How I Met Your Mother Season vs. Season

Season vs. Season: Volume 6

This is a weekly column where the episodes from seasons one, two, and three will go head to head in a humor cage match. This week, the episode six’s.

Season 1: Slutty Pumpkin

Ted makes his yearly pilgrimage to the rooftop Halloween party in search of a girl dressed as a pumpkin who he met years ago. Meanwhile, Robin is dumped after driving her new boyfriend away with her independent ways.

I love this episode. While talking to the wise and intellectual “The Mix” last week about favorite episodes he pointed out all the things about this episode that make it great. We get to see some of Robin’s flaws (and, to me, she’s never been more endearing. Her “needs her own space” nature is VERY appealing to me even if it did cost her a boyfriend in the episode). We get to see Ted’s undying romanticism. We get to see Marshall as a gay pirate and Barney as a wingman–for real. This episode had some great jokes too. I love the gang talking over Ted as he tells the story of the slutty pumpkin (and Robin’s authentic laughter, a technique that would go on to become a signature element of the show). I love Marshall’s string of pirate jokes ending with “What be a Pirate’s favorite restaurant?”, “Arrrrrby’s.”, “You’d think so, but it’s actually Long John Silver’s.”. I’ve used that joke many times since this episode. To top it off, we get Robin and Ted snuggling on the roof with a sweet Nada Surf song in the background.

Season 2: Aldrin Justice

Barney seduces Marshall’s law professor in hopes of getting her to grade more leniently. Lily takes a job at Ted’s office, where she promptly steals to teach Ted’s boss a lesson.

I’ve never really liked this episode. It seemed very ’sitcomy’ and contrived. I find the whole main storyline to be kind of lame. The Barney storyline is funny but covers material we’ve seen before. Guest stars get a 50% approval since Jane Seymour was great but I thought Ted’s boss (Bryan Cranston) was lacking. This gets points for the whole bit about how Ted made the former office assistant quit by accidentally calling out her eating problem. That was funny.

Season 3: I’m Not That Guy

Marshall has to contemplate giving up his plan of using his law degree to help the planet when he’s courted by a major firm; Lily reveals a secret to Robin that not even Marshall knows; Ted discovers a porn actor is using his name

If I had written this Tuesday morning I think I would’ve picked this as the winner because I really liked this episode. Since then I re-watched “Slutty Pumpkin” and have had its magic reaffirmed. While “I’m Not That Guy” was funny and ranked high on the quality of its guest star, it just didn’t have the charm and sensitivity of “Slutty Pumpkin”.

advantage

Season 1 wins by a healthy measure. Slutty Pumpkin gave us some great jokes, some quality visual gags, and a great amount of characterization for both Ted and Robin.

Scorecard

Season 1: 1-3-2
Season 2: 2-2-2
Season 3: 0-4-2

Vote

Which episode six is your favorite?

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Season vs. Season: Volume 5

This is a new weekly column where the episodes from seasons one, two, and three will go head to head in a humor cage match. This week, the episode fives.

Season 1: Okay Awesome

Ted and Barney start checking out the club scene with their friend Robin, whereas Lily and Marshall try to participate in some more “grown-up” activities, as they draw slowly nearer to their wedding.

This was, as history went on to prove, the first real How I Met Your Mother episode. Sure, Taste of Liberty was good, but I feel it was in this episode that the show found its stride. That’s a tough milestone to beat.

Season 2: World’s Greatest Couple

Marshall tries to get used to being single in a world that is very coupled-oriented. Barney intended one-night-stand won’t go away. Barney uses Lily to get out of his “horrifying” situation. Lily finds a place to stay.

One of my personal favorites, this episode handled multiple storylines with ease. It’s hard to pick which is the A and which is the B since Lily domesticating Barney and Marshall’s fabulous bro-downs were equally compelling.

Season 3: How I Met Everyone Else

We get to meet Ellen, Ted’s hot new girlfriend, right before she meets the gang. We also get to see how Ted met Marshall and how Marshall and Lily first met. Ted’s girlfriend has a reaction to the meeting that gets her a high ranking on Barney’s crazy scale.

A great number of flashbacks that gave some crucial backstory for the characters. Read my full feed back here.

Advantage

I’m going to have to go with Season 2. “World’s Greatest Couple” is a glimmering gem in the family jewels of How I Met Your Mother. Agree? Disagree? Fight it out in the comments!

Scorecard

Season 1: 0-3-2
Season 2: 2-1-2
Season 3: 0-3-2

Vote

Which episode five is your favorite?

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In Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season vs. Season @ 25/10/2007 | 3 Comments