How I Met Your Mother Review- "Last Forever"

Well, I did it. It took me longer than I expected, and I stopped writing serious reviews about two and a half seasons ago, but I've sat through every episode of what used to be my favorite television series all over again.

And did I ever mention that I sided with the majority who hated the finale? Because, well, yeah. The show spent an entire season dedicated to Robin and Barney's wedding, and to build them up as this great couple who are going to accept their faults together, only to split them up in what equates to about ten minutes of screen time after the fact. What can I say, that has to take a lot out of the audience.

And it did. Many were, and still are pissed that the show sidelined all of the character building it had done for Barney and Robin, how Bays, Thomas, and crew attempted to have Barney grow up and to have Robin trust and be happy, for something as banal as Robin spending too much time traveling the world.

At the same time, though, is that not reasonable? Couples drift apart all the time for reasons such as this, and while it's clear that Robin and Barney do and will always still love each other (just look at their glances to each other during Ted and Tracy's wedding), maybe that just isn't enough. Sometimes love, no matter how strong and passionate, can't be enough. There needs to be some force pushing any two people together to make a relationship work, and Barney and Robin didn't have that force at this point in their lives.

Just as Robin and Ted didn't have that force in their lives a few years prior. Maybe they really did need a couple of decades apart to make it work. That's what the show wants us to believe, anyway.

I won't lie, I did not watch the broadcast ending. I don't think that I ever could. Especially with the alternate take being available. After finally seeing the alternate ending for the first time, I think that it's a steady improvement... but if anything, it feels a little short. And some of the things that rubbed myself and many others the wrong way still exist, such as Barney and Robin's divorce, Ted and Tracy's stalled marriage, how Barney went back to gross womanizer to an overbearing father all thanks to the power of dem womenz, the depressing tone, etc.

It's still there, and in a way, this finale will never work in the way that Bays and Thomas wanted it to. Especially if you watch it as they intended, with the return of that damned blue French horn.

But in some way, it's hard to not respect their desire to try something so different from convention, and to pull what seems like such a 180 on the show. But then, How I Met Your Mother always had a touch of sadness to it that made it feel a little more real than a lot of other sitcoms. While the message of Friends was that you can handle your transition into adulthood as long as you have a steady support group with you, HIMYM made it clear that while having friends and loved ones to lean on is nice, nothing is permanent.

But damn, the moment where Ted and Tracy meet is nothing short of magic. Radnor and Milioti have perfected their chemistry by now, and make this scene come out as beautifully as possible. Easily some of Fryman's best framing in the entire series.

In short, "Last Forever" is ambitious, but fails under its ambitions. And it does knock the season's rating down as a whole, to a B-. At its best, there are some incredible episodes here that bring the whole show together, but enough misguided decisions and subplots to put it in the middle, overall. Still, this is far from the worst last season of any series ever made.

And now, I think that I'm burned out on How I Met Your Mother. I guess that only means one thing- it's time to watch it in full again.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Gary Blauman"/"The End of the Aisle"

The most important thing about either episodes is Blauman is clearly bi, but Ted is too oblivious to allow the implication to be fact.

But wow, "Gary Blauman" was a great final script from Kang, and gives welcome conclusions to a lot of the show's recurring players. It's a well-written episode from top, as in Ted and Tracy's first date, to bottom, including Barney's curly fry spiel.

"The End of the Aisle" isn't as terrific, since the Ted/Robin stuff is beyond tiresome, and Barney's dogpiling on Lily and Marshall gets old, but the last half is a solid way to finally get the two married. And I do hope that they have a happy marriage, but sadly, we're almost done.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Daisy"

The introduction of Robin's mother feels like a waste. Tracy Ullman's British accent usually works, but here, it feels odd and forced, just as her character does. And why would having a gay, black half-brother be a red flag for your boo?

The rest of the episode is okay, but doesn't hit those high notes that similarly emotional episodes do. Even with the Captain being fun as always. This just feels forced to get to the point of what will happen to Lily and Marshall after the wedding, which is nice, but almost a little cheap.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Vesuvius"

No. No no no no no no no no no no.

Very good episode, but I hate one particular thing. Sigh.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Rally"

This is a good episode, although not exactly a great one.

I do want to point out that this isn't the first time Lily and Robin kissed, though- they did back in season 7's "The Broath". Still, that was a funny moment.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Sunrise"

This isn't quite as good as the previous episode, but it's definitely one of the stronger Tracy-less episodes this season. Her material has usually been on point, but when she's gone, the show starts to linger.

But this episode has good use for the main characters, almost making up for their lack of original screentime in "How Your Mother Met Me". Marshall's ghost fight was a useful way to help him accept his best place to stand for his support of Lily, and ends the fight well. Barney's drunken wingman scheme allowed him to retire his playboy persona once and for all in the best way that he can. And I just hope that Ted and Robin are done for.

Also, I really appreciate the return appearances. Seeing Stella, Victoria, and Jeanette here seems like a good way to say goodbye to these characters as the show can focus on its end. And Tim Gunn, too!

Really, the only issue is the floating Robin at the end. Ugh.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "How Your Mother Met Me"

The best episode of anything ever.

Is that hyperbole? Probably. But this is a perfect episode.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Unpause"

Good compromise- Ted only names one of his kids after Anakin's twins, and it's the more "traditional" name, at that. And Penny is a name with meaning as well, considering that a lucky penny is what caused Ted from his first move to Chicago.

This is a great episode, and I'm glad that Marshall doesn't let Lily get off too easy with his defense. Although he forgot to mention how she nearly ruined their credit history with her debt, which seems like as big, if not a bigger issue, than the time she left.

But hey, at least we know what Barney does for a living. Please.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Bass Player Wanted"/"Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment in Slapmarra"

In this pair, it looks like we have the best and weakest episodes of the season to date.

The former is excellent for bringing the gang back together alone. It's nice to have Marshall back with his friends, as well as to see a return of the pause method that he and Lily share. And Tracy is continuing to prove her own, as an addition to the cast and as her own character. Niceness can be a fault, as she does seem to be too passive here, which is hopefully something that she'll fix by the time she meets Ted.

And then the other... has its moments. Boyz II Men have a great performance, and it's nice to see a slew of Barney's exes cameo, including Nora! But the attempted yellowface is awful, whitewashing an already predictably racist concept. Not to mention that the whole episode feels like a waste, not adding much to the final story.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Rehearsal Dinner"

This episode was actually the one that really bugged me at first. I couldn't stand Barney's inability to shut up about laser tag, and didn't think that the pay-off was worth it.

But in hindsight, this is pretty good. Like his proposal, this is a moment where Barney's deceitful side is beneficial. And really, I just miss seeing Marshall be a part of the gang. As brief as his time here is.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Mom and Dad"/"Bedtime Stories"

I can barely rhyme
But I don't feel like writing much this time
These episodes are fine
But not much more on the line
I was bigger on the latter when it was new
Seeing how the season developed, though, fuck rhyming

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Platonish"

This episode juggles a lot of things together. Both serious- Ted's conflicted stance on his relationship with Robin, Barney and Tracy's poignant introduction, which leads into Barney's desire to win Robin back. And comedic- Ted and Marshall heckling a Globetrotters game, Barney's crazy schemes, other silly moments. And Bryan Cranston going full out as Druthers.

But what works- much of it. I'm lazy lol

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Lighthouse"

I remember when I saw the teaser trailer for this episode after the previous one aired, and it promoted the scrambled eggs contest like it was a serious thing. And considering how silly some of the episodes had been recently, I remember being among a fairly big group of fans who weren't too excited for the outcome.

But then the episode aired, and wow. This is easily the best the season has done since the premiere. The comedic moments mostly work. Robin and Loretta have a great moment at the end, as we get to find out more of what makes Robin tick. And the proposal was beautiful, perfectly scored by Ted's favorite artist.

This is why I'm still watching. The show that I love is here, and it's not afraid to show itself again.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "No Questions Asked"

So far, this season has been an improvement over the previous one, but it's still not A-game.

Funny stuff, but it's pretty routine. That feels about right.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Knight Vision"

Y'no what, I like this one. It's one wacky event after another, but it works. And killing off the reverend was a surprisingly dark comic moment.

If you stuck around for this point, you chose... I don't know, wisely I guess.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Poker Game"

Part of this feels like a rehash of "The Ashtray", but frankly, the flashbacks do help to make it a decent episode. As silly as it may seem, getting the chance for Ted, Lily, and Marshall to iron out this feud connects Marshall to his two closest friends in a way that has been missing in the past few episode. I appreciate it for that, alone.

And more Frances Conroy is nice, too.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Broken Code"

Four episodes in, and we hit a weaker episode.

Well, Ted and Barney's closure feels nice. Since his feelings for Robin still haven't been dropped yet, hopefully this will help to get there, as it's well past time. No one still wants them together at this point.

I'm less enthused about Robin and Lily's storyline, which is fairly sexist. Internalized misogyny is still misogyny, and it's annoying to see Kuhn play with Robin's inability to connect with other women like a joke. The ending is meant to come out nicer, but it doesn't fit.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Last Time in New York"

I remember the excitement I felt as I, and the great majority of my social circle, caught up with the last season of this series every week. And I remember finding this episode to be a slight disappointment from the stellar premiere eps, mainly due to the lack of Tracy. While having more of her presence would have been nice, this holds up a little better than I remembered, and I like it about as much as "Coming Back".

If anything, my least favorite part might be Marshall and Daphne's weak attempt for a side plot, but it's slight enough to where I can forgive, or at least ignore it. Vikings jokes usually do work for the show, and this has a couple that are solid, but this feels like a waste of space to give Segel his paycheck for the episode. And Daphne so far hasn't been given a lot to make her stand out, despite Sherri Shepard being game for the show's sensibilities.

Robin and Barney's material is similarly silly, but not necessarily in a bad way. This is a good way to bring them back together, as they address whether or not they can keep the spark going well after this weekend, an issue that even Lily and Marshall tend to still have. The recurring gag about anal wears thin fast, but their chemistry shines regardless.

The main course of this episode comes from Ted and Lily, who get the chance to hash out their issues just once more, along with a few Princess Bride references to fill the show's quota. The characters still have it, as their discussion feels real and essential here, just as it should. If Ted really is going to leave New York, then he better hope that he can find some friends who can match the gang, particularly Lily's honesty.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Locket"/"Coming Back"

I promised to avoid spoilers here... but nobody's reading. And I refuse to go by with calling her the Mother, so I'm going to use her name, Tracy.

But wow, finally seeing Tracy on the screen is magic. Bays and Thomas had a clear vision for the character, which they have thus far brought to life in a wonderful manner, just as Cristin Milioti is perfect at maintaining the show's dialogue and tone.

These are very good episodes, brought to life by a set of actors that are committed to giving their show the final run-through that it deserves. A couple of questionable lines of dialogue appear, and the family history flashback that Barney shares could have been taken out, but these feel like a welcome return to arms after last season's downswing.

Really though, seeing Ted and Tracy together was just out of this world. Radnor and Milioti have perfect chemistry, even as evident from their one scene. But that's nothing compared to hers and Lily's time together. If I could eat peanut butter, I'd want some Sum Bitches.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Something Old"/"Something New"

These episodes seem to pose different concepts for Barney and Robin's future. "Something Old" plays with his immature side, keeping him away from Robin when she needs him the most (or so we might think, at least), which suggests that he isn't ready for such a commitment. Yet, their magnetic chemistry is present in "Something New", as diabolical as their scheme is, as the two keep together throughout without losing an ounce of passion, itself showing a potentially happy ending for the two. How this goes down will be shown in the next season, as the wedding is stretched throughout the majority of the season.

And dammit, am I tired of Ted's past with Robin coming back up.

Season 8 as a whole is a mixed bag. Things started out to be increasingly less promising, as each of the three short-term relationships initially present only dragged things out for the show, itself getting a little long in the tooth. Lily and Marshall's newfound parenthood also wasn't adding too much positivity to the show, with weak stories plaguing what should be a potentially exciting addition to the show's lore.

Things do pick up when Ted, Barney, and Robin ditch each of their partners from the beginning, and go through their own arcs this season, but even then, weaker concepts and increasingly tired humor plague the show down a notch. We're past its glory days here, but it's still able to knock one out of the park here or there, with a few absolutely fantastic episodes made. Still, I'll have to give this season a plain C, which is indicative of the decline HIMYM is facing in its twilight years, but also says that it's still watchable even now. I'd still argue that its weakest episodes are never berefit of good moments, which is still true here.

But wow, is that shot of the Mother at the end of "Something New" incredible. This shows promise for what should be a final victory lap. Will the last season pull that off? Well, we'll see.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Bro Mitzvah"

I am nothing like Ralph Macchio.

Great episode.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Romeward Bound"

I was going to try to write a full review, but I was watching an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show as a night cap, and it's like day and night.

Well, this episode has some funny and nice moments, but the show has definitely seen better days.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Time Travelers"

Great, great stuff. Let future me write about it, and then we can do Billy Joel tunes acapella.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Weekend at Barney's"/"The Fortress"

This pair of episodes is selling the idea that Barney probably can't change, at least not without a lot more effort. It's not exactly a happy concept, but one that does show some promise in these otherwise decent episodes.

I will say that losing Jeannette was not a big deal, since there's only so much that could have been done with the character. Her welcome was wearing well past thin, but it says a lot how she was the one to break up with Ted earlier in the episode for being too dramatic. He really needs a perspective change, which their time together should hopefully allow for.

Also, it was sad to see the red cowboy boots go, but at least they were set off to an explosive enough finale. And I can't argue with the use of Creedence for the soundtrack.

Ted's material is a little more thin in the latter episode, which is fine, since it allows for Lily and Marshall to have more screentime than their inferior plot in the previous episode allowed for. "Weekend at Barney's" skipped over Lily's new job, which is explored more here. It seems like a better opportunity for her to shine in the art world, but it's not exactly what either she or Marshall want- long hours for little real experience. Thus, their fight comes off as real, and allows for a reasonable expansion of the story for the two. And a funny parody of Downton Abbey, which never fails to put me to sleep.

Still, the important arcs of these episodes come from Robin and Barney's attempts to connect. Both of them still appear to love each other and want to make their relationship work, but Barney is still a kid at heart, and not exactly in a good way. Robin's disappointment is fair, but she is also shown to love Barney for what he is as well, given her defense of his apartment. So it's overall a mixed experience.

Pair it off with matching movie spoofs of equal so-so quality, and that's what you get from these episodes. Some good material, but not the show's best.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Ashtray"

So the show's 10th anniversary just hit, and if certain events didn't transpire later in its run, there would be more rejoicing about its revelation. Here I am, still going through my rewatch and critique, just trying to soak up what's left of the show's greatness.

This isn't HIMYM at its absolute best, but it's a pretty strong episode anyway. Lily and Marshall get the bulk of the serious material, as Lily's passion for art is called upon to result in a welcome conclusion for her. This isn't among the show's most emotionally satisfying moments, but her hopes to make it seem genuine.

Meanwhile, the rest of the gang pick up the comedic slack, and do so well. High Ted, drunk Robin, and Barney as usual all make for good moments abound. And the Captain! Great to have him back.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Bad Crazy"

This isn't a bad episode at all, really. A little too silly in parts, but more of it works than doesn't, and it allows for some good moments.

Robin's story is my favorite overall, but I really just feel for her inability to hold baby Marvin a lot. She loves the kid a lot already, but this is still a big leap that she needs some time for, so she thinks. Lily, on the other hand, recognizes that this is a concern, and wisely gives Marvin to Robin to show that she is ready right now, as she is. And it's a great moment, further complimented with the ending tag.

But Jeanette... meh. Lily's decision that she is good for Ted as of right now is shockingly terrible advice, especially when we're being foreshadowed to know that things will end badly. But she's kind of funny anyway, I guess, so it should work okay for another episode or two.

But I did have more fun with the recurring gag of Robin and Lily's future meet-ups, especially as they land that one perfect ending. Although I wish that someone else besides Mike Tyson was able to be the surprise babysitter. Ah well.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "P.S. I Love You"

Funny as shit. Bays and Thomas took the chance to wrap up Robin Sparkles' story wonderfully here, and allowed for sweet moments for everyone. Give or take Ted, who's a dumbass.

But damn, all of the Canadian jokes. Beautiful.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Ring Up!"

Even though the show pulled a surprisingly welcome curveball on us a couple of episodes ago, we're still not at HIMYM at its best anymore. This week had its moments, but it was pretty flat all in all.

The best scene was easily Robin and Barney's glance at the end. It's a sweet moment that allows for the two to show that their connection does exist, even after his bullshit earlier.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Band or DJ?"

Well, some things never really change.

By this, I'm referring to Lily's desire to run away from Marvin and Marshall. There is never a moment to show doubt that she loves both dearly, as this is really more evident of her reluctance to stay and face her issues directly. This is a human flaw, but it shows maturity that she doesn't run off again, which is something that I doubt that she would have done anyway.

It's one of the more memorable moments of what's otherwise an okay episode. The stories connected through the episode work well enough, but there aren't a whole lot of hilarious moments to keep it alive. And it seems weird that Robin is so dedicated to convincing her father to approve of her marriage, not only due to how dated of a ritual this is, but since she and Robin, Sr. have had such a rough history.

But it comes together in a pleasant enough manner for it to work just fine for me. But not much else.

How I Met Your Mother- "The Final Page"

Welp, this is it. The best episode in the show's run.

When I first saw this, I was floored. Everything over the past few episodes started to make sense, if not the past couple of years. All of Barney's wrong moves, the poor choice of timing, this was all adding up to something.

That doesn't excuse the show's dips into mediocrity, but it allows for what turned into a crackerjack pair of episodes. And these weren't even meant to be joined together, until a hurricane came and threatened the likelihood of a good chunk of the audience catching the former half as a separate piece. But these episodes really do work together very well, as they're about letting go and looking forward.

Even the sillier bits work. Seth Green, for instance, comes off as rightly creepy as he fails to connect to Lily and Marshall in the way that he aspires to. It's not too saddening, since he is a little off, but there is lament present, which is at least subsided by his own revelation. Like the rest of the gang, Daryl realizes that it's best to move on and to not be so over-reliant on his old college buddies.

Like how Ted moves on from the episode's other inspired guest star. His newfound appreciation for Professor Vinick's method of teaching feels right, as we get to see how Peter Gallagher plays his teaching methods the same way that Radnor keeps Ted's inflections alive. They're not all that different, and it's high time that Ted gets over himself.

This episode's reflection of moving on is strong all around, especially when it allows for Robin and Patrice to have a genuine moment. While the running joke of Robin's frustration can be funny, this feels right, and helps to set things up for the latter half.

And boy, do Smulders and Radnor sell their time in the limo together. Their inflections feel real, as the actors have fully engulfed their characters and make each line feel real. Ted's breaking as he accepts Robin's right to meet with Barney is hard, but all the more powerful for it; just as Robin herself struggles to break face and accept that she at least wants some sort of closure before anything happens.

Which itself leads into a beautiful final play. Barney comes off as completely sincere in each play, as he lies to find his way to the one thing he wants- Robin. As deceitful as this all may seem, keep in mind that Robin and Barney built their relationship on a lot of lying, and that Barney is using his skills for what is ultimately a positive goal. He shows nothing but love and honesty in his hope to win Robin over.

Smulders really deserved an Emmy for this episode. She keeps a good job of remaining funny throughout, but it's really here where she shines. Keeping an eye on her face during each shot back to her is all that needs to be said, and helps to keep this dynamite hour alive. Now the only question is if the rest of the season can keep up with this.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Over-Correction"

The Over-Correction  (8x10)

Y'no, while I do oppose to the way Robin can be written as an obsessive ex in regards to Barney, there is something off about his relationship with Patrice. His burning of the Playbook is a nice, genuine moment that helps the episode, but despite the good in both of their hearts, I still can't really buy their time together. Call it intuition, or knowledge of what's to come.

But no, I am still not a fan of this side of Robin. Her emotions do get the better of her, but Robin normally wouldn't be this dedicated to getting Barney back, as much as they seem to work together. Robin can be capable of being nerdy, determined, powerful, seductive, firm, funny, and honest, yet this is the second episode in a row that paints her as a jealous ex. It's a waste of talent on Smulders' part, honestly.

I'm similarly mixed on Marshall and Lily's subplot. While it is kind of funny to imagine Judy and Mickey together, the two really should allow their parents the chance to be happy, even if it seems off. Even though they're still grossed out at the end, it does seem like they're willing to allow their parents said happiness at this point, which is good. But it also would have helped things if Suzie Plakson and Chris Elliot were allowed to have a little chemistry, as they barely interact here.

Two meh to decent storylines would make for a mixed at best episode, but I'll give it a bonus point for the running joke of the gang overstepping on Ted's generosity, which is among the funniest bits here. Barney gets one of the episode's best lines when he laments on how he just needs Ted's ornaments for Christmas. He delivers it better than I can. But nobody can pull off the red cowboy boots.

Ah well. This is a decent episode, but the show can do better. Maybe next time. Or times.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Lobster Crawl"

Well, now I want lobster. I'm not allergic, btw.

This is a decent episode. Each of the plots had their moments of cuteness, but I wouldn't call any of it great. But I think that I like the idea of Barney and Patrice. So far.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Twelve Horny Women"

Twelve Horny Women (8x08)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Chris Romano & Eric Falconer

One Paragraph Synopsis: The big trial against Gruber Pharmaceuticals is here, as Brad prepares to use the information he took from the last episode against Marshall, who puts everything he has into his case. The thing is, the jury is entirely full of women who are attracted to Brad, as well as a (possibly) bi judge, who side with his case. Marshall does eventually win though, as Brad himself has proof of how the lake they're protecting is contaminated, as Gruber has to pay... a significantly smaller amount than what Marshall's firm was asking. This is why he submits himself to become a judge. In between the trial, the rest of the gang trade stories of their adolescent rebellious periods, most of which is heavily over-exaggerated.

Really, I like this episode for its reference to The Wire. There's also a deleted scene from later this season that references the show again, so my guess is that some of the staff had just watched it. Good stuff, and it gives the show more nerd credit than Big Bang Theory ever had.

I do find some of the cutaways to be cute, but the whole subplot is a little superfluous and doesn't add much to the arc or even episode at large. It is nice to see Scooter again, though, and any chance we get to see Robin Sparkles is a good one.

The ending cap on Robin and Barney's future feels a little forced, but not necessarily without redeeming qualities. Robin's "huh" shows potential, but Barney's speech doesn't compare to his in "Splitsville". Probably because he's still into her.

As for the main story, I resent the episode title, and the way Romano and Falconer wrote how Brad was able to swoon everyone. It's cheap, and doesn't add very much in terms of plot and character. Or at least shouldn't. While I do like Joe Manganiello's portrayal of the character, I generally shrugged during his appearances.

Marshall's future, however, does excite me. While it seems very unlikely that he can apply to be a judge so soon in his career, this is a good step for him. And it shows that he's not done saving the world just yet. Not by a long shot. Now just save the show, Big Fudge.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Splitsville"/"The Stamp Tramp"

The mediocre turn that season 8 started out on is slowly starting to improve with these episodes, even though both are pretty far from A-game.

Lily and Marshall's lack of sexual release is a weak bit for "Splitsville", and almost drags the episode down as much as Nick's recent stupidity does. Which itself is a lazy motive to make his exit feel welcome, rather than a logical conclusion that the character evoked.

That's what drags the episode away from me, but I do enjoy it regardless thanks to Robin's own role in the episode, who is showing her tired demeanor. And her annoyance towards Patrice is surprisingly still kind of funny, even if it only revolves around Smulders screaming. She's too good at it to not work at least somewhat.

But Barney steals the show here, with his well-written speech. It's similarly surprising to say so, but everything about the bit feels genuine. It also shows his humanity in a believable way that has been missing for a little while. That's good enough for me.

I actually like the following episode a little more, though. Neither of the stories are excellent, but each have enough good moments to make them mesh together for a good episode.

It's been a solid amount of time since Ted and Lily have shared a subplot together, and thankfully Radnor and Hannigan still have good rapport with each other. It allows for their mocking of Ted's college diary tapes to remain entertaining, especially since Ted's pretentious college self is still among the show's funniest recurrences. And the bit of Ted's acceptance towards Lily at the end is a welcome way to wrap this arc up.

Brad's return allows for solid build-up for the next episode, and made for funny moments between him and Marshall's boss. Both actors were fair game, as Segel wisely backs off a little to allow for this unexpectedly tight chemistry to pay off. It's also the most apt way to keep the episode's theme of recommendation alive.

Robin and Barney's material is probably the most dry, unless you find golden oldies jokes to be especially funny. But it's still Smulders and NPH doing what they do best, so it's hard to not find their time together at least a little enjoyable. And it does allow for a moment that helps to decide if things can work out for the two of them, which doesn't seem likely right now. But give it time. And maybe I'll have more to say soon.

Edit: Also, I appreciate the former episode's little bit about Romani culture. It still can come off as offensive due to the use of the G word, but it does a good job of playing Nick as the fool.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Autumn of Break-Ups"

The Autumn of Break-Ups (8x05)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Kourtney Kang

One Paragraph Synopsis: After it's become increasingly apparent that Victoria is dropping hints to Ted, Marshall and Lily tell him that it's time to stop stalling and to accept that she's ready for a deeper commitment. Ted proposes to her, which Victoria accepts on one condition- she still sees Robin as an issue, and doesn't want them to be friends anymore. It takes Ted some time to decide if he can drop Robin, who herself is causing problems with Nick over how she prioritizes her exes, especially while Barney has decided to become a wingman to a stray dog, but the episode ends with Victoria denying the proposal, since he won't drop Robin. As sweet as this sounds, Ted insists that Lily and Marshall never tell Robin, which Future Ted reveals won't be a secret forever.

I really just want to talk about Brover for a bit.

Because frankly, using a dog for a subplot like his usually shouldn't work. It's a cheap way to get a laugh, as dogs are easily able to do so. But the Brover material works in spite of this. Marshall's attempts at advice border on racism and transphobia in too much of an irritating way to register as funny, while Ted and Robin's stories have too few good jokes of their own. Seeing Barney grieve with a dog is a surprisingly funny, welcome change of pace from the rest of the episode.

And frankly, the humor and energy is needed here, since this isn't an all-too funny episode. A necessary episode, given how it closes the book on Ted and Victoria, but not among the show's best. The split is handled fairly well, with both sides being given a fair shake as to their view point. I've heard comparisons of how similar this is to what happened with Ross and someone, but I don't give a fuck about Friends, so I won't compare. I'm just so burned out on Ted and Robin, that this barely registers for me.

It doesn't help that Victoria hasn't been given the same dignity in her later appearances as before. There's nothing to her but plot that needs to be filled, which she does well enough, but without any of the flair that made her such a good fit for Ted in the first season. Ashley Williams seems to agree, as her delivery doesn't compare to how naturally it used to come, just perfunctory enough to fit. This doesn't feel like Victoria at her best, so it wasn't too much of a shame to see them call it a day.

But we have one more break-up before this Autumn ends. Let's hope that Robin and Nick don't end things too poorly.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Nannies"/"Who Wants to Be a Godparent?"

Meh, don't even feel like doing brief recaps anymore.

"Nannies" was okay at best, but the show is still struggling here. Ted and Robin's argument over who's in the better relationship had its moments, scattered around at least, but got pretty tedious. Especially with the flat "Nick is a girl jokes". It doesn't help that so far, he seems to have at least 3 different personalities that don't really correlate. And Victoria's sloppiness feels unnatural and out of left field, especially since as someone who works in food, she should know better than to keep everything such a mess.

The nanny A-story gets just as tedious, but not so much from Lily and Marshall- although Lily's possessive turn gets a little choppy, it's still somewhat believable for her. I also think that Mickey's revelation of how close he used to be with Lily when she was a child was a nice little way to wrap around things for the episode. It's easier to tolerate his pathetic nature when his good guy shades are shown to be sincere.

My problem with the story comes from Barney. A relapse is understandable, even when he brings some of his worst material back with him, but by now, it should be out of character for him to sabotage his friend's quest so badly. He can do so much better than this, and it's irritating to see this side of Barney back. I like at least seeing him try to make up for it by paying Miss Buckminster, but that's not really enough. Granted, their surprise ending gag is kooky enough to somehow work.

But speaking of out of character, holy shit, Robin. I'll never understand how she lost Kevin to her lack of interest in children, yet fights so hard to become Marvin's godparent. It will make even less sense in a few episodes when the show addresses that Robin has been weirdly distant to him, which is fair, because she has been.

This is a case where I can understand why she was involved in her circumstances, so she can be a part of the game show action with Ted and Barney, but it would have been better if the episode wasn't made. For the sake of her character, and the sake of the series.

A few jokes do work in the episode, even during the unfortunate montage. Sadly, that makes up the majority of the second, and even some of the third arc, and it's a dud. Writer Matt Kuhn adds little insight to the show's game show interior to give it a fresh perspective, instead forcing Marshall and Lily to rely on forced dialogue to get their point across to their contestants. And the structure used in their cutaways- Ted's a square, Robin's emotionally distant, and Barney is completely inappropriate- get old fast. It makes for a predictable, unfunny sequence that takes up too much time of the episode.

This is the weakest episode so far this season, but it isn't completely irredeemable. There's a welcome affirmation of the group's importance to each other at the end that feels nice and kind of important. But it's too little, too late for what's mostly a dud. The show can do better, but it's starting to wear thin at this point.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Farhampton"/"The Pre-Nup"

Farhampton (8x01)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Carter Bays & Craig Thomas

One Paragraph Synopsis: Following exactly after the previous episodes' events, Ted realizes that Victoria, who he's about to take away from her wedding, hasn't left a goodbye note for her fiance Klaus. After getting her to write one for him, Ted sneaks into the reception area at Farhampton (the future area where Barney and Robin will wed, which is how the mother is in frame) to leave it in, where he meets with Klaus, who himself is running away, a realization that gives Ted and Victoria some relief. Back at the apartment, Lily and Marshall have newborn fatigue, which is preventing them from being fully awake for some of the day's revelations, which include Barney never telling Quinn about his history with Robin, or that Robin has found a new boyfriend in the past few days. Everything here resolves as the season starts off.

The Pre-Nup (8x02)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Carter Bays & Craig Thomas

One Paragraph Synopsis: At Arthur's request, Barney writes up a pre-nup for Quinn, authorizing a bunch of ludicrous agreements for her to sign off on for their marriage. Which might include a few other wives, I'm not sure about that. Quinn is rightfully disgusted, and the reception from the gang is mostly split, with the women siding with Quinn, as the men start thinking of how to make their relationships "better". What results is some compromises for everyone else, while Barney and Quinn realize that they're not able to trust each, and call off the engagement. Thus starts the autumn of break-ups.

And season 8 starts off okay.

"Farhampton" isn't among the show's finer moments, but it offers enough promising moments for it to at least make for a welcome half hour back. But like too much of the previous season, there's a bit too much broadness going on here. Primarily with Marshall and Lily's material, who run flat instantly. Maybe it would have worked better if Marshall brought the champagne up once more, but he failed the rule of three here. It's not enough.

The rest of the subplot at the apartment fairs better, with Barney's one minute recap of the show's history easily making for the highlight. NPH has Barney nailed down so well that he can pull this off without a hitch, and almost made me wish that the series could wrap up this fast. Although as mentioned, this does result into an actual, interesting conflict between himself and Quinn, as it seems like Barney is hiding something with Robin. It also leads to a sweet moment at the end, when Robin finds all of their material from their time together, which continues to show how there's still something there.

And then there's "The Pre-Nup", which ventures a little too far into broad, sexist territory throughout. It seems in a few moments that Bays and Thomas may actually find Barney's reasoning to be sound, as some of his ideas are just terrible. I can't sound off on them, but the episode does have a few funny moments to lighten things up, primarily involving Robin's infatuation with herself. We still don't know much about Nick, so this has to do to give us an idea for how they can work for right now.

As for Barney and Quinn, their break-up seems all too soon, considering how recently they got engaged, but it makes all too much sense. There has never been much for mutual trust between the two, and seeing as how they constantly find ways to reassure this, the shock isn't that big. But now what will Barney do?

How I Met Your Mother Review- The Magician's Code

The Magician's Code (7x23, 7x24)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Jennifer Hendricks, Carter Bays & Craig Thomas

Two Paragraph Synopsis: As Lily goes into labor while Marshall and Barney are still in Atlantic City, she does her best to hold on for her baby daddy, to no avail. Ted and Robin come by to help occupy her for as long as they can, trading stories to numb her even slightly, but she still ends up at the hospital a while before Marshall does. He and Barney do everything in their insanely drunken fervor to make it to Manhattan, which results in a bus trip... to Buffalo. But all prevails, as they make it to Lily's side in time for the birth of Marvin Waitforit Eriksen.

With their new son alive and well, Lily and Marshall are doing their best to adapt and to cut back on shenanigans, which include only helping the gang out with issues that relate to an 8 or higher. Two big 10 events happen here, though, one of which involves Ted finally calling Victoria back up, only to discover that she was about to go through with her wedding. But she's still willing to get married to him, which Ted ponders on being right to do, before they drive off into the sunset together. Meanwhile, Barnet and Quinn's trip to Hawaii is halted when a magic trick of Barney's sets off the airport sensors, and he tries his best to not spoil it. He eventually does, though- he plants a wedding ring inside of this little box he's carrying. While all seems well for Barney and Quinn, the flash forward at the end of episode paints a different picture, as Robin is shown to be Barney's bride-to-be.

I haven't been talking about season seven that much, for a couple of reasons. One, I'm losing interest in writing big pieces, even for a show that I enjoy as much as HIMYM. The other being that I'm running out of things to say about the show as it transitions into its awkward last few years.

If anything, I'd say that "The Magician's Code is a good reflection of where the series was at this point, considering how compromised it felt throughout. Some of the show's charms and eventual magic are still present, with a few too many unfunny or tiresome elements to drag it down.

The first half is easily the stronger, allowing for the funniest moments ala some clever cutaways. Not every one of them works, but the variety infused into each one made them feel fresh, just as the gang felt at their most organic here. There wasn't a dragged out split-up storyline or partner with mixed chemistry among the cast to drag things out here, just the core 5 allowed to have fun with each other, sometimes correlating certain bits together in a smart way.

It's especially nice as the parts of the episode that take place in real time aren't all that great. Marshall and Barney are good at playing funny drunks, but it gets old fast, just as the suspense doesn't pay off. While I do want Marshall to be there for his son's birth, I'm not all that invested in the chase. Really, I'd rather see more funny flashbacks, or get a little more screentime for Vicki Lewis.

But it all comes together for the birth of little Marvin, a great moment in the show's run. The emotional weight of the group's core couple is brought to life, as they see everything they could want in life with their firstborn son. Fryman composes the moment well, as she continues to do so when Ted, Robin and Barney arrive and see the gang's first child as he's born. It's moments like these that remind me of why I love the series even now, as I still care about these characters and their accomplishments. They feel real, and I feel like a sixth member of the gang when this is going on.

The second part becomes less fun, as Bays and Thomas don't bring their A game to the table. Barney and Quinn's story shows the most promise, although the fact that she left her stripping job almost works as a cop-out to avoid them working past the issue. It's really a non-issue, and Barney should get over her choice in profession. Some funny moments happen during their interrogation, but it falls moot when the proposal occurs. It's sweetly done, another touch of Fryman magic, but let me just say that you haven't seen anything yet.

Since it's now known that Robin will be marrying Barney, it's safe to admit that I wasn't a big fan of his relationship with Quinn. They're not done yet, but so far their time together has only allowed for quick resolutions rather than serious discourse in regards to their problems. This isn't the best way for a relationship to grow and flesh out, and unless some serious changes occurs, it can't work out. There's also the fact that I'm not a huge fan of Becki Newton's acting as Quinn, who is able to give solid readings, but comes off as a little too forced throughout.

Ted and Victoria seems promising, at least for now. I'll get to them when I start up on season 8. Same with Lily and Marshall, who need some time to get the hang of baby life. It's just not that exciting, as this episode rarely felt that way at all. Even the reveal of Robin being Barney's bride didn't have a big punch, since at this point, it's more stalling than anything.

Season 7 just feels compromised throughout. For every great moment, there's an equally unimpressive one to balance it out. Some great episodes, such as "Tick Tick Tick", allow for the show still be worth watching at this point, but duds like "The Burning Beekeeper" are too prevalent, and hurt it in the long run. I ultimately give season 7 a B-, which makes it about on par with the first and the fifth. Not too bad, but the series has seen better days. Will 8 be an improvement? We'll see...

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Good Crazy"

Good Crazy (7x22)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Carter Bays & Craig Thomas

One Paragraph Synopsis: As it's getting closer to her birth, Marshall is becoming increasingly demanding about the future of his and Lily's child, to the point that it drives Lily crazy. After a crazy fight, she tricks Marshall into having a wild weekend at Atlantic City with Barney, who himself is hoping to blow off steam while he and Quinn still argue about her profession. They're doing great, especially after the two get wasted and decide to turn their phones off briefly- just before Lily goes into labor. Meanwhile, Ted is doing his best to get over Robin by taking a few dates up, but each one of them resembles her in some way to him, to the point of insanity.

This really does kind of feel like a part one to the upcoming double-header finale, which isn't a bad thing at all. Especially when you consider how one too many elements here aren't wrapped up.

Well, Ted and Robin seem to be getting close to an end. I'm not too hot on this storyline, not only since I don't feel much of anything for their relationship anymore, but this feels a little too similar to Ted and Barney's split near the end of season 3. With less funny results, such as the flat dating bits he has here. I do like Ted and Robin's friendship, though, which is why I can at least understand their grief here. The two work well as friends, but Ted needs to stop pursuing Robin as a lover.

Lily and Marshall are going to have more important material to manage in the season finale, but I do really enjoy their abbreviated fight. Lily's spaghetti obsession in particular is a touch of the show's playful, but well-used sense of humor in motion. It keeps the rest of the episode in motion, as it leads to the welcome turn at Atlantic City.

And Barney... his stuff isn't really any different than before. I'm already ghastly tired of Barney's resistance towards dating a stripper, but here we are.

This is a silly episode, but it does a good job of portraying the characters at their most drastic to avoid their inevitable change. Lily and Marshall are struggling to find the right method for them to raise their child; Barney is finding anything he can to invalidate his relationship, especially since he seems to have a hard time finding out if she really is worth it; Ted is trying his best to get over Robin, but is realizing how pointless it is to drop her when everything is changing so much; and Robin... doesn't have a whole lot to do here outside of Ted's psyche. Next time, though!

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Trilogy Time"/"Now We're Even"

Trilogy Time (7x20)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Kourtney Kang

One Paragraph Synopsis: Ever since they decided to pause a disastrous study session in 2000, Ted and Marshall have decided to rewatch the original Star Wars trilogy together every 3 years. Barney tags along with them in 2003, as well. As they do, the guys take the chance to sit down together and reflect on how they feel things will change during their next session- Ted finds himself optimistic that he'll find the one by then, Marshall hopes for the best with himself and Lily, while Barney is thinking of his next exploit at that time. Each look into this timeframe shows how things are changing for the group, from Marshall's depressive post-Lily take in 2006, to how Ted is still single and miserable in 2012. But a necessary flash-forward to 3 years later shows that things will work for him, after all.

Now We're Even (7x21)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Chuck Tatham

One Paragraph Synopsis: Yes, we find out why Ted wore a dress in this episode, and it's pretty funny. But this is also the one where Barney's qualms about dating a stripper are openly presented, as he tries to Make Every Night Legendary with Ted, who is also adapting to the single life a little too well. And also the one where Robin finally breaks into the media scene, when she pilots a helicopter after her pilot has a stroke. Also, Lily had a crazy sex dream about Ranjit, for some reason.

I wish that I wasn't losing interest in writing, since these are both great episodes. "Trilogy Time" has the best of Kang's skills, as she plays with chronology to her advantage and makes for a poignant reflection of where the guys are right now. The episode is also smart with how it uses Star Wars references liberally, but never allows them to take over.

Marshall has found his love, but it took him and Lily a little time to reach where they should be to have children, which they now can. Barney, for the longest time, only wanted random flings, but he seems to be very serious about Quinn, based on how he doesn't want to ruin things with her by farting too soon. But they're finding equity fairly quickly, which speaks well for them.

And Ted. Well, Ted needs to get his head out of his ass. Robin isn't the one, and he needs to accept that. But he should, as he already has his first kid come 2015. Also, there are only two seasons left, which bodes well.

"Now We're Even" is fun, but it's a little disheartening that Barney doesn't seem to be over Quinn's profession just yet. It's brought up regularly here, but there isn't closure for Barney's disappointment, which shows that we're not done with it just yet. I'm kind of over it already, but I do like how she's being allowed to flesh out a little in these episodes, even getting nice one-on-one time with Lily.

Hers and Marshall's plot is funny, if a little too bizarre to fully land. The idea that Lily likes strong father figures is nice, but the ending bit about Miss Potts and Frankenstein's monster almost messes with that to the point that it can't land. But I give this a pass for more of Ranjit's mugging, any day.

Robin's story is my favorite of the episode, as this allows her the validation that she deserves. This wasn't even dumb luck, either. Well, it was a little lucky, but it seems like this happened at exactly the right place at the right time for her to succeed. She needed a win like this, especially with Ted still being pointlessly cold to him. And speaking of Ted, he deserved having hot soup boil up on him, to be honest.

So yeah, good stuff for a mixed to good season. Only 3 episodes left! Or two, technically.

How I Met Your Mother- "The Broath"

The Broath (7x19)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Carter Bays & Craig Thomas

One Paragraph Synopsis: Barney is ready for the rest of the gang to meet Quinn, but first, he talks to Ted to convince him to not tell the others that she's a stripper, and how she made him lose a lot of money. He does instantly, as they begin to interrogate her, while she gets Ted and Robin to fight about her apartment, as Quinn is moving in with Barney. An intervention brings this to the center, when it seems like Barney does, in fact, mind that he's dating a stripper, as they break up. When the gang make things up to Barney, he and Quinn then reveal to them that they were playing the group the whole time, just to watch them burn. As Barney himself likes to do. And Robin decides to allow for Ted to move into Quinn's apartment, as her co-anchor position at work, and subsequent raise, allows for her to find a better place.

Really funny stuff, but if I have a problem with it, the explanation of Barney and Quinn's scheme in the last act was a little too on the nose. But the previous group broath was too humorous to not make up for it.

The ending's bit of foreshadowing is interesting, though. It makes it seem likely that Quinn is Barney's wife, but hopefully Quinn's stripper job will stop being a detriment to Barney. There's no reason that she should have to quit for his benefit. They seem to work pretty well though, at least for now.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Karma"

Karma (7x18)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Stephen Lloyd

One Paragraph Synopsis: Barney still can't get Quinn out of his mind, but can't get the nerve to find her again- until he discovers that she's Karma, one of the top strippers at his favorite club. While Barney has doubts about dating a stripper, he and Quinn really seem to hit it off anyway- at least that's what he thinks, as Karma shows off some of her good moves on him. Ted lets Barney in on how he's being played, which he does realize after a while. The episode ends with the two meeting for coffee, away from the club. Meanwhile, Robin briefly moves in with Lily and Marshall as she tries to find her own place, but their increasing dissatisfaction with suburban life has them try to keep Robin close by, as much as she hates Long Island. Before long, no one has to stay in Long Island though, since Ted gives up his part of the apartment's lease for Marshall and Lily to stay in.

I wasn't sure how to feel about this one at first. It wasn't too funny, and I'm not crazy about Barney's hypocritical doubts about dating a stripper. But it picked up after a little, and allows for some good moments near the end.

I was more impressed with Marshall and Lily's stuff though, especially Ted's letter at the end. It was a big moment for him, so he can allow himself to move on. It will also help to keep the gang close, just as Lily and Marshall can easily adapt to raising a kid in Manhattan. I don't feel like saying much more, but Robin's narration was pretty funny, too.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "No Pressure"

No Pressure (7x17)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by George Sloan

One Paragraph Synopsis: Following the previous episode, Ted and Robin briefly reconnect, only for Robin to post-hastily realize that she has a work trip to Rome this week, and leaves in a couple of hours. The two put their future on hold, as Marshall and Lily give Ted conflicting advice on how to handle things. It seems like Lily particularly wants their relationship to not work, which is confirmed when Barney discovers something- Lily and Marshall's box of bets. It turns out that Lily has bet against Ted and Robin working out, but Marshall's confidence in their success has prevented him from paying up. After getting over how shitty this is, Ted realizes that he and Robin aren't meant to work, when she returns. Marshall then recommends that Robin moves out, which she graciously accepts.

For all of my moaning from the previous episode, I forgot how things actually turned out here lol.

But this shows how the two don't, and likely can't, work. Robin doesn't allow for much dreaming, while Ted still keeps his head in the clouds. Even when Ted doubts himself, he's never entirely forgetting his goals, which will always be different than Robin's. Not only do they not have the same spark that the two had back in the second season, but Fryman doesn't seem to even allow them to, anymore. Their relationship is done for, and it's for the best.

Since I find Marshall and Lily's betting creepy (also, if I had the motivation to, I would start a mini-rant about Marshall's adamant refusal to accept that Ted and Robin won't work, but I'll save the spoilers corner for another day), enough to be to the episode's detriment, I want to focus on Ted and Barney before I call this brief review off. Primarily, I think that the way that the two handle Barney's previous attempt to reunite with Robin was done smartly. While he is still attracted to Robin, Barney is doing a good job of not taking advantage of Robin's vulnerable situation, which is worthy of respect. He expresses pity, but calls it a day as to not do anything anyone would regret. It shows growth, even.

This episode does a good job of showing how when one door closes, another can always open. Robin isn't meant to be the one, but that shouldn't be a problem to Ted. The one is still out there. His time will come to find her. I wouldn't call this a great episode, but it's a solid outing with a decent emotional core behind it.

Also, keep an eye out for Conan O'Brien's cameo. The story behind it is pretty clever, and worth a paying attention to.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Drunk Train"

The Drunk Train (7x16)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Craig Gerard & Matt Zinman

One Paragraph Synopsis: This time for Valentine's Day, Ted and Barney are trying the train ride from Manhattan to Long Island that Lily dubs "the drunk train", where a slew of drunken college students typically come home on after a night out. They both strike out due to being a bit too sober, but even after trying the train totally wasted, Barney doesn't seem able to get a girl out of his mind from the other night. And it looks like Quinn, the girl in question, can't get over him, either. As for the actual couples, a romantic week in the snow is planned for the four of them, when a bombshell is dropped via Kevin's proposal to Robin. Dumbstruck, she reveals her own bombshell, admitting to Kevin that she can't have, and doesn't want kids. A lengthy reflection allows for Kevin to make his own decision, as he calls off the proposal.

Ugh, that ending.

Why am I very much pro Robin and Barney, but the concept of Robin and Ted getting back together turns me off? I think this stems from where the characters are now, and how Robin views the boys. With Barney, there's still a spark between them, and unfinished business to take care of. They both still want each other, even if it'll take relationship gymnastics to make it together, but a big part of both of them want to.

Ted and Robin don't really have unfinished business, though. They were together for a much longer span, and had a more complete ending. Even though Ted swears here that he's willing to be okay without kids to be with Robin, that's a crock, and he knows it. Any future together is bound to be doomed, unless Ted can find a way to convince Robin to adopt.

Not to mention that Robin doesn't seem interested in Ted romantically anymore. They worked well back in 2007, but that was 5 years ago, and a lot of what made the two gel has changed, while what caused them to split hasn't as much. This seems like a dead space, since it's all but confirmed that Robin can't be the mother.

This last-minute revelation pisses me off, but the rest of the episode is very good. Well, I'm not crazy about Barney and Ted's ploy to hit on drunk girls, but if they're drunk too, that kind of balances itself out. I think?

I do think that the drunk train concept is a funny idea, and it's even better knowing that this is based on a real phenomenon that Gerard and Zinman have experienced first hand. They delve into it a little on the episode's commentary, and it's definitely worth picking a copy of season 7 up for alone.

As a social observation, this works great. Getting Radnor and Neil Patrick Harris to play drunk to fit in works even better, as they're both gifted as comedic actors. Radnor pulls off the loud jackass beautifully, while NPH is great at playing a drunken buffoon. Together, and with a nice group of drunken fools, they work beautifully.

Barney's pursuit of Quinn works okay. We've seen Barney pine for something a little more serious with other women before, and while Quinn is shown to be a worthy match mate for him, there isn't a whole lot to root for yet. It also felt like the flashbacks to their night together hurt the episode more than helped, as their wordplay wasn't strong enough to pull the material off. Watching Ted's failure with his date was actually more fun, as brief as their moments are.

Lily and Marshall's stuff is solid enough, helping to show that they actually aren't the "perfect couple", but I'm more interested in getting towards Robin and Kevin. While I have generally liked their time together, it isn't surprising to see the two make their separate ways. Despite Kevin's ability to listen being one of his job skills, he can only be patient enough to Robin for so long. Her inability and refusal to have children is the straw that breaks the camel's back, as he has been showing restraint with her for a little bit.

Kevin was a fun addition, as he got to interact with the rest of the gang pretty well, and in some moments, felt like one of the boys. It's a little saddening to think that he received more opportunities to be a part of their group than any of Ted's exes or Nora, which seems sexist in a way. Like the girls don't get the chance to be fun, but one of the show's few male love interests can.

It is deceptive for Kevin to constantly reinforce his proposal, only to deny it shortly after. Even as reasonable as his reason to call it off might be. To give up a lifelong desire for children must hurt. Possibly more than leaving someone that you thought the world of. I feel bad for Robin, but I can't exactly blame Kevin, either.

So yeah, good episode. Mostly great, with a couple of things aside.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Burning Beekeeper"

The Burning Beekeeper  (7x15)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Carter Bays & Craig Thomas

One Paragraph Synopsis: It's a Mary Richards dinner party, thrown by Lily Aldrin. Ted and Garrison Cootes get into a spat when Ted is convicted (by Barney, who is actually guilty) of eating one of the few vegan items available at the party. Cootes and Marshall are also having issues, since Marshall has to go back to work later that night. Barney's about to sleep with a woman who has a history of cutting off unloyal men's packages. And Mickey's collecting bees, for some reason.

Apparently, if there's one episode Bays regrets, it's this one. Not because it's a complete misfire, but due to how they weren't able to get the full potential out of this episode's concept. Or it could be because, y'no, it does suck.

There's an interesting idea in "The Burning Beekeeper"'s framing. A recently deceased professor of my school's film program used to teach that time is not linear, a concept that works. We still get from point A to B, but maybe not directly. Sometimes it makes more sense to reach point D first, but we can still save points C and E for later. Not everything that happens in the universe is direct.

That's why I do welcome the concept of an episode like "The Burning Beekeeper", which keeps a sense of chronology in tact, but plays with it. Certain plot elements are snuck or hidden until later on in a way that should reward repeat viewings. But similar to another high-concept sitcom episode, Seinfeld's "The Betrayal", the novelty doesn't help what is, in actuality, a weak episode.

A few jokes do land. Robin and Ted have an amusing argument, while Barney's ineptitude to take responsibility was also fun, especially his delivery of "I don't know" when he gives Mickey the tip on kerosene. But that's about it, since the majority don't.

Martin Short tries to keep the environment going, but it seems like he can tell that this is a poor script based on his mixed atmosphere. Despite solid delivery, there's a sense of dread in Cootes' lines. He also just doesn't have strong chemistry with Radnor, as evident by their lifeless argument. Short works a little better with Segel and Chris Elliot, but there isn't much zest regardless.

And the beekeeper stuff similarly runs flat. Mickey's bee puns are pleasant enough for pun fans, but are pretty one-note otherwise. It also doesn't help that bee keeping is just a weird idea for Mickey to try out, one with no real purpose. It's leading up to a punchline that doesn't pay off for anything.

Nothing else really works. Lily's aggravation isn't expanded on well, as believable as it is. Robin's feelings of being too pushy is an afterthought that feels out of place here. And Barney's material with the penis-chopping woman is old hat.

All of this together makes for a flat episode. A flat episode in a unique package, but still a dud throughout. I don't think that a single HIMYM episode is bereft of good moments, but Bays, Thomas, and Fryman can do better.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Tailgate"/"46 Minutes"

Tailgate (7x13)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Carter Bays & Craig Thomas

One Paragraph Synopsis: Even with his father gone, Marshall still intends to keep their tradition of watching the Vikings and the Bears' yearly game against each other alive, by tailgating at Marvin's stone. In between passes, Marshall shares some of what's gone on in the past few days, primarily New Years Eve. This includes Robin playing cruise control for Sandy during the ball drop, Ted and Barney bringing the bar Puzzles to life in their apartment, and Marshall and Lily's argument about faith (in the supernatural), as she reels over her father's disinterest in her pregnancy.

46 Minutes (7x14)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Dan Gregor & Doug Mand

One Paragraph Synopsis: Lily and Marshall's move to Long Island is official, as they head out shortly after the gang's nightly MacLarens trip. Even though it's really a short distance from them, it's still a rough blow to the gang, but Barney tries to keep Ted, Robin, and Kevin's spirits alive by taking them to a strip club. Here, they meet Stripper Lily again, and well, things go crazy from there. Meanwhile, Mickey's last-minute moving into Lily and Marshall's new house is increasingly getting on their nerves, as he constantly goes too far. After rightfully being kicked out, Mickey goes ballistic and sets traps up for the two before they reach an agreement.

"Tailgate"'s a good episode, but not quite a great, especially compared to the previous episode.

The wraparound of funeral goers, along with Marshall and his brothers at Marvin's burial comes off as a sweet way to end the episode, but almost doesn't feel tied to the rest of it. Marshall's annoyance with visiters coming over while he tries to tailgate is only something that occurs in his little bits, and doesn't really connect to the rest of the episode's stories. As such, I find it a little cloy, even if Bays and Thomas can usually make cloy work.

However, the rest of the episode's material is generally strong. Robin's quest to keep Sandy around for the ball drop continues her quest for finding her place in the journalism industry, by showing how it's not exactly her biggest issue right now. Between everything that's happened to her lately, Robin is superficially interested in keeping her job steady, to the point that she's almost forgetting her goals. Kevin proves his worth as a boyfriend by pushing her to take Sandy's place at the end, which is not only good on his part, but does allow Robin to push herself forward. Maybe 2012 will be her year after all. I also give points to her delivery of the line stating that she gave up dreams that she didn't know she had, which really stings in context. Brilliantly keeping the memory of the previous episode alive.

Marshall and Lily's  paranormal discussions are true to his character, as Marshall's fascination for conspiracies like Bigfoot and Nessie are attributed to the way he views faith. Marshall takes everything by face value and to heart, as his defense for Nessie's existence reflects.

This more or less takes over for a debate about religion, as Lily plays the skeptic to Marshall's believer. The gang's beliefs isn't otherwise mentioned on the show, so this almost works as a way to announce Lily's atheism, and having her suggest that they raise their children without religion.

This also brings faith into the mix, as Lily has no faith in her father. Which, to be fair, is warranted, although Mickey does come through at the end. Lily has little reason to believe that her father can help out, let alone has much interest in their child, given his years of neglect. Lily seems to hold some faith onto a turn around for Mickey though, as he comes by to little surprise.

Meanwhile, Ted and Barney's bar plot is pretty silly, although it works for what it is. Bringing Doug back from season 4's "The Fight" is a welcome surprise, as he adds some funny moments, but this is pretty common stuff, some of which was repeated from season 4's "Three Days of Snow". Kevin, surprisingly, brings in some of the more fun moments, primarily with his disharmony added to the two's Cheers-like theme song. Funny stuff.

"46 Minutes" is a little less strong, primarily due to the Long Island plot. Chris Elliot's shtick gets old fast, as his Mickey is starting to overstay his welcome for the audience as well as for Lily and Marshall. There are only so many masturbation jokes that an episode can pull off, and this gets old by the second act. The Paranormal Activity-esq bits also don't work, and almost come off as lazy.

The material with the rest of the gang is more fun, delving us into the crazy adventures the gang could have if they listen to Barney more often. So yeah, don't do that. But Stripper Lily and New Marshall do bring up some funny scenarios. Again, Kevin allows for some of my favorite moments, as his and Robin's quest to maintain their position as a fun, new couple increasingly tires them out, despite their best efforts to stay chill. Smulders and Kal Penn keep the pace going well, in particular.

But what makes the episode a keeper is its last line, stating that the gang will always be close together, no matter what. It's the bond of these five people that has kept the show afloat thus far, and is what keeps me going through the series again.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Symphony of Illumination"

Symphony of Illumination (7x12)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Joe Kelly

One Paragraph Synopsis: Continuing from the previous episode's bombshell, Barney copes to the news of Robin's pregnancy, even though it isn't exactly official. Barney does his best to show Robin the perks of parenthood, but she's still disinterested. A check with Dr. Sonya proves that she isn't actually pregnant, which is good news... until Robin later learns that she can't have children. Something she's okay with, but the realization of it hurts more than she could imagine.

Part of me was afraid to tackle this episode, but I also knew that I absolutely had to hit this one, so here we go.

But how do you touch such an episode? The series has had plenty of dramatic moments before, but a lot of them were pretty standard for sitcoms, but done very well- losing a parent, dealing with the return of a distant parent, rough break-ups. But infertility? This isn't necessarily untouched territory, but not that many comedies take this subject on.

Fryman and Kelly keep the show's traditional sense of humor alive, even adding in a silly (but not meritless- I'll come back to that) subplot, but Robin's news flash is treated with respect. Just as her character is throughout, with this episode being one of Smulders' biggest highlights. She knows all of Robin's comic beats, and keeps the script's energy alive through all of its highs and lows, nailing each of her lines.

And more importantly, Cobie is an extraordinarily competent actress, who can do dramatic roles very well. She proves this in the third act especially, where Smulders gives her all without reaching even in the slightest. A fantastic balance that she gets like nobody's business. Her entertaining take on the show's narration becomes delicately somber, delivering her plea of not wanting children with a rough embrace that makes her hurt all the more believable. Even Smulders' facial reactions are saddening, but never borders on tacky.

Good acting can save bad writing, but thankfully Kelly's script gives Robin a great arc in the episode. It's risky to have Robin's emotions switch so frequently in one episode, but all the more important in how its delivered, especially given the context of her character. The Robin of a few years ago wouldn't want to keep the child, just as the Robin of the episode's first act didn't plan to either, but the reality of the situation, and the likelihood of what she's losing comes in.

In a way, it's a bit of tragic irony that Robin, a woman who for most of her life never wanted children, has been told that she can't. The fact that she laments this fact isn't a fault on her or the writing, but rather a human trait, to want what we can't have. In this case, Robin's heartache not only is believable, but all too tragic. The realization is what kills her.

"Symphony of Illumination" still keeps the show's silliness alive, even with a problematic line or two, but never feels weakened for this. And that's the joy of HIMYM, as the series can offer serious character stories on top of fun with rotten teenagers and boob jokes. Marshall's storyline with Scott is goofy, but offers a realistic point for Marshall, as he's starting to embrace the suburban life. Marshall wants to be the cool adult for the local kids, but his naive nature is going to be his downfall. Literally. Hopefully he'll adjust better, but here it's shown that Marshall needs to bone down a little.

I wish that I could do this episode justice, since it's really one of the best. I haven't even mentioned Barney's patience with Robin's conflicting view points, since he did a good job. Even with his opening remarks.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Rebound Girl"

The Rebound Girl (7x11)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Carter Bays & Craig Thomas

One Paragraph Synopsis: Barney, still reeling over his loss of both Nora and Robin, and Ted, who is still feeling lonely, decide to adopt a kid together out of a whim. What was originally a crazy drunk idea becomes real when Barney arrives with a baby girl the next day, just when Ted is starting to realize how crazy this is. It turns out that he really has James' new adopted daughter, as he comes to Thanksgiving with his family, which Lily and Marshall are hosting at their new place in Long Island, which they decide to keep against Robin's wishes. But it's not like Barney won't get to experience the joys of raising a child soon, since Robin reveals to him that she's pregnant at the episode's end.

I really do like Ted and Barney, but they're both kind of pathetic. At least they are right now, while they're both as bored and depressed as they are. They both deserve someone special, but Barney sabotaged what he had and lost what he could have had otherwise due to a lack of maturity, while Ted isn't able to get his head out of his ass for similar reasons.

Using a baby as a metaphor works well enough, but this episode fails to land due to a tired string of gay jokes in the first act, and doesn't pick up from there. Bays and Thomas are usually very good at getting to the core of their character, in dramatic and comedic fashion, but while what they're saying about Barney and Ted is accurate, this isn't really funny or likable. It's just there.

Lily and Marshall's story doesn't work a whole lot better, since it doesn't really resonate emotionally. The problem is that Lily and Marshall don't really get a whole lot to do, especially as a couple, as Robin quickly steals the plot from them in an unfunny desperate attempt. Well, her anger over their many lamps in the apartment is cute, but this brings up the worst trait in Robin's character- her whiny side. Weaker writing brings this out, as evident by the episode.

Thankfully things lead into something promising with the ending revelation, which will result in a much better episode. This isn't one of the show's better episodes, though.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "Tick Tick Tick..."

Tick Tick Tick... (7x10)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Chris Harris

One Paragraph Synopsis: After their kiss in the previous episode, Barney and Robin wake up the next morning next to each other. Both feel guilty, but also agree that they still hold a spark together, enough for them to consider telling Nora and Kevin the truth in hopes of clearing their conscience to get back together. Their chance arrives when the four of them are on a boat together, for Sandy River's annual cruise event. What ends up happening is that Barney tells Nora and breaks up with her when her parents arrive, but a surprise announcement from Kevin prompts Robin to not tell him, and to stay with him instead. While this is happening, Marshall and Ted are totally high at a concert, where Lily is also at, sober.

As much as I like the sandwich stuff- and I really do, it's a laugh riot throughout in its silliness- I only really want to write about Robin and Barney's story.

Because as much as I like them together, I don't think Robin was really wrong to stay with Kevin. Kevin may even know, and may just be dodging the truth out of fear. I'll allow this, since she deserves happiness with someone now, and if Kevin can offer this, go him.

Wow, that ending is rough, though. Neil Patrick Harris is great at dramatic moments.

How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Slutty Pumpkin Returns"/"Disaster Averted"

The Slutty Pumpkin Returns (7x08)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Tami Sagher

One Paragraph Synopsis: Ten years later, and Ted finally does it- he tracks down the Slutty Pumpkin, whose real name is Naomi (played by Katie Holmes). As great as this seems though, there's one problem; they don't connect. At all. Ted is going along with it because he thinks that Naomi is into him, but at the end of the day, it's more equal than either realize. Also, it turns out that Barney is a quarter Canadian, a fact that Robin won't let him forget after digging it up.

Disaster Averted (7x09)

Directed by Michael Shea

Written by Robia Rashid

One Paragraph Synopsis: One night at MacLarens, Kevin notices a "no boogey boarding" sign, and wants to know how it came to be. It turns out that this happened during the height of Hurricane Irene, all of which Ted reveals in traditionally extended fashion. Add in plenty of breaks for Barney's plead to remove his ducky tie, and a twist ending along the way, and you got your standard, classic HIMYM.

I won't lie, the first time that I saw the ending of "Disaster Averted", I cheered. And even though I have the context of what occurs after the series since, I still cheer whenever I hit that point when I watch the episode.

It was around this point 2 years ago that the two split up, and neither seemed happy when they did. The spark was gone, and they weren't connecting anymore. What has happened in the past two years for me to root for them, even when they're both perfectly content in their separate relationships?

Time. Time, understanding, and chemistry. When Robin and Barney were previously together, neither were at their best point in life. Barney wasn't ready to retire his womanizing self (in some ways he still fully isn't, as evident by warning signals in these episodes, but he's at least aiming to get there), while Robin only seemed to want to feel something to make up her inadequacies at work. When Barney didn't seem able to reciprocate that for her in the way she wanted, that was it.

But in the past two years, Robin found herself a better job, while embracing her self worth as a single woman in between relationships that offer different things than what Barney has. Meanwhile, Barney is starting to realize just how sadistic he can be with women, and is working his ways to fix this. He's still a bro, but he's perfectly able to listen to Nora, Robin, and even Lily without sexualizing or grossing them out. And despite how polygamous he can seem, Barney has yet to come close to cheating on either of his relationships.

Until tonight. But Barney wasn't about to ditch Nora for some random fling. While he and Nora are shown to be cute together, there hasn't been much of a connection between them in the way that he shares with Robin at any given point. The way that he's either tried to find ways out of their relationship, such as the Ewok theory, or that fate seems to be messing with them, like everything that happened in "Noretta", only proves this.

Robin and Kevin seem a little stronger together, though. Maybe Kal Penn just flows with the cast better than Nazanin Boniadi does, but he seems to fit in just fine with the gang, Robin most of all. Kevin uses his therapy (I'm not sure if he's even given an official title, so saying "therapist" is easier, I suppose) to mess with the gang if he sees fit, despite his general appreciation for their neurotic natures.

But really, Kevin just seems to be in love with Robin. Maybe more than she is him. Maybe she doesn't love him at all. Maybe this is why Robin is able to revert back to Barney so easily. All I know is that when the chorus to Pixies' "Hey" rises as she and Barney locks lips (one of the best uses of music the series has ever done), it feels like they're finally making up for lost time. God bless.

The last few episodes weren't so great, but these are improvements, even beyond Robin and Barney. "The Slutty Pumpkin Returns" is a great case of expectations vs reality. For the past decade, the thought of the girl in the weirdly sexy pumpkin costume seemed totally right for Ted stayed on his mind, especially since there's no way that they were able to meet up. Enough has happened to Ted, and likely Naomi as well, though, that their reunion could only not work.

Ted never really had too much to work on with Naomi besides the concept, which he only seems to recognize now. They had some similar interests, and her Tootsie Roll drink seemed unique enough to appease Ted, but what else was it that drew him into her? The structure of the costume, maybe? That makes sense for his architectural build, at least.

But since that brief encounter, Ted has been in at least 3 serious relationships (or four, since Karen probably fits in there). He's been able to spend more time with women that he definitely has connections with, has furthered up his career position, and has clearly been soul searching. The Ted of today needs more than a few quirks to form a bond, but there isn't anything here.

Nor is there anything for Naomi. Katie Holmes isn't given much to do with the character in terms of history, but she's strong enough in the role to make her awkwardness land. If anything, Naomi seems bored enough to give Ted a chance, and never expected them to have too much in common to begin with. She used Barenaked Ladies, for crying out loud, but Ted was too desperate to not get the signal! This results in an attempt that seems hollow, but that might be the only way things could have turned out for the two of them.

And "Disaster Averted" shares a similar structure to this season's "Ducky Tie", but works just as well, if not better. Both the flashbacks and Barney's distractions are funnier in this episode, even as the former episode was hardly a slouch. The melancholy note that Victoria left things on with Ted in "Ducky Tie" gave that a different sort of edge, but it's missing bits like Marshall's fears of being attacked by a bear in the bathroom. So yeah, it's pretty tough.

Also, Lily and Marshall's story in "The Slutty Pumpkin Returns" is sweet, if pretty broad. It works well enough for the context, but was hardly the highlight. Robin's teasing of Barney's Canadian roots was more enjoyable, actually. But they seem to always work together, which helps.

Mass How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Stinson Missile Crisis"/"Field Trip"/"Mystery vs. History"/"Noretta"

I've been feeling really stressed out and unmotivated lately, but I miss writing about the show and want to make up for lost time. So I'm going to try something a little different, and take a few episodes together and write about each briefly to get them out of the way. I won't even bother properly formatting them.

Besides, this episode starts off the arc of Kevin, who is played well by Kal Penn, the stronger half of the Harold & Kumar flicks. He doesn't have as strong of a hold on the show's atmosphere or his character as the rest of the cast, but he does well with his material.

Things start off strong for Kevin in "The Stinson Missile Crisis", where he plays audience surrogate as present-day Robin replaces future Ted. It's a funny concept, as Smulders pulls off Kourtney Kang's script well to make her expressive details about Marshall and Lily's spat as tedious as it is to the audience.

Because in truth, this part of the episode isn't all that great. It's great to see Vicki Lewis have fun as Dr. Sonya, but I've seen similar spats between the two before, and I knew right where it was going. Adding Ted in was a little more surprising, but his main addition to the story was some unfunny bonding between himself and Marshall in the third act that only pointlessly bring up gender roles. There were worse ways the story could have gone, but it doesn't feel very fresh as a whole. Marshall's recurring lack of knowledge in regards to the vaginal area aside.

I do think that Robin's story to Kevin offers a little more, but it doesn't show Robin in the best light. Considering her more common characterization as a strong independent woman, seeing her as a jealous ex seems like a step backwards, especially as she was the one to help Barney hook up with Nora. For too long this runs in that direction, but I do at least applaud Ted's speech to Robin near the end, which explains her actions to require court-mandated therapy, and show that Robin is able to help herself at least a little.

"Field Trip" further helps Robin get over her lingering feelings for Barney, by allowing her to become involved with Kevin. All signs point this to being a mistake, but maybe it's what she needs right now. Kevin has already proven himself to be the right balance between intelligent and cool that she needs right now, so I'm able to give them applause.

Ted's titular field trip is a funny bit, and it shows where he is right now. His need for validation from at least one of his students is indicative that Ted needs to feel important, going back to his bragging in "The Best Man". While it seems like everyone else in their life is finding their happiness all at once, he's only slowly getting there. Maybe by the time the new GNB building is up, he'll cool down a little. And Barney's bits during the field trip are hilarious, even as his subplot about Nora's age isn't as cute as expected.

This is the only episode here that explores Marshall's new job, which shows promise thanks to Martin Short's generally charming self. But the actual job doesn't show promise until the end, itself indicating that Marshall is the only one who can find himself the validation that he needs. This is a struggle that he shares with Ted, but Ted looks in the wrong place for his validation, as opposed to Marshall's ability to win Cootes over to do some good. That's all the difference that you need.

"Mystery vs. History" is a little too problematic for me, with the transphobic mens room joke and Ted's blind devotion to Woody Allen. But I appreciate Kevin's bitter analysis of the gang, which was built up for the right amount of time, and allows for some great gags from everyone.

The episode does bring up a good point about technology messing with certain aspects of life, however. Robin's delivery in the cold open is a little too broad for me, but it does come to a valid point that it's really best to stay away from your phone and get to know who you're talking to. Ted has to learn this the hard way as he scares away a fantastic, gorgeous woman, but it's a good lesson that he'll hold on to for sure, even if Barney and Robin don't. Also, their delivery of "I gots to know" gets old fast.

And James doesn't stick around for too long in "Noretta". Wayne Brady is just too charismatic as Barney's brother to only have a cold open appearance.

The episode leads up to an interesting phenomenon of how it's easy to fall for someone who is very similar to your parent. Sometimes too much so, but it lends into some funny material, especially with Marshall and Lily's subplot. Moreso than Barney and Nora at least, which does also have its moments, but is a little too twist heavy to really land.

At least Ted's bits with Robin and Kevin help them find some kind of ground, as it's shown that Ted is surprisingly cool with the two dating. Ted is still feeling left out, being the only single one of the group, which Kevin picks up on as he does the ultimate sacrifice- goes to see Weird Al with Ted, just to make him feel a little less lonely. I don't appreciate the shade against Weird Al, but I do appreciate his cameo at the end, though.

There, four episodes in one review. None of these are the show at its best, but these all have enough merit to stick around for. Now let's just see how, or if, Nora and Kevin continue to interact with the gang,