i know i'm one of the only people on ilx who watches *how i met your mother* on a regular basis, but did anyone else see the robin sparkles episode? where robin didn't want people to know that she had

Zooey breaking and explaining that her family lived at the Arcadia and Ted saying he loved her was way more touching than I expected it to be. I R sappy.

the drinking stuff was pretty funny.

The season finale didn't do much for me. This season really took a downturn after Marshall's dad died.

Agreed.

it also reminded me of the mistake that was robin + barney (and 'robin + barney get fat and ugly').

what a mess.

i think/hope they realized the ugly fat Robin & Barney was a low point for the show and that future storylines about them being together will be completely different, although the callback was a bad sign. i like that they brought Nora back, though, things definitely felt unfinished w/ her.

At least now we understand why they suddenly took a break from the Nora/Barney storyline. They've been screwing up all the relationship storylines though, they know how to stretch out the chase but Ted and Zoey became 1000X less interesting after they got together, for instance.

it looks like it's far from a callback—on the basis of robin's sad-face, that's going to be robin and barney's plot next year.

well obviously the plot will be them having feelings for each other again, but i don't assume that means the same "we look like crap when we're a couple" thing all over again (which may be wishful thinking admittedly)

nah, HIMYM SOP is like yo dawgs we changed now, i mean, kids

what i'm saying

they also changed ted censoring all mentions of WEED in the stories he is still supposedly recounting to his kids, they must be growing up on that couch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS5X8ASyy08

During the dance bit in the wedding, I was sure that this was it. I was finally going to leave it behind.

Then in the next episode they kept playing "Victoria" and I thought, "oh dear" and there she was. I guess I'm gonna see how this plays out for a little while longer.

i kept thinking "why is 'Victoria' the running theme of this episode" and then kinda smacked my forehead when i remembered there actually is a character w/ that name

i rmde'd when they based one episode around a character having YouTube infamy, and then they had that played out concept in TWO episodes in one night, ugh

all worth it to see my wife laugh for five minutes straight at 'Beercules' though

I lold at that too

I loved the dance bit at the wedding. And it's about time they brought Victoria back, she was my favorite Ted girlfriend by far.

At this point I don't really care who Ted ends with. I just want Robin and Barney to get together for good and then the show can end (it's time I think).

they're doing AT LEAST two more seasons, which i have no problem with

You guys, Jimmi Simpson. "The sweet science, the sport of kings . . . I was going to say 'darts,' but EDWARD FORTYHANDS it is!"

And the reveal at the end that he's a surgeon. Oh, man.

yeah jimmi simpson killed it

what was everyone WEARING in this episode

it looked like a bbc show

This could just be the shellshock from Terra Nova talking, but was that actually a really good episode?

Or was I just remembering Victoria and the time that I did really like this show? Was the "Spit on a Stranger" cover too much?

robin's hair is bumming me out in these new episodes

it looks like i will get to test out my theory that last season just wasn't funny because everyone (marshall, robin, lily) got fat. since they're all slimmed down again.

xpost i like her hair!

segel's weight has fluctuated over the years but i don't think i'd call either of the girls at any point fat (not counting pregnancies obviously)

well no but that is in fact what i'm counting.

This could just be the shellshock from Terra Nova talking, but was that actually a really good episode?

No it really was! Though I guess it could be because of Victoria too - she's always been my favourite Ted girlfriend.

It felt like an early season episode as well, and not just because of Victoria. The bet scenario was well done and always twisting, and I liked the way it would take away attention from Ted trying to tell his story but he never seemed bothered by it. The bus scene also had a feeling of a genuine emotion I haven't seen on the show in a long while, although that might just be Victoria making everything better. I just hope they do something with the Robin/Ted/Barney situation quickly, because I liked the idea of that development.

Preparing for it to drop off next week, and once again teeter on the edge of "I'm giving up".

Robin and Barney must be the ones getting married no? We haven't seen the bride iirc and the trio as friends "wasn't working" yet the kids know Uncle B and Aunt R?

i always thought Victoria was a little overwhelmingly cutesy-wutesy but now i don't mind her as much, at least in this storyline -- maybe seeing the actress play a villain on Warehouse 13 just gave her a little more of an edge in my mind?

xpost re Barney and Robin: yeah I think that's not really going to be the surprise, but just how they end up there. It was hinted at in the first ep of the season anyway which ended with the bride asking to see Ted - no one Barney marries except Robin would do so, right?

I liked the idea that they weren't working as a group too - that seems really real among people I know who have dated, broken up, and started hanging out with each other immediately again. Someone will always have residual baggage.

Right - I forgot the bride asked to see Ted too. My friends and I have a similar group - one of my bridesmaids dated my husband in high school, as did a few of our other guests/friends. But I wasn't there in high school so can't comment on how immediate the breakups/hangouts were.

kinda getting off-topic, but i get the sense that there's kinda a pride that people have about hanging out with their ex's that i never really understood (and that I think Ted has demonstrated in the show). not that i think it's something to be shameful about but i never really quite understood why ppl were proud about things like still being friends with an ex, or having an ex at their wedding. is it because they think there's something virtuous about, or indicates some kind of strength of spirit/will, to remain friends w/ someone despite all the baggage? Or are they trying to signal that they don't get baggage from strongly charged emotional events? Because the latter doesn't sound like something to be proud of! You must be pretty emotionally superficial to not have any baggage from the traumatic ending of a relationship. Or maybe it's that they feel more evolved bc they are able to not let their emotions get in the way of their relationships? But why would that be a sign of being 'evolved?' It's a totally normal, natural, healthy human thing to feel emotionally affected by serious relationships and the repercussions of those relationships dying. Anyway, I hope himym deals with some of these questions.

ok i understand where it is going and agree with you all but blimey that ending was incredibly sad.

Yeah, first time I've cared about Ted at all in ages. Really hit that "what if" note well, probably because I also thought Victoria was his best. And I also feel old realising that it was 5 years ago.

Mordy: I guess it depends on the length of the time between break-up and friendship. I don't hang out with any of my exes every day, but some I would hang out with on a pretty regular basis and it was good. I think it's better to be able to accept a moment as passed than it is to be hung up forever.

Yeah, the time away between dating and being friends again is crucial imo. Part of is pride def - like there's a need to prove to the other party that they're not as badly hurt or affected as they might really be, deep down. also there's this idea that the ability to carry on a friendly conversation following a break-up is the "mature" thing to do.

Anyway, the Victoria episodes were on re-run here a few weeks ago and it seems right that she's the one who points this out to Ted - Robin was in the way of their relationship from the start, not just when she went to Germany.

Awesome episode. The "what if" scene was done really well, and was kind of heartbreaking, especially as it seems most people here (myself included) were thinking how Victoria really was Ted's best girlfriend.

Ewok Line Presentation

i can't believe i'm still invested in what happens to these characters

man this show

hate being in a position where i have to be like "the first three seasons were really smart and funny! i swear!!! no really!!"

The sandwich plot was pretty funny. "it's a sign!" SLAYED me once video was shown.

Annoyed the entire episode. Then felt bad for Barney at the end. Guess I'm gonna tune in again next week. *sigh*

it's not at peak level but it's still a pretty good show imo

Now that they've laid off Ted's finding a girlfriend thing again, it's pretty watchable. Marshall and Lilly baby-stuff gets on my nerves, but Robin and Barney has held my attention more than I thought it would. Aside from the Victoria episode, all aspects of which they absolutely nailed, I've barely laughed at all this year.