Directed by Pam Fryman
Written by Gloria Calderon Kellett
One Paragraph Synopsis: When Ted introduces the gang to his new date, Blah Blah, Ted promises to please her by not telling them that they met online, which he divulges to his friends before she arrives anyway. While they pretend to go along with Blah Blah's story, everybody starts sharing the stories of how they all met, from Marshall and Lily's Wesleyan freshman introduction to Ted's secret sabotage of his first wingman endeavor for Barney. One more bombshell is revealed tonight though, at least as it seems- apparently Ted and Lily made out at a party just before she'd meet Marshall. That doesn't end up being the case, but nothing will keep Blah Blah around, anyway.
Well, I hope you guys had a great Christmas. Mine was just fine, and I'm going to cap it off with reviewing one of my favorite episodes!
The flashback device has been used fairly regularly on the show since it started, but this is among the first eps to use it to carry a story, which Kellett, who won an ALMA for her script, does wonderfully. A good cutaway expands on character and mythology, rather than just adding in unneeded random humor, which is what HIMYM does to a T. Nary a bad note is shared throughout.
Each look back at the character's introductions only continue to ring true for each as their definitions are becoming tighter. Take Ted and Barney's, for example. Barney's rules of how to live were initially shown in the pilot, but everything before and after is new to the audience, as thankfully all the pieces fit.
It's strangely logical, if a little gross, to see Barney practicing his story to pick up the woman at the bar while at the urinal, given how cocky he is. But Barney isn't too cocky to go for an untested scheme, which makes his midstream confession to Ted seem logical, as fresh ears would give him the answer he hopes for. While that's a funny sequence, even better is seeing how Ted "helps" Barney get the woman's number, probing to Barney Ted's natural skills, such as his knowledge of sign language. Ted's anthropologic appreciation for universal things such as language is something that Barney can admire, both as someone who appreciates culture himself, and as a way to help him score even more women.
But Ted's silent sabotage is the important piece of the puzzle, proving that while he instantly seems to realize that Barney's a nut job, he's a fun one, which can build into a great friendship easily. It's a respectable culmination of a handful of concepts that ring true to the future relationship of these two, done under 3 minutes while not cutting out anything important to sell the point.
This sequence also fits beautifully with Marshall and Barney's introduction, which is even shorter but contains all the information you'll need. It's a brilliant reminder of their core relationship- Barney respects Marshall's usual chill and ability to win over a woman as great as Lily, while Marshall finds Barney to be often entertaining and surprisingly a good friend when he chooses to be. This time added in with more kissing, which as expected, Fryman frames excellently as Barney watches on. And only Barney would constantly retell a story that ends in his humiliation, only because he's so involved in it. To be fair though, this is pretty minor on his embarrassment scale.
Of course, those re nothing compared to the Wesleyan material. Not only is everything told about Ted, Lily and Marshall important, which I'll get to soon, but there are just some hilarious moments abound. My favorite might be the whole of Ted and Marshall's origin story, which is just a hoot. One thing Marshall and Ted share is an respect for the rules, which stops when it comes to "sandwich" time. This explains Marshall freaking out about thinking Ted the dean, but only makes the realization that he isn't all the more hilarious. As humorous as it would be to see the actual dean "eating" in Marshall's apartment, Segel's delivery keeps the bit all the more perfect.
Lily's introduction to Ted isn't as memorable, but does keep towards Ted's mixed relationship with Karen at the time. While we haven't met her yet, it's been heavily implied that she's not all that great (most of Ted's exes aren't, and don't worry, I'll get to Blah Blah soon enough), and Ted's, not anyone else's, description of their relationship makes it all the more obvious. It's also funny just to see Radnor play defeated so well, which thankfully he keeps together.
We saw hints of Lily and Marshall's first meeting before, including brief bits from that first visit in "Best Prom Ever". The story of how they met has already been ingrained into the show since the beginning. As an estimation of how it all happened, their scene is great. Fryman has her crew keep the atmosphere dead on as Lily makes her pilgrimage to her future husband and best friend's room, as the framing and lighting are right on. This isn't shot like a holy moment, but a sweet one, with just enough melodrama to make the importance stick.
Does this contrast with the illusion Ted keeps in his head? Nope, since there isn't very much romantic about a college boozer, as the show doesn't even intend to go for. Keeping true to future Ted's narrative, this sequence doesn't exactly keep Ted especially likable, as his university douchiness is showing, enough to please a wide-eyed liberal Lily. Or rather, who freakishly small mouthed girl really is, which is revealed when Marshall is told the story.
What if Ted did make out with Lily before she met Marshall, though? Well, besides pissing in the wrong shampoo bottle, it really doesn't matter now. Lily and Marshall are clearly in love, while Ted is clearly fine as being their greatest friends. The story can still be told as a funny side anecdote of what could have been, but that's it. And it isn't even the truth. That just wasn't meant to happen.
Bad form, Blah Blah. And while I have to admit that Barney's crazy::hot scale does stink of ableism, I really do enjoy this part of the episode regardless. Abigail Spencer (who has gone on to be an award-nominated actress for Rectify and has a role in the upcoming season of True Detective, among other performances. Also, we'll see her again here, but I dare not reveal when for newbies) plays game quite well, never hiding for a second that she isn't ideal, but still makes herself pleasant in a strange way. At least enough to keep the night going.
She is so obviously wrong about forcing Ted to reveal his belief to Lily, but it adds to the conflict, which is actually strong. While Blah Blah's jealously is unfounded, she does at least accurately pinpoint Ted's complicated history with Robin, something she also recognizes but tries her best to ignore. While they keep their distance tonight, Radnor and Smulders both respectfully maintain some of their awkward tension together as it's brought up. Good acting on their part, and much fun comes from Blah Blah's calling out of the awkwardness. One of my favorites comes from her referencing said awkwardness upfront without realizing who's responsible for it at the time. Because that's so Blah Blah.
Blah Blah's contemplation of Ted and Robin's past is what makes her decision to focus on Ted's history with Lily worthwhile. The tension between the two of them is totally nonexistent compared to Ted's with Robin, but that's the fun that brings itself into rewarding future watches- seeing how wrong Blah Blah is, and reveling in it. Even if Ted and Lily did make out, that should simply be kept in the past at this point. There's nothing to go forward with here.
Just as there's nothing to go forward with by still playing WOW. I'm not calling the reference dated, since there are still people logging in today, but it's funny to see how this is the two met up. It says that although Ted's over Robin, there is still loneliness that he deals with. A nice MMO should at least help the situation, ever so slightly.
It's just a shame that Blah Blah was a wash of a date. But she allows for a hell of an episode, one that contains fantastic pacing and character beats that only continue to impress in numerous repeat viewings. This is more of a funny than sad episode, but that's just fine. How I Met Your Mother is a comedy, and when it aims for jokes, the show often excels beautifully. This is merely among the best that it offers. And while there are issues with mental health representation, it'd be crazy to not enjoy the episode for what it is. Crazy. Crazy. I said crazy.
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