Directed by Pam Fryman
Written by Matt Kuhn
One Paragraph Synopsis: When Lily is about to return home from a trip to Seattle, she and Marshall decide to not keep their tradition of picking each other up from the airport as the other arrives with a local craft beer going. They're growing, and it's time for the relationship to grow with them, at least until the both of them start to realize what a mistake they're making, as they rush to fix this. Marshall has Robin drive him up in the middle of a giant snow storm, only to find out that Lily's flight is delayed by two days; meanwhile, Lily and Ranjit rush to the nearest liquor store to find the first Seattle-themed micro brew that they can. Lily and Marshall's eventual meeting results in a new tradition. As this is happening, however, Ted and Barney are living one of their fantasies- they're running a bar!
As the show matures, the show must mature with us.
Marshall and Lily have long been the heart of the show, simply based on how they've continued to show an unconditional love that has yet to waiver over the course of the show, an unfortunate sidestep aside. But they have been together for over a decade, and oftentimes, nice little things are meant to be retired.
But just because Lily and Marshall don't tell each other what they eat apart from each other anymore, this doesn't mean that their love is depleting. If anything, this just confirms that they're perfectly happy together. You don't need to know every little detail, and I mean EVERY, to keep a successful relationship, and the married pair recognize this. If anything, this means it's time for new traditions to share.
The airport ritual is a good way to tie this episode's theme of progress together. If anything, Marshall's addition of the marching band to his meet-up with Lily shows his further admiration for her. A six-pack isn't enough to indicate their love- a full band accompanying their arrival is more fitting to get the idea across. When Marshall stares into Lily, he hears music. This way, the music literally comes to life the moment they first see each other days removed.
Marshall and Lily's separate stories are interconnected well, as they're intelligently composed together despite being a couple of days apart. The framing allows it to feel like these are set simultaneously, even as repeat viewings allow for context that this isn't the case. Note the dates at the airport for one, contrasting with the realization of when Marshall and Robin are heading over.
I wrote only two years ago about how I appreciate Robin and Marshall's under-explored friendship, which this episode thankfully allows a little more time to expand on. While "Little Minnesota" focused on their similar feeling of isolation and nostalgia for home, here is where their differing views make for the story. Marshall remains committed to his take on the perfect relationship, while Robin wisely contends that he doesn't write the book on love after he speaks to her condescendingly.
This fits for two reasons, one as it brings up Robin's past history with the gang. Hers and Ted's relationship is only sparingly brought into the conversation at this point, but its presence still lingers. It's hard to forget that your best friend was dating another close friend for a year, after all, and it's still believed that Robin wasn't as emotionally responsive as Ted, which viewers know is only marginally true. While Robin did have her holdbacks, she was still not afraid to speak up for herself and show her affection to Ted, which was genuine for a good while. Their split resulted in simple conflicts of interest, as much as it may have hurt.
Ted seems to have taken the break-up well in the year and a half since, but Marshall apparently harbors bitter feelings, as he feels that his best friend was poorly represented for whatever reason. This comes to a head when Robin stops the car, and only through a uniquely HIMYM turn of events (ie, Marshall thinking that Robin was hitting on him- seriously?) does this become resolved. Marshall's civil duty to play the protector of his best friend wasn't needed here. Not anymore.
Lily's time with Ranjit, meanwhile, allows for everyone's favorite side character to have a little more screentime. While he does border on racist, he's given a similar leeway that allows for Apu of Simpsons fame to be more than just a caricature, as he's slowly become a more fleshed-out character. Ranjit is a bit of a perv and has a funky sense of viewing things, but he is very dedicated to his friends, which the gang are among his best. Marshall Manesh also helps to soften the bow, as he always seems to have fun as Ranjit, and finds certain mannerisms to make the character come off as loving as he is fun.
Both Marshall's time with Robin and Lily's with Ranjit result in their eventual reunion and change in tradition, but also gives them good moments to shine as themselves on the show. Marshall is still his sweet, if pretentious self as Lily will always be the slightly hypocritical, but rarely cross person that they are, with or without their soul mates. Episodes like these are good reminders of just that.
Barney and Ted's material, similarly, is a solid showcase of their friendship. While the two have differing mindsets on many things, they do share a bond of being single together, and the desire to have fun and not make this a limitation. Ted can easily be repulsed by Barney, as should we all, but he's just as likely to be in awe of his dedication.
This week's plot is a good one, even if Cocktail is a weird film to try to ape. But it does result in what has to be the best use of "Kokomo" ever, as it gleefully is used lightly throughout their time in the bar, culminating in what must be the funniest telepathic conversation to date. This allows for the two to bond, uninterrupted by much else but the desire to run a bar.
Keep note of the other five little words used, and the locations they're used in. These will come back soon. But for now, Ted and Barney's attempt to run a bar wasn't entirely successful, but it does lead in fun. Fun to see the lengths the two go to in their desire to keep Puzzles not crash, but also telling of their male ego, as running a bar is a typical adult man's dream. The concept of struggles keeping the bar afloat merely comes and goes here, but this plot is enjoyable for what it is.
"Three Days of Snow" is another hell of an episode. I feel like I keep on saying this for all of my reviews, but hey, the show has been on a roll lately. Let's hope it stays this way!
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