(Season 4, Episode 13 – “Three Days of Snow” 
)
[Editor’s note: This is CliqueClack TV’s 1,000th published post!]
This episode is the reason that I don’t watch sitcoms. Yeah, I suppose you could argue that I watch How I Met Your Mother and that it is technically a sitcom, but you know and I know that it is normally something special; a show that, to classify as a sitcom, would be an insult to the level of cleverness and funny it usually puts out.
This was by far the worst episode of How I Met Your Mother I can remember. If it weren’t for Neil Patrick Harris, I wouldn’t have laughed out loud at all, and even then, it was only once.
Speaking of puzzles, I am puzzled as to how anyone writing this episode could have thought it would be funny, let alone be a good name for a bar or a band.
Thank you, Neil Patrick Harris, for providing the only laugh of the night … your end of the telepathic conversation with Ted was sheer brilliance, and you didn’t say a word. You also provided the mildly funny in this episode, by breaking everything in your attempt to be as cool as Tom Cruise in Cocktail.
Lily and Marshall, you take the Absolutely, Positively, Not Even Remotely Funny Award for “Three Days of Snow.” Good God, your scenes were gag-inducing. Robin, shame on you for validating the nauseating displays of love that Lily and Marshall set forth in this episode. I’m as romantic as the next person, but I really, really like to keep my dinner down.
Am I missing something, besides a heart, apparently?
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Jan 19, 2009 @ 22:10 EST5EDT
“You call this a review”
I just thought I’d be the person who says that so nobody else feels so “fresh” to mention it.
‘scuse me, I now have to ‘steal’ this episode off the interwebs to be able to join the discussion most likely to ensue here soon :-)
Let me quote the great “From Dusk Till Dawn”:
“Let’s kill that fucking band”
Do you kiss your mother with that mouth???
I don’t talk to my mother, thanks for reminding me.
Your quite welcome!
Well, at 9:00p as I was switching over to watch Jack Bauer save the world, I knew two things for certain:
– I thoroughly enjoyed this episode (Save the last scene)
– And Deb will have hated it
Deb, I would like to point out the following: These are quotes from your reviews of this show at the Clack:
Episode 13: “This was by far the worst episode of How I Met Your Mother I can remember.”
Episode 11: “…it started off so strong I thought I was about to witness the funniest episode of HIMYM to date.”
Episode 10: “I know I was supposed to think this was the funniest episode in the history of How I Met Your Mother, but I am just not there.”
Episode 9: “Those of you who said last week’s was the best episode of the season are eating those words right about now, I suspect.”
Episode 8: “I’ve gotta come out and say it right up front … How I Met Your Mother may very well be the best sitcom on TV […] but it is just a typical sitcom most of the time.”
I quote you not as a criticism, but to setup the question (not just to you, but to everyone), What do we expect from our TV Shows?
I, like you, don’t like, or generally watch, sitcoms. Just not for me. I watch two on TV now (HIMYM and Scrubs), and can remember one other in the last ten years that I ever made an effort to watch (Shouldn’t be hard to figure that one out if you know me). But I don’t expect HIMYM to transcend what I don’t like about sitcoms. Every episode cannot introduce a slapping contest or a Canadian pop star (I can’t figure that it was the same episode that did both help or hurts my point). You’re going to get an episode where the main cast spends the entire time hiding under a table (Oh wait… I forgot, you enjoyed that one).
I thought tonight’s episode was solid.
– I ALWAYS enjoy Barney and Ted out on the town.
– I have had the conversation about owning a bar myself many times (and texting a friend who said the same thing at the same time).
– Any time Ranjit shows up, you know its going to be a good time.
– We got some stacked flashbacks with Lily and Marshall that made for some (purposely) bad puns of beer names.
– I thought Barney continuing to pull Ted back inside was getting old, but it was just to setup the final time, which was a nice about face on the ‘Sno problem comment.
– I don’t think that any of the characters have had a telepathic conversation yet that hasn’t led to laughs.
– No love for BINGO?
– “I have all the digits I need”
– “Are we going to have to get into a room and bang this out?”
– “I don’t know if you watch Star Wars or not, but its like Hoth out there”
The only bit I could have lived without was the band in the airport at the end.
So, all in all, I enjoyed the episode, and wish that my friend Deb did too :)
(Remember when you guys weren’t even planning on covering this show? :) )
I liked this ep too. Especially BINGO at the end, Marshall’s convo with Lilly while everyone was in his office, the last time Barney pulled Ted aside, & they way they showed how everything ended up happening over the 3 days & not 1.
I agree with Dorv. As always.
Dorv we should start telepathic conversations.
Look at it this way. I guess Deb really hates this fake lovey dovey (expletive deleted by me) they try to pull with Marhall and Lily. That whole part of the show just sucked extremely.
Problem is: I really loved the other half of the show. That was awesome! That telepathic conversation was the best ever for me. NPH is so extremely good it hurts. I mean the question about what he would get if he gets five in a row – that facial expression – it had my lying on the floor laughing (but I hated him shouting “BINGO” at the end, that was shallow I mean the guy’s supposed to be in love and everything, I guess his d*** isn’t).
And that Star Wars line – I think that was the first woman EVER on TV that delivered a “I know Star Wars”-esque line and didn’t sound silly – and she was hot god dammit! And cute! That was so… *purrr* ;-)
But again I absolutely understand that Deb didn’t like this episode because I turned it off once that guy with the oboe started playing – which was so god damn fake, the music was fake the situation was fake I didn’t feel the love and I just wanted to break the 4th wall and hit Alyson Hannigan over the head for taking part in something she can do better.
Shame on you Alyson.
*ahem* As a band geek I feel the need to inform you that that was a clarinet, not an oboe.
Ok I’m really sorry but this is like a penalty kick for me I mean *chuckles*
Let me put it like this: if I ever attend band camp and… err.. do stuff with oboes and clarinettes I’m certainly bound to know the difference
*snicker*
You know I even visited Wikipedia to check and I still got it wrong I guess.
So I guess if I ever witness a killing with a Clarinette I’ll have problem with the lineup gnhihihi ;-D
*POST AUTHOR*
HA! You know me well, Dorv! :-) I really am expecting too much, I think you’re right. But it’s hard when I know what a show can be to watch it be something subpar.
And I did love Barney, as always!
I thought he was on tonight (except for, as Keith pointed out, BINGO. That joke was rather telegraphed.
I especially loved the new “what up” pantomime.
“This one time, at band camp, I stuck a flute in my &*$$@.”
That’s all I could think about at the end when the school band was playing for Lilly and Marshal
Can I just say, Cobie Smulders’s tummy!!! If she wasn’t wearing that teeny shirt in the beginning I would have forgotten that she’s pregnant too.
To be honest I simply could not remember the name, that’s all. I saw one again today at the inauguration so I’m safe.
No “band practice” for me ;-)
You are funny :-)
I get the feeling that there are certain fans of shows who will simply let anything pass, just because they are so enamored by one or several of the characters, locales or simply the entire show itself. I see this a lot with Battlestar Galactica — people will forgive complete crap, just because they love the show (or Grace Park) so much that they’re willing to let things pass.
People, it’s OK to not like something. The show will still love you. You can break it to it gently that, hey, it wasn’t the best work you’ve seen … hell, it was just plain terrible … but there’s always next time. And you’ll be there waiting for it.
Personally that “BINGO” at the end was an eye-roller. Barney’s got better lines than something that sounds like it came from 2.5 Men.
Damn straight.
Especially the BSG part.
But I’m sorry I couldn’t help laughing at everything (except the “BINGO”) Barney (or better NPH) did on this episode.
Compare that to Big Bang Theory from yesterday. That whole show was one big “meh” for me… but there will always be next week :-)
Keith, that’s a great point. I guess more than anything its funny how a show that when its in the zone, its so good that it alters our expectations of how the show should be every week.
I hadn’t really paid attention to the coda this week because I so turned off by the band in the airport scene my mind had already moved on to 24 even if I hadn’t changed the channel yet.
And anytime anyone takes a shot at Tim-1’s love for Grace Park other than me, its greatly appreciated ;)
No, Keith, I loved the episode because I thought it was great and, of the s4 episodes, the most representative of what I loved about HIMYM in general.
It’s one thing to dislike an episode, but it’s another to tear into the show for actually being itself. HIMYM is funny, but it’s great because it’s more than funny. It’s sweet and clever and well-plotted, while things like Big Bang Theory and Two And A Half Men is just an excuse for punchlines.
Since your wife doesn’t watch sitcoms, as she pointed out, I’m not sure why she’s reviewing them. Perhaps somebody more in tune with the show’s audience would be preferable. Somebody who isn’t insulting to those of us who have cutesy relationships with our significant others and don’t think it’s gag-inducing. Because this review was just bait. Short-winded bait. Write an actual review, please, Debbie.
MarcDom7, after the Dark Knight fiasco of 2009, I thought you were done reading Deb’s posts. Thanks for reading, though.
I heard about the article through the grapevine. It won’t happen again.
Still, I do think it’s important for sitcom people to review sitcoms, no?
sorry. i loved the espisode too!!! :)
Well, if Wikipedia failed you then I guess that other thing you mentioned is your best bet. Let me know how that goes! :D
I thought the episode was average to good for the show. In no way would I consider this the worst episode ever (pretty much any with Stella take that award for me)
I guess this just proves Deb that we watch the show for entirely different episodes. Unfortunately, this makes me feel that I don’t need to visit your posts on the show anymore.* It’s not that I am so against others having a different opinion, but as Dorv posted above you seem to always be looking for some holy grail on the show and seem to be always disappointed.
*that and Sebastians continued dickery and flaunting of his ability to break copyright law and steal content just leaves a bad bad taste in my mouth.
I think that its much more the concept of how differently we all look for and at things in our favorite shows. And how huge fans of the show, like Debbie and I both are, can enjoy a piece of media so differently.
But, then again (and I’m sorry for saying this, yet again amongst people that have heard me say it way too many times), I’m the guy that liked Black Market. Maybe I, either subconsciously or not, am willing to overlook things and focus on what I enjoy about my favorite shows.
And Akbar… Really… Stop encouraging him ;)
There are enough plugins for WordPress to censor profanity and remember over here TV is full of curse words and boobies. I’m European, that’s just how we are, our kids don’t need earmuffs ;-)
Also, Akbar. Based on our friendship, I figured I should tell you. I illegally downloaded the first season of BSG when it aired in England first.
I’m glad I got that off my chest :) Now, I can live off of iTunes and steams from the Networks just fine.
Please don’t sir the pot anymore.
bsgfan2003….Remember this as long as you live: Tim-1 always believes you are a classy lady. And not just because you have supported me and been a friend, which I have always appreciated, but for for your thoughtfulness, depth of character, and kindness.
That should be “stir”.
Fair point. I won’t ma’m the pot anymore either ;)
(I couldn’t resist)
I thought this episode was funny, but not the best I’ve ever seen. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy reading the reviews on this site – to see if I will agree with the reviewer. I may not have agreed with Debbie on this one, but I can still appreciate her opinion. I love reading the comments as well.
Sebastian on the other hand is just so annoying. Every time I read his comments I’m glad this is the internet and I don’t have to actually hear this pretentious crap coming out of his mouth. Dude, we get it already. Go overcompensate somewhere else.
Exactly… I come back to read Debbie’s post every week because I like hearing other’s opinions.
Its one of my favorite things about CliqueClack compared to other blogs. Not only do the OPs constantly chime back in based on the discussion, but that there is a conversation back and forth amongst the commenters, instead of people just chiming in with unthreaded thoughts.
I couldn’t disagree more. I thought this episode was great. It went back to the non-linear story telling which makes this episode great. And how could you not love the phone conversation between Marshall and Lilly while he is in his meeting?
https://www.joeonthetube.com
This was one of my favorite episodes of the season, actually, in part because of the return, as Joe says, of HIMYM’s signature non-linear storytelling, but also because of the extremely well-placed misdirection. You really do forget that it was three whole days of snow, making the fact that Marshall doesn’t come to pick Lily up at the airport because he showed up on the wrong day crushing, and then the final meeting when he does show up a satisfying emotional payoff.
I admit that I am a huge Marshall and Lily fan because I see a lot of my husband and myself in them, and I appreciate that there’s a goofy couple like them on TV. I just don’t get why people think a sitcom can’t have big emotions, because HIMYM does indeed have big emotions, and that’s exactly one reason why I love it so much.