Pit People; Saved the Best For Last

How I Met Your Mother, S08E11-E12

In this double episode,  the first half was about Ted's obsession with his old professor who said he would never be an architect.  His friends went with him to their old school so Ted could confront the man, and Lily and Marshall ran into an old friend who they believed was obsessed with them.  Barney was also jinxed and couldn't speak.  In the second half, Ted was torn about keeping his promise to Barney to not tell anyone about his plan to propose to Patrice.  Marshall and Lily also found it hard to have a night away from Marvin.

The first story was sort of funny.  I liked the idea of "pit guy."  They always make up some kind of term on this show, but lately I haven't loved any of them.  The idea that everyone has someone that they would throw into a pit because they hate them so much is interesting.  I felt bad, though, when Ted had to deal with his pit guy, Professor Vinick.  That guy was just awful.  Ted never got the satisfaction of showing the man he was wrong about Ted, and in fact, he got the last word in.  It's Ted's fault for not coming to the realization faster that he didn't need Vinick to validate his self-worth as a architect, but it still sucks for him.  The only thing I really liked about Ted's pit guy was Ted's fantasy about getting his revenge.  Ted threw a cigarette in front of him, setting ablaze a trail of fire that caused Vinick to burst into flames.  The professor quickly turned into ash.  That, plus Ted's maniacal laughter afterwards, was my favorite part of the story.

I didn't really like Robin's pit guy situation.  It was all kinds of wrong for her to try and fire Patrice for personal reasons.  I don't know if she could sue her for wrongful termination, but it was definitely going to make me hate Robin more if she didn't see the light in the end.  I did like her yelling at Patrice about the basket she bought for the lotions, but other than that I was just waiting to see if Robin would really be so petty to fire a sweet girl out of jealousy.

My second favorite thing about the first story was Daryl, played aptly by Seth Green.  Seth Green has always been a little creepy (also type of person that gets under your skin) to me, so he was really good playing someone who seemed to be unable to forget Lily and Marshall.  I loved when in the past Lily and Marshall tried to avoid him and he magically appeared in front of them.  And it was sort of funny that he later took the two to his suspicious and darkly-lit basement and Marshal and Lily thought they were going to die.  However, I knew early on that Daryl was most likely to give them a check.  I just hoped that he wouldn't tear it up.  That could have been money for Marvin's education.  What a shame.

I didn't think much of Barney's jinx til the very end where it became sort of relevant.  He got Ted to break the jinx by showing him a ring.  I actually believed that he was truly going to propose to Patrice.  I also knew that Ted wouldn't be able to keep his promise to Barney.  Telling Ted something about his friends that the others don't know is like tweeting it or putting it on Facebook.

In the second story, I was surprised that Marshall was trying to get Ted to give Robin another go.  I hope that was his real feelings and not because he was trying to win that bet he and Lily have.  However, as much as it looked like Ted was going to be selfish and go down the same old road again with Robin, I knew there was no way he could be that stupid.  I was really relieved when he told Robin the truth and took Robin to the building where the proposal would happen.  It's been a while since I've wanted to pat Ted on the back for a good job.  Robin and Ted is so eight years ago!  Haha.

No question about it, I was quite impressed with Barney.  I have really wondered why he has been so calm lately--it's been because he has been planning all this time to win Robin back!  And because it's Barney, who is the master of convoluted plans, you don't question how he was able to pull it off.  I absolutely loved that he named the last "play" of his book "The Robin," which detailed the steps he took to win Robin back after helping Robin break up with her last guy.  No man who didn't love her would go through so much trouble.  I mean, he pretended to be dating her worst enemy (who is really her biggest fan for playing the part for Barbin so well) and ignored all of her come-ons.  I loved this proposal more than the one for Quinn.  Hers was very magical, but Robin's was very heartfelt.   If Robin didn't say yes, then she might as well have fallen off that damn building.  Haha.  But seriously, it was very sweet and I feel like I need to watch it again.  I liked watching all of Barney's plan explained.

As for Marshall and Lily, they are new parents--nothing surprising about them missing Marvin.  I did think Lily's dad made it worse.  He was just too easy-going about them being gone that it made it seem like they weren't needed.  Of course, they would start to miss him and be unable to enjoy their night alone.

Good episodes.  The first story was definitely funnier because of all the "pit guy" business, but the second one was much more significant because Barbin became official with Barney's proposal.  I can't say that I'm going to miss that playbook of his.  I'm just very impressed that the last play was his very best one (and the only one I liked).  For that, it sort of makes his collection of sleazing on girls worthwhile.  Robin has to be pretty special to be deemed the last and only remaining page.

Property Of Ted Mosby

How I Met Your Mother, S08E10

Robin became obsessed with destroying Barney and Patrice's relationship, believing it was a sham, and snuck into Barney's house to find his playbook to prove to Patrice he wasn't who she thought he was.  Lily gave her mother-in-law advice on how to date again, and Marshall was freaked out when he found his mother and his father-in-law making out.  Ted was tired of his friends borrowing things and never returning them.

I like how Barney has seemed to calm down recently.  It's like ever since he's cut off his desire for Robin, he's become such a better person.  I could never imagine him dating someone like Patrice before, but the current Barney does seem like a genuinely nice guy who could be a good match for her.  I'm really enjoying how much it bothers Robin that Barney is dating Patrice, a woman that Robin can't speak to without screaming at her (the screaming makes me laugh).  However, she was getting really desperate and not listening to reason.  I'm sort of glad that she went to the trouble of finding Barney's playbook because Barney was able to show his resolve by burning it!  Wow.  He must be really ready to turn over a new leaf (or he has another copy somewhere or something).

My favorite thing about Robin's story was the end when all her friends cornered her with an intervention.  Yay!  I love when the gang does an intervention.  It feels like it's been a while because I had even forgotten about them until now.  Robin was getting out of hand, and I was happy to see them give her a damn wake up call.  Barbin's not gonna happen right now.

I didn't really care too much about Marshall's mom.  It was a little gross to think of anyone hooking up with Lily's dad, but it could be worse, I guess.  I'm sure that they will get tired of the "family with benefits" situation and move along.

Usually, I don't pay Ted's story any attention, but my favorite thing in this episode was Ted discovering (and the audience seeing) how much stuff everyone was borrowing from Ted without his knowledge.  Robin had taken his drill, Lily had his mini cooler, Barney had his Christmas decorations and trashcan, and Lily's dad had his campaign sweatshirt (eww--and was wearing nothing else).  I thought Ted was just complaining about something that didn't exist, as he tends to do, but he was so right about everyone just taking his stuff as if he's running a free store.  Oh, and I loved when Robin found the red boots that Ted had wrongly accused Stuart of never returning.  The crazy bitch was putting Ted's pocket knife to them and texted him a picture to threaten him to help her!  Another reason that Robin needed help and Ted needed to keep a tighter rope on his things.  I just spent the episode waiting for the next thing with Ted's label on it to appear (even his label maker was at Barney's--awesome).

This is definitely one of the better episodes I've watched within the last two seasons.  I say that because I'd actually want to watch it again.  I'm pretty satisfied with Barney dating Patrice, and I hope that Robin will finally learn to let go.  Barbin can wait a little while because we all know that it's going to happen one day down the road.  It was really funny to see how all of Ted's friends take advantage of him.  It's nice to be reminded that I used to like Ted and his seemingly crazy complaints.

Robin's Failed Flirting

How I Met Your Mother, S08E09

Robin tried desperately to seduce Barney, determined to do so after he made it clear that he was done trying to get with her.  Ted started looking after Marvin for Marshall and Lily and was experiencing a bunch of firsts with him without his parents around.

It was a little fun to see Robin throwing herself at Barney, who was more concerned with mourning the lose of Cornelius the tie than her flirting attempts.  She is really selfish, though.  Finally when Barney told her that he was done with her, she decides that still sort of wants him.  Even if she does this with anything that she's been forbidden to have, it's a horrible habit of hers.  She needs to get it together.  Luckily, Barney wasn't paying her any attention.  I really loved that.  Even with her trying to turn him on with some girl-on-girl action didn't get a reaction from him.  Barney's not the sharpest guy around, so I could believe that he was too into a funk to notice what Robin was doing, but not so much when Robin literally threw herself at him by appearing at his door in just lingerie.  I would have liked Barney to have been like, "Thanks for the offer, but no."  He didn't really reaction like I thought he would.

But it was all good since Robin got a slap in the face when her bold move was countered by Patrice.  Wow.  Barney could not been with someone that irritated Robin more!  That was awesome.  Plus, as annoying as Patrice is, she feels like a genuine person who could help Barney heal from his breakup and his decision to shut the door on Robin.  I don't know if there will be romance between them, but at least she's acting like a friend to him.  Robin's too caught up in herself to help Barney with the pain, Ted's got his own mess to deal with, and of course, Marshall and Lily have Marvin.  So really, Patrice might just be what he needs.  At any rate, she can make Robin blow her top and that's enough for me.

This week's Ted wasn't so pathetic that I wanted him to just drop into a hole and disappear.  I mean, he was acting crazy by acting like Marvin was his kid and stealing all the first moments away from his parents, but his actions were able to evoke some sympathy from me.  Apparently he needs a project to obsess over before he becomes the creepy guy at a baby's swimming class who has no baby there in attendance.  I think I liked, though, that he made a scrapbook just because it had pissed off Marshall and Lily so much by its existence.  And it was even better that in the future Marshall and Lily get revenge by taking Ted's firstborn to Santa while they're babysitting him.  Loved that they apparently do hold grudges (and rightfully so).

There was some pretty interesting development in the Barbin situation.  Not sure if Patrice is a roadblock or simply a distraction, but it's got me thinking about what will happen in the next episode a lot more than I've thought about this show in a long time.  I'm not too worried about Ted--I'm sure he'll get another project to keep him occupied.  Better him building some structure that bores everyone than him moping around about not having found his future wife yet.  There's little worse than love-lost Ted.