Directed by Pam Fryman
Written by Carter Bays & Craig Thomas
One Paragraph Synopsis: As we go through the summer after Lily and Marshall's break-up, he isn't taking it well. At all. Barney, along with the newly tinted couple Ted and Robin, try their best to help him get over Lily, but it hardly works. Especially after Marshall finds out that Lily is back in New York, possibly with another man. And yes, that is George Clinton in the pic.
What a great show. I'm only an episode into the show's second season, but by now, it's obvious that this series is special. Plenty of other sitcoms have dedicated episodes to the aftermaths of bad break-ups, but few can nail as tight of a mix of likability and brutal honesty as HIMYM does right here.
One thing the episode does well is show how distraught Marshall is without Lily. Perhaps "Where Were We?" did it too well, since Marshall came off as horribly pathetic here. It makes logical sense, as Marshall has proven in some ways that although he is a smart, capable person on his own, he is practically half full without Lily For better or worse, she completes him.
Marshall's codependency on Lily can be blamed on his relative lack of real-world experience before meeting her. Lily was not just Marshall's first great love, but his first girlfriend, period. They had grown a majestic bond in the past 9 years, only for it to be taken away after a painful night. If their separation had been a long-stemming one with increasing seeds behind it, their split would have still taken a while to get over, based on their history, but Marshall never seemed able to see the hints, which explains how roughly he takes it beyond just their time spent together.
I also feel that Marshall had loved Lily since their first day of meeting. I don't know if love at first sight exists, but for Marshall, it just might. However long he had been planning to go the distance with Lily is beyond me, but it does seem that Marshall has known for a good while that there is no other one for him.
So yes, I do understand Marshall's inability to get over his break-up quickly. I sympathize greatly. But Ted, Robin, and Barney, who otherwise had been doing their best to accommodate to their heartbroken friend, also have the right to feel irritated by him. I at least say this, since each of them, even Barney, still understand and respect Marshall's grief, but, as someone who actively deals with depression, it can be quite hard to be close to someone who has their own issues holding them back.
The way the three of them attempts to help Marshall get over Lily is pretty telling, and surprisingly legitimate, of their characters. Barney's is the easiest to decipher, as it's obvious that he loves strip clubs, but taking Marshall to one isn't actually a bad idea, nor is his method of having Marshall see other naked women to get Lily out of his mind. In many cases, arousal, even if it doesn't lead into actual intercourse, is a respectable way to get over an ex. It takes the former loved one out of the mind and gives the person something else to focus on, even just the appeal of the female body.
Ted's is considerably more innocent, which is perfect for his character- a game of baseball. Few things are as invigorating (and gender neutral, I promise you) than the thrill of live sports, especially for your favorite team. Sports has only been occasionally referenced in the show thus far, and even then, mostly just football (and whatever the hell iceketball is), but it doesn't take too many context clues to realize that Marshall and Ted are Yankees fans. So a nice day out to Yankee Stadium wasn't a bad idea at all on his part.
Robin's method, however, is probably the most surprising, although probably not by much. Somehow, seeing her as a gun enthusiast isn't defamation of character, as it allows Robin to keep charge of something, which she does well, as well as break from traditional gender roles. I don't believe that Robin is a conservative gun defender, though, since the right isn't very friendly towards strong women. Robin's smart, even if she has to be careful about pursuing her hobby around Ted.
Marshall, however, isn't one for firearms. Really though, the guys mean well, but what they're trying isn't working. As we see, Marshall needed to get over Lily at his own pace, which he does by the end of the episode, almost like clockwork. He may not be a great cook, but he knows what works.
And of course, by the end of the episode, Lily shows up as more than just a periphery character via cutaways. It's a powerful reminder of the impact Marshall has left on her, and a great way to lead into the coming season, as their attempt at fixing the pieces occurs. We don't know what happened to Lily's attempt at reaching for her dreams, but there is much to see.
I don't really write about humor that well, but the show is as funny as ever here. Bays and Thomas didn't miss a beat over the summer break, allowing for the relaxed, but undeniably sharp, dialogue that they nail so well to come back into fruition here. That just one of the main things that makes "Where Were We?" a fantastic return to the series, and a great starter for a great season to come. Ted really should let his kids have a bathroom break before they start shitting in buckets, though.
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