”

  1. Billqs |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 12:14 am GMT -4

    SPOILERY COMMENTS!!!!

    I really liked tonight’s episode. It’s good when HIMYM deals with aftermaths of relationships instead of just pretending nothing ever happened. It was in Robin’s character to keep the emotions to herself and then lash out at Barney in an odd way like she did.

    It was also touching to see Barney try to make it up to Robin when he realized the effect his sleeping around had on her. It reminded me of the Season 3 episode (Slapsgiving?) where Ted and Robin have seemed to both recovered from their breakup only to have a cathartic fight that brought important closure to their relationship.

    J Lo was ok in the episode, but not great. IMO she can’t act her way out of a paper bag.

  2. Bgeo |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 12:33 am GMT -4

    Loved tonights episode. It was funny, heart felt, and had a slapsgiving feel to it. I would imagine all himym fans would enjoy this episode but I’m interested to read other opinions.

    Bang bang bangity bang…

  3. Matt |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 12:34 am GMT -4

    love, love, loved this episode. great to see them tie up the barney/robin situation. I liked the part when they all went over to barney’s place and stood up for robin. I did find this episode to be a bit off the wall. The whole idea of barney jumping in the river and that being the set up for the story was kinda out there. Ted’s song also took me by surprise, although i can’t say i didn’t enjoy it.

    all in all it was great, just was this season needed.

  4. Steve |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 12:35 am GMT -4

    I’m really happy that the producers and writers are treating musical guest stars/divas like throwaways – I guess this may have been true of all sitcoms, but the emphasis is clearly never on them (Britney, and now the two-fer of Carrie Underwood and J-Lo). And Nick Swisher :)

    However, I continually fear that the show has jumped the shark and I’m trying to figure out when it did so – I’ll be shocked if we make it to season 8, but it really hasn’t stopped being funny.

  5. JD |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 02:25 am GMT -4

    Full review posted people, let’s all group hug and then a bang, bang, bangity bang, I said a bang, bang, bangity bang…

  6. Colin |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 04:27 am GMT -4

    This episode did a good job of reminding me that even though the show isn’t advancing the Ted plotline, it doesn’t mean it’s not advancing someone else’s story. For a moment in the beginning, I was worried that this was going to be another throwaway episode about Barney’s shenanigans. It turns out it was likely the final chapter this season for the Barney/Robin storyline.

    Also, I loved Marshall the entire time, especially when he got excited about Don calling Robin, and then pretending to be her. I love goofy Marshall, especially when food is involved. It was also hilarious when he knocked off the Stormtrooper head.

    The only thing I didn’t like was the sudden trigger-pulling on the Robin/Don relationship. They slowly built it up and last referenced it about three or four weeks ago. Now all of a sudden, he’s hanging out with the gang, and his first date with Robin was somewhat of a plot device that really deserved more attention than it got. That said, it was done well for what it was and I actually enjoyed them finally hooking up, despite not liking the prospect of their relationshiop when it was first implied months ago.

  7. katie90 |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 04:32 am GMT -4

    great episode! i actually thought j lo was rather good, the played the fake ditzy and hot for barney stuff well(and cracked me up with her sex-crement story) but was also good when she was on robin’s show imo. loved ted’s song at maclaren’s!! fake-ice-skating ted is one of the funniest thing i’ve seen on the show in a couple of weeks :D

    also i loved when marshall asked lily why she didn’t stop him and she goes “that song is kinda catchy” and they break out into song. i related to that, my boyfriend and i are kind of like that :P for example, we sing along VERY loudly to the himym theme every time we watch an episode together :D

    the bang-bang-bang song was totally awesome every time it came up. loved when ted said “count me in for a verse!” and started going and loved when robin started it in the end.

    robin was the best part of this episode. i really liked that she was back to normal, had a real storyline and had real feelings ;) also, again i loved the “friendship-chemistry” if you can call it that, between ted and robin before her date. and i liked that barney gave her and don the date. i’m kind of rooting for don and robin right now. basically because it seems like she deserves a long-term-relationship (in five years she’s only had her year with ted and a couple of months with barney, right?) and i really don’t want her getting back together with barney. while their scene at the shooting range was nice, they just really don’t work as a couple. i know the writers are planning to go down that road again some time, i just really hope they change their minds :P

    all in all, although i didn’t like last week’s episode, i think they’re getting back on track

    oh and also, i have to admit, except for last week’s chick and the second time britney was around, i’ve liked the musical guest stars, namely enrique iglesias and mandy moore. i mean, come ON! “Male Gale” was crazy :D

  8. katie90 |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 04:33 am GMT -4

    also loved the cravatte part because it reminded me of “it’s not a tie. it’s a sleeping cravatte!”

  9. katie90 |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 04:34 am GMT -4

    sorry, another thing: anyone know why it’s called “of course”?!

  10. Colin |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 04:57 am GMT -4

    Oh, and in addition to the title, I also have a question. Did they ever say why Ted had the book? Are we to assume Robin took home a copy and he read it?

  11. jons |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 05:19 am GMT -4

    sorry for my english katie 90…it s called of course because “of course your still single take a look at your self you dumb slut….” it is the beg ofthe name of the book

  12. Ann |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 06:16 am GMT -4

    i love HIMYM season 5
    it has been really great episodes for the past few weeks

    did anyone notice the look on Barney’s face when Robin starts to sing “bang..bang” at the end of the episode..does that mean he stil care?

    i like robarn,they are so sweet 2gether but i think barney’s funnier when he is single

  13. LiamG |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 06:52 am GMT -4

    I loved how Robin started the interview with “but, um”. These little things just make me happy.

    I have to agree with colin. The development of the relationship between don an robin could have been better. Tbe timing isnt good at all in season 5. Some things are rushed forward like there wont be another season (BArney and robin) and other storylines need a million episodes to go on (ted finding his wife of course)

  14. High Hoper |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 07:09 am GMT -4

    WOW!

    I loved the episode! It had it all… Songs, emotions, real Robin, Ted singing, the superdate, Barney with a good story.

    Maybe the best or second best of this season so far! I think the show is recovering!!! :)

    Also, the song was meant to be written by 12th episode (actually 100th), but I couldn’t make it on time, due to how busy I am with the new scholarship I got for studying Audio Production, so maybe I’ll be able to end it before the season ends. I’ll keep you updated!

    JLo did it pretty nice, don’t you think? So far better than most guests this season, as you point out JD.

    Once again, I really like how they handled Robin emotions finally.
    I think there are more surprises on the way. I do believe it. Of course.

  15. Zidge Dogosting in first person? *laugh* that is SO behind the narration times! 3rd person is all the rage over at apiciuscafe... I enjoy your reflections on Sacremento folk versus NYC. Who has ever heard of folks waiting for the walk signal? That is just |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 07:42 am GMT -4

    My favorite moments

  16. Zidge Dog |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 08:01 am GMT -4

    Wow, that post above was weird. Somehow my computer did something weird, so enjoy the snippet of conversation from a friend’s blog.

    My favorite parts were -

    Marshall busting out the banjo for the final “bang bang” song – at first, I wasn’t into the song, but the more it showed up, the more I liked it.

    Ted’s superdate song was legendary.

    Robin at the firing range shows her having some personality besides being desperate, horny, or Canadian – nice to see that again.

    “But, um” – great!

    Barney’s reaction to Robin being upset was unexpected and over the top, as Barney should be. Nice use of the storm trooper all around.

    J Lo was not too bad overall.

    Barney’s physical comedy was right on. I love the fall off the bar stool, even though I saw it fifty times on promos. And his dive into the river was amazing – watch it again.

    (NPH is getting a lot of Hollywood love right now. His Oscars opening was a lot of critics’ highlight of the night, and he has a gameshow coming out soon. How long will HIMYM get to keep him?)

    Marshall calling people “such a man” for missing out on Robin crying also got funnier each time.

    Ted calling Robin the classiest hooker ever was awesome.

    I liked this episode quite a bit. Good Robarn closure. Now let’s get Lily pregnant.

  17. Fon |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 08:48 am GMT -4

    I really love this episode! I was very upset that Barney & Robin doesn’t end well. This episode make that feeling goes away. It make us know that despite breaking up with each other, they still care about each other (as a friend)! This episode is very HILARIOUS too, I just love Ted singing!

  18. Beth |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 09:05 am GMT -4

    I thought it was called “Of Course” because when each male friend realized that Robin has been mourning/upset, they thoght back, and then realized, “of course–she’s hurting” as in “of course”=how did I not see it.

    From Sagat Ted’s commentary in past shows, we already knew Robin and Don get together, so I guess that’s why they didn’t drag it out too much. However, it did seem kind of rushed.

  19. Ben |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 09:56 am GMT -4

    Anyone else notice that the sweater Robin was wearing were the Vancouver Canucks colors? God I love hockey…

  20. katie90 |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 10:02 am GMT -4

    ooh right. both good explanations on the “of course” thing..weird

  21. CourtneyE |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 10:22 am GMT -4

    That song really is catchy. I woke up singing “bang bang bangity bang…”

    Loved this episode, and speaking as one of the last remaining RoBarn shippers who simply refuses to give up hope, I hope this is laying the groundwork for Barney to get jealous. Robin got upset because Barney was having sex all the time, but that doesn’t mean anything to Barney. Barney will get jealous when he sees Robin having real feelings for someone else.

    Then they’ll get back together and get married and have babies and eat rainbow cupcakes on a cloud on top of a mountain.

    *ahem* Sorry.

  22. Lou Pai |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 11:01 am GMT -4

    Is it just me, or is there really a certain similarity between the “bang bang bangity bang…”-song and “the bird is the word”, which was used in family guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WNrx2jq184 ?

    i liked the return of the “but ahm” and how JLo had Mike “on the hook”.

  23. Dandolion |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 11:35 am GMT -4

    Just for the record Ted’s song is one continuous take and while the Backgrounds of the Carriage Ride the Ice skating and the Roof top were green screen all of the other moving parts were mechanically done LIVE IN FRONT OF CAMERA! 6 Scene changes in one minute.

  24. katie90 |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 11:35 am GMT -4

    yes, the return of the but, um was good but overwhelming since it was a call-back to a fairly recent episode. also, did anyone else think the title of the book seemed kind of forced-funny (especially cause they made them say it so often) or did all of you laugh at it?

  25. Nonblonde |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 11:49 am GMT -4

    I loved this episode so much I think I want to carry its child. Seriously!! It’s freaky how the writers of this show KNOW what we are thinking, how they never loose touch with their audience – I was complaining alot after the Robarn breakup that they didn’t have closure, nobody was upset, nothing – and now they give us this. GOD I love this show, couldn’t be more awesome. 55 THUMBS UP!

  26. Michael |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 12:25 pm GMT -4

    I don’t think the book was a reference to Pickup Artist books. I think it was supposed to be a dating equivalent to the Skinny Bitch diet books, whose gimmick is to talk to the reader in a supposedly insulting way.

  27. Toby |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 02:15 pm GMT -4

    LOVED the episode!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I was so happy to FINALLY see some aftermath to the Barney and Robin relationship. However, I am still annoyed how f-ed up that whole relationship thing was in the first place.

    I loved the book, in fact I used it in my weekly HIMYM facebook status. I loved the whole Just say No thing. It is really true.

    I haven’t loved an HIMYM episode this much since bagpipes so it made me really happy!!! I think all the characters were on point this week! Good work Craig and Carter, keep it up!!!

  28. Ernie the Dancing Weasel |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 02:19 pm GMT -4

    “…so terrified of not looking cute you can hear the air escaping their ass cheeks as they clench them shut with the fear of their inevitable, fast approaching, total annihilation into mediocrity.”

    And that kind of writing, right there, ladies and gentlemen, is why I read this blog! JD; you are the man!

    This is my favorite kind of episode; a nice blend of Monty Python and Melrose Place. Kudos to Ms. Lopez for playing it low key; I hadn’t heard about her being on the show and I wasn’t absolutely sure it was her for a second. No vamping like when she guested on “Will & Grace”, just a nice, subtle performance. And a nice couple of subplots that add to the overall story. Nice job!

  29. Rachael |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 02:29 pm GMT -4

    CourneyE – Me too! I just got it out of my head before reading the comments.

    Michael – I thought of it more as an answer to “He’s Just Not That Into You”. Maybe because I’ve recently watched the movie.

    Loved this episode! I always thought it was kind of weird how Barney had no problem talking about his conquests in front of Robin. He’s insensitive to women, but this was Robin – the first girl he had a relationship with in a long time – not some chick he picked up in a bar.

  30. CCal |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 03:34 pm GMT -4

    Anyone know where we can find the darling sweater Robin wore in the latter half of the episode? When Barney finds her at the gun range?

  31. Fabio |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 04:16 pm GMT -4

    “I like that both Ted and Marshall, sensitive guys by any measure, still managed to be insensitive to Robin’s feelings after the break up with Barney. This is why it’s so hard for guys and girls to be close friends”….

    NICE JD! NICE…

    awesome episode and maybe the best we’ve seen in season 5 thus far…..

  32. Thomas |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 04:18 pm GMT -4

    Brilliant episode! Last week left me a little underwhelmed but this was back on track with the run that had proceeded it before. I’ve nothing too much more too say that hasn’t already been said, though I will say I loved the songs from the episode. What are the chances they put the “Bang Bang” song up on Itunes?! I hope so as it sure was catchy!

  33. Purple Giraffe |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 05:09 pm GMT -4

    This was a great episode and it was good to finally see the aftermath of Barney and Robin. I like that even though there was a huge emotional exchange between Barney and Robin, the episode overall still managed to be funny. Ted’s song was really unexpected and I loved it! And yes, the Bang Bang song is ridiculously catchy.

    And JD, I also love that Old Spice commercial. It’s so awesome and the guy in it deserves his own t.v. show or something. He is brilliant.

  34. Hainz |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 05:35 pm GMT -4

    WTF

  35. Jazzer |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 07:47 pm GMT -4

    Since there is no better way to start this then to quote one of the often “no-sayers” [you know who you are :) ]

    “WOW”.

    There are no words to express, how happy, and above all satisfied I was when I saw this episode. The day kinda went slow for me. Too much things to do, work on, get done/finished, and I always hate Tuesdays, and at the end of the day, three minutes before midnight, I remembered the one things that was missing – HIMYM.

    This episode, was phenomenal. Like, a mixture of all the seasons, all stirred up in one tasty… um, mixture I suppose. It had everything – just the right amount of Barney, same for Ted/Marshall, and Lily wasn’t bad or obnoxious as she can sometimes be. Everyone was weighed just correctly, which we all know doesn’t happen often, at least not in Season 5, which, now when I look at it, hasn’t really been that bad. Sure, it had it’s ups and downs, but it had some big turnovers, new pieces to the story, and it makes me even happier since there will be Season 6.

    The first thing that made my day was the scene at approx. 4:xx minutes, when Barney goes into coma. I really laughed so hard my stomach hurt. The last time I laughed that much due to HIMYM, well, needless to say it was a long time ago, even longer with all the breaks the show had.

    After that, everything just went up. Just became better and better. Like JD said, the show started to deal with true emotions. Nobody saw what Robin was going through, and it all resolved the way it should’ve.

    The last part where Barney jumps into Hudson river made me laugh. Really noticing how he jumps though, similiar to the jump he made in the dumpster in the Super Bowl episode [Episode 15, before last week's Hooked]. NPH really stepped up his game, and is getting better and better every episode. Never bored to watch his misfits. The *cough*mega-date*cough* scene was fantastic.

    “Ted, people are watching.” – And the look telling the guy there’s nothing between them. So classic. Really missed the epicness, the show always seemed to deliver. As of J.Lo, really, really enjoyed her. Did a great job at every scene, at least in my opinion. Kinda forgot she was that much hot. It breaks the nature’s way. The older she get’s, the more hotter she is, and not in a perverted way.

    One part did however seem un-needed in the episode. The Bang Bang song. At the beginning when Marshall got up, it was funny, the way Ted came in with “Count me in!” was too, and when Barney just silently entered the scene was hilarious, but the song with Lily in the bed was completely forced. Not to speak about the ending. So many ways to make it a better ending to the episode.

    Also, Ted and Marshall have always been grossed out with the fact that Barney slept with over 200 women. Didn’t feel all too natural when they sort of cheered for his “banging”. The conversation:

    “200 is too many”
    “It’s not too many…”
    “It’s too many…”
    /
    “Here, look at the list.”
    “I wouldn’t touch it even if I was in a hasmat suit.”

    - came to mind.

    Yet, to me all those little things couldn’t ruin the enjoyment it gave me.

    Can’t wait to see what next week entails.

  36. Andre |  Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 07:59 pm GMT -4

    hey dandolion what can you tell us about the storm troopers? why is it different everytime it appears? do they just rent one when they need to show barney’s room and don’t care if it is the same they used before? (not sure if that classifies as set or prop? i think you said you worked on the set design, right?)

    anyway, one of the best episodes this season indeed. i’m glad that most of the cast has had a song to sing. there is a continuity issue with lily not telling marshall about robin’s mourning right away, but hey people change, maybe she’s not like that anymore: as they mature, the relationship matures with them.

  37. stefany |  Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 01:20 am GMT -4

    ok, i’m gonna get slammed here but i thought the episode was ok. although i want to give the writers credit and say that it was really realistic that Robin was pretending to be fine in front of everyone this whole time but she’s really a mess- i can’t. this story line was waaaayyy overdue. helloooo, why wasn’t this after the playbook? yes, robin has been sulking in the background since the rough patch, but in all honesty it feels like they tried to sweep the RoBarn ship under the rug and when this story came along it was a happy accident that it worked with Robin’s behavior in all the preceding episodes where they desperately tried to pretend RoBarn never happened. when the guys realize they’ve been jerks to Robin a few flashbacks to earlier episodes (like the perfect week or the playbook) would have really helped legitimize the late address to Robin’s feelings.

    in my opinion they know they messed up the whole RoBarn ship and are now trying to go back and fix it. the problem is that after definitions, the RoBarn ship was poorly executed. the setup for Barney and Robin as a good couple has been there from the beginning (remember when she bros up for laser tag in season one?) but once they got together the stories got sloppy. they tried to make Robin and Barney into a real couple and the whole reason they could’ve worked is because neither of them is very good at it. although this attempt at some closure was sweet, its more clearly a setup for continuing the tensions between the two of them. we’ll switch from robin being upset to barney getting subtly jealous of don. i’m glad they’re finally addressing it but i can’t help the cynical cackle in my head- too late, you lost me!

    however…. some fantastic moments. ted giving barney dating is advice is fantastic. there was some hint to that with robin 101 but i’m glad they finally dove right in to a dynamic where ted is teaching barney about girls. and of course (no eps pun intended) it had to be with ted being his usual hopeless romantic self.

    the bang song was great but my absolute favorite thing was ted singing the superdate song. my god, that was epic. classic ted, classic himym. the season is gradually picking up. more conflict for marshall and lily (enough with the dumb subplots, the teacup pig thing from last week was terrible. that thing wasn’t even cute). and definitely more ted stories. he just gets better and better.

    whew! i generally like to keep it short but i just had to get that off my chest! here’s to next week!

    oh and jlo was pretty good. for sure the best part was at the end when she’s trying to cut barney a deal. the barnacle’s still got it!

    p.s.- looooooove that old spice commercial. its so stupid that its brilliant. “the tickets are now diamonds!”

  38. sandyrivers |  Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 02:01 am GMT -4

    funniest part: “but umm”

  39. Mrs. Stinsfire |  Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 04:50 am GMT -4

    I liked the “but uhm” part :D

    The bang, bang, bang is just hilarious! Great episode :)

  40. Ana |  Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 05:50 am GMT -4

    WOW! Wha a spectacular episode. I just saw it and I tell you, it may be my favorite episode this season.
    Musical, Superdates, what was missing today? And for those were asking why Robin was not so funny as before, was not that cool and determined woman? Well there is the answer – because she’d been miserable.

    I loved the end, what a huge door opened.

  41. Brody |  Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 11:21 am GMT -4

    @stefany

    you said that it’s like the writer’s knew they messed up and were trying to fix the show. that doesn’t make any sense considering a season is planned and filmed ahead of time. so they knew exactly what they’re doing.

  42. bagga |  Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 01:37 pm GMT -4

    j’lo was like a big surprise for me lol… brilliant…

    and the ted musical was a great one indeed…

    aww… barney made it up to robin and it was wonderful :D

  43. Bulut |  Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 05:07 pm GMT -4

    I sad Bang Bang bangbangnbanbanb bang bang bang

    Love it :P When barney falls from the chair xD xD
    N?ce Work Bro :P

  44. Major Buzzkill |  Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 06:48 pm GMT -4

    I haven’t commented much this season because honestly I haven’t had much to say. I think this is demonstrably the worst season, and I think it’s quite obviously because they rushed and messed up the Barney/Robin situation after so much wonderful, heartfelt build-up.

    So now this episode… I’m very glad they addressed the horribly handled break-up situation. However, it was also quite obvious that it was a retcon, that they just realized “oh crap, people are upset that this being handled unrealistically”. Still, I’m at least glad they put in the effort. Because it was by far one of the most moving episode plotlines of the season. And this season has been sorely missing the heart the show used to have.

    However, I think more than anything, this episode showed how much more chemistry Barney and Robin have than Robin and Don. I kind of hope they’re doing this intentionally to set up a future Barney/Robin plotline (that they won’t screw up so badly), but honestly, I am not sure I have faith in them to do that. The ironic thing is that they ditched this plotline when it was one of the things that helped Season 4 gain viewership. Honestly, I am just getting really worried that this show has lost all its soul. I really hope the writers realize they need to bring it back, and that they shouldn’t be so scared of everyone who screams that Barney only works as a one dimensional character. At least this episode showed that its best when both he and Robin are realistic. I just wish they’d hang onto that. Because honestly, Don is boring as hell. And they’re at a risk for losing one of the things that’s elevated this show since season 3.

  45. T.I.P. |  Thursday, March 11th, 2010 04:24 am GMT -4

    I found this episode a surprising one.
    It was kind of… beautiful.
    The best episode in along time.

    About the storytelling: I think himym
    uses the nonlinear storytelling very well.
    It really adds something to the episode(s)
    in my opinion.

  46. Jacob |  Thursday, March 11th, 2010 04:58 am GMT -4

    This is really one of the greatest comedies on TV right now.

    For those that enjoy watching things online, you will find some video guides of help ( with scheduling and stuff, news, clips):
    http://www.tv-links.eu/tv-shows/How-I-Met-Your-Mother_348/

    enjoy

  47. katie90 |  Thursday, March 11th, 2010 12:36 pm GMT -4

    i’m just so happy they started to make some good episodes again :) i feel like they’re spread in between crappy ones (i.e. “hooked”..) but they’re worth the wait

  48. bambooshoots |  Thursday, March 11th, 2010 12:53 pm GMT -4

    I have to ask, what the hell did Anita say to Barney near the end of the episode?

  49. lulz |  Thursday, March 11th, 2010 01:54 pm GMT -4

    I WANT ROBINS VARIETY SHOW

  50. katie90 |  Thursday, March 11th, 2010 04:49 pm GMT -4

    did you see this?
    http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/03/11/how-i-met-your-mother-arianna-huffington

    who IS that?!

  51. Major Buzzkill |  Thursday, March 11th, 2010 04:54 pm GMT -4

    I want to add, I agree this show had heart. But it had heart because Barney and Robin have great chemistry. I’m just a little worried they’ll go with Don instead, and Don is, unfortunately, boring.

  52. Jenn- GCWOK Approved |  Thursday, March 11th, 2010 10:54 pm GMT -4

    THANK GOODNESS they finally showed Robin as an actual person with feelings regarding this break-up! It made me happy because they became a little more believable. They haven’t seemed believable since the awful way the writers handled the story and made them “cancel each other out.”
    Ladies- I saw a layered trenchcoat at Anthropologie today! Seems they took a hint from HIMYM, and $200 is so much better than $2,000! Plus it will go on sale soon:
    http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=CLOTHES-COATS-TRENCH&id=013274&catId=CLOTHES-COATS&pushId=CLOTHES-COATS&popId=CLOTHES&sortProperties=&navCount=115&navAction=top&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=024&colorName=BEIGE&isSubcategory=true&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=

  53. Jenn- GCWOK Approved |  Thursday, March 11th, 2010 10:55 pm GMT -4

    Actually it’s only $188.
    JD sorry that link is so long.

  54. stefany |  Thursday, March 11th, 2010 11:06 pm GMT -4

    @brody- actually the series is written & shot only a few weeks ahead of airdates, which is why we find out about guest stars and such on such short notice. major plotlines and episodes like the 100th are planned out ahead of time, but the details of the season come about week to week, as the writers develop the stories.

    however my point was that there was clearly a decision to revisit the RoBarn plotline and try to smooth out the rough transition the writers have been struggling with since Robin and Barney broke up. They tried to make it like the relationship never happened which wasn’t working. this episode clearly showed that they were finally making an attempt at acknowledging what happened before, and are getting back into the swing of things.

    @majorbuzzkill- your 1st post was a much clearer version of what i was trying to say, kudos to you, i completely agree!

  55. Brody |  Friday, March 12th, 2010 03:32 am GMT -4

    @stefany

    maybe scripts are written only a few weeks before shooting, but the entire season has to be planned out, with each episode summarized and put into a tv bible. they knew this episode was coming right from the get go.

  56. Trevormac98 |  Friday, March 12th, 2010 02:24 pm GMT -4

    @brody

    The premise is somewhat set, but not in stone or bible. The reason this is say when they introduce guests, such as Don, they like to see what the viewers think of him before making him a more permanent part of the show. If we, the viewers, did not care for Don or he didnt test well with viewers, they wouldnt have developed the story line and this episode, would have ended differently. Stefany is spot on.

    Same thing happened in Entorurage. They introduced a Don in season 3, with the writers and producers goal to have him join the entrougage. However, the fans did not care for him, myself included, so they only had him on two episodes and then wrote him off, bringing him back for one more episode later.

    Hope this better explains.

  57. Xtian |  Friday, March 12th, 2010 02:56 pm GMT -4

    I took the time to rip the audio and did my best connecting and looping certain parts so it’s a decent length. ENJOY!

    http://www.mediafire.com/?mmmwikzzntz

  58. brody |  Friday, March 12th, 2010 03:22 pm GMT -4

    @trevormac98

    im just stating from experience in television writing and speaking specifically about the plot of the episode, not guest stars. there is a tv bible for every show that contains episode summaries, character bios, and everything about the season before they write and shoot it. obviously there would be some changes, but i dont think they would change everything just because of fan reaction. characters and stories are there to serve the show, not the fans. but if bays or thomas themselves said “yah we messed up with robin and barney and tried to fix it” i would admit im wrong. but i dont think i am. like i said, i have experience in how tv shows are made.

  59. KB |  Sunday, March 14th, 2010 11:21 pm GMT -4

    Hey, I found this blog while searching for the music for some episode and it made me so very very happy! :D
    I’ve spend three days reading everything in the archives and just I wish I’d found it when I first got into HIMYM ’cause the new season, for the most part, just isn’t doing it for me…….

    As for this episode, I thought J.Lo wasn’t bad at all, the ‘Let’s just call it a tie’ was really funny, Ted’s song, Barney falling off the stool and everything was good, but it isn’t like Marshall (or Ted) to be so insensitive and sing songs about Barney’s conquests.

    And what I liked even less, doesn’t it seem a little bit weird that Robin is so torn up over the whole thing with Barney that she’s actually shedding tears in public, when we never ever saw her crying even once after the break-up with Ted? :-/

  60. KB |  Sunday, March 14th, 2010 11:22 pm GMT -4

    The ‘wait for it’ that came up while my comment was being posted just cracked me up completely :D

  61. Tove |  Monday, March 15th, 2010 06:58 am GMT -4

    Such a good episode, I kinda love Don! And Josh Radnor is the maaan for singing! Was almost better than Nothing Suits Me Like A Suit just because it was unexpected. Haha and the “strip club” line afterwards. Yay.
    And how good is Cobie Smulders looking?! Oh my she is amazing!

  62. katie90 |  Monday, March 15th, 2010 02:44 pm GMT -4

    Jenn!! Oh my God, I love you :P I’m SO gonna order that next month when I got money again ;)

  63. barney |  Friday, March 19th, 2010 01:18 pm GMT -4

    No killer episodes this season .. Like the Lorenzo von matterhorn, the one with Barneys resume !
    Barney/Robin relation was a little underplayed. Though revealed in one of the episodes that Robin is Barneys future wife, im expecting all of this to happen with a BANG ! Barney style though ;)

  64. Gunnar Halkjellson |  Friday, March 19th, 2010 05:31 pm GMT -4

    First time. Long time. MIX, MAX bling blang blaow. J. LO rox, and Ted is totally cute

  65. SophiaVonMatterhorn |  Saturday, March 20th, 2010 06:25 am GMT -4

    uhm barney, are we watching the same series? when the heck was there a reference that robin ends up married to barney???

    and the lorenzo von matterhorn WAS in this season. theplaybook.

    huh???

  66. katie90 |  Monday, March 22nd, 2010 03:08 pm GMT -4

    you know, sophia, some people tend to get a little over-excited when a new himym airs and therefor start talking crazy :D

  67. Cameron |  Thursday, March 25th, 2010 07:36 am GMT -4

    I really liked this episode, some of my favourite bits of the show are the musical bits and i absolutley LOVED the Superdate song and the Bangity Bang song, also love Lets Go To The Mall, Sandcastles in the Sand, Nothin Suits Me Like a Suit and You Just Got Slapped. Although i dont want this show to be like Scrubs i think they need to have a group song (as Nothin Suits Me Like a Suit wasnt really a group one) because Josh Radnor, Jason Segal, Cobie Smulders and OF COURSE (get it? its the episode title?) Neil Patrick Harris (My favourite actor) can REALLY sing.. not so much Alyson Hannigan but she’s still cool.

    This was a good episode although i agree that the Robin/Don story was a little rushed but HIMYM has gone back to explain things that have happened previously in more detail many times before. I love every single one of these characters (although Barney and Marshall are stand outs for me) and this episode is a great example of HIMYM’s Comedy/Drama balance being as close to perfect as i’ve ever seen in a sit-com. Season 5 hasnt been as good as previous seasons in some areas but this episode was very good. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER IS LEGENDARY!

  68. Otto Mattiace |  Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 05:21 am GMT -4

    Good deal. I like her music a lot. It actually irritates me when individuals say something like since she’s 40 she shouldn’t create music anymore. Thats ridiculous. Carry it J.Lo!

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