The How I Met Your Mother Blog

And I hate myself.  I hate wikipedia.  Because, when I went on there to get a synopsis for tonight’s episode to put into this post, I caught wind of the MAJOR SPOILER.  F–K!!!!

From now on, no more synopses.  I truly love living out here on the West Coast.  The weather rules (though the traffic does not), Disneyland and Vegas are a hop, skip and a few jumps away, and there ain’t nothing better in this world than In ‘N Out.  But it’s a challenge writing reviews for television shows wanting to go in blind.

Oh well. I know what it is but I’ll save it for when my review comes up at 10:30PM PST.  Think you all can wait until then?

If not, start the discussion here, and I’ll see you in a bit.

J

Welcome back, everyone.  I love these characters.  We all do.  We want them to succeed.  And yet they are human.  As all of us. And they will make mistakes.  And we will see that sometimes doing the right thing does not pay out in the end, as Barney found out the hardest way possible.

Let’s get to it!

What Was Good

• That consequences have actions…no actions have consequences…no wait..am I high?  How long have I been here?
• Loved the twist in the end of the “B” story.  Didn’t see it coming (that 2 hours was actually 2 minutes).  The video montage had me on the ground, I was laughing so hard.
• Framing the show around the ticking clocks worked beautifully.  Finally, the show is rocking the emotions the way it should.  Someone is about to get hurt here.
• Groova-pa-looza: Maybe this is personal, but one of the reasons I love this show so much is that it syncs up with my life.  I went to college (Go QUAKERS, we are NOT PENN STATE!) right when Ted, Marshall and Lily did, and every time they reference the 90′s, I get warm and nostalgic.
• Welcome back, “eat a sandwich”!  This has been one of the best writing gags regarding the unreliable narrator of Future Ted, man I love it so.
• Kevin and Nora just HAPPENED to walk into the booze cruise at the same time.  What are THEY hiding?
• The “Unreliable Narrator” is one of the best devices the writers have to use that is given to them due to the nature of the storytelling (Ted telling his children how he knocked up, I mean met their mother).  We got another dividend tonight; the band’s lead singer. Good stuff.
• As a bearded man, I can attest, it’s true…
• Seriously how do they keep casting hippy hipster douches so well (nacho guy with Lily)?
• Marshall’s freak outs, Ted and Marshall keep finding the nacho line, loved all of it.  The last hurrah of boy-immature bonding before the baby comes.  I know how this feels.
• Barney’s turn around at the booze cruise about how this might be the story of how they got back together gave me chills.  Barney is still on his journey of emotional recovery and personal growth, and tonight was a big step, even if it had its basis in a huge selfish mistake.  He’s truly sorry for what he has done, and only wants to do the right thing.
• The episode did a wonderful job of showing the inner conflict between two good people who did a bad thing.  I have and will continue to call them reckless for this, but I have empathy for them.  I still care about them and love them even more.  Good writing, well acted, well done.
• Barney’s memory montage of Robin as Nora’s father unwittingly described finally sold it for me that Robin and Barney really have something.  It is a shame that two innocent (so far) individuals (Nora and Kevin) are going to get hurt in this (can’t help it) but this sequence, along with music accompanying it, really brought it home.

What Was Bad

• I did not believe for one blessed second that Kevin would look past Robin saying, “I did a bad thing…” the dude is smart and educated, and a friggin’ head shrink!  NOPE.  I don’t care about your past? No no no.
• Sandy Rivers does not have a job in the world of reality.  Gloria Allred would have shown up and sued his ass into oblivion.  Not buying this for one blessed second.  Or is he based upon David Letterman before the truth came out?  Let’s face it, men in power often are P-hounds.  But I’d think a guy in Sandy’s position would have way more game, and I don’t find his lame come-on to the hot blonde (sorry baby) believable at all, unreliable narrator notwithstanding.
• Poor Nora.  To heck with those of you who don’t like her (sorry), she’s a lovely woman, and she didn’t deserve this.  She got burned.  Badly.  And Barney, buddy, you worked your ass off to get Nora, not once, but twice. Was that all a lie?  Are you a fucking sociopath, bro?  You sat in a diner booth all night for her.  You came clean about your past for her.  You moved mountains, and yet Robin is the one?  Dude, get your shit together.  I don’t know, maybe that’s the whole point.  And yet I’m proud of you (see below)

Favorite Moments

• “Of course, it didn’t…” This is Barney’s evil side fighting a losing battle with his good side.
• You’re asking me to lie?  That’s..fine…
• I’m sure that’s what Gilligan said…
• Even the tickets smell like cloves and mediocrity.  Thank You, Ted.  Hippy bands from the 90′s do indeed suck.
• Gender diversity awareness paloooza…SCREW YOU 90′S POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!  Indeed, I went to a Lilith Fair in the 90′s (don’t ask, well, go ahead and ask me on my show), and indeed, there were some real bitches there.  I have stories.
• Lily has no idea I’m high…you’re HIGH?  These guys really get the high-guy-screw ups down pat.
• “Magnanimously, Sandy Rivers” – Love ya, unreliable narrator Ted
• At least Sandy Rivers uses safe sex.  He’s not a COMPLETE douche.
• I love Nachos, man!
• Shoulda done it on the boat.  Yup. No time like the present, people.
• It’s a sign, bro.  Love the double meanings
• I think the worst part is over…oh Barney…
• Barney alone in the second…chills.
• 12 seconds, and you’re in the wrong booth.

Closing Thoughts

Again, Robin and Barney are reckless people.  They are both finally off the boat but not off the hook.  I love them dearly as characters but MAN.  For the love of God, people, don’t hang out with your ex’s and if you do, NO DRAMA.  Otherwise, don’t get into relationships with other people unless said-drama is over and done with.  To do otherwise is, again, reckless, as well as selfish.

But then again…

We haven’t seen Barney get this rocked since he found his father.  The dude got slammed, and hard.  He finally did the right thing.  He screwed up and for the first time, he took responsibility for his actions and did the right thing.  But as it turns out, life does not give you a pass for pass sins.  No good deed goes un-punished.  He did Nora a huge favor, cowboyed the f–k up and came clean at the worst possible moment.  And what does he have to show for it?

In my humble opinion, most likely, personal growth.  Barney has to learn that he is human and fallible.  He has learned that Nora was a lovely lady but mostly existed as such only in his head.  Things aren’t going to work out for him, or us, always.  Sometimes we just have to get burned by the fire in order to form a protective scar.  Sucks, but such is life.  The last moments of tonight’s episode knocked me off my ass.  Loved it.  I only wish they had a way to make the “A” story involve the other three characters completely, but that being said, I loved the final moment with Ted witnessing Barney removing the rose petals and blowing out the candles.

That’s two in a row, and we can only hope this streak continues.

Indeed, this is Ted’s story.  He is why we signed up for this, 6 years ago, he is who we want to see cross the finish line with the love of his life.  May we continue to see more of it.

Hey everybody!  Fresh from a wine country weekend (California!), I have the following information for you about tonight’s episode:

“Barney and Robin hide a deep secret from their partners. Ted, Lily and Marshall attend a concert.”

And, the real-life Ted Mosby himself, Carter Bays, had this to say on his Twitter feed today:

“Tonight’s #HIMYM is a doozy! Hang onto your hankies. Buckle your tearducts. (Oh, and get ready to laugh as well!)”

AND

“Seriously, you might want to have a needle and some thread nearby when you watch, because tonight’s #HIMYM will have you in stitches.”

Well alright then!  If Ted Mosby himself is endorsing tonight’s episode, I have hope that last week’s win (my humble opinion only), might turn into a streak.

Some food for thought about last week.  To be certain, cheating is a very human mistake.  It happens, no one really defends it, but we do our best to explain it.  And when two characters we care about screw up like this (and hypocritically, in the case of Robin, as someone pointed out in the comments), we are right to have empathy for them.

However, I can’t help but think, this was reckless of them.  Reckless to get into relationships with other people when things are not resolved between them.  This was a train wreck that all involved should have seen coming a mile away (especially Kevin, heck, maybe Don was right in season 5).  Well, maybe a mild collision.  But Kevin ain’t gonna be around much longer (my opinion) and Nora?  I’d put money down in Vegas that she ain’t the bride at Barney’s wedding.

Your thoughts?  See you tonight!

Hey everybody!  Sorry for the tardiness, Monday Night Football took over the night for me and I didn’t get around to watching HIMYM until late.  As an Eagles fan, I would have rather watching Ted and the Gang .  Okay moving on.

All in all, “Disaster Averted” was better than most this season, not as good as the first three, but a MAJOR improvement.  The jokes hit, the characters were back to being themselves, and I had a ball.

What Was Good

• They are finally moving the story along with Robin and Barney, as we are getting into sweeps, so it’s time!
• The opening bit with Barney 007-ing out with a bullshit save-the-kid story was funny.  NO!!!!!!!!!
• It is true, you haven’t lived until you inspire a sign. I’m working on it.  Why aren’t you?
• Ted being a boy scout; we’re finally back to having good-old douchey Ted that we can’t help but love.  And yes, the boots. The boy loves his boots.
• Just about every joke was Planet Earth-based (sorry) and interwoven with the characters.  That was a major quality missing for the past 5 episodes.  Nice to have it back.
• Nice reminder that Robin and Canadians can handle the weather.  Bikini weather!  BBQ Weather!  See what I mean?  It’s Robin!
• Marshall is neurotic to begin with, and mixing Edgar Allen Poe into the mix worked really well for me.
• The bear!  Loved the bear.  Jason Segel really sold it.  ”Not like this!  NOT LIKE THIS!”
• Kevin’s psychological breakdown of Barney was hysterical.  People, meeting parents is not that bad.  Chill out, Barney!  THERAPIST-TED!
• I was hoping to have more slaps, glad the writers found a way to give them to me.

What Was Bad

• Ted’s place in Westchester?  If he is talking about the house that he bought, isn’t that in Staten Island?  What place in Westchester?  Not really a bad thing, just a question.
• I really didn’t have any major complaints of this episode. I really loved it.  Check out my closing thoughts for my only real concern, which is not a bad thing writing-wise…I think.

Favorite Moments

• “But you’re not supposed to take the tie off!”
• “You can stay in school, that’s how.”
• Kevin wanting to avoid his mother’s birthday party with a long story.  This is a nice point of consistency; he has Mommy-likes-my-brother-better-than-me issues.  Even shrinks have issues.  They are not immune.
• “Boy-scouted..you’re welcome!”
• The Bear.  Simply awesome.  Great site gag that fit in with Marshall’s personality.
• “If the SEC pursues charges it’s going to be ALL our asses!”  I never get tired of coming into a scene at GNB with a line like this (them being evil capitalists).
• “Pink is easier to spot from the rescue chopper”
• “We have a baby on the way, an extra slap could really come in handy”
• “It’s like a big red…bulls-eye”
• “Your training is complete I’m so proud of this kid!”  Barney is still Barney, even vicariously.
• Don’t ya just hate it when the hot chick has a boyfriend?  DAMMIT!!!!  At least she said something.
• Hurricane baby!!!!  Nice little tidbit; we know that Barney is going to be a big part of how Ted meets Mama, now we know he’s a big part of Marshall and Lily’s demon spawn; it was made in his bathtub!  Sorry, I mean the baby, not it…

Closing Thoughts

For the love of God, if you still have feelings for an ex, DON’T HANG OUT WITH THEM.  If you are single and you backslide, you’re stupid.  If you are with other people and backslide, you are selfish and stupid.  Looks like Robin and Barney are both.  I don’t necessarily think this is a bad thing writing-wise, we have been warned that things aren’t going to work out for the holy trilogy of Ted, Robin and Barney.  I am very much looking forward to how this will play out.

In a way, Kevin had this coming; dating one of your patients is a big no-no for a reason, bud.

But Nora is an innocent bystander by comparison, assuming this crashes and burns, she is going to have a rough recovery period.  And I know this is a matter of opinion, but I find her lovely and sweet.  She doesn’t deserve this shit.

Great episode.  FINALLY.  November, I love you.  I don’t love Monday Night Football (F–K!!!) but Sweeps brings the television thunder.  See y’all next week!  And don’t forget to check out the Sensitive Nice Guy Show this Wednesday night!

Welcome back everyone!  Only two months left before we find out whether or not the Mayans were right (they weren’t, btw).

So, coming up on How I Met Your MAMA…

• When the Gang reminisces about Hurricane Irene, Barney tries to cut a deal with Marshall and Lilly to get out of wearing the Ducky Tie

You know, we won’t really know how this season will turn out until, well, the season is over.  I have been harsh as of late because I’m not terrible fond of the trees, but then again, once I see the entire forrest, maybe I’ll change my mind.