Directed by Neil Patrick Harris
Written by Greg Gerard & Matt Zinman
One Paragraph Synopsis: Jenkins, Marshall's co-worker that he has constantly been telling crazy stories about, is going to join the gang for a night out. The thing is, Jenkins is actually a woman, and considering how hectic some of the stories gets, he's wisely been using pronouns to save his hide. Lily doesn't end up being jealous though, since she trusts Marshall enough to know that this won't be an issue. After all, he's the reacher and she is the settler. This catches Marshall going to the point that he does want to get Lily jealous, which he uses when Jenkins kisses him, a story that causes Lily to deck her. And all this goes on as Ted discovers that Robin's talk show is being used as a drinking game, one that is especially popular among his students. And she ends up using this to her advantage...
The Perfect Week (5x14)
Directed by Pam Fryman
Written by Greg Gerard & Matt Zinman
One Paragraph Synopsis: No one is really having a great week. Ted mistakes a student with an unconventional name to be a joke, which offends her to the point that she drops out of his class. Robin went on a date with a loser that she is way more attached to than she should be, but still isn't getting a call back. Lily and Marshall have hit a gross epiphany after talking with a potential new couple. And Barney may get fired from GNB after losing up a new merger. The only thing helping most of the gang out is Barney's attempt for the perfect week, a concept in which he sleeps with a woman seven nights in a row, without a rejection. He's even recapping the event to Jim Nantz, who listens in awe. The only thing stopping him, however, is a surprise visit from Yankee Nick Swisher...
Barney isn't in "Jenkins" all that much, but his DNA is entirely present.
That is probably because Neil Patrick Harris directed the episode. He does a fine job, keeping the pace going well, but it is apparent that NPH is involved behind the camera, based on Barney's frequent departures throughout. Directing yourself can indeed be a challenge, so this isn't a criticism, but it is a believable, if predictable way to write yourself out whenever necessary. I guess that NPH found this to be a little too exhausting, or wasn't crazy about the final result, since neither he nor the other cast members directed another episode.
Neil Patrick Harris really isn't that bad, though. The shots aren't too different from the style Fryman imposed onto the series, a noticeable trait that is important to maintain. He also keeps the pace going, as there doesn't seem to be any fast cuts or overlong sequences, which is something to equally thank the director and writers for. And he gets a good job from all of the actors, including Amanda Peet's take on Jenkins, who is a good character herself.
Granted, Jenkins isn't exactly a well of personality, but Peet is fair game to some solid dialogue. She also adds in strong character beats of her own, especially when her improv roots are mentioned. Watching the episode again, I notice how well she uses little bits like this to her advantage, which helps to make her a memorable side character in a long string.
Her effect on Marshall and Lily is also noticeable, of course. Jenkins is obviously attracted to Marshall, but while he is sticking to his loyal husband belief, he's at least slightly attracted to her himself, which is evident by his lack of response to Lily getting Jenkins' pronouns off instantly. He could have stopped her, but did not.
The important thing, though, is that Marshall would never act on his feelings towards Jenkins, since they aren't as strong as his devotion to Lily is. This is what makes the difference, and helps to show why Marshall isn't your average cheater, since he isn't.
The game of jealousy that he's playing, though, isn't necessarily right itself, but he just wants to prove a point. Whether Ted and Robin are right about the reacher or settler theory is moot, since the game isn't about who of the two can do better, but the fact that you've won together. And Marshall just wants it proven that Lily isn't the only real catch of the two, and Lily agrees, as long as their devotion is clear, hence why she beats up Jenkins. This is what makes this not end up as a despicable story.
The B-plot is similarly fun, probably even more so than Marshall's. Ted's cocky personality needs a push sometimes, which is why the reveal of Robin's popularity among the student body gets to him, but the end result is just gold. Robin gets pushed down a little after some unnecessary cockiness of her own, and she then owns those who laugh at her in a hilarious sequence.
But um, how about "The Perfect Weekend"? While I have kinder things to say about "Jenkins", which rounded up into a great half-hour, this is another fun episode, albeit not as strong.
And it does bring Barney back into discussion. He played a part of "Jenkins" by coming back whenever necessary, be it as a reminder of Jenkins' attractive personality to Ted needing a co-pilot for the drinking game. Barney fancies himself a ringleader of sorts, or maybe rather just a coach to his awesomeness-deprived team.
This is how he takes over "The Perfect Weekend", which he is the star of front and center. Barney's dream interview with Jim Nantz is fun even for someone who knows little about sports, as their banter is recognizable even to me as a tribute to the sports talk show commentary that Nantz is famous for, and he has fun mugging it up with Barney. Even Nick Swisher, whom I'm unfamiliar with, has his moments in the last act that come off as surprisingly natural.
Barney's perfect week quest is gross, but it signalizes something more to the gang. Sex makes Barney happy, and making a game out of something he loves is enough to keep the gang's hopes up as they deal with their own issues, including Barney himself as he fears getting the can.
Marshall and Lily's material here shows off their possessive side, as their poor hygiene methods are revealed. This is pretty gross, but even grosser, and so, funnier, when it's revealed that Ted and Robin frequently used their shared toothbrush in the past. Yikes.
But that might not be as bad as Robin's issues with Dale. Robin deserves better than to worry about a guy not calling her back, especially when he's sold to be as much of a loser as he is. But then again, she did date Barney...
And then there's Ted, whose Cook Pu story is awkward and ultimately racist. Not to say that the name isn't unorthodox, because it is, but too much time is spent on the gang making jokes about it to land, making this increasingly lack sensitivity and become cruel to the poor girl. If this was a case where the characters were purposely meant to be unlikable, maybe this would work, but after seeing how embarrassed her actress was, I'm not sure if the intents were good.
While these subplots don't totally work, the idea of a bad week being offset by one of the gang's perfect week helps to make this at least an average episode, even when compared to "Jenkins" being excellent. Although Barney really should check for STDs soon. Both episodes were written by the same pair, and they have a good grasp on the characters, even if they exaggerate them a little. Still, this helps to tie my decision to review them together at least somewhat well.
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