Directed by Pam Fryman
Written by Jamie Rhonheimer
One Paragraph Synopsis: Ted and Robin try their hardest to make it to their plane to Chicago, but end up missing it. There's another flight going soon, but as much as they tried, it didn't happen. This is a shame, since the trip to Chicago was for an interview that would offer Ted a job there. While he is later thankful for missing the flight, since his future wife will be in New York and all, he and Robin couldn't help but wonder what went wrong in the process, as they flashback to everything that caused them to miss their flight.
When your plans don't go as intended, it's logical to consider every little step towards the inevitable disappointment. What went wrong? How could I have done that differently? Why am I so stupid? But at the end of the day, shit happens. There's little point in looking back at the past, when you should focus on the present instead.
Ted realizes this after his attempt to make it to the plane failed, but his step tracing still makes for another hell of an episode. Similar to the previous episode, "Lucky Penny" has a bunch of little stories interconnected to one main plot, and gives everyone something to do throughout.
Let's look at each vignette in chronological order, rather than how it was presented. This way, I can attempt to trace Ted's, and the rest of the gang's, luck as it arrives.
Of course, this chain of events starts off with Ted finding the titular penny, taking us all the way back to "The Scorpion and the Toad". For fans of film, 1939 is a memorable year, with many iconic releases made. I can't really think of one that ties to this episode, so I'll stop there (but I'd give a vote to Ninotchka for the year's best film, if we're only sticking to Hollywood). But it is classic Ted for him to find an old penny to be way more interesting than it really is. Ted's obsessed with the tiniest detail he can find for history, and you can't get much tinier than a penny. The way that no one shows any interest only proves just how tiny it really is.
The night that Ted and Robin cash in on the small (read: VERY small) fortune obtained from the penny, they find the wedding dress sale that Robin camps out for with Lily the next night. Truthfully, Robin had no desire to camp out with Lily, but did so as an obligation as her friend, which she holds onto to help ease the both of them when a car alarm keeps on ringing into the night. This isn't very much of a character moment for either of them, but the material is strong anyway, with a perfect ending. Car alarms are the worst, but considering how tight of a budget Lily has to keep to, especially after she ruined her dream dress all the way back in "Cupcake", it becomes a comical error that she must endure anyway.
Robin's lack of sleep after dealing with the alarm results in her crashing at the main apartment, during Marshall's period of training for the New York City Marathon. While he has traditionally been bigger set, Marshall's weight seems to be bugging him as of late, especially when Lily addresses it to him. Even though she likes the girth, Marshall still feels the need to assert himself to lose weight, which starts off the training. The montage is classically entertaining, but I think the thing that makes it so appealing is Lily's reaction to it. While she came off as believably sincere in her defense of Marshall's size, she has no problems supporting him when he wants to make a personal change, and gives him advice along the way. For all of their problems, these two really do love and respect each other.
But beyond love, I feel like this story of endurance shows how proactive Marshall is. He sees a problem, and decides to address it without taking the easy way out. Marshall knows what he's about, and knows that he can probably hold his own here, which the montage clips indicate for the most part. At least until Robin comes and embarrasses him in an awkward moment, where he breaks his toe as a result. Painful, but considering the joke, oh so worth it.
Now Barney feels compelled to run in the famous marathon in Marshall's place, with nary a touch of training having taken place. The gang calls out the ridiculousness of the suggestion, but Barney clearly seems to be a firm believer of Dr. Frank N Furter's "Don't dream it- be it" policy, and runs the marathon dry. And succeeds.
As outlandish as it is to see Barney run the marathon with no problem, the funniest material from his story comes from after he wins his medal. As every one who runs the New York City Marathon is entitled to a free subway ride that day, Barney uses it- only to discover that his feet aren't working after the massive run. Great jokes are used this whole time, including a harsh, but honest, mugging as the episode's ending tag, shot in a way that keeps to the realities of New York but still has the show's comic timing unharmed.
And this is how Ted comes back. He needs to come to Barney's rescue on the subway, but after he briefly catches Barney's car when he arrives at the station, Ted makes a jump to catch the car. Sadly though, the station security guards catch Ted, and fine him. As it turns out, the court date is on the same day as his interview, which is where we return to the present.
Each story, slightly absurd but undeniably likable in their own ways, attempt to explain why bad luck prevented Ted from catching his flight. But in actuality, this is good luck, since he's meant to be in New York. Not only for the date when he meets his true love, but to be with his friends and to ensure that his building comes to life in his image. This is the way it was meant to be, as luck tampered with fate. All because of that lucky penny.
I sell the episode as a humorous diversion, but everything is put well together, thanks to a returning Fryman, enough so that this is HIMYM at its best. Hilarious and extraordinarily likable at the same time. A lucky balance.
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