Another aspect of this episode that I didn’t love is how overly-sexual it is. I get that one of the characters has had sex with over 200 women and talks about them frequently, but for some reason tonight’s episode was just on another level. Perhaps it was Marshall’s discussion of the various stages of his fudge or him hyping himself up to bang his wife to sleep, but those lines were much more uncomfortable than usual.
Still, this episode’s strongest parts are also its most significant. The fight scene between Marshall and Lily is one of the most rawly emotional moments the show has ever turned out. Any time that those two have fought it’s really torn at me, mostly because they’re such a sweet, enjoyable couple, but this scene is on a level all to its own. It’s acted to perfection by both Jason Segel and Alyson Hannigan, as they convey the pain in a way that’s rarely seen on a network sitcom. Perhaps it’s such a powerful argument because they’re both right on some level. Still, when Marshall brings up their past, things reach a level that I wasn’t expecting to ever see again. Things now have an unrivaled weight, and this has suddenly become the most interesting part of the season. At this point, I have no idea how they’re going to work it out.
This isn’t one of the best episodes of the show, and it’s not nearly as fun as last week’s was, but it finally touches on one of the significant moments of this season’s plot and it does it in a very effective way. Aside from the scenes between Lily and Marshall, there are still some laughs to be found, though not nearly as many as there was potential for. On the whole, that makes for a better than average episode for the season, and one that definitely warrants a second watch.
Other Random Notes
- I want the number Barney spends on suits!
- That’s alright Ted, we’ve all had a phase in our lives where we dressed up with a balloon.
- “And that was the only time I ever split a cab.”
- “No distracting me with your calves.”
- Revenge is truly a dish best served cold. Major props on waiting 16 years for your vengeance Barney.
- I’d like to think Ranjit is the one who picked Lily up, but there has to be a reason that they didn’t show who was driving that car.
- Luke and Penny, eh? Well I’m obviously upset that the kids aren’t named Luke and Leia, but I suppose it could be worse.
- I’ve never gotten Richard Dawson-drunk, but that seems the most enjoyable of all the options.
- Would anyone out there like to hire me to PLEASE?
Be sure to check back next week for my review of the next episode in the final season of How I Met Your Mother.