The thing that annoys me most about most season finales is that someone most always has to die. Luckily, the makers of How I Met Your Mother, must share my feelings and thus we get our own set of clichés. And while we did end up at the hospital (again), a relationship blossomed (again), and a cliffhanger (duh) it was so funny, I really couldn’t care less. The only thing I didn’t like is they HIMYM doesn’t get an hour long season finale.

The callbacks in this episode were priceless. And All the plotlines were done well and made me laugh the whole way through. Also, I LOVED the goat. It appears that putting a barnyard animal in a sitcom is instant comedy genius.  I’m honestly not sure which has more hype and build up…the goat, what really happened with that pineapple or who the mother is? Well at least one question has been answered now, though I wonder how they “get rid” of the goat? Plus we did anyone else catch a glimpse of “the slutty pumpkin” as Marshal stood as Dracula to make the leap?

The Robin and Robin story line was excellent, yet not too revealing. Barney’s conversation with Ted was such a good scene, and the hug (holding tears back).  The continual back and forth of Robin Mosbying Barney and Barney’s reaction was priceless. Their hospital scene was great, the trouble doesn’t seem so troubling. Throughout the entire season we have seen Barney make this gradual push towards this…and while I don’t think that he or Robin can change their ways immediately, I do think the journey will be strange but funny. I hope they keep the two together long term or something of the sort.  The scene before Barney makes the leap speaks volumes to their feelings. While we have seen many episodes where Barney glances at Robin, knowing there is something more, this may be one of the first time we have seen Robin look that way at Barney.  It was so significant too, Barney making that leap, Robin urging him on with their shared look. Robin belongs with Barney, but we will see how they play this out.

I do love all the talk about the mother, it’s fun to think about, discuss. But I enjoy the journey al lot more. Carter Bays said in an interview with Alan Spinwall that he won’t answer the “when will we meet the mother” question because his preference is a spoiler. And knowing that the mother is in Ted’s class, well that could make things move quick but if the final moment of the show are “and that’s how I met your mother” which I am more of a fan of then I hope they postpone it as long a s possible. I think they could keep the show going after she is introduced but I enjoy the journey and stories of these 5 friend so much I really hate to see it move too quickly. And since we know the Mother was in Ted’s Architecture class, I would think we can easily eliminate some mother candidates (ehem…Robin, Victoria…)

“You know what? Let’s sort this out later”…shall we? I’ll recap a bit more with the bullet points and Legendary Lines…

What did everyone else think?

How I Met Your Mother Music: (looking for a song from this season? try here)

• Murder Train by the Foreskins (played and Ted and the Goat fight…it’s the go to violence song for the show now, bravo) now if they would only release it!
• Prophets by AC Newman (closing, as they all make “the leap”)

 Legendary Lines:

Marshall: Lily, when Evil Knievel sat astride his star spangled rocket on the rim of Snake River Canyon, do you think his wife said, “Honey, Get down from there!”
Lily: For the last time I am not Linda Knievel. I will never be Linda Knievel!
Marshall: You don’t need to remind me.

Lily:  You’re gonna break whatever it is that pumps that black sludge through his brains.

Barney: You happened upon a beautiful suit. A beautiful Canadian suit. Double breasted…mmmmm…

Barney:  This is so not pimped out, if anything this is pimped in.

Hospital Orderly: But remember buddy. Baahh means baahh.

Barney: The trouble doesn’t seem so troubling.

Lily: Barney planned on being a violinist.

Marshall: I AM NEVER EATING RIBS AGAIN!!!… in front of Ted.

Marshall: I did it!
Lily: Yes you did!
Marshall:  I’m getting a motorcycle.
Lily:  You absolutely are not

Moments of Awesomeness:

• First and foremost , the goat. The fight scene had me rolling…also I love it when they play Murder Train. I wish I could find that song for download.
• Vampire Marshall. All of his “leap scenes” were cool but the vampire look at the Halloween party took the cake.
• “The Mosby”… you know I actually used “the Mosby” before Ted did, though I eventually married the girl…true story. (ps, this is not fuel for you Ted/Robin peeps)
• Callbacks, Marshall and Evil Knievel, the goat, the roof events, Sven, no one watching Robin’s morning show (somebody watch it please?), Lily keeping secrets, Marshall’s “I can jump that far”, the Halloween party and the slutty pumpkin, Murder Train … callbacks are great anytime in HIMYM but ESPECIALLY in a season finale! (also, I’m sure I missed some)
• Robin and Barney’s conversation. The back and forth. Fear or commitment vs. the Mosby reaction. Then the kiss. All in all the hospital scene was funny and awesome.
• I love the way Ted goes through half the episode with the goat hoof print on his forehead.
• So funny when the Rib Town guys broke up with Ted.

No re-return for the Season Finale..but do check back here often over the break. I have some cool ideas planned, some contests and also I plan to start from Season 1 with How I Met Your Mother Recaps. And as always, discussion is recommended and encouraged!

I thought last week’s HIMYM was a lot better and maybe I am still expecting too much because of the phenomenal Scrubs finale, but I thought this episode was funny but just, well…average. I mean Stella (Sarah Chalke) is a great actress but on HIMYM she is just isn’t as funny as the others. It’s not her fault, I think it just how she is written and supposed to come across, as that more serious part. To that end I really feel that she is meant to contract the future mother.  She is not into all the romance Ted offers, she isn’t the fun one for Ted, I mean she is great, but Ted would have to settle in ways to make it work with her. I like seeing her on screen, but I hope this episode closes the door on all the “look Stella’s the mom” people. (btw. if you want to join a mother discussion try this about the mother.) Either way, her talk with Ted was really good and her words of encouragement. Plus we get another glimpse of the yellow umbrella. I really thought some chick was gonna walk by and say, where did you get that?

    Barney’s side story was fairly funny. Especially that eh got arrested, and swore on his suits…wow. I can’t decide which was funnier, seeing Barney in two thumbs up pose, crying at gunpoint pose, or scared and behind bars pose. I think everyone had speeding ticket stories, unless you can’t drive. Which brings to mind, when did Barney learn to drive? I thought in Arrivederci Fiero he never wanted to drive again. I’ll easily err on the side of it’s just not mentioned or I missed it before I gripe about continuity.

   Tony was really funny. Really, nothing but love for Jason Jones. The murder house scene was great. I’ve also been trying to find his movie site (weddingbridemovie.com) …I know it’s one of those “more about that later” like the goat. But the HIMYM spoof websites are always funny. Maybe it will be up once it’s talked about. Still, chances that it is about Ted’s marriage and meeting the mother? Thoughts?

  So I still laughed, but I was left wanting a little more. The ending was redeeming in a way, but definitely not in a funny way.

What did everyone else think?

How I Met Your Mother Music:

• Let’s go to the Mall (Ted’s ringtone)
• Careful by Michelle Featherstone (closing, as Ted talks to Stella)

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Legendary Lines:

Ted: I transitioned into a small business ownership, it’s the backbone of the economy.
Tony: No it’s not

Barney:  Challenge Accep-wait for it…
Ted: I don’t get it… oh wait, Ted. Accep- Ted.

Robin: You got Tony to dump with Stella, I’m sorry but I am gonna have to insist that you bump this.

Barney: OOOOO…Did you feel that? I think we just had a what-up quake?

Stella: I know you’re tired of waiting. And you may have to wait a little while more, but she’s on her way, Ted. And she’s getting here as fast as she can.

Moments of Awesomeness:

• Ted still has the cowboy hat from Right Place Right Time
• the "that check is so big” jokes
• Ted and Stella’s talk was pretty good. Definitely see Ted moving back towards Season 1 Ted that we all loved.
• Ted’s “Let’s go to the Mall Ringtone”
• Barney. Period. The man is genius. His voice tone changes during the pullovers were hilarious.
• May favorite moment is when Stella comes to Ted’s door and Robin is…well, Robin. “have to insist that you bump this.”
• Tony’s job offers. If the murder house wasn’t enough there was the “I want you to build the Statue of Liberty…a husband”
• Thought it was great that Tony describes as a Daschund with a bad back that has to wheel itself around…actually, yea, that’s pretty accurate.

The Re-Return:

    This really was a re-return, and something nice for those who missed Lily, plus the placement of the handbag, made me laugh. As Barney tells the story of a girl that tracked him down Lily return to the table. She says the infamous peanut butter joke actually made her laugh, thought 3 weeks later.

   Barney then begins to give details of his new “chick scoring” plan, quite funny, and Lily leaves. “That’s all I can handle for one day. I’ve gotta ease back into it”

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Got questions about the music? While our show discussion always has the episode music list for quick reference try our How I Met Your Mother Music page.

You can also download the episode on iTunes: or get As Fast as She Can on Amazon

Download on iTunes: or get Right Place Right Timer on Amazon

Good Episode. While I hate not seeing Lily, the reference to her help. I’m really glad they didn’t go down the “Robin’s pregnant” road like they were playing out on the promo video.  Anyways, onto what I thought.

While I wasn’t for sure who he was running into, I could have almost guessed. I know a lot of fans had hoped it would be Victoria but no cigar.  I still hope they bring back Victoria at some point, I never felt like they truly resolved that relationship well. The segways into why Ted went that way were played well. The call backs were so very funny. And while we say the mysterious yellow umbrella that makes it’s  appearance on the cover of the How I Met Your Mother Season 4 DVD, was a constant, I have a feeling that it’s not leading the direction we think.  Think about it, Stella’s appearance could have a few meaning but I think the main options are 1) she is the mother and it’s her umbrella 2) she says something to Ted that helps him along his way to finding the mother and it’s not her umbrella.  Well Stella is not the mom.  Despite Sarah Chalk having more time with the most likely end of Scrubs, I think enough evidence has been given to back me up, including words from Ted’s own mouth. So that leads me to believe that the Stella encounter will play a part in Ted meeting his future wife (yes, I know there are other theories but I’m writing here). And to add even more, I loved the homeless guy with the headphones coming out of an orange. =)

Also the re-return provided even more ammunition for a Robin/Barney relationship that should be dealt with in the Season finale. It also provides a great explanation for a final change like the one we have been seeing this season in Barney.  I also assume that his date with Petra didn’t go so well.

Lots of possibilities I suppose. What did everyone else think? About the possibilities or the episode?

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How I Met Your Mother Music:

-Glad Girls by Guided by Voices (what Ted would have done. Lots of Hugs)

Legendary Lines:

Robin: Someone already put it on youtube?
Barney: Yea… Someone

Ted: Of course she’s the one! You have to marry those, I mean her.

Barney: Marshall, knowing how important this is to me do you think Lily would even consider, I’d do all the work…
Marshall: I will end your life.

Robin: Looking over the names in this list I’m not sensing a lot of ethnic diversity

Ted: You should be proud. You should be tested, but you should be proud.

Barney: The highest of fives

Marshall: Don’t get me wrong, you’re disgusting and a cop should probably clamp a boot on your genitals.

Moments of Awesomeness:

• call back to Marshall’s fish comedy from Old King Clancy.
• Ribtown… I wonder if Ted was wearing his red cowboy boots then too.
• Robin’s I’m preggers joke… not funny, but funny. Ted’s reaction was classic but Barney’s reaction was even better.
• Anyone notice that Barney’s 200th was benching about 345lbs?
• Bro’s Life Magazine? Another HIMYM venture like the Bro Code?
• Barney’s rate of success. 1%. Marshall’s charts were hilarious. The callback to the interventions was great too. By the way, I may be forgetful but who is Cecilia?
• Loved the side characters this week: Goulashes the weather clown. Mill the homeless guy.
• Marshall’s charts were amazing. Ranking of Presidents (by how dirty their name sounds)… the intervention was excellent, he was prepared though and even made a chart.
• Lady from Scrubs as the chart girl!
• I was quite happy to see the yellow umbrella.
• Ted’s hugging daydream reminded me of the DMB video for Everyday. IT was great. Anyone take a good look at all the people he hugged?

The Re-Return:

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So I was looking around at Amazon trying to find all the songs for the new How I Met Your Mother music page and discovered that How I Met Your Mother: Season Four is already available for pre-order on DVD.  No word on the actual release date but I’ll update this when it’s for sure.

If you can’t wait that long you can get the digital downloads on Amazon Digital Video on Demand or iTunes anytime you like.

Also, probably since it’s so early there is no information on special features and such or if there will be any specials like when a small version of the Awesomeness Poster came with the DVD if you bought from Target. More info when it is available. Until then if you haven’t bought Seasons 1-3 on DVD now might be a good time!

ps…anyone want to wager on why on the season 4 cover Ted looks sad and we see the yellow umbrella? I only ask this now seeing as the Season 4 Finale is a a few eps off and title of the show (and possibly the yellow umbrella?) is supposed to be addressed in the finale.

Download on iTunes: or get The Three Days Rule on Amazon

This was a great episode.  I didn’t get to watch last night because there is currently 1 TV in the room my wife and I are staying in and Chuck was on. Thus my being a nice husband is cause for a late viewing , recap and review. On the bright side, Chuck was pretty awesome last night, so there is that.

Despite the severely sacrilegious nature of it, Barney’s attribution of the 3 day rule to Jesus was hilarious. BTW, CBS posted the whole thing to youtube.  Marshall’s discomfort with the whole thing made it even funnier. I felt almost as bad watching it as I do when I watch Dogma. Whether it was scripted or adlib, NPH does such a great job of delivering those speeches. Wow everytime.

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Seems everyone feels the need to look out for Ted, and with his doucheyness I can see it, but it’s become a major theme for the show. So when Ted stands on his own to prove his friends wrong it’s nice to see. When that backfires like his date with Holli (i not y) it’s even funnier. which brings this up. So there is always a lot of speculation about who the mother is (check out some of the comments in that article) and with every new girl Ted meets/dates the discussion is always started. Some people might take old Ted’s final comment (see legendary lines below) as a hint that Holli could be the one. However, I thought it was quite clear that the date went so poorly it was over. If anything Old Ted is only spilling the beans now because he didn’t want to admit it was wrong. Anyway, for those mother theorist out there, that’s my 2 cents for now. Hang around though because rumor is that the mother is addressed in the Season 4 finale, in what way we don’t know.

I honestly feel that Barney and Marshall stole the show. Their reactions to the realization they were sexting Ted was priceless and Ted imagining them in the place of Holli still has me laughing. “Yeah, I don’t think they actually did those things, they were just at the bar.” By the way Stan rocked it, Kevin Michael Richardson is the man.

Thoughts?

Moments of Awesomeness:

• Barney’s Jesus speech was both sacrilegious and very funny. Also, surprisingly filled with spiritual insight. Robin laughing the whole time and Marshall who is clearly uncomfortable with it and even looks up and mouths the word “sorry” to the heavens. Plus, Jesus invented the high five?
• Ted’s naked lady noise was reminiscent of the Butthead laugh and a typical male reaction. I like that, funny stuff.
• I loved the callback to the cowboy boots from s3e19 – Everything Must Go   (pulling. them. off.)
• I loved the way Ted pictured Marshall & Barney doing the things instead of Holli. ROTF. LOL.
• Speaking of LOL… I’m not sure Ted knows what it means either.
• Ted’s payback text was priceless, a much better idea than robin’s but she did try to put up a fight for it. Plus it played right into what the guys were already “struggling” with.
• Never heard of Pablo Neruda before, but Stan quoted him well. It almost moved me. plus the bit about bread, not sure how that fits but it was beautiful.
• Maybe it’s just be but anytime I see Barney’s office and posters I get excited.
• I really thought it was funny that Marshall & Barney kept fighting over Ted, while playing the girl. “I’m Marshall Erickson, star of Ted’s gay dreams”. their realization that they were sexting with Ted was too comical.

Bro-Cabulary (theories and words):

three day rule – the amount of time to wait before making contact after getting a phone number. The origins of this rule (according to Barney) are attributed to Jesus. Who waited the perfect amount of time, 3 days, before coming back to life.

The Re-Return:

Stan returns to the bar on his night off. However , it’s not to hang with the guys, it’s for a date with Robin. Then Stan breaks up with the guys. I loved it that Barney tried to get them to stay by saying “do you like magic?”

Robin: Do you even know their names?
Stan: No…

Lingering Questions:

It was funny, but did it seem like Barney was more broken up over the Robin part of the date or the Stan part?

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So I have always been a Seinfeld fan and due to that particular addiction, a large part or tonight seems Seinfeld-isk. How I Met Your Mother, however took a completely different path than Kramerica Inustries…though there still may or may not have been a chicken somewhere. Most people are expecting a goat sometime soon though. The whole episode was very good I thought, other than the fact the bloody weather people kept cutting in to tell me about some tornado or something, what a bother! Still Ted’s struggle with side business, while comical, echoes a little too close to home.

On a different note, personally, I’ve always wanted to be a “that guy” in the office. Maybe toy guy would be a good choice. This episode also made the intentions of the writers clear. There will be a Barney/Robin story line for the end of the season. The fine fold at CBS (who hate our blog much more than have-you-met-ted.com, who get’s all the cool stuff) confirm that in several ways. So yea, funny episode. Not much Lily but when they can’t even hide Robin’s baby bump that well it’s probably just easier. Still lost of laughs…maybe once I get to re-watch the entire episode I’ll notice more. What did every one else think, feel free to fill me in.

Legendary Lines:

Barney (about Robin): Of course he’s gonna sleep with her, look at her, she’s the greatest person on the planet!

Robin: A hot guy telling  you when you can & can’t pee, that’s the dream!

Barney: I’M, wait for it…IN, wait for it… LOVE, wait for it… WITH, wait for it….

Marshall: Monty Python guy?
Barney: We are the knights who say…Your Fired.

Barney: Lily is a diabolical puppet master, subtly manipulating every situation to get exactly what she wants. She’s pure evil Marshall…You got a good one there.

Moments of Awesomeness:

• did anyone notice that when Ted knew an answer on wheel of fortune really quickly he yelled out “Marshall”. That’s something new for you peeps out there who play along with the “Major Bummer” gag… It has been pointed out Ted was might be saying “Penny Marshall”… possibly, but my game is more fun!
• I really want some Wolverine battle claws now. Those marketing gurus for the new X-men Origins/Wolverine movie are genius.
• Marshall hits the Robin and Barney point right on the head, “Me and Lily both think you’re kinda perfect for each other”
• Food guy, toy guy, you tube clip guy… girls should be able to play along at too, but which kind of “guy” would you be at the office?
• Marshall saves the day by hiring PJ to be the new paralegal/ Sports Guy..thus solving everyone’s issues.
• Ted’s whole “what if I don’t think of the book” speech was actually inspiring…despite being a douche.
• Playing off of Ted’s douche-ary.. PJ gives Robin the letter for a breakup and Ted gets the flowers. lol.
• The storm off. And Marshall’s assistance.  

Bro-cabulary:

boy funny and girl funny – there are some jokes, phrases, situations, etc. that only guys or only girls would find funny. An example of this would be how only a guy would find the joke: “What’s the difference between peanut butter and jam?”…(since we have female readers and I have a sense of decency I shall not divulge the punchline.)

Music:

very cool little acoustic guitar piece… not sure if it was just show written or something else.

The Re-Return:

Barney & Marshall site eating lunch. They greet the “food guy”, then the “toy guy” and who’s that? a ninja guy?

Barney: He doesn’t work here. I think we should leave the building. This has happened before.

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