How I Met Your Mother: I’m Not That Guy
By fred | October 30, 2007
(S03E06) Last time I wondered why the show wasn’t any more popular than it is, because it really deserves it. And yes, okay, during the first few episodes one may have been formulating a few worries as to whether or not it was still as good and funny as it used to be.
First off, this is irrelevant regarding the popularity of the show, which was more of a global appreciation of the show, all seasons included. Then, I think the announcement can be officially made now, it’s time : as the recent episodes have proven, the show is fully back, it is nothing but great fun to watch it and all signs of disappointment have been erased.
In others words, yes, this episode was great.
You could tell from the opening that it was going to be good, because the opening scene was really funny, and it features all characters at what they do best.
This episode was not just made of jokes, and while it did not feature any development regarding the infamous mother, it had a strong back story based on Lilly and Marshall. They were the real backbone of this episode, as often. And for good reasons, they are pretty much the only ones who can do that.
Sure Barney can hold an episode on his shoulders from time to time, but he’s more of a sidekick. While newly weds Lilly and Marshall have a solid, long term relationship and can rely carry way much, as illustrated once again this time. But while bizaro-Ted wasn’t as strong as other stories, it was far from being weak. And while Robin didn’t had any story of her own, she was still part of the whole episode, and quite frankly, better that than having her stuck alone into some lame weak story no one cares about.
This episode was pretty funny, and we learned a lot, there was some great character development, even though it wasn’t about Ted or the “mother”. We’ve seen Marshall struggle about what job he should take, it’s been acknowledge that Lilly spends way more money than she has, and we’ve discovered that the perfect and adorable couple that are Lilly and Marshall aren’t that perfect after all. Well, no actually they are, because Lilly could not force Marshall into what he did not want to do, for a mistake she did, although she was pushing him that way – but that’s not something she’s never been seen doing before.
I liked that, because if you remember her pressing Marshall to go work with Barney, it just seems like a whole, like an actual character, consistent with its flaws. Continuity, some people call it. What I wasn’t too fond of was the repeats of Lilly saying those works to Marshall, when Robin found out. That wasn’t funny, it actually felt flat, slow.
So Lilly tried to influence her husband, but didn’t actually push him all the way. She did not, but others did, and Marshall eventually took the job. So yeah, they’re a perfect match for each others. Yes, Marshall took the job, and went to the dark side. And despite what he may think now, we’ve seen he’ll have plenty reasons to loose his hair in the future!
I liked that he eventually took the job, and that Lilly not only did not tell him about her huge money problems, which will be resolved obviously, but also – when seeing the huge amount of money he had been offered – went right to her fantasy world, diving in a sea of shoes. Expensive shoes. Because Marshall is a pretty awesome lawyer, he has to be, obviously.
Other things to mention :
- When Ted watches porn, it’s the little details he’s interested in.
“
- Could it be the navigator, Ted Mosby ?
- Uhh no, no navigator have three stripes on their hats, captains have four, that guy is a captain!
- Yeah, and I’m sure compete accuracy and all those details was very important to the directors Dirt and Skank, The Raunch Brothers.
”
Well apparently, they were!
- One of the best line of the episode, one of Robin’s best : “That Ted Mosby really knows what he’s doing!” Great stuff. But don’t worry Ted, “you’re bigger“.
- Robin actually had a couple of great lines, and no, I don’t mean that Jude Law one. There was one that felt like something Barney could have said, though :”I know what kind of plane this is, it’s a.. Boing!” Yeah, those two are totally together in the future…
- Adult Video Weekly is not Architecture Vision Weekly ! Pretty funny mess that was, “I’ll be working with at least three partners (…) I know they’re gonna ride me pretty hard, but they’re great guys!” I guess Ted was just pretty luck that bizaro-Ted hadn’t actually read that interview yet…
- I loved the whole “classic seduction technique“, or the character of Jeff himself. He was pretty awesome : “Go to Hell! I’ll do it again!! *looks at the camera* I’m innocent, I’m innocent…”
“
- Oohh.. he’s good!
- What do you mean ?
- Oh I use it all the time. First I buy her, and by her I mean you, a drink. Now I’m the guy who gets her what she wants. Then, I pretend to care what whatever idiotic thing she cares about. For you that would be the “environment”… Now I’m the great guy who shares her interests. And before you know it, you’re naked, in my apartment, shooting “Oh..oh..Ba..ar..ney..ey..ey..” ; and by you, I mean her!
”
- Barney does lack any confidence, ever. Unless he’s meeting some porn star, some male porn star. “It is an honor to meet you sir, Starney Binson, Barney Stinson! Damn it!”
“
- Wait, are you telling me that they actually have conventions for porn ?
- Affirmative. Or to put it another way, God bless America!
”
- I liked Lilly’s denials, and if you throw a little Johnny Cash reference in there, I’m just in love! “They were in the closet when we moved in. I steal, I’m a criminal. I once shot a man just to watch him die.”
- Still working on the classic seduction technique, one thing many of Barney’s conquests must have had to go through : the walk of shame !
- “I can see the poster now : Lance Hardwood, Sex Architect. Starring Ted Mosby.“
Posted in Reviews
Shows: How I Met Your Mother
