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'How I Met Your Mother': Barney lends Ted's sister a helping hand
Every time I see Barney Stinson on my television screen I think to myself "man, I hope that one day Neil Patrick Harris finally gets an Emmy, a Golden Globe, or some sort of equivalent award for this role." Harris has gotten Emmy nominations for portraying Barney, but no wins yet, and now finally this past week, he received his first Golden Globe nomination for his work on How I Met Your Mother.
Not only do I hope Harris wins, but tonight was a perfect example of why he should. The man is somehow able to make Barney, this guy who acts shameless and utterly horrific in front of his friends, incredibly likable. It's hysterical, tons of fun to watch, and ought to be rewarded.
On the episode tonight Ted's sister, Heather, came for a visit, a visit that Barney wanted in on. As Heather was an attractive woman and younger than Ted, he recognized that at all costs, he had to keep Barney away from her. Smart move. Heather's apparently been visiting for years, and for years Ted has managed to hide that fact from Barney.
This year, Barney managed to figure out about the visit. Well, maybe "figure out" isn't exactly right. We learned tonight that Lily isn't able to keep a secret during the holidays and she blabbed this one to Barney. When Ted returned from the airport, little sister in tow, Barney was seated there in the apartment. Our Golden Globe nominee appeared perfectly suave and debonair, he had a snifter of brandy in his hand, and made a wonderful first impression. He had actually even rented a chair so that he could properly surprise Ted and say hello at the same time (he needed one that swiveled).
Ted, obviously, and quite rightly, wanted Barney gone. Ted knew exactly what would happen if Barney stuck around. But, somehow Barney convinced him otherwise, he told Ted some story about how he was just joking around about Heather and how he'd never act on his jokes.
Silly Ted, he invited Barney to a nice dinner with Heather and Lily. Big mistake. Ted wanted Heather gone from New York, and she wanted to land a job in financial services in the cit. It was just the opening Barney needed, he got her an interview at Goliath. I'm not sure if Ted had made that connection, because if he had there was certainly no way he ought to have let Barney go to that dinner.
Whatever the case, Heather going to Goliath to see Barney was just the opening Barney needed. It was right there in Goliath National Bank that it happened. Heather went for her interview with Lily there to chaperone, but when Lily went to say hello to her hubby – in my mind, knowing the two of them, for a quickie of her own – it went down. Lily returned to Barney's office to find he and Heather quickly putting their clothes back on. While I definitely admired Barney's tenacity, it was bad form of him not to lock his office door.
Lily – still in holiday-truth-telling mode – blabbed all about it to Ted, making him promise to keep the secret she couldn't. Yeah, good luck with that. How was Ted going to let the incident go without saying something? There was no way.
Later at the bar, one sexual innuendo after another passed between Barney and Heather right there in front of Ted. Barney talked about how Heather was willing to "take any position," how he liked "filling an opening," and Heather about how she was willing to "bend over backwards." Ted called the shenanigans in his usual holier than thou manner, and that's where our twist came this week.
Heather and Barney claimed that it was all a ruse, that they hadn't slept together and had only partially disrobed knowing that Lily would tell Ted what she saw. While it's true that the sex must have happened very quickly if it occurred, not for one minute do I believe Barney and Heather's story. I figure that Barney and Heather did in fact have sex and only later came up with the lame "we just pretended so that we could play a joke on you" thing.
Ted however bought it hook, line, and sinker. He apologized to Heather for his actions, co-signed a lease for an apartment, and bought her a new briefcase to welcome her to the city. I wonder if that means we'll be seeing Heather again.
Odds and ends:
- You know what the quote of the night is tonight, you knew it the minute Barney uttered it. Sure, the opening credits were still going, but no matter how funny the episode to follow may have been, nothing was going to top the line. Looking at a Mosby holiday card with Heather in it, Barney sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells" – "Pulling down her pants/Yanking off my own/Underneath the mistletoe I'll make your sister moan/ Oh! Heather's hot, Heather's hot!/We'll go all the way."
- The secondary plot tonight had Robin homesick for Canada. Marshall ended up taking her to a bar for folks from Minnesota. He figured, and I think most people would agree, that the two are close enough to each other, and both cold enough, that there's really little difference. Well, little difference except to the people from one of the two places. After Robin was booted from the Minnesota bar for being Canadian (totally Marshall's fault), they went to a Canadian karaoke place, the Hoser Hut. In the truly hysterical final moments of the episode, Marshall got up and sang that Robin Sparkles' classic "Let's go to the Mall!"
- And, my question of the week – did Heather and Barney have sex or did they make it all up to upset Ted?
The TV and Film Guy's Reviews – we never lie, whether it's the holidays or not.
Josh, I can't believe you spent so little time on the Marshall / Robin Minnesota bar time. I thought it was so funny that the jokes Minnesotans make about Canadians are all about Canadians being afraid of the dark.
Melody | Dec 15, 2008 9:11:31 PM | #I'm going to say that Barney and Heather did not have sex. He would not violate the Bro Code again.
Tammy | Dec 15, 2008 9:18:15 PM | #Marshall singing lets go to the mall was HANDS DOWN the funniest thing in the entire episode.. I mean the christmas carols were good.. but DAMN
Francesca | Dec 15, 2008 9:48:30 PM | #The carols were classic, but the Hoser Hut was just brilliant. Watching Marshall singing "Let' Go to the Mall" was too much. Also, did anyone else see the pictur of Paul Shaffer hanging on the wall?
As for Barney & Heather, I want to believe them, but he's proven that he can break the code already. He's slept with Robin, and apparently made out with Ted's mom, why wouldn't he hook up w/ Heather?
MC | Dec 15, 2008 10:10:39 PM | #I have to agree... the Marshall/Robin plot was the funnier storyline of the two. The retooled Christmas songs were classic, but the Canadian karaoke was perfection.
And I also think that Barney and Heather did it. How could he not?
Jen | Dec 15, 2008 10:47:53 PM | #I think Barney and Heather slept together also.
Also, the Robin/Marshall storyline was much better than the Ted/Barney/Heather storyline. I wish they had given it the 'A' storyline and made the Heather story was the 'B' story.
Ending with "Let's Go To The Mall" was probably the best close to an episode all year.
The little touches in the Marshall/Robin storyline were just awesome:
1) Marshall wearing a Jim Marshall #70 Jersey;
2) Robin wearing a Pam Fryman jersey (director of the show);
3) and not just wearing only a t-shirt, but eating ice cream and a slushy in the winter (just to name a few)
Only negative - Canadians being afraid of the dark? I've never heard of the stereotype before (I am Canadian) and sorry, but I don't think that one's catching on. The other stuff at least was funny - eg. Canadians being overly apologetic.
Rishi | Dec 15, 2008 11:01:07 PM | #2 other Vikings jerseys in the bar: one had Bays on the back, and another had Smulders.
i really did think they had sex... but then someone mentioned the bro code so maybe they didn't. does the bro code mention sisters?
i also thought the robin/marshall storyline was better and can't believe it was relegated to a pointer rather than being included in the main recap.
two funniest moments are barney's dirty lyrics and marshall's karaoke session using robin's song.
joits | Dec 16, 2008 4:40:45 AM | #He didn't violate the Bro Code!
Article 19: A Bro shall not sleep with another Bro's sister. However, a Bro shall not get angry if another Bro says, "Dude, your sister's hot!"
Amendment III: Should a Bro become aware that his Bro has a really hot sister (a nine or higher), she is no longer protected under article 19.
Since Heather's a 9, he's covered. And yeah, they totally did it. :D
idioticonion | Dec 16, 2008 5:09:47 AM | #This episode was pretty good, but is it just me or has anyone else noticed a change in the Ted, Marshall and Lily characters since season 2. Barney and Robin have remained consistently funny and entertaining characters throughout the show's run. However, Ted, Marshall and Lily have really begun to get on my nerves. Since season 2, Ted has become a terriblye pretentious jerk who thinks he's better than everyone. Marshall has become a complete wuss and Lily seems to fluctuate between a no-fun "mother hen" to completely immature (can't keep a secret on the holidays...give me a break.). I know in the previous 2 seasons, these characters displayed elements of these characteristics but they seem a lot more exaggerated now. What are the writers doing!
Steve | Dec 16, 2008 6:37:19 AM | #Hey, hey, hEY!
NOBODY likes being in the dark.
So Steve, you're saying Ted, Marshall and Lily have regressed into their college personas after their bouts with marriage?
Totally understandable. Moral of the season: single people are HILARIOUS. Married couples go on indefinite hiatus.
pakopako | Dec 16, 2008 7:23:57 AM | #An entire article about the most boring plot of last night's episode?
I was expecting a litt more about Marshall and Robin's stuff from the episode. That was some of the best stuff we've seen this season.
The Barney and Heather stuff was rather boring.
Mandy234 | Dec 16, 2008 7:29:41 AM | #Okay, in my opinion, the Marshall/Robin stuff was the A story. The Ted/his sister/Barney stuff is all just set up for future story lines and therefore the B story.
All the jokes were in the Marshall/Robin stuff as well as helping to fix the Robin feeling out of place storyline that has been playing out since her return from Japan. This storyline carried the episode humor wise as well as completed a story arc when Marshall explained how much Robin meant to the group and how they would totally go to Canada to bring her back (after Barney made them stop at a few of those all nude strip clubs where you could order a pilsner, that is).
And the funniest part of the episode that no one has mentioned so far is while Marshall is singing "Let's Go To The Mall" he has them turn off the monitors saying, "We all know the words" and everyone in the bar totally does know the words!
Also, I love that Robin's joke about the Canadians being afraid of the dark was actually the funniest one. ("What do Canadians wish for when they blow out the candles on their birthday cake? Nothing! They're too scared of the dark to ever blow them out!" or something to that effect)
Josh Man | Dec 16, 2008 9:43:37 AM | #My favourite part of the epsiode was Marshall singing let's go to the mall. That was genius. Also I totally agree that Neil Patrick Harris deserves an award. He is fantastic on the show. I really hope that he wins the golden globe this year.
On a side note I noticed someone wearing a jersey in the Minnesota bar that said Smulders on the back. i guess referring to Cobie Smulders (Robin).
Did anyone find it odd that Ted's sister Heather hugged Lily in the beginning of the show but only had a hand grab for Robin?
Doane | Dec 16, 2008 10:34:01 AM | #I have to agree that I liked the Marshall/Robin storyline better than Ted's sister...although how hot did Barney look when he took his shirt off in his office? What a body! We got to see it a few weeks ago, too, in the "Naked Man" storyline and I for one would like to see more of "Naked Barney."
But I digress. I loved Marshall's conversation with Robin and his reason that she cannot return to Canada - they love her! That was so sweet! I also really laughed at the name of the Canadian bar that they went to - "Hoser Hut" - it SO made me think of "take off, ay" "you hoser."
And finally, I loved how Robin very quietly slipped the hockey mask over her face when Marshall was singing "Let's Go to the Mall" and everyone joined in. That was a great little move! Although, if she had been outed as Robin Sparkles, THAT would have been the best!
Ginni | Dec 16, 2008 10:34:23 AM | #YES! NPH deserves an Emmy AND a Golden Globe! He's long overdue an award for his portrayal of Barney.
Jan | Dec 16, 2008 11:24:57 AM | #Barney's christmas carols about Heather had me crying laughing so hard!
This was a great episode, but I thought the Robin/Marshall storyline was funnier.
I think Barney totally had sex with Ted's sister. I mean, it's Barney!
Oh, I forgot to mention, being Canadian, I find the funniest parts of the show is when they make fun of Robin for being Canadian, so when she bumped into that guy and he apologized, I was cracking up!
Mandy | Dec 16, 2008 12:01:17 PM | #I kind of see where Steve is coming from. I do think that some of the characters (Lily & Marshall) have become a bit one dimensional.
My theory is because the latter part of last season, and most of this season, the show is focusing more on Barney. Thanks to NPH, the show is revolving around this character rather than the main three. I'm sure the show runners weren't expecting Barney's character to take of like he has.
So, we're seeing Barney evolve which adds to his awesomeness, while Ted, Lily, & Marshall's characters are becoming card board cutouts of their former selves. We're also seeing Robin evolve which can be linked to her tryst with Barney, since we're eventually going to see if they end up together or not.
While I love NPH and Barney, this show cannot afford having Ted become unlikable since it is supposed to be about him. I'm not saying focusing on the minor characters is a bad thing, but it's about how Ted met the mother and not how awesome Barney is.
My biggest beef is the degeneration of Marshall's character. He has always been my favorite, and I don't think the writers are giving him and Lily a-list material like they did in past seasons.
MC | Dec 16, 2008 6:57:13 PM | #Seriously? there are no black people in Minnesota? there are no black people in HIMYM's little world either!
Barney's little ditties were brilliantly spot on and if I were Ted I wouldn't have trusted him with my sis either especially since Barney's already broken the Bro Code by banging Robin
"I'm proud to be Canadian! We might not have a fancy NFL team or Prince, but we invented Trivial Pursuit! You're welcome, Earth!!"
*lol*
Everything Robin & Marshall was fantastic in this episode. The donut moment followed by the karaoke had me rolling.
quisquilian | Dec 17, 2008 3:00:30 AM | #I know this is off topic from the ep, but does anybody else think Britney Spears missed a golden opportunity for not asking NPH to be in her Womanizer video? It would totally tie in to her guest star shots on the show, and who's to say he didn't inspire the song?
Carli | Dec 17, 2008 6:39:21 AM | #I just recently started watching HIMYM and wish I had done so a lot sooner. I agree NPH should win an award for his character. I thought last night's episode was great! I did enjoy the whole Minnesota/Canada storyline (and the episode was named "Little Minnesota") but I thought the introduction of Ted's sister was really good and certainly a lead in to the addition of at least a strong recurring character. Ted and Heather really seemed like they could be siblings and she fit in well with the ensemble. I thought Heather was beautiful and her character was "spot on." It reminded me of another great sitcom you might recall named "Friends." I hope they do somethng with that storyline in the near future. While I feel confident Barney and Heather DID NOT have sex, I think there are many hilarious times ahead involving Barney's efforts to work around the "Bro code."
Deborah | Dec 17, 2008 9:41:04 AM | #1. YES, that was the line of the night!
2. Hoser Hut. Tee!
3. Loved that the patrons of said Hut did not need the lyrics to "Mall" on the screen.
4. Barney and Heather totally did it and made up the excuse later.
5. So, is Heather going to be a regular from now on?
Mitch | Dec 17, 2008 11:15:11 AM | #
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