HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER: Shelter Island

Raise your hand if you knew Stella and Ted wouldn’t marry. One, two, three…fifty-seven, fifty-eight, fifty-nine…Great.

While I drone on and on about being a Sarah Chalke fan, I also drone on about my feelings that Stella isn’t right for Ted. She’s mentioned Lucy’s dad a few times before this episode and when she did, I always had this inkling that she was still in love with him. I imagine it is hard to have a child with someone, see him all the time, wanting to marry him and because he wouldn’t commit, you break it off.

Due to Stella’s sister’s fiancé bailing out just a few days before their wedding, Stella decided that she and Ted would get married in her place. Nora was already stealing all of Stella’s dream wedding plans, so it wasn’t a problem for Stella to take it over. But this was definitely not a Ted Mosby wedding. It was taking place at a yoga retreat center that served no alcohol and was 100% vegan. Let me backtrack a second to praise Ted for still ordering the lamb after Nora tried to meat guilt trip him.

When Stella found out that Ted invited Robin, she freaked out. Rightfully so, who invites an ex to his wedding? But with Robin being a part of the gang, I see Ted’s point in inviting her. They are best friends (wooooah, rephrase, best girl friend, woooooah, oh I give up! ), Stella is friendly with her and all of Ted’s other friends were invited. It would feel a bit awkward to be left out.

Robin, on the other hand should have declined the invite. Only she knew about her affection for Ted. She knew it would be awkward and she knew she still had some feelings of a future with Ted. Anyone reminisce a little about Ross inviting Rachel to his wedding to Emily on Friends? I was shocked that Robin asked Ted to not marry Stella! In the last episode she was behind Ted’s marriage. What made her change her mind? Poor girl was stuck in Japan at the #1 English-speaking Japanese news show, co-anchoring with a monkey. Robin ends up at the weirdest news stations.

When Ted and Robin get into an argument and he storms off in hopes to marry Stella, whom did Robin run to for consolations: Barney! Barney spent his portion of the storyline trying to avoid getting himself in a situation that would lead to no Robin banging. He worked hard, like he was Charlie Epps on Numb3rs, on a “How Can I Have Sex with Robin Again?” theorem.

Anyone check out all the stuff on the board?? I wrote down a lot of it and it included…

“ez = (gin + tonic)4, just be yourself, vulnerable, relationship ≈ freeway, insecure, nostalgic, booze, suit up!, [­BAC] ef=tm®BS URS, fish ≈ 5x in 1 night/ ∫ sin and an oldie but goodie, the HOT/CRAZY scale.

Conclusion: “Get her drunk at Ted’s wedding.” But could Barney do that with so many distractions? Apparently not. Not only did he have the desk receptionist tied to the bed, Stella’s sister Nora was also coming on to him hardcore. Did Barney miss out on a Robin-opportunity? She brought her own Scotch, for Pete’s sake.

Robin leaves Shelter Island by ferry and who’s on the ferry with her? Stella. With Tony! (Where was Lucky?) Poor Ted is back at their room reading a letter. Poor guy. He really loved Stella and has wanted to get married ever since Marshall decided to propose to Lily. We see Marshall, then Lily than Barney all read the note, feeling bad for Ted.

A few callbacks to prior episodes:

• “Zitch dog!”
• Telepathy
• Ted making it rain for Robin and stealing the blue French horn

I do think they missed the chance to mention Scooter, Lily’s ex that caused havoc at Lily and Marshall’s wedding. That would have been a perfect example when Ted was talking to the rest of the gang.

Loved:

• Ted realizing he needs to stop correcting people when he mentions that he has been sticking it to the mother of Tony’s daughter
• What the future would have been like it he had married Stella
• Stella’s imaginary exchange with Robin: “Suck it bitch, I win!”
• The guy behind the bar possibly being a member of the band Spin Doctors
• Marshall mentions all the freak-outs Lily had before their wedding and the last one being gibberish
• Lily’s remark to Barney: “At the sign of the first drunk bridesmaid, you’ll have your head under her dress like an old-time photographer.”

I’m wondering, are we going to see a love triangle between Ted, Robin and Barney? Ted will obviously live in his apartment now that he’s not moving to Jersey and we know Robin moves in. I am now not so certain that he and Robin will be platonic heading towards his 31st birthday.

Clearly there is a lot to discuss.  Do you think Robin has true feelings for Ted or was she just an ex reacting to her ex getting married?  Has Barney lost his chance with Robin forever? Did anyone else feel that Stella’s objection to Robin came a little out of no where?

— posted by Jen

Jen works for a restaurant group in Boston. She’s on vacation this week and plans to have a TV on DVD marathon to pass the time away. She’s also very excited to be heading to NYC in a couple weeks and hopes to check out Robin’s favorite hot-dog place, Gray’s Papaya.