I really didn’t think it was possible to screw up an episode that should have sailed along on Canadian jokes alone. But somehow, How I Met Your Mother stole all of the funny (well, most of it anyway) out of that situation.
Really, who wrote this?
Because I guess I should thank you for the few funny things, along with the connections to past episodes that made me smile. But making the Canadian citizen story lackluster, and pairing it with an annoying Marshall and Lily adventure made for the worst HIMYM so far this season.
I was hopeful at the beginning, when we got a glimpse at Robin’s Canadian quirks, and chanting “shrimp fried rice” was cooler than Canada. I even thought when Barney tried to convince Robin that Queen Elizabeth was Elton John that this story line would be going someplace brilliant. I was wrong.
Don’t get me wrong, seeing the Hoser Hut again was fun, as was Barney making fun of Canadian “board game” money, but even the Bryan Adams/ Rich Little double bill couldn’t save Canada tonight. Barney wasn’t remotely Barney, and even his sex jokes fell flat for me. Barney as part of a couple just isn’t working for me.
And that was the funny part of the show.
I didn’t think Lily and Marshall could get any more annoying, but then they melded as one. Yuck. At least Marshall ditched her. And got over it in four minutes, heh. Sure, we liked hearing about the bong made out of cantaloupe, and I would have been sorely disappointed if I didn’t hear “500 Miles” at some point in a Ted / Marshall road trip show, but man, this was not the “Arrivederci, Fiero” episode by a long shot.
I know you’re waiting for me to mention Tantrum Soda, and that could have been funny, but they really didn’t know where to go with it. And you’d think seeing Lily hanging on to a car for dear life would be entertaining, but no. She’d really have to let go, wouldn’t she?
Poor Sparky and his balls, destined to forever be the third wheel.
Did you find this to be one of the worst episodes of How I Met Your Mother?
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Oct 19, 2009 @ 20:54 EST5EDT
A bit harsh. Not the worst episode ever, but I agree about the Robin-Barney dynamic not fully working. Somethings not clicking on these episodes. Either Lily is dragging the show down or they’re concentrating too much on the comedic aspects over the dramatic ones. Hope they can turn it around
That was harsh. I agree the Canada story line didn’t quite work, and the road trip stuff fell a bit flat after some good nuggets. I think the problem was, there was too much development on the same tired themes: woman has to pee, civilized her man and ruins buddy road trip. And there was no new insight or comedy except for that stereotypical, caveman-like vantage point.
Tantrum…well I thought Tantrum hit the mark. Now, had they put Lily on the roof midway through the episode and ended with Marshall having to call Barney from jail in Jalisco because she hijacks the road trip to new levels of nuts…I think that could have been something different at least. Seems to violate Lily’s character to have her so clueless about Marshall and Ted’s relationship when her Kindergarten teacher job has always required she was savvy about that. It dampened the comedy to have the character’s relationships sold upriver for a situation.
I also thought Barney saved the Canada storyline twice: the tutoring and the riff about the money. But I think a lot of that is due to Neil Patrick-Harris’ genius despite the fact that the writers have hog tied his character.
First time I’ve laughed at Ted in ages, if ever.
Wow – it’s like you and I are watching totally different shows. That’s the second time you’ve completely disliked an episode that practically made me wet myself. I find my taste in this show to not match yours at all. Oh well, to each his or her own.
This was the funniest episode for me this season. I cant stand Lily and Marshall though, I agree with you there. She’s just not funny being the “typical drag of a wife”.
But Robin and Barney were actually funny together this epi.
While I agree with you on Modern Family, we seem to have the exact opposite tastes regarding HIMYM. I also think that this was the best episode so far of the season (but that’s not saying much, since I think this season has failed miserably as compared to previous ones). While I dislike the concept of Barney and Robin as a couple, I thought NPH was great and that the Canadian storyline was well done. Even Cobie didn’t ruin it too much with her lack of acting ability. (I don’t know if it is just me, since I never liked her character, but it seems that post-baby she can’t or doesn’t even act anymore. (Not blaming it on the baby, that just coincided with the new season)).
Dude, this episode was great, what are you talking about? TANTRUM!
Yes, it was one of the worst. I usually like their Canada jokes and totally get parody for the sake of humour, but most of the Robin storyline was lame.
Torontonians don’t have accents but I liked the Tim Hortons reference.
THIS IS TANTROOOM!!!