Showing posts with label How I Met Your Mother. Show all posts
Showing posts with label How I Met Your Mother. Show all posts
Thursday, October 8, 2009
O Captain! My Captain!
How I Met Your Mother: Robin 101Season 5, Episode 3
One of the dominating concerns that I had coming into this season of HIMYM was how the writers would handle the Barney/Robin relationship. I feel a bit like Robin and Barney from the end of last season, part of me loves the idea of the two of them together and then when I admit that another part of me realizes that I just Mosbied the other part and now I don't like the idea very much. On paper, the two of them are made for each other. Going all the way back to the first season when Robin played Wingman for Barney and they enjoyed whiskey and cigars with each other, you could see this relationship as potentially happening in the future. But half of the jokes about Barney revolve around him being a misogynistic player, we know he wasn't always like this but for better or worse THIS is the Barney we know and (begrudgingly) love.Putting Barney into a committed relationship (with any woman) would seem a bit like neutering his character. Episodes like last week's "Double Date" didn't exactly make me feel any better about this situation. Barney got to act like himself for the most part but Robin just played the catty jealous girlfriend who was unhappy about her boyfriend going to a strip club. The problem here is that back in season one she was A-OK with going to a strip club with Barney and Ted in "Belly Full of Turkey." So her annoyance at the situation seems hypocritical. "Double Date" ended with absolutely no resolution of Robin's issues. Nope, instead, Barney stayed just as oblivious and Robin stayed just as mad. In short, it did nothing to make me feel any better about the new status quo.
"Robin 101" doesn't right all the wrongs that "Double Date" created but it does work to fix a couple issues and we get our first glimpse of Professor Mosby albeit not teaching students.
Let's get the gripes out of the way. Though Marshall's love of his college barrel and Lily's sad case of "barrel resin allergy" were funny (especially Lily's, "Damn baby, be cool" to Robin) the whole plot was just another one note misuse of Jason Segal. I'm still waiting for something meatier for him and Marshall and while the "Bermuda Triangle" in front of the apartment steps was funny, it just wasn't anything to write home about.
What was great was the Barney/Ted interaction. I suspect that this is the closest that we'll come to seeing Professor Mosby for a while and it didn't let me down. Barney acting like the typical ADHD addled college student and begging Ted to have class outside was just one of a number of hilarious moments in these scenes (Robin is a typical cover hog? Who knew).
Meanwhile, Robin and Lily obsessing over the notebook found in Barney's briefcase played out just as obnoxiously as you might imagine. It's not that I don't empathize with Robin, I mean she is dating Barney after all. That's got to be nerve wracking. But for all of Robin's going on about how she isn't a typical girl she sure acts like a stereotype. Even going so far as to become downright insulted when she confronts Barney and Ted.
Of course Barney and Robin talk it out in the end and everything is presumably going to be fine between the two of them. During all this I realized two things. 1. Barney and Robin as a couple are inevitably going to neuter Barney's character and 2. This isn't a bad thing. Some of the funniest Barney moments have nothing to do with him as a sexual miscreant. As I was going through season four on Blu Ray this weekend I was reminded of the episode where Barney and Ted keep McClaren's open during the snowstorm. That whole sequence is framed around the two trying to get with some girls but the jokes are all about Ted and Barney being goofy. Or how about Barney and the marathon or Barney and Bob Barker; the list goes on. Barney can still be slimy, but Barney can still be Barney without sleeping around New York.
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009
FLUGELHORN!
How I Met Your Mother: DefinitionsSeason 5, Episode 1
Barney: "Lily, can't you just let us be happy?"
Lily: "You're not happy! You Just think you're happy because you feel happy."
Yes, How I Met Your Mother is back for it's fifth season and though many things have changed through the course of the series, Definitions felt like a proper return.First of all I do have to get something off of my chest, we mistakenly forgot to delete the series recording on our DVR for Heroes and it recorded instead of HIMYM. Apologies to show creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for getting my hands on HIMYM in a shady way, I promise it won't happen again. Trust me, I'm NEVER watching Heroes again. There might be people who still like that show, I like to think these people's parents are related.
Right, back to the topic at hand! When we last saw the gang Marshall and Lily had already moved out to their Dowisetrepla apartment, Ted was offered a position as a college professor and Robin and Barney had finally sort of become an item. Interestingly enough, Ted's story here has less of an impact than the supposed 'B' plot of Robin and Barney.
Don't get me wrong, Ted's story is great. It's wonderful to get that tantalizing little clue to the mothers identity and the moment with Ted questioning himself over the correct spelling of 'professor' while standing at the front of the lecture hall was probably the biggest laugh-out-loud moment for me. Hey Ted, it's okay, we've all had trouble remembering if professor has one 'f' or two, it's cool. The problem with Ted's story is that he is...kind of a douche. Which is to say that he acts like ninety-eight percent of all college professors I've had the displeasure to attend class with.
The parts of the episode with Ted spastically jumping from cool-guy-"call me Ted" professor to authoritative dictator professor all felt true to the character of Ted Mosby, but didn't hold much laughter because it's exactly where I expected Ted to go. Though we are creeping towards the eventual culmination of the series with Ted finding his future special-lady-friend, it's hard not to feel like Ted and Marshall are being slightly marginalized.
Ted at least has the new job driving him, Marshall, who hasn't really had much to do since the wedding in season two, continues to be trivialized here as he mostly just acts as a sidekick to both Ted and Lily. Jason Segal can handle more than he's being given here and some of Marshall's best stuff was the drama at the end of season one and beginning of season two. Marshall is my favorite character, so it's hard not to feel slighted when we see him used mostly as a punchline.
At the end of last year we lost Alyson Hannigan when she went out on maternity leave and I can't really say that the show hurt from the loss of her Lily. We don't really gain much from her return (aside from a smaller role for Marshall to play) except for some classic 'Aldrin Justice' as Lily locks Robin and Barney in the bedroom until they define their relationship. As much as Lily annoys me, it's good to see that her characterization has been kept fairly consistent. I like the fact that Lily is a kindergarten teacher who essentially acts like a 5-year-old around her friends.
And of course we have the the supposed 'B' plot - Robin and Barney's relationship. Going into this season I was worried about how these two being a couple would neuter the Barnacle. I can say with confidence that after tonight I don't have that worry. Essentially to placate Lily, Robin and Barney decide to "lie" about their relationship to escape the room. I loved the fact that to these two the lie is the relationship. They may not even realize it at a conscious level, thinking instead that they are perpetrating an elaborate lie (which they indicate earlier turns the two of them on) but when Barney suggests brunch... yeah, they're a couple. But it works, Robin won't get angry if Barney says some disgusting thing about a woman and Robin can hold her own with Barney in drinking and smoking. It was actually sort of sweet in a twisted and disgusting way, which is to say just like Barney and Robin.
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Tuesday, March 31, 2009
I'm Too Old For This SHHHtuff!
How I Met Your Mother: MurtaughSeason 4, Episode 19
You have to love an ensemble sitcom. This week's episode just shows how a strong cast can mean nonstop laughter throughout. From dealing with children to the idea of coming to terms with getting older, "Murtaugh" had some hilarious scenes for our five New Yorkers to endure. Join me on a clever romp into using a 1980's cop action film as a metaphor for growing up.The show's cold open was priceless. Barney playing laser tag and beating the crap out of prepubescent kids for the opportunity to earn the most tickets was great. I love that they keep Barney as almost this innocent child, who just happens to like to have sex all the time.
After hearing this story, Ted pulls out the Murtaugh List. This list includes all things that Ted is now too old for. Some things on the list include drinking from a beer bong and pulling all nighters, as well dying your hair a crazy color(See: picture above). The namesake of the list is Danny Glover's character from Lethal Weapon, Roger Murtaugh and his famous quote, "I'm too old for this shit." Barney sees the list as a challenge and makes a bet with Ted that he can do everything on it. The challenge begins with Barney running to the bathroom and piercing his ear(which is number one on the list). This leads to Barney going through the rest of the episode with a freakishly ugly red ear.
Meanwhile, Marshall is excited as he is embarking on a new task, taking over Lily's kindergarten basketball team. You have to love the level he takes it with these kids. Channeling Bob Knight, Marshall belittles kids and runs them to the brink. I relate very much to Marshall in this episode, as I myself coach elementary basketball. Marshall does take it too far and the interaction he has with the far more nurturing Lily is great. I think any young couple with long-term intentions run into the problem these two have in dealing with parenting values.
Throughout the episode we see how the entire group must come to terms with their age. Whether it be from growing up, to learning their boundaries. In the end Ted makes a decision to eliminate the list after watching all four Lethal Weapons and realizing that Murtaugh isn't really too old for the shit since he keeps coming back in sequels. Because if he truly was, he would have retired the first time he was on patrol with Riggs. And then Richard Donner wouldn't be wiping his ass with $100 bills.
The high point for the night had to be the basketball game. Since what we see on the screen every week is told through the perspective of Ted's flashbacks, the game is shown how Marshall described it. At the beginning of the game the opposing team (actually only a year older) is shown as a group of high school-level athletes. Mid way through, they morph into college stars and one of them transforms into a "Teen Wolf" and the game gets out of control. How else could Marshall explain that his team lost by over 100 points then for a freakishly hairy man beast to do backflips into dunks. Overall, it was a great episode that truly hit home.
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Tuesday, March 17, 2009
HOW DARE YOU, LILY!
How I Met Your Mother: The Front PorchSeason 3, Episode 17
Ted thinks he has found true love until she breaks up with him. An earring in a wrong place gives Ted the opportunity to see where his love has gone wrong. Unfortunately, he learns that it's not something, but someone who has caused Ted's bad luck. The Front Porch is a fun romp into men's bedroom fashion and what it means to be a true friend.I have to believe that the HIMYM writers are seeing a trend of not explaining Ted's horrible bad luck with the ladies. They turn it pretty swiftly by using Lily as the culprit to Ted's demise. I find it interesting that every time Ted wants to make a poignant exclamation of frustration they ease the tension by making Barney or Marshall do something outlandishly funny.
Speaking of that, I almost fell in love with a night shirt(until my girlfriend said she would kill me if I wore one). Who would of thought that the garb one wears to bed could let you have a flying dream sequence like Jeffery Lebowski. I was a little creeped out though that Marshall and Barney snuggled up with each other.
The background of this episodes title has to do with Lily's fantsy of having the perfect retirement. Relaxing on a front porch playing bridge with their best friends. Lily has broken off Ted's relationships due to the fact that every time she pictures her perfect conclusion to life, she cannot see the women Ted are with as the fourth in their bridge party. I thought this was a funny section to our story in the explination of how to play bridge. No right minded 20 or 30 something has any clue how to play bridge, hence what we get from Lily when she is telling her story of their card parties.
Our ending was a minor cliffhanger as Robin and Ted begin to ponder what could have been. We know that the Robin and Ted romance is not to be, but you have to think that the writers may make the relationship come again before season 4 concludes. While making our way to the wrap up of the season, we still have not seen the Goat episode. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that will probably be our season finale.
Good story. The greatest laughs occur in the background seeing Robin dealing with the insanity that happened during her four in the morning television show.
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Tuesday, March 10, 2009
0 For 2 With Blondes?
How I Met Your Mother: Sorry, BroSeason 4, Episode 16
Another blond to add to Ted's resume, another woman to NOT be his wife. Last night's HIMYM was a story of Marshall's pants problem, as well as his and Lily's hatred for an ex girlfriend of Ted's who comes to NYC to live. After my rant about the show skewing away from Ted as the focal point of writing, I am glad to see the writers return to their roots in this episode.In the cold opening, we learn of Robin's new work schedule. Instead of meeting for drinks at normal times, she wakes up to visit with the group as the bar is closing. Barney is excited to tell a story about Marshall who apparently forgot his pants when he went to the gym. More on that through the episode.
We then learn that Ted's ex from college, Karen, has come to live in the city, much to the distaste of Marshall and Lily. We are told about the constant breaking up and rehashing of their relationship that always starts with her having sex with a stranger in Ted's dorm.
We learn that Ted has already met with her for lunch, and has hooked up with her..........numerous times.
After going through a few flashbacks of them getting ready to have sex, which are actually funny thanks to roommate Robin taking sleeping pills for her new schedule. We find out that Ted wants to end it with Karen. They are having sex in her apartment and mid coitus Karen's boyfriend walks in.
Ted tells the group he ends it with Karen, until he slips on saying what happened to her and her boyfriend. The end of the show is Karen walking into the bar and we learn that her and Ted are official, again much to the dismay of Marshall and Lily.
Back to the pants. In a rush Marshall gets Lily to bring him a pair. In a rush, Lily runs into Barney and asks him to get them to Marshall. In a typical Barney move, he cuts up the pants and leaves Marshall looking like an 80's basketball player dressed like an attorney(get the mental image in your head! There you go!). This episode leaves us to believe that the bank Marshall and Barney work at is basically filled with frat dicks that are stuck being 19-year-old douches. Will the writers roll with that? Probably.
'Sorry Bro' finally got us back to the focal point of what the shows premise is about. It got us back to what is good about the show, a group of 30 somethings hanging out at a bar telling stories of the craziness that is their lives. I can't really tell how far the Karen angle will go. I don't know why, but I can see Barney sleeping with her.
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Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Barney Mamma Drama
How I Met Your Mother: The StinsonsSeason 4 Episode 15
After a two week hiatus, "How I Met Your Mother" returned with another Barney-centric episode. We are teased with a future return to a Barney-Robin love tiff. Though I laughed a little, I just keep wondering, WHO IS TED'S WIFE!!!In an interesting twist, the gang follows Barney thinking he has a secret girlfriend. After a long cab ride, the group comes to where Barney is going to then find it is actually Barney's mother. A woman then appears who is then told to be his wife. A kid appears as well and Barney tells them it is his son.
When his mother leaves the room, we are told that it is just an act, that Barney is trying to appease his mother's dying wish (made several years earlier) that he finds a family. There are a few jokes about trying to hide the fact that the situation is all a lie from his mom. Nothing that I truly enjoyed, and very off from the atypical Barney jokes we expect.
The side joke of Robin and Barney's fake son both dealing with crummy jobs was humorous and oh so creepy. I didn't really laugh at Lily and Marshall dealing with his mother not liking her, as my mother is in love with my girlfriend.
I still have no clue how much longer they can keep up the ongoing idea of Bob Saget telling the long and convoluted story of how he met his children's mother. If this season is any indication, be prepared for a Barney spin-off in 2011.
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Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Barney Saves The Day and Shows Just How Awesome He is
How I Met Your Mother: PossimpibleSeason 4 Episode 14
Monday's HIMYM was an interesting romp into the pain that is getting back on the horse and going out to get a new job. We see just what levels one needs to go to land a job. Although probably the most unreal way, Barney finds Robin a job and saves her from deportation.Our cold open is of the gang watching the New York lotto. Barney is infatuated with the lotto girl and uses each number in the lotto as a euphemism of how this lotto girl came to be and what he was gonna do with her.
We return to find out Robin has seven days to find a job or be forced back to her homeland, the great white north (and I don't mean the four feet of snow I am buried in). Robin shows the group her audition tape which is, let's just say, less than par. Ted, Marshall and Lilly discuss some interesting accomplishments that they have put on their resume. Ted was a Program Director for an underground college radio station. This was extremely funny to yours truly as I knows the pains of trying to get people to give two dimes about a college radio station. Marshall tells us of his dunking prowess. Lily has an accomplishment I can only dream of having. She has held the New York hot dog eating record(Ed. Note: Lilly's extended "hot dog belly" was a great way of hiding the bun in Alyson Hannigan's oven).
Barney then shows the rest his personal video of how he landed jobs. The video shows absolutely no signs of Barney's ability to do any job, but it does wrap up with probably the best song ever.
Barney tells us this video has landed him eleven job offers which he all turned down. Another Barneyism is shown as Barney tells us the power of making up your own words (Hence the title of this weeks episode).
Robin, being so desperate, she decides to take Barney up on his offer to make her a video like his. Robin goes to Barney's apartment and decides the video may not have been her best bet and goes back to the job search. She then goes to the New York lotto to audition for a lotto girl. The auditioners take the job a little too seriously and Robin fails to get the job.
The final scene shows Robin coming to terms that she will be returning to Canada and begins her goodbyes with her New York family. Barney enters to let Robin know he had made a video of the footage he had and received numerous offers from television stations. After turning down two stations on Robins behalf, Barney gets Robin a job on a morning talk show.
Monday's episode gave us a great Barney video and a song that will probably stay in my head for a few weeks to come. While not leading us anywhere near a conclusion to how Ted met his wife, it does give a stronger bond to the romance that may come between Robin and Barney.
I give it 3 and a half AWESOMES outta 4.
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