7.3/10. Let's take this story-by-story. The bit with Barney and Robin's dad playing laser tag was pure fluff. Sure, there was a weak thread about Robin's dad appreciating and accepting Barney as his son, and it added a little texture to the exchange between Ted and Robin at the end of the episode, but for the most part this was an excuse to have Ray Wise and NPH clown around on the laser tag set for a while.
My favorite story was Marshal and Lily packing for Italy with Ted's assistance as an expert packer. There were a lot of laughs, from taking peeks at the stories behind various objects in the apartment, but also a bit of heft with Ted being unable to let go of a bean bag chair because it represents a portion of their friendship that's now ending. As I've often said, HIMYM often does best when it's exploring real things about growing up and growing older, and a fear that moving away means drifting apart is a relatable one. Here, the episode finds a nice mix between the show's trademark goofiness and heart.
I have mixed feelings about the bit with Robin digging up the locket. In and of itself, it feels like a mild retcon, since we've never heard about it before, but that's what the show does from time to time and I've come to accept. More than anything, I'm just not on board with the Ted-Robin-Barney love triangle. But if they're going to do it, I actually liked the way they realized it here. Despite the cheese, Ted and Robin's conversation feels very authentic, and there's something to be said for the idea that Barney is matching up so well with the father Robin could never connect with, while Ted knew something was up with her even after she begged off. I also liked the rain and the "signs from the universe" part of the discussion that works as a nice call back to the end of Season 1.
Ted's come a long way since that point. There's maturity in the idea of not beliving that everything is a fairytale and that the universe is going to magically deliver you to your truly love. But there's sadness on the endlessly optimistic dreamer, Ted, losing faith. I still don't buy this obsession with Robin on his part, but I buy him giving up on finding true love, and that has power independent of the other relationship drama.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2016-09-02T01:40:19Z
7.3/10. Let's take this story-by-story. The bit with Barney and Robin's dad playing laser tag was pure fluff. Sure, there was a weak thread about Robin's dad appreciating and accepting Barney as his son, and it added a little texture to the exchange between Ted and Robin at the end of the episode, but for the most part this was an excuse to have Ray Wise and NPH clown around on the laser tag set for a while.
My favorite story was Marshal and Lily packing for Italy with Ted's assistance as an expert packer. There were a lot of laughs, from taking peeks at the stories behind various objects in the apartment, but also a bit of heft with Ted being unable to let go of a bean bag chair because it represents a portion of their friendship that's now ending. As I've often said, HIMYM often does best when it's exploring real things about growing up and growing older, and a fear that moving away means drifting apart is a relatable one. Here, the episode finds a nice mix between the show's trademark goofiness and heart.
I have mixed feelings about the bit with Robin digging up the locket. In and of itself, it feels like a mild retcon, since we've never heard about it before, but that's what the show does from time to time and I've come to accept. More than anything, I'm just not on board with the Ted-Robin-Barney love triangle. But if they're going to do it, I actually liked the way they realized it here. Despite the cheese, Ted and Robin's conversation feels very authentic, and there's something to be said for the idea that Barney is matching up so well with the father Robin could never connect with, while Ted knew something was up with her even after she begged off. I also liked the rain and the "signs from the universe" part of the discussion that works as a nice call back to the end of Season 1.
Ted's come a long way since that point. There's maturity in the idea of not beliving that everything is a fairytale and that the universe is going to magically deliver you to your truly love. But there's sadness on the endlessly optimistic dreamer, Ted, losing faith. I still don't buy this obsession with Robin on his part, but I buy him giving up on finding true love, and that has power independent of the other relationship drama.