How I Met Your Mother Review- "No Pressure"

No Pressure (7x17)

Directed by Pam Fryman

Written by George Sloan

One Paragraph Synopsis: Following the previous episode, Ted and Robin briefly reconnect, only for Robin to post-hastily realize that she has a work trip to Rome this week, and leaves in a couple of hours. The two put their future on hold, as Marshall and Lily give Ted conflicting advice on how to handle things. It seems like Lily particularly wants their relationship to not work, which is confirmed when Barney discovers something- Lily and Marshall's box of bets. It turns out that Lily has bet against Ted and Robin working out, but Marshall's confidence in their success has prevented him from paying up. After getting over how shitty this is, Ted realizes that he and Robin aren't meant to work, when she returns. Marshall then recommends that Robin moves out, which she graciously accepts.

For all of my moaning from the previous episode, I forgot how things actually turned out here lol.

But this shows how the two don't, and likely can't, work. Robin doesn't allow for much dreaming, while Ted still keeps his head in the clouds. Even when Ted doubts himself, he's never entirely forgetting his goals, which will always be different than Robin's. Not only do they not have the same spark that the two had back in the second season, but Fryman doesn't seem to even allow them to, anymore. Their relationship is done for, and it's for the best.

Since I find Marshall and Lily's betting creepy (also, if I had the motivation to, I would start a mini-rant about Marshall's adamant refusal to accept that Ted and Robin won't work, but I'll save the spoilers corner for another day), enough to be to the episode's detriment, I want to focus on Ted and Barney before I call this brief review off. Primarily, I think that the way that the two handle Barney's previous attempt to reunite with Robin was done smartly. While he is still attracted to Robin, Barney is doing a good job of not taking advantage of Robin's vulnerable situation, which is worthy of respect. He expresses pity, but calls it a day as to not do anything anyone would regret. It shows growth, even.

This episode does a good job of showing how when one door closes, another can always open. Robin isn't meant to be the one, but that shouldn't be a problem to Ted. The one is still out there. His time will come to find her. I wouldn't call this a great episode, but it's a solid outing with a decent emotional core behind it.

Also, keep an eye out for Conan O'Brien's cameo. The story behind it is pretty clever, and worth a paying attention to.