HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER: The Rough Patch

“Daddy’s Home”

Hey kids. Today I’m going to talk to you about last night’s episode a little differently than usual. I want you to know that I am here for you during this time of grieving. We witnessed the end of something that began so beautifully and I understand if not everyone is able to cope.

The relationship many of us waited ever so patiently and cheered for last season came to a screeching halt last night. As a vocal supporter of Robarney last season, I have felt like I have been a hypocrite these past few months as I’ve been pointing out so many flaws in their relationship-centric episodes. There have been a few good episodes but for the most part, the ho-hum episodes have centered on Barney and Robin’s coupledom and how it has adversely affected the gang. Their relationship made Lily and Marshall’s marriage hard to stomach. Ted, the only single guy in the gang, was more focused on their relationship than finding his own (cue the title of the show). I know the show isn’t truly about finding the mother but rather the adventure leading up to meeting the mother but Ted only dated one girl this season, and it was someone he had already dated.

I have been saying for a while that the two weren’t truly happy. Maybe it was because they were too similar. It could have been because they are too independent (the nice word for selfish) and set in their ways. For whatever reason, it wasn’t working out. They were both crying out secretly (Barney’s case vocally too via VHS porn) and physically (Robin’s looks going to hell and Barney’s compulsive eating) and were too stubborn to see what their relationship was doing to them, their friends and to us – the audience. Upon seeing their reflection, quite literally, they were able to see that their relationship just wasn’t working. They didn’t need Ted, Marshall, Kraken: The Relationship Terminator (Lily) or even Alan Thicke to break them up. They were hurting themselves and each other and agreed amicably to go back to being friends.

I think it was very responsible of the writers to end this relationship now, rather than torture the characters and the audience any longer. I didn’t want to hate one of my favorite shows after they put together two of my favorite people. While all of this sounds so sad, I actually really enjoyed this episode a lot. I think so much of this episode was well done. There are so many little moments that made this episode very enjoyable for me, even though the true core of the episode is upsetting. I feel a bit like I broke up with them myself yet I wish to remain friends with both of them too.

While their relationship is over now, I don’t see it being the end of them completely. I’m hoping this is a re-accessing break and that they come to terms with who they are and what the want from life and then possibly start up again.

A few of the highlights of last night’s episode:

• Barney’s plea to Ted via porn. Was “Ted Mosby: Sex Architect” too good to record over? Also loved that if Ted received his porn because he was dead, Barney would like Ted to bring him to the Hamptons in order to recreate “Weekend at Bernie’s”.

• The alpha dog being Lily in both her marriage and in the group dynamic.

• The well-played fat suit and old lady look. It was funny without being too over-the-top.

• All the callbacks from previous episodes. From the most recent regarding Robin and Barney’s fights to Lily, the relationship saboteur, to the porn collection (which, seriously can not fit into the trunk shown) and even the misplaced engagement ring in Robin’s champagne that ended her relationship with Ted, all were used effectively and perfectly.

• Alan Thicke and April Bowlby reprising their roles as Alan Thicke and crazy Meg, respectively (April can be seen in “Drop Dead Diva” on Lifetime).

• The new hunt for Alan and Robin’s failed Canadian variety show. I’m sure Barney can contact the same guy online that had the Robin Sparkle video.

So was this the real end for Barney and Robin?  Are you heartbroken or happy? Do you think the show was better off for putting them together only to break up at this point in the season?  Thoughts on last night’s episode?