Barney Stinson has always been one to hold a grudge. Toss in an affront to the one thing that he holds in the highest regard (his wardrobe, natch), and you have a volatile mix to be sure. But when producers Carter Bays and Craig Thomas put this particular episode together, they missed a prime opportunity to have fanboys (and girls) across the planet jumping for joy.
It started with Barney’s emotional breakdown. Spurned by Marshall for a lunch date, the Barnacle tears his office apart. Chairs tossed, desks cleared, paper tossed in the air (and falls down at an oddly delayed rate) … something clearly was bothering him. Though early on, I thought that there was a much more familiar score that could have been playing in the background.
Then when we learn of his real motivation, the payback Barney had been plotting for so long, that the potential for a great shout out became even more clear. Not only was he scheming and plotting and whiteboarding, but the man even wore a lab coat. A Lab Coat. And then, he put on goggles.
You’d think it would be a great shout out. The return of a beloved Joss Whedon character … such an unexpected homage not seen since Rick Castle donned a brown coat in a Halloween themed episode of Castle. But … alas … it was not to be. What could have been an epic nod turned out only to be a small wink. No Dr. Horrible score, and a costume that only referenced the character instead of fully evoking it … an opportunity squarely lost.
Our loss, boys and girls.
Notes & Quotes
I don’t know the Dr. Horrible character, so I can’t tell what Bays and Thomas missed by not putting a clear reference into the episode.
Anyways, it would be one funny reference for fans in an entirely interesting and funny plot line including an (at least for me) unexpected but hilarious twist.
It’s unfair that you nearly ignore all those thing by using half of your post, including the title, to pick at one missed opportunity.