How I Met Your Mother Review- "The Burning Beekeeper"

The Burning Beekeeper  (7x15)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by Carter Bays & Craig Thomas

One Paragraph Synopsis: It's a Mary Richards dinner party, thrown by Lily Aldrin. Ted and Garrison Cootes get into a spat when Ted is convicted (by Barney, who is actually guilty) of eating one of the few vegan items available at the party. Cootes and Marshall are also having issues, since Marshall has to go back to work later that night. Barney's about to sleep with a woman who has a history of cutting off unloyal men's packages. And Mickey's collecting bees, for some reason.

Apparently, if there's one episode Bays regrets, it's this one. Not because it's a complete misfire, but due to how they weren't able to get the full potential out of this episode's concept. Or it could be because, y'no, it does suck.

There's an interesting idea in "The Burning Beekeeper"'s framing. A recently deceased professor of my school's film program used to teach that time is not linear, a concept that works. We still get from point A to B, but maybe not directly. Sometimes it makes more sense to reach point D first, but we can still save points C and E for later. Not everything that happens in the universe is direct.

That's why I do welcome the concept of an episode like "The Burning Beekeeper", which keeps a sense of chronology in tact, but plays with it. Certain plot elements are snuck or hidden until later on in a way that should reward repeat viewings. But similar to another high-concept sitcom episode, Seinfeld's "The Betrayal", the novelty doesn't help what is, in actuality, a weak episode.

A few jokes do land. Robin and Ted have an amusing argument, while Barney's ineptitude to take responsibility was also fun, especially his delivery of "I don't know" when he gives Mickey the tip on kerosene. But that's about it, since the majority don't.

Martin Short tries to keep the environment going, but it seems like he can tell that this is a poor script based on his mixed atmosphere. Despite solid delivery, there's a sense of dread in Cootes' lines. He also just doesn't have strong chemistry with Radnor, as evident by their lifeless argument. Short works a little better with Segel and Chris Elliot, but there isn't much zest regardless.

And the beekeeper stuff similarly runs flat. Mickey's bee puns are pleasant enough for pun fans, but are pretty one-note otherwise. It also doesn't help that bee keeping is just a weird idea for Mickey to try out, one with no real purpose. It's leading up to a punchline that doesn't pay off for anything.

Nothing else really works. Lily's aggravation isn't expanded on well, as believable as it is. Robin's feelings of being too pushy is an afterthought that feels out of place here. And Barney's material with the penis-chopping woman is old hat.

All of this together makes for a flat episode. A flat episode in a unique package, but still a dud throughout. I don't think that a single HIMYM episode is bereft of good moments, but Bays, Thomas, and Fryman can do better.