How I Met Your Mother – Proposals, trains and strip clubs

As someone who is a big, big Barney and Robin ‘shipper, there is no earthly reason I should have liked this episode of How I Met Your Mother. Kevin proposes to Robin, later un-proposes and then Ted drops the “I love you” bomb. Barney in the mean time has his earth rocked by a woman who accurately calls him on all aspects of his game, which rocks him to his core. But I liked those stories — Marshall and Lily being boring? Not so much.

Returning to the idea of a Robin/Ted relationship was a seed planted much earlier in the season, during “The Duck Tie.” Victoria dropped some knowledge on Ted, but I never really bought into the idea that he and Robin had some massive unresolved “stuff.” My opinions, however, aren’t as strong as Chekov’s proverbial gun. This discussion — and whatever happens after Ted confessions his (supposed) love — was an inevitability we had no chance to avoid. There are many directions this story could go, and I’m pretty leery about each and every one of them.

I would have never thought that Barney would need so many kicks in the rumpus before turning into the type of guy that could conceivably settled down with someone. First it was, ironically, Robin. Then, after more playing around, there was Nora. Now, apparently, it is Quinn that the Barnacle has to “learn” from. I did enjoy the reveal at the end that she was actually a stripper at the club he frequents, and has been observing him for some time now. I think he’ll figure that particular piece of trivia out sooner rather than later, but he’s obviously not the kind of guy to let that get in the way.

I feel like I’m beating a dead horse any time I complain about Marshall and Lily. While it is she who has been the more frequent target of my wrath, their relationship in general has been one of the weaker parts of the show. I could not, for an instant, connect with their whole “keeping score” bit. Maybe it is because I’m single, and haven’t had to have that particular argument for a while; regardless it didn’t work for me.

What did you like or dislike about “The Drunk Train?”

Notes & Quotes

• Love “I’m not a Gullible-Dumbass Disorder.”
• Some of the fun train names: Slamtrack, The Chattanookie Choo-Choo, The Little Engine with Wood, The Long Island Tail Road, The Whorient Express, and, of course, Thomas the Spank Engine.
• “I already know you.” – Quinn
  “Oh really?” – Barney
  “You wear a suit all the time.” – Quinn
  “Obviously.” – Barney
  “You have a stupid rule for everything.” – Quinn
  “’I pay for the meal, you handle my deal.’ That’s just good manners.” – Barney
  “But you end up most nights alone at the strip club feeling empty inside, telling yourself your life is somehow epic or classic or … legendary.” – Quinn
  “I never say ‘epic’ or ‘classic.’ … Do you practice the dark arts?” – Barney
• Did HIMYM really need to do a Jersey Shore episode?
• “Tonight is going to be Epic … wait for it … dary. Wait, no, that’s not it. How do I usually say it? I hate this Quinn girl!” – Barney
  “Damn it, Ted! I was about to drop some sweet wordplay about logarithms and getting into a rhythm with my log.” – Barney
• The stuff on Barney’s whiteboard was great, but my favorite bit was as C₂H₅OH (alcohol) goes up, “no” goes down.

Clacked by Ivey West
on Feb 13, 2012 @ 21:35 EST5EDT