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.
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