Directed by Pam Fryman
Written by Greg Malins
Something Blue (2x22)
Directed by Pam Fryman
Written by Craig Thomas & Carter Bays
Two Paragraph Synopsis: It's wedding day for Lily and Marshall, and you name it, it happened to them. Many different wacky scenarios, from venue and entertainment changes to the return of a jealous ex to a horrible haircut attempt to ruin a peaceful ceremony for the two. Being the best friends in the world, Robin, Ted and Barney do their best to ease their friends during the crazy, until an even crazier idea hits them when Marshall and Lily meet before the ceremony- why don't they just get married separately, just the five of them (and some guy with an acoustic guitar) before their inevitably disastrous bigger ceremony occurs? With Barney given the power of priesthood days before the event, these close friends watch as their favorite couple exchange vows away from everyone else, in a wonderful sequence.
But after all of that, Marshall and Lily fail to sit down and eat during the reception. Their plot in the second ep involves a constant promise and denial of food for them when everyone else interrupts their food search for various reasons. The main story here, though, is Ted and Robin's, as Barney demands a hinted secret out of them. As they delve into the story, many different possibilities are offered for their future, but the end reveals only one thing- Robin and Ted have split up, citing their differences in future plans being the reason they can't work together. The episode and the season ends with Barney offering to become Ted's wingman again, as Ted, who doesn't feel the desire to find "the one" after his time with Robin has ended, accepts.
When I think back on Marshall and Lily's relationship over the past two seasons, various little things comes back to mind. One scene in particular that plays in my head comes from "Atlantic City", when Lily discovers that Marshall had learned to cook while she was away. The thing is, he can only make pancakes, but even when he reveals this, the look in her eyes is completely sincere, and welcoming. This matches up perfectly to Marshall's widened up, embraced reaction. Even with his limited skills, Lily is just happy to be back with the love of her life, and Marshall is just blessed to have her back.
And that's the wonderful thing about their relationship. Despite every rough patch, Lily and Marshall love each other greatly, and no force in the world can change that. Even when they were away, their flame didn't burn out. As the two of them continue to live their life, it never will.
This is the thing that makes their love story so fascinating. At this point, Marshall and Lily are basically one. The previous episode built up that when one of them starts to feel sick, so does the other. Lily can't sleep without Marshall singing to her. They even tell each other about literally every single thing they do during the day. It's a love story for the ages, one that the show isn't afraid to play as saccharine, yet never comes off as too needy, as Segel and Hannigan are so pitch perfect at the roles that it couldn't.
There are cases where the chemistry fights the writing (a point that I hope to delve in as the show goes on), but although Thomas and Bays refuse to play them COMPLETELY straight, I never for a second doubt that Lily and Marshall were meant to love each other greatly, based on both the writing and these two wonderful performances. Whenever they're on screen, even when they don't see eye to eye on certain things, all I see is love.
A love that is present throughout in both of these episodes. But the most important moment comes at the end of the latter, even when Lily is out of frame. When she throws up at the burger place, as the cashier tells Marshall what his wife does, Marshall pauses. The camera closes in on him, and a remarkable shot of joy is shown on Jason Segel's voice as he says "My wife". Talk about a perfect, if silly and somewhat gross, way to present the season in a nutshell- that no matter what has, and will happen, they're meant to be. Lily and Marshall's future is going to be bright one, after Lily washes her face and sobers up a little, at least.
The drive that keeps Lily and Marshall's love alive is what keeps the second season going, and it's the force of the first of these episodes, while also being a present part of the latter. The force pushing "Something Blue", however, is Robin and Ted.
Now Robin and Ted, this is a relationship where love is absolutely present, but in a different manner. I'd say the key thing between their relationship and Lily and Marshall's is that Lily and Marshall only continue to love each other more each day, but while Ted and Robin's trust for each other grows throughout much of the season, it stops after a certain point. There are signs of deterioration present, but I'd consider that they're harder to find unless you see these episodes more than once. The key clues include Ted and Robin not feeling couple's fatigue at the end of "Single Stamina", as opposed to Marshall and Lily, how they called off moving in together before a full day had passed, and, well, what's present here.
While the constant faking outs may get tiresome to some viewers, I personally don't mind, as Barney's reaction to each possible reveal of Ted and Robin's news is worth it. Each fake out also brings a different possibility to what could have happened to them, each helping to potentially build to a unique start for the next season. Did Ted and Robin get married? Are they going to Argentina? Is Robin pregnant?
Nope. While there is ground for most of these ideas, there's only one clear-cut way to bring the characters forward- their separation. As much as I liked Robin and Ted together, it's for the best that they split. Throughout their whole charade, it becomes increasingly present that as much as the two like each other, this isn't meant to work.
Just note Robin's reaction when she finds the engagement ring in the champagne they were wrongly received (another thing to consider- like Lily and Marshall, they're above such cliches. Ted is more imaginative to try such a tired method as putting a ring in champagne. His idea would have been far more creative). As reasonable as it may seem to be as initially freaked out as she was, it's not exactly a positive foretelling that she melts down the way she does.
Ted's disappointed reply to Robin's reaction makes just as much sense. They've been together for a good year now, so I can see why he'd hope for something happier than a bunch of nos. Although, while Ted does say that some day he wants to get married, he doesn't seem all that ready to pop the question at this point. I think that deep down inside, he knows that they won't work together.
It's equally disappointing to think of, since they do work together as a fun, synced couple. Robin shares enough of Ted's passion to fit with him, just as they both are fresh enough to mesh well. Radnor and Smulders have also built up a strong bond as actors, making their every kiss and fight feel utterly believable. Maybe too believable in the latter department, which explains why the break-up is ultimately for the best. But what crackerjack performances they give as it happens. The show has had plenty of good dramatic moments up to this point, but the frame I chose for the episode just shows how good Smulders and Radnor are at building up on Thomas and Bays' ability to depress just as well as they can crack a joke.
Watching the steps towards Robin and Ted's dissolving is what makes "Something Blue" the stronger half of these episodes. "Something Borrowed" is hardly a dud, but it does get tiresome for me in parts. Ted's bargaining with the clearly bald uncle in particular goes on for too long as it reaches for an obvious conclusion that doesn't pay off as well as Fryman and Malins seemed to have hoped for. And while I enjoy seeing Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka on screen together, Burtka's delivery as Scooter is fairly disappointing. I remembered him being stronger on "Best Prom Ever", but Burtka doesn't seem to be a strong enough actor here to make his lines work as he unsuccessfully sells his own bargain to Lily.
But what works still works. I enjoy Barney's "it's for the bride" subplot is enjoyable, and isn't used too often in the episode to come off as tedious. Call it a super power, if you will. I also like much of the material with the pregnant harp player, which doesn't come off as unfair to her as I'd expect, given the show's so-so track record with body positivity. Thankfully, many of Lily and Robin's lines are well done without being too mean.
And it goes without saying that the group's private ceremony is beautiful. Hannigan and Segel perfectly sell their vows, both wonderfully written and as full of life as this long-standing couple. Fryman's camera decisions are also excellent, and keeps the whole thing fresh as we're reminded of why they love each other. The ceremony the two do in front of the rest of their friends and family couldn't have been nearly as beautiful, so it's nice to see it shown in a highlight reel, so the audience can get an idea of how poorly it goes.
I've mentioned most of the material for "Something Blue" throughout, so I'll end this review by saying that the ending gave me hope for a closer step towards Ted meeting the mother as I began to start season 3 up. I was well in love with the show at this point, but Barney's closing "legen, wait for it..." got to me. I already knew of most of the gang's quirks by now, but there was much more to see for these five characters, and I couldn't wait to see what. I hope this is the reaction viewers still get, as we wrap up this wonderful season.
Final Season Score: Being as unbiased as possible, I'd consider this season to be a B+. Not every episode was truly a home run, and the stretch between Lily's return and her inevitable reconciliation in particular was a relative rough patch for the season, but just when she and Marshall get back together, the show gets into a particular high groove. There are still some rougher episodes, and an unfortunate touch of transphobia displayed sporadically, but much everything has improved here. The characters are increasingly being well-defined, as the actors are becoming more comfortable with the roles. And while not every concept work, the writing is sharp throughout. Perhaps if some episodes received at least one more draft, I would have been happier with the season as a whole, but that's still a fair score and reflective of a strong season.
How could I knock a season that produces something as brilliant as "Slap Bet", after all?
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