Once I determine how Marshall and Lily could afford three separate trips to a cardiologist on what obviously can't be that great of a health insurance policy, I'll offer up a review of tonight's episode, after the jump....
Going to Barney's emotional well must be a huge temptation for the writers. Not only can Neil Patrick Harris deliver these moments with aplomb, but the stories that are told during these times are usually solid, if not great. Think back on “Game Night”; even in the early goings of season one, when the show was still trying to find its footing, and in a episode that was created more out of necessity than an attempt at emotional resonance, there was something there, an early flash of the greatness the show would achieve in season 2.
Yet going to this well, much like the show's return to many of its character elements, run the risk of becoming tired and stale. Worse, when the show tries to deal like with a character like Barney, whose two main traits – womanizing and a genuine romantic side – are polar opposites of each other, the show keeps pushing each trait further and further, until it seems highly illogical that they would exist in the same person.
That problem represents part of what was wrong in tonight's A plot, a story that in theory should have worked, yet just ended up tripping all over itself. While I liked the idea of Barney having trouble accepting his true feelings for Nora – between Shannon and Robin, it makes sense that he would be cynical/scared of love, and that he would be putting up subconscious roadblocks to protect himself – tonight's episode was torn between trying to give each of Barney's sides equal service. The end result was that I was quite sure when Barney was lying and when he was being genuine. I get that this was supposed to be intentional, but I was so distracted trying to figure it all out, that I couldn't really be invested in Barney and Nora's budding relationship. This was obviously meant to instill tension, but mostly it just bred contempt.
What's more, the reveal at the end, where we learn that Barney's heart skipped a beat when he first saw Nora was such an obvious place for the show to go, that I wonder why the show didn't go there in the first place, and just avoid the overly confusing middle. The reveal in and of itself was sweet – or rather, it could have been – but it was ruined by all of the other signs that were pointing to Barney's true feelings for Nora. Sometimes it's better for a show to give us the simple scene over a set of complex ones, and this was one of those times.
Admittedly, I liked the ending scene, with the reveal of Barney not actually admitting his feelings to Nora, and it ending with him sadly walking away, wanting something and yet unable to open himself up enough to have it. This scene was so simple, and quite moving, not despite but because of its brevity, that I can't help but feel that the show should have tried to put a third story in its twenty minutes, and shorten up Robin's story. In fact, I'm beginning to think that Barney/Nora storyline should operate from now on only in small moment, even if it means that it has to appear in every episode through the rest of the season, because the show's attempts to tackle Barney's emotional complexity don't seem to be working.
As far the B plot, with Robin and her boy-toy with the personality of a dog, enjoyment of it will vary depending on how funny you thought it was. Some stuff scored better than others, but for the most part it was just there to give everybody else something to do. My main problem with it wasn't its comedy – I am usually all right with plots that don't make me laugh, as long as they are genial enough – but rather the fact that this one didn't have any sort of emotional component.
The show has been harping for the past few weeks about how Robin hasn't had sex, doesn't have a man, is lonely, and blah, blah, blah. It must obvious to just about everybody at this point that all of this is some sort emotional epiphany/turn for her somewhere in the next few weeks. And while I appreciate that the show is trying to give her such a storyline (since she has historically been the most undeserved character), since I know where this is headed, I just want the show to get their already, and just stop wasting my time.
And though this may read as trite feminist ideology, I can't get over the fact that this is another “a woman wants a man” storyline. Not only is it overly simplistic for the character – seriously, the only two major concerns in Robin's life are men and her career? - but it's just so trite from a television standpoint. I get that this show is essentially a serialized romantic comedy, and that the main storyline is Ted's quest for his own romantic happiness. But his story is far more original – and interesting – while Robin's has yet to differentiate itself from its forebearers. Wake me up when something inventive happens.
HIMYM has long been heralded for its moving emotional stories, and it quite obvious that the show is trying to return to these roots. (Okay, Bays & Thomas have also said that's what they're trying to do here.) And while I must admit that when the show does hit these moments, I am glad for this return to form, when it misses them like it did tonight, it not only disappoints me, but it reminds me that it is trying to make up for all the missteps it took in season five.
What did everybody else think?
Additional Thoughts:
It was a solid night for retuning gags tonight, with Barney singing his “bang song,” Lily muttering “son of a beech,” and of course the sandwich standing in a visual replacement for pot. Also, Nora met her parents for brunch at the popover pantry.
“We're all adults, I'll just say it...BEHIND Nora.”
“Yeah, penis feelings.”
“Yeah, I said it Beardy.”
“Wow, she nursed you back to health?” “No! I didn't even see her boobs.”
“Scooby ate the whole tray.” “Ruh-roh!”
“He's so smart, we should get him on Letterman doing tricks.”
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