Directed by Pam Fryman
Written by Stephen Lloyd
One Paragraph Synopsis: Marshall has a surprise for everyone when his wallet is proven to be missing- he was mugged earlier, which scares Lily to the point that she's considering buying a gun. As scary as this might have been, Marshall is more terrified of Lily having a gun, so he's willing to tell the real story- he wasn't actually mugged, butt rather had his wallet stolen by a monkey. When she hears the "true" story, Robin decides to have Marshall come on her show to talk about it, since she's unable to find someone else take the position, despite Ted's best efforts to get his replica Empire State Building on. But Marshall can't share his story in good conscience, after discovering that the monkey he frames will be taken away from his love. At the same time, Lily still wants a gun if he was robbed, so Marshall does the only thing he can do- walk out. We never find out what happened.
Even though we haven't hit too many downright bad episodes of the series yet (and I'd even say that we haven't had our last real stinker since season 2), one thing I've learned is that no episode of HIMYM is bereft of laughs. And I will get to the good later.
But wow, "Zoo or False" isn't very good. The sole attempt at a b-plot is tiresome, but not nearly as much as the main story, which all overstays its welcome quickly.
It's a shame, since the concept of the lie surpassing the truth is a fascinating one, as problematic as it may be. This is what Barney lives for, as he constantly changes his story and hides details to fill his sexual desires, and tries his best to not falter despite often getting caught with his pants down.
Here, he is caught in the middle of one lie as another comes back to haunt him, in the form of his last exploit coming back, still believing his alibi (it's a fun call to have Barney proclaim that his name isn't Neil, btw). In the fabricated take Barney tells Ted and Marshall, he successfully coerces himself into a threeway, even finally winning the belt, but in actuality he gets caught with alcohol in his face and an unsuccessful night out.
Barney's story sounds better to him, even though the truth is more fun for audiences to hear. It still fits his point, that oftentimes the lie is more fun to hear than the truth. This is Barney's philosophy, and he takes it seriously. Ted later takes this himself at the very end, when he shares his King Kong reimagining on Robin's show, with little hints towards it really happening or not.
But what does happen to Marshall, though? Considering the way the series ties its mythology together, the lack of answer even by the end of the show's run is surprising, yet surprisingly welcome at the same time. Some mysteries are better kept as such.
But the way this mystery is portrayed is a little telling, since the end results are tirelessly black and white- either Marshall was mugged and Lily becomes a gun owner, or a monkey did it and it will be deported. The unnecessary tension, especially in the last act, feels like a lesser sitcom, something that even seems noticeable by the actors.
This is a funny idea for a story, but maybe a sideplot. Certainly not the main story, as it runs on fumes quickly. The joke runs old shortly after Marshall reveals the monkey twist, and it goes downhill form there, since there just isn't much to it.
Sometimes even the mention of a monkey can be funny, as the show has proved itself once or twice, but here there's little effort to it but a one-note crack. This gets even weaker when Lloyd attempts to use the lie for drama, as there isn't enough to make it work. There was barely enough material to make it work as a comedy. And as such, the episode fails.
Ted and Robin's Empire State model clash is similarly tired. The episode's opening Sleepless in Seattle tribute is funny, especially as a nice reminder of Ted's gender-reversed appreciation for romance, but the squabbles after that fall flat. This isn't helped with even the jokes at the expense of how cheap Robin's show is being stale, despite working before. Probably since they aren't new by now.
But each act, even the stale finale, has good jokes abound. I've mentioned some of the highlights, but it has more funny moments to help keep this watchable, but still a dud.
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