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.