'How I Met Your Mother': Alan Thicke tries to end Barney and Robin

November 9, 2009 8:32 PM

Out of all the awesome things -- all the legendary items -- Barney might own, I think that his porn collection just may be up on top of the pile. The notion of Barney giving away his porn on "How I Met Your Mother" was definitely indicative of a larger problem, and I don't just mean a fat suit.

Let's be clear, Barney putting on a fat suit was absolutely an issue. It's hard to make fat suits funny, but for Barney to give up the porn is like Barney giving up a piece of himself. I'm not advocating porn; I'm just saying porn is a part of Barney and that if anyone wants to be with Barney the porn is something they have to get used to.

As for the fat suit, he's not going to be in it permanently, so I'll give the producers an episode of it. There were some funny jokes inside the suit, but I like regular Barney, non-relationship-gut-Barney, better.

What I'm not sure about is if I like non-relationship-Barney better than relationship-with-Robin-Barney. If my choices are fat-suit-in-a-relationship-with-Robin-Barney and no-fat-suit-not-in-a-relationship-Barney, I think I'd choose the latter. We all know that in reality I'd just choose Robin instead. And, Robin is now free for me to be choosing her.

Lily the relationship Terminator (or Kraken, if you prefer), did her absolute best to break up Barney and Robin this week, but it was to no avail as the two had already decided to terminate the relationship themselves. But, how great was Lily's plan? She got Alan Thicke to show for the breakup scenario! Alan Thicke (I know he's been on before, but I love him... maybe I have a thing for Canadians?)! What do you think it says that Alan Thicke is easier to get than a stormtrooper? Was that just Lily not caring enough about the stormtrooper or Alan Thicke actually being in less demand?

Let's take a giant step backwards, though. The whole thing started off with the handing off of the porn and Ted popping "Archisexture" into his VHS player. (Seriously guys, VHS?) The tape contained a hidden message recorded by Barney back in August of 2005 begging Ted to end any relationship that Barney may be in. After seeing that, the relationship gut and Robin suddenly aging several years, Ted was pretty convinced that he had to break them up. Marshall bought in relatively quickly, but I was shocked Lily went in with them too.

Lily joined up because Marshall and Ted progressed the relationship rather than ending it, but I was even more surprised she resorted to underhanded tactics (even though she has used them on Ted in the past) this time out. Wouldn't it have been a whole lot easier to talk to them and then lock them in a room until they agreed to end it, just like she did when they started going out?

Whatever the case, the two are now broken up and I think there are really only three big questions we are left with at the end of this episode: Are they broken up for good (I'm saying yes)? Does Ted give back the porn? (I think he'll give back all but the ones that went "missing.") And how long are we going to have to wait to see the failed Canadian TV variety show? (It should be soon-ish, right?)

Odds and ends:

"That is not how you spell 'Buckminster Fuller.'" Indeed.
Lily is totally the lead dog in that relationship, she may be the lead dog for the group.
Even with no makeup or ugly makeup or whatever Scherbatsky was wearing tonight, I'm still smitten.
Failed Canadian TV variety show. I can't wait!

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| Comments (14)

14 Comments

I haven't seen this episode yet and had pretty much no idea what the reviewer was talking about. This was a really awful review.

Anonymous | November 9, 2009 9:00 PM

I'm so glad the whole Robin/Barney thing is over, and I'm hoping that this isn't a swerve, and they'll be back together in the a few weeks.

The rest of the episode was great, and I couldn't stop laughing when the tape "accidentally" ended up in the VCR. Classic. Marshall got in some good lines, and Lily was slightly less annoying.

I haven't been too impressed with this season, but I'm really hoping this episode is the one that turns the show around.

TL | November 9, 2009 9:05 PM

I wish the writers would have let Barney and Robin run in the background for awhile. It just bugs me that they spent so much more time on Barney's feelings for her than the actual relationship. But I did enjoy this episode.

Billiam | November 9, 2009 9:32 PM

I think Barney is awesome single, but he can't be single forever. So I would like to see them together in the end, because they are perfect for each other, but I think they each have a few good single years left in them.

Mandy | November 9, 2009 9:56 PM

I agree with Mandy. They should end up together in the end, but the writers were focusing on the relationship too much and it has brought this season down. I still love this show and probably always will. It has one of the best ensemble of actors on television and will hopefully get back to being as good as it was its first few seasons.

Steven | November 9, 2009 10:45 PM

Agree w/first poster that it's very hard to figure out what exactly happened from this review (this week and generally). I miss about every other show and I look to the recaps to help me follow the action. Recaps of The Office and 30 Rock fill me in, but this recapper unfortunately is way too disjointed. We don't need a full synopsis, but a few signposts that clue us in on the storyline would be useful.

Shira | November 10, 2009 6:19 AM

Even after seeing the episode last night, this review made me wonder if I was watching the same show. strange

So glad they broke up Barney and Robin. That coupling didn't jive and sucked so much energy out of the show.

Now bring on the new (old) Robin video that has gone missing for years!

Carl | November 10, 2009 7:41 AM

I hope they put the focus back on Ted and the mother again after these last few robin/barney centric eps. After all, the title of the show is "how I met your mother", not "how your aunt robin met your uncle barney".

Jose | November 10, 2009 7:47 AM

I still don't understand why people think Barney & Robin were so perfect for each other.

They're too much alike, and you can't base an entire relationship on scotch, cigars, and awesomeness. Sure, you need to have similar interests, but you don't have to be the same person, and that's how they were being portrayed.

You need balance, and there wasn't any with them. This episode tried to prove that.

MC | November 10, 2009 7:52 AM

I really like Robin and Barney together. I hope they get back together, for good, pretty soon.

Josh...I am sure Robin will still have you on the side though.

Steven | November 10, 2009 10:05 AM