How I Met Your Mother Review- "Life Among the Gorillas"

Life Among the Gorillas (1x17)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays

One Paragraph Synopsis: Marshall isn't adapting well to his new job. Not only is he not saving the environment, like he's always aspired to, but his co-workers are misogynistic scum that makes Barney look like Mr. Rogers. His attempt to adapt into his environment works, but perhaps too well. Even though Marshall hopes to keep this job to keep Lily happy financially, she's not happy mentally with Marshall's work. At the same time, Ted struggles to keep his long-distance relationship with Victoria in check. It doesn't work, nor does Robin's attempt to conceal her feelings for Ted, as she gives him a booty call at the end of the episode.

This episode is about relationships. Maintaining the love in a relationship, not shying away from truth in a relationship, and the importance of understanding one another in a relationship. The two core couples of the show thus far have tests to pass, as this episode puts them through the ringer.

Marshall and Lily have proven time and time again that their love is strong, and that they know each other extraordinarily well. This isn't only true in the writing, but also the performance- Segel and Hannigan share a special bond that makes the fact that their characters have been together for 9 years believable. They've nailed body language and have eye contact to spare, not forgetting the way both actors share their dialogue flow. This is a special chemistry that other shows would kill to have among their cast, but HIMYM got down very early on.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Marshall and Lily are always on the same page, though. While her wardrobe does prove that she has fancy tastes, Lily is fine in the financial situation that she's in, even if teaching kindergarten isn't her dream job. She's fine being where she is as long as Marshall is able to succeed, which shows maturity. It also brings up another point of her character, though, as Lily's hope is that at least one of them is able to work their dream job. If she can't be a famous artist, Marshall should have the chance to become an important environmental lawyer.

The opening flashback to Marshall meeting his childhood hero, Dr. Birnholz-Vazquez, is an important look into his character. It's also among the first childhood flashbacks that I can recall on the show, but certainly won't be the last. Birnholz-Vazquez's forewarning of destruction to the environment is presented in a way that makes sense for a young (or even old) Marshall to buy, digging into his beliefs of superstition, as well as finding the right way to strike a nerve into his earnest, helpful self that we see he hasn't forgotten in the years since.

Needless to say, this shows up quite well in the episode, as Marshall begins his adaptation into the world of sexist suits. When he discusses game plans with Barney, Marshall's skill of retaining knowledge come into play as he later nails the story they practice perfectly. The little sequence at the end when Marshall looks into a mirror and sees himself wearing a gorilla mask is further proof of this, confirming his transformation into this unwelcome habitat. Marshall has fit into the environment, and he has done it well.

Too well. It's almost uncharacteristic to see Marshall casually insult Lily as he does later in the episode, which is something she notes. If it wasn't clear before that Lily loves Marshall for his good qualities rather than his potential to keep them well-off, now it's crystal. It takes almost no time with Marshall and Barney's co-workers (both of which we'll see again- Bilson and Blauman will sporadically appear in the series as it goes along, with Blauman, who is Cobie Smulders' real-life husband, making a mark in a much later episode in particular) for Lily to realize that Marshall and even Barney are better than them.

Yet, albeit briefly, it does seem that Marshall seems content with being a part of this workforce. He adapts so well into this world that as a result, he ends up liking it. Or does he? As I reflect over the episode, I can't tell if Marshall did genuinely enjoy Bilson and Blauman's company, or if he eventually obtained Stockholm Syndrome. On the one hand, Marshall does inhabit generic male traits, admiring Y-chromosome led stupidity that doesn't run too far from society's normative rules, which does indeed fit into this environment. At the same time, it's become apparent that to Marshall, a little bit of Barney goes a long way, and these guys are a lot of Barney. Perhaps it's a little of column A and a little of column B? We'll see.

The key issue in Ted and Victoria's relationship that is present in this episode involves their trust as a long-distance couple. The thing that I notice about each scene in which Ted tries to figure out what to do so he can keep up with Victoria, Robin is involved. She gives him helpful advice each time, giving a double meaning- one, Robin felt that the best way to support Ted is to comply in his confusion about his relationship by giving him logical suggestions; and two, while she is happy for Ted, Robin still harbors feelings for him.

That couldn't be any more obvious after the ending lands. There isn't a cliffhanger here, as the narration's last word, "go", says all that needs to be said. What this suggests is that Robin's unrequited emotions aren't one-sided, and that Ted may very well become a cheater.

But it seems like Ted was ready to end things with Victoria anyway, even if his suspicions of her wanting to break up aren't accurate. Ted's story is a little disjointed, ultimately making this a step down from the previous few episodes, but the part about this ep that always sticks to me comes from when Ted meets Marshall at the karaoke bar, and tells Marshall that he remembers his feelings for Victoria, but everything else is becoming a blur. Many couples have been able to keep a strong foundation despite being thousands of miles apart, but Ted just can't as he doesn't feel that he's pulling his weight, nor can he truly remember why he should.

I'll have more to say about Ted and Victoria's falling relationship in the next review, since this is only a precursor. "Life Among the Gorillas" is a good episode, but primarily when Marshall's story is involved. The best lines come from Marshall and his workmates, including Barney, while Marshall and Lily's dilemma feels fully developed. Ted's only feels like a sampling, which is why it comes off as disappointing to me despite Bays and Thomas' best efforts. Although Ted and Victoria's story isn't over yet.