(Season 4, Episode 9 – “The Naked Man”) 
I know you’ve been waiting for it … this episode was legen … dary! Those of you who said last week’s was the best episode of the season are eating those words right about now, I suspect.
This, people … this is why I watch How I Met Your Mother. “The Naked Man” was filled with quotes, laugh-out-louds that built upon one another, a theme to keep it all tight, a thread throughout, and even a teaser / reminder. What does all of that mean? Join me after the break for my in-depth analysis of the funny.
“The Naked Man” started off with a wallop and didn’t let up. How about those random funny things Ted walked in on in his apartment? I think Barney chained in the water tank was my favorite, with gun-wielding Robin a close second. Although there was Lily with the circus folk …. Important, though — did you notice the goat on May 8, 2009? We’ve known of the goat before, and it looks like we’ll get the details during May sweeps.
Everyone had something to prove in this episode, and although Robin and Barney failed (interesting; another way they are growing alike), Marshall succeeded in proving that sex is for love and Ted got back on the horse after his breakup with Stella.
But Barney’s failure was oh-so-fun to watch, starting with, “All these years I’ve been suiting up when I should have been suiting down,” his inspiration to try the Naked Man. The mastery of this episode came out in the naked phone call with Ted; I’m still wiping the tears from laughing so hard at the naked man poses. Just when I thought they were done, they’d hammer out another one. They could have done a few too many and not made the same impact, and they definitely could have overdone it, SNL-style. But they hit the mark and this was hilarious.
I loved the super hero thread that wove throughout this episode, starting with Barney’s quote:
And ending with Ted’s speech at the end, as we watch simple Mitch walking and eating, overcoat blowing in the breeze like a cape. Classic. A hero doesn’t have to be extraordinary; a cute little life lesson.
OK, I’ll come right out and say it: This was the best episode of the season. Anyone going to challenge that?
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Nov 24, 2008 @ 21:35 EST5EDT
Definitely a great episode for sure. What I want to know though does it actually work?
Debbie, it’s official. We have completely opposite tastes in a show we both love. I thought this episode had exactly three really funny moments, and one interesting one (the goat… I really want to know the story of the damn goat).
1. The poses were good… Really good. Loved Burt Reynolds.
2. Barney with the suits at the end
3. “this is getting harder…. #46″
Good. But I guess I’ll probably be alone on this one.
*POST AUTHOR*
Ha! That’s OK … we can agree to disagree and still love the show! :-) That’s part of what makes the discussions fun!
This episode was really really good.
I loved Lilly’s necklace when she pulled the naked man (woman) ;-)
What I didn’t like was the personality of Ted’s date. She looks so cute and you really didn’t expect that.
I don’t like calling an episode “best of the season” until the season is over. “Best yet” simply isn’t something that sounds praising.
LOL!
While I don’t doubt we will see the goat explanation this year, after last night I’m thinking that little snip was it for this season.
If we don’t get it during sweeps in May (which I hope) the goat thing will either be explained fully in a later season (in a flashback or such) or it will be like the pineapple.
I’m OK with not finding out in May. As long as when we finally find out, its worth it.