Directed by Pam Fryman
Written by Carter Bays & Craig Thomas
One Paragraph Synopsis: With some time before the wedding, Marshall and Lily have their bachelor and bridal shower parties on the same night. While Barney hoped to set up Marshall's party, and even calls over a stripper to Atlantic City, actual best man Ted does instead, as he drives the guys to Foxwood to watch a boxing match and enjoy a steak dinner after. But by Barney's magic, he brings the stripper over to their hotel, only for her set to bomb and set off a disastrous night for everyone. Barney almost gets uninvited, when Lily, who dealt with her own embarrassment at her party thanks to Robin's poor choice of a gift among Lily's extended family, reveals something nobody would have expected- that Barney was the one who encouraged Lily to come back to New York and get back with Marshall.
Oh Barney, what a softie.
I've mentioned before that when all is said and done, he really is a great friend. This is proof positive of that. If Barney didn't care so much about these two people, he wouldn't have flown all the way to San Francisco just to convince Lily to come back. He knows what she and Marshall have together, and he knows it's worth fighting for.
Barney was critical with Ted and Robin last episode as he sees that there are slipping cracks in their relationship. Both are important people in his life, but Barney can see that the clock is ticking on them, for better or for worse, and they're meant to find other people. Lily and Marshall, meanwhile, are here to stay. He knows that they fit together, and despite some negative words, Barney will go to bat for Marshall and Lily for as long as they live. His brief time as Marshall's straight man was only a coping mechanism, and even Barney acknowledges here, at least somewhat, that it was a waste of time.
It's funny, since they don't really appear together until the end of the episode. But it makes sense, since this is about their bachelor parties, which go down in fairly traditional sitcom fashion. As in, nothing really goes right, but it's fun to watch everything deteriorate.
The girls' story was a fun question of truth, as Robin has her gift right with her, but doesn't realize that Lily invited all of her older and evangelical women to the party, rather than just some gal pals. Traditional, but in a way that can work if the writers are game to make the jokes land, and thankfully Bays and Thomas nail it.
It's not like you can fail with K Callan around, though. The veteran actress does wonders as Grandma Lois, rolling with an extended double entendre that, as obvious as it is, is undeniably hysterical. Callan clearly knows what's going on, but she manages to keep a straight face as she delivers her speech, sharing every classic line as one, right until the grand reveal. And that itself leads to a classic, freaky Sex and the City tribute, which brings perfect disgusted reactions to Lily and Robin.
The story is basically set-up for this joke, similar to how "Slap Bet" did everything in its power to keep the final reveal as fresh and hilarious as possible, while never being afraid to add in relevant jokes along the way. The moment Barney shares his advice, it's obvious where this is going, but would you want it any other way? Also give credit to how the word "vibrator" is never mentioned, even if Barney uses a far more colorful and unique phrase into the pool. A smart cue taken from Seinfeld's iconic "The Contest", it works.
Although in the commentary, Bays and Thomas admit that they had another joke in mind for the ending tag that was sadly scrapped, where Robin shares to Lily that a particular set on the device is great. I can see why it was cut, since the implication is uncleanly, but it's a great line. Thankfully, the aforementioned tag still keeps some great arguing between the two of them, and helps to make not only this hilarious plot succeed, but prove just how strong the girls' dynamic is. Lily may not have read Robin's mind correctly, but they definitely have each other down perfectly.
While I find Robin and Lily's material to be so strong, ultimately this is "Bachelor Party", not "Bridal Shower". Thankfully, the guys have some very good stuff themselves, as their story takes a bit of a turn. At least, I'd say- who would have expected their stripper to continually fail so hard, after all?
If there's a flaw that I have with the episode, it's that the writing is so demeaning to the strippers mentioned here. Future Ted's line about Barney's usual choices being attractive "two children and a pesky substance problem ago" (I don't feel like checking the right quote, so pardon the paraphrasing) was meant to come off as a big laugh, but it comes off as a little gross. I understand that sex workers don't have the most prestigious job in the eyes of our society, but they deserve more respect than what Bays and Thomas offers them.
Which also weirdly makes Barney the most mature one of the group. While Ted and Marshall deride the women he hires to be slimey or what-have-you, Barney sees everyone he hires to be a wonderful, capable person to spend money on. There's nothing wrong with hiring sex workers, after all- everyone has the right to get off, and strippers, porn makers and the other awesome people in the business have the right to use their sex appeal to their own gain, by George! Barney has fun when he visits strippers, and just wants his bros to join in on him, harmlessly. This makes the material work enough. Also, I'll admit that the 15 line is a good, respectful enough joke.
But oh Treasure. What a treasure her time was. Erin Cardillo does a good job at making her plight to give everyone a good time feel authentic, even when it's obvious that she's just a bit of a mess. Bays and Thomas don't go out of their way to make her look bad- on the contrary, Treasure seems to be somewhat vindicated to make her weird, complicated strip show be a major win for the boys. But it just doesn't work, as fun as it is to watch.
I would say that the guys' time at dinner isn't as fun as their stripping disaster, but since it's not the end to the episode at all, that's fine. A simple fire just can't compete with seeing a stripper fail twice to excite. But it couldn't to begin with.
It's nice to see Stuart and Brad back, even if the latter is wisely kept away, about 2 years before the guy from National Treasure would be in The Hangover. But he and Stuart do fit their roles of the bachelor party cliches well; Brad being the guy everyone forgets about, including himself, until the end, and Stuart being the guy that spouts dated domestic beliefs in hopes of grabbing Marshall's goat. What makes Stuart's bits work is how it's proven that he really is miserable with Claudia, and he's not just trolling. It's not expanded on at all beyond a quick exchange he shares with Ted, which just makes the scene surprisingly funnier.
It all works into a pretty great episode, in fact. The show's questionable take on sex workers aside, there's much to like here as a fun half hour. The reveal of Barney's confession to Lily gives the episode a little more of a punch, but it's a hilarious treat even without that. But just wait until the next one!
Continuity Errors: Eh, not really. Barney's clearly lying about the ten-way. We're going to see the trophy soon, and Barney's fear of winning says it all.
Edit: Lily has her bridal shower, not a bachelorette party. There is a difference. Male strippers are often involved at one, rather than the other.
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