Directed by Michael Shea
Written by Tom Ruprecht
One Paragraph Synopsis: Marshall is feeling a void with his work at GNB, that he isn't doing his best to help the environment, especially after watching a documentary about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. When he's nearly fired for offering a pricey, but potentially helpful method to conserve energy at work, he won't rest until he finds some way to do his part, and thus make his late father proud. Ted, on the other hand, offers to pick up Zoey's things from her apartment, which requires talking to the Captain, who is aware that she's off the market again but can't place by whom, exactly. After a bad guess, Ted eventually mans up and tells the Captain that she's seeing him. And Barney is trying to not show interest in Nora after their laser tag date, but it's useless.
In "Natural History", we were told that the business suit Marshall would be a thing of the past in the near future, but were not told when. As of this episode, Marshall is still working at GNB, but this shows that it probably won't last for much longer.
Sometimes I fear that the series will go into wish fulfillment territory, which is something that some series are definitely guilty of. In some ways, HIMYM might fall there, but it rarely allows its characters to achieve their goals in the manner they wish. If so, Ted would have become a great architect right out of college, Robin wouldn't have to still be doing research, and Barney would be married to Shannon.
The show has an edge that allows for its road traveling to work. The characters don't always make it to where they want to, nor how they want to, but sometimes it all works out. For example, Marshall didn't want Meeker to get fired from backing him, but it does lead to a bit of validation in how Marshall is able to keep his job, and does allow for Meeker to find Wendy the Waitress, and fall in love. It's almost dark in how well this instance works for the characters, but that is a part of the show's charm.
Marshall's overcompensation for trying to fix the Garbage Patch feels sudden, just as Marvin's death was sudden and unexpected. The struggle to prove his father proud is all too natural for Marshall, and fits his current predicament. He just came back from a nostalgic trip in Minnesota, and is now trying to adapt to his regular life. Working for the ever-corrupt GNB isn't exactly the first thing he wants to do, but he must.
For now, at least. For better or worse, GNB is there to help Marshall maintain a steady paycheck, which will especially come in handy for when Lily becomes pregnant. The thing that makes the show and Marshall so welcome is that he's smart and usually good at determining the best route for him, so I trust the character. And this arc, which gets a plus from me.
Lily though, I'm not so sure about. Hannigan plays her too well for me to dismiss her, but I wish she had more to her in the last couple of episodes than just pining for Marshall. But at the same time, I sympathize with her want to be boned. It's her husband, and he's barely giving her any. That has to suck, but Lily gets a little too broad for me here.
And then there's Ted, who shows some strength by not only picking up Zoey's things, but telling the Captain directly that he is dating her. Given how Ted was stalling the news earlier, the revelation at the end was welcome. And while his material with Zoey isn't all too impressive, I applaud this story for two reasons- one being that Ted recognizes that he isn't exactly the hero here, since he isn't.
And more importantly, the Captain. Kyle MacLachlan is all too perfect as the character, bringing so much zeal to his persona. The way he delivers on how rapscallion is a word too strong for the bellhop is an example of his excellence, that this is a man who is just too good for his role. MacLachlan has clearly learned plenty on the essence of weirdness from his time with David Lynch, as the Captain exemplifies, and I'm thankful for his time here. Even if Zoey becomes a little tiresome by comparison.
And the story for Barney and Robin is a cute advancement from last week's. Nora won Barney over, but now what? It's cute to see how afraid he is to admit it, but he really does like her, and NPH plays this with aplomb. And this succeeds even when we only see Nora deliver one line during the episode, as a flashback. To see if Barney continues down this road is going to be fun.
"Garbage Island" isn't perfect, but a lot of what it offers works. Frankly though, I just want to see the Captain some more.
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