TV Review: How I Met Your Mother 7.11-- The Rebound Girl

I have to say, as much as I love NBC's lineup, if there is a November sweeps MVP this year, it's got to be How I Met Your Mother.  This show has pulled out every conceivable stop this month, throwing viewers on a roller coaster ride that I, for one, was not entirely expecting.

Speaking of expecting... (see what I did there?), we should probably talk about that teeny tiny little line that ended the episode and threw us all for a loop.  Our favorite former commitment-phobe, Robin, is pregnant!  Or at least, she seems to think she is.  She also seems to think Barney is the father, as he is the recipient of this cut-to-black bomb drop. 

This episode's first twenty or so minutes were pretty hilarious, and this would have been an okay installment even without that last-minute cliffhanger.  We see Marshall and Lily wavering in their decision to sell the house in the suburbs left to them by Lily's grandparents, contemplating the virtues of leaving city life behind to raise their kid.  Robin is adamantly against this possibility, absurdly so until you put it together with her later revelation.  She locks herself in the bathroom in protest, while Lily and Marshall wait for a sign from the universe that they ought to uproot their lives to make way for baby.

Also contributing to the laughs, Barney and Ted drunkenly lament their woes with women, first wishing they could just be gay together, and ultimately arriving at the conclusion that they should adopt a kid together and embark on a happy lifetime of "bro-parenting".  It's perfect-- all of the great parts of having a kid, with none of the romantic drama!  The plan veers out of control right around the time Barney shows up at Ted's with a mystery baby he appears to have stolen (don't worry, it's later revealed to be his niece, whom his brother asked him to babysit), and both Ted and Barney come to the conclusion that they really do want families, but with the "right" person.

But of course, the focal point for me is Robin's announcement at the episode's end.  I kind of wish she would have apologized to Barney for her behavior last week, or at least tried to explain, but it's clear that she's got more than a few things on her mind at the moment.  What does a Robin pregnancy mean for the rest of this season, for the overall arc of the show, and most importantly, for her and Barney?  Let's look at our options, which include, but are not limited to, the following:

1) It's a false positive.  This would be almost too easy, and kind of a huge let down after the way the set up the reveal.
2)  It's Kevin's.  Unlikely, since Kal Penn's arc on the show is almost over with no additional episodes contracted (of course, that can easily change); and I can't really see him walking away from his kid.  Also, he just doesn't mesh as well with the gang as he could, and I feel like Ted would have given us some kind of indication in his narration that Keven is part of Robin's future if that were the case.
3)  It's Barney's.  This is the one I think many fans are rooting for, but it will not be an easy road even if it turns out to be true.  Several factors are working against our favorite couple here, the first being that a casting announcement was recently made about a new long-term love interest for Barney with episodes beginning in January.  I personally am predicting that he may rush into a marriage with this girl in order to "compete" with Robin's pregnancy (assuming she keeps the baby), and that's the wedding we saw in the flashforward in this season's premiere.  Remember that Barney was feeling slightly conflicted in those scenes; that could easily be because he's still torn about lingering feelings for his friend (and possible baby-mama) Robin.
3a)  It's Barney's, and Robin is the girl he's marrying in the flashforward.  And everyone lives happily ever after.  And then we meet the mother, which shifts the focus back to Ted full time.  Actually...this could maybe, just maybe, be a real possibility.  Maybe the writers (and future Ted) have set up the story in a way that sort of "settles" everyone else's lives before launching into the endgame tale of Ted meeting his own future bride.  Then again, this show and many of the fans seem to thrive on Barney/Robin drama, so I'm not sure they're willing to give that up any time soon.

There are a hundred possible ways this story line can unfold, and my predictions may be way off target.  However, I do think this is part of the "huge season" for Robin that the writers were mentioning back in the summer, so I do think she'll go through with the pregnancy, whoever the father may be.  It's possible she'll simply go it alone for now, and any development with Barney or another suitor will come along later.  Based on everything they've done so far, though, one thing is certain: I trust the writers to tell this story, and I can't wait to see what they do next.

TV Review: How I Met Your Mother 7.10-- Tick Tick Tick

Every so often there is an episode of a television show where I'm sure the writers have targeted me personally.  "Andrea," they hypothetically say, "we decided to write 20 minutes of television with the sole intention of taking your heart, squeezing and releasing it a hundred times, and ultimately shattering it into a million pieces."  This is that episode.

Needless to say, if you haven't watched it, I'm about to have a lot of detailed, spoiler-filled thoughts about it, so you probably shouldn't keep reading.

After last week's twist ending, I was pretty sure HIMYM couldn't outdo itself this week.  But it really, really did.  "Tick Tick Tick" is perhaps one of my new all-time favorite episodes, because it did almost all of the exact things a comedy needs to do during sweeps.  There was conflict, with Barney and Robin fretting over how to tell their respective partners what they'd done; there was a gradual increasing of the stakes (Barney's speech about them getting back together floored me.  I think that was the most open he's ever been with Robin and possibly with any character on this show thus far, and it was absolutely amazing.  This is how you develop a character, folks.)  There was a dramatic ending (not necessarily a "twist," since you knew the moment they set that midnight deadline that something would go awry), and potential for weeks and weeks of fallout (that I can't wait to see).  And as the icing on the cake, there was a hilarious B storyline seemingly designed solely to diffuse the tension of the Barney and Robin goings-on in the A story.  Ted and Marshall and drugs will always be funny to me.

I think this episode, when it wasn't amping up the drama between them, really gave us a good look at where Barney and Robin are individually as characters.  It was interesting to see Barney be the one to ultimately confess his transgression to Norah, who promptly dumped him, while Robin, who they both seemed to agree was less of a mess than Barney, got miraculously let off the hook by Kevin (who I personally think came off as kind of a pushover in that last scene), and didn't have to fess up at all.  I think Barney is in a place now where he wants to try his best to not be selfish, whereas Robin will still take the easy way out if given the opportunity (granted, in this case it was pretty much presented to her on a silver platter), and I think that has given us an intriguing and fresh imbalance in their relationship.  Dare I say that Barney is now the more mature of the two, willing to step up and confront what's really going on while Robin hides behind her boyfriend?  This has some definite potential, especially in contrast to season 4 when Barney was pining after Robin but afraid he wasn't good enough.

Also, that scene at the end, where Ted saw Barney in Robin's room, cleaning up his would-be romantic gesture?  Not only was that a heartbreaking moment, but I think it is also the very beginning of the conflict between the three of them that Ted alluded to in the voiceover of the episode earlier this season, when Victoria insisted the three of them couldn't all be friends.  Ted knowing that Barney is pursuing/wants to pursue Robin again is something that I think will play an increasingly significant role the rest of this season.  I only hope that it doesn't go the same way as the season 3 arc following Barney's initial tryst with Robin, where Ted held a grudge for entirely too long. 

If there's an episode next week we might get another dose of this sweeps goodness before Turkey Day, if not I'm expecting more of a focus on Ted when the show returns.  I love the Barney and Robin stuff, I really do, but this season is also supposed to show us Ted actively trying to find his wife, and so far we haven't seen much of that.  I think it'll be good to see a renewed energy on that end of things while Barney and Robin simmer in the background, at least until she inevitably breaks up with Kevin (it is inevitable, right?  Right?).

TV Review; Parks and Recreation 4.07-- The Treaty

All right, writers of Parks and Recreation, you know us too well.  I can't speak for everyone (though I'm pretty sure my opinion is in the majority), but if I can't have Leslie and Ben actually being together, I will gratefully accept a heavy dose of them being nerds together and arguing (UST, anyone?), which is exactly what "The Treaty" gives us.  It also has a pretty amazing model-UN story, with Andy and April tagging along to help out (and be hilarious).  Throw in Tom and Ron interviewing the worst candidates ever for the former's position in the Parks Department, and a Chris storyline that manages to minimize his annoying factor (mainly because Ann and Donna tell him a bunch of things that make him annoying), and you've got a fantastic episode (directed by Jorma Taccone, no less, who seems to be everywhere these days).

The Model UN project is perfect because it is right up both Leslie and Ben's respective allies, plus it gives them both a chance to gain some perspective on their maturity, which takes a significant plunge in this episode (particularly after Leslie's declaration of war against "Peru").  As a side note (but very important), I loved April and Andy's contributions (if they can be called that), lightening up what could have been another very cringe-worthy Leslie meltdown.  I do like that they make it up to the kids in the end with the kind of Leslie Knope, pulled-from-nowhere solution we've come to know and love.  Oh, and I also adored the scene with Leslie and April by the lockers, because it is a great moment between the two of them, and we haven't gotten one of those in a while.

I'm glad Tom will be re-joining "Tommy's Place" (which is what he has officially dubbed the department), because I miss having him around, and I'd also like to see him take a larger role in Leslie's campaign without the distraction of Entertainment 720.  The video he made for Leslie in "Meet n Greet" shows that he's capable of doing the exact kind of schmoozing/propaganda she's going to need (especially when she gets a rival candidate, which is supposed to happen soon), and I'd like to see him do something productive for his friend and show his growth following his failure as an entrepreneur.

The Chris storyline is kind of boring except for the opportunity it affords Ann to show the transformation she's made from last season.  Also, I tend to agree with her stance on jogging:  "Jogging is the worst!  I mean, I know it keeps you healthy, but God, at what cost?"

Overall a strong episode, very funny and full of some truly great character moments.  It didn't quite reach the scope of last week's epic installment, but it made some important steps forward.

TV Review: 2 Broke Girls 1.07-- ...And Hoarder Culture

First, let's just get this out of the way:  I love Han.  And everything he does.  "I have ended my bromance with your boyfriend Johnny."  If he had his own spinoff, I would totally watch that.

There are some good things going on in this episode.  Caroline trying to get a second job (sidenote:  I think people who write for TV want Craigslist to be a lot sketchier place to look for a job than it really is; some of us plebeians have to use it, okay?)  She stumbles upon what looks to be a hoarder's place.  Here's the thing, and I do not think I'm alone in this:  I will always be fascinated and mildly disgusted by hoarder culture.  I just don't understand it.  And as long as there are things about it on television, I will be there to watch them.  Also, kittens!

We also got a few steps forward on the Max and Johnny front, which usually pays off for this show. I particularly like how absolutely every other character is all up in their business, and there isn't even business to be up in yet.  But...oh no, plot twist!  Johnny has a girlfriend, as Max unfortunately finds out just after she's decided to go for it.  This revelation is followed by a rare dose of sincerity, which usually doesn't happen on this show between anyone other than Max and Caroline.  It was...interesting.  Yes, it felt a little cheesy, very much like the cliche Katharine Heigl movies they repeatedly referenced, but it was also a step forward for Max's character, one that I hope will stick.  She's definitely enjoyable in her current sassy state, but that can only be maintained for so long before she softens up just a little bit, and I think we saw the potential beginnings of that here.

I like that this episode cut down a little on Max and Caroline's time together and played up the supporting cast a little bit more, because they all have more potential than they've gotten credit for thus far.

TV Review: How I Met Your Mother 7.08-- Disaster Averted

This entry should be read with an implicit November sweeps SPOILER WARNING.  Remember that time when I said this show was gearing up for some changes during sweeps?  Yeah, I won't bore you with the gloating, but I was right!

"Disaster Averted" contains not one but two fully realized stories:  one takes place in the present, with the gang at MacLaren's, the other is a flashback sequence to the week when Hurricane Irene threatened to flood New York City.  Both stories had equally fulfilling elements, and some very funny moments.

In the present, Barney is obsessed with getting Marshall and Lily to revoke their decree that he wear the ducky tie every day for an entire year.  He comes up with the genius plan that they can trade the wearing of the tie for additional slaps in the "slap bet" made by Marshall and Barney so many moons ago. 

Meanwhile, in the coverage of the gang's storm watch, we get a healthy dose of Ted being a huge nerd, which tends to be the times I like him best.  He is in full boy scout mode, prepping for the impending disaster, donning some lovely fuschia rain boots, and attempting to convince the gang to evacuate.  Through some patented Barney manipulation, they all wind up stranded inside his apartment instead.  This bit is a stroke of genius because it gave us a bottle episode experience without the entire episode having to take place locked in Barney's living room.

Back in the present, Kevin riddles out the reason Barney is suddenly so dead set on removing the ducky tie:  he's scheduled to meet Nora's parents in a few days' time.  Marshall and Lily sympathize (and also reveal that their son-to-be was in fact conceived in Barney's bathroom the day of the hurricane), and agree that Barney can remove the tie in exchange for three additional slaps. two of which Marshall doles out on the spot.  For those keeping score at home, the remaining slap count is now 2.

The best part of the episode (in my heavily biased opinion) comes in the final five minutes, after just about everything else gets wrapped up.  Barney and Robin share a cab home, and Robin asks Barney if he's ever mentioned the "other thing" that "almost happened" during the storm.  We then got a flashback revealing that Barney and Robin had a bit of a heartfelt moment, not to mention an almost-kiss.  Now, having known going into this episode that these two were going to have a "moment," I thought this was all we were going to get, and was more than happy with it.  However, the show zagged when I expected a zig, and at the last moment we went back to the present to see Barney and Robin, both now engaged in serious relationships with other people, share a pretty heated kiss.

What does this mean?  Are these two and their respective significant others headed for trouble, or will they bury this incident, chalking it up to poor judgment?  It seems too good to be true that we're headed for a genuine Barney and Robin reunion, and so we'll have to wait and see how they manage to steer themselves in the wrong direction.  And of course, Barney's wedding and mystery bride are always in the back of my mind-- does this kiss give us further evidence it could be Robin, or will Barney re-commit to Nora even more seriously after this misstep?  Time will tell, but if this is the kind of episode the writers of this show have up their sleeves for the rest of November, I say bring it on.

TV Review: Parks and Recreation 4.06-- The End of the World

This episode is yet another puzzle piece in what has been a very emotionally-engaged season.  I have been enjoying Season 4 because it really does feel like the next natural phase in the evolution of Parks:  we've spent three season now getting to know these characters and their (many, many) quirks and coming to care very much about them (some of us, myself included, maybe a little too much).  And now we're getting the payoff of all that foundation-building in episodes like "The End of the World," which has each of our favorite Pawneeans taking a long look at something significant in his or her life.  An episode like this only works when there is genuine investment in each character's happiness, and I think the impact of this episode is a testament to how well this show has bred that emotional investment.

"The End of the World" gave us a chance to meet the remaining members of Zorp, a cult which took Pawnee by storm in the 1970's.  They have predicted, based on some very sound writings (wink wink), that the world is going to end, and want to use the occasion to hold a vigil in one of Pawnee's scenic parks.  Leslie indulges them, and as the word spreads about the impending apocalypse, everyone's evening takes a turn for the exciting and potentially life-changing.

First we finally got an indication of how Leslie is handling the fallout from her breakup with Ben, and it quickly becomes clear that she hasn't been handling it at all until now.  Forced to watch the irrepressible Shauna Malwae-Tweep flirting with her ex, Leslie enters a downward spiral of jealousy and awkwardness that rivals the cringe-worthiness of season one's "The Reporter" (also, curiously, heavily involving Shauna).  It is almost hard to watch Leslie's attempts to distract Ben, at one point driving him to an abandoned gas station just to keep him from going to a party with Shauna.  And when he reveals that he's known the whole time exactly what she's been doing, the interaction goes from painfully awkward to just painful.  I am so unbelievably thrilled that Leslie is getting a chance to run for office, but watching scenes like this I just want these two crazy kids to get back together, already.

Across town at the now former headquarters of Entertainment 720, Tom and Jean-Ralphio have decided to spend their final ten thousand dollars on a party for the end of the world.  Not only were we treated to another fantastic Jean-Ralphio appearance, but we got further indication that, while he may be a bit down in the dumps right now, Tom is going to be okay eventually (and bonus points for bringing back his former girlfriend Lucy to drive this point home).  I loved the little bromance moment we got with Tom and his erstwhile business partner, and I really hope that we'll still get a healthy dose of their antics in the future.

My favorite plot in this episode, though, is Andy and April scrambling to fulfill all the items on Andy's bucket list.  Every single activity is so undeniably Andy (hold a thousand dollars cash, make the world's best grilled cheese, be an action star), and it is only made better by April's absolutely unquestioning support.  I think the "movie" they made starring Burt Macklin is one of my new favorite things, along with, of course, the final scene when they reached the Grand Canyon.  Not only was this the perfect ending for the episode (especially with the addition of that song as the sun came up), but it was one of the best Andy and April plots we've seen in a long time, reminding us why we fell in love with the two of them in the first place.

What I love about this episode is that it really feels like a hinge in the season, an installment that sort of takes stock of where everyone's head is at and opens a lot of doors for developments in the weeks to come.  In other words, this is the ideal kind of episode to lead in to November sweeps, and the potential game-changers that entails.

November Sweeps: Picking Up the Pace

I've once again failed to review this week's episodes individually, and I think at least part of that has been due to the relative lull in excitement in their respective plots.  However, we are about to roll into November sweeps, one of the most wonderful times of the (television) year, and I have high hopes for all of our favorites.  After all, the pieces are in place for some major hilarity and development, they just seem to require a nudge in the right direction.  And I'm just about as lacking in concrete clues as the next person, but I am more than happy to speculate on what we might see over the next few weeks.

How I Met Your Mother:  The show has been just a little off its game the past few episodes, which I'm sure can be attributed to an unbalanced cocktail of somewhat awkward guest star appearances and trying just a little too hard for laughs in some cases (the storyline of "Noretta" stands out particularly in my mind).  However, if I were a betting man (this would require me, of course, to be both a man as well as someone who gambles), I'd say we're about to see no small amount of drama in Robin and Barney's respective relationships.  I don't think we'll get any hints of the two of them together any time soon, but I do think both of their liaisons are going just a bit too well at the moment.  I definitely think it would be interesting to see either Kevin or Norah (or both) have a reaction to the obvious continued closeness of Barney and Robin's relationship.  What I don't want is to see Barney cheat on Norah, though; I feel like last season made such a commitment to him moving past that part of his personality that it would be a huge waste to send him so many steps backward.  And as for Ted, I'd like to see something happen for him soon that feels like a concrete step toward actually finding the mother.  The Slutty Pumpkin episode definitely felt like an apt set up for something like this, so I'll be interested to see how they use it.

2 Broke Girls:  I have definitely seen an improvement in this show the past few episodes, and they have been gaining that forward momentum I was worried they might lack.  It has been nice to see the girls' business actually make tangible (albeit tiny) steps forward, rather than being a plot line that is forgotten and then picked up every once in while when it's convenient.  I'm still hoping that Max and Caroline will acquire another friend outside of their little duo (I'm hoping even more that it'll be Johnny and his newly introduced sidekick), because both of them play so well off of others and each other that it's fun to see them interact with new people.  I will also admit that I am pulling for that Max/Johnny romance to get off the ground (and what do you know? perfect bait for sweeps!), and for Caroline to meet someone of her own.  Also, I think I'd be happy with anything more involving their boss, Han, because he is just too adorable for words.

Up All Night:  This is a cute show that is cute.  That's what I've gotten from this season so far.  Maya Rudolph continues to pull the bulk of the comedic weight, but hey, I will continue to watch her do it because she's hilarious.  I'm a little bummed that they didn't do a Halloween episode; I would have thought that'd be a great potential scenario for the new parents, but maybe the week off means they're preparing for something big to come.  Actually, scratch that.  I don't need it to be big, I just need it to be charming and funny.  This show has lost it's way a little bit (I think having the flashback to the birth was kind of a jarring choice, honestly), but I do think that it can be steered back, and with no extraordinary strain. 

Community:  Okay, two hypothetical/fantasy based bottle episodes in a row stretched my patience a bit, I'll admit.  But I will be more than willing to forgive if this show delivers during sweeps.  From Community I don't necessarily want gimmicky plot twists for the sake of snagging attention, I just want to see some genuine development for the characters.  I feel like season three has seen almost all of them standing still, and it's got to stop soon or we're going to be facing a completely static season (and at some point, the situational comedy just won't be able to compensate).  We were promised a lot of development with Abed, particularly concerning his living situation with best friend Troy, and I'm hoping that this has been saved up for November so that we can get a sure to be humorous episode (you saw their apartment in the chaos theory episode, right?), with a dash of something just a little more serious.  Also, Britta's taken a bit of a beating lately, so I think it'd be more than okay to back off her for an episode or two.

Parks and Recreation:  I admittedly have a bit more intelligence on what's coming on this show than the others, solely because I have a habit of going hunting for tidbits when bored, but in this case it's a good thing, because the next three episode descriptions have me absolutely psyched for what's next.  We're going to see Pawnee riding out a potential end-of-days scenario, and Andy has a bucket list!  I cannot be the only person who sees so much potential hilarity in the possible items it contains.  Also ahead (I don't want to spoil everything):  we'll see more of Leslie and Ben interacting (finally), Tom's journey as Entertainment 720 meets its end, and a very small victory for one Leslie Knope.  As long as these stories are supplemented by a sharp increase in Ann screen time and a reduction of anything involving Chris, I think we may just have ourselves a couple of near-perfect episodes just in time for the holiday season.

Mid-Week Mediocre TV Roundup

This week has been a bit of a letdown on most of our favorite shows, and because I'm feeling miffed about that, I'm not granting each of them a separate review.  Yes, I know the producers of these shows must be in tears over their inability to read my extended commentary (sure to be witty and not at all meandering), but they shall overcome, I'm sure.  I recall a similar slump around this time last year-- now that all the dust from premiere season has settled, the shows can rest up in preparation for Halloween episodes (if applicable) and of course, November sweeps, which are only a few short weeks away.  How I Met Your Mother, 2 Broke Girls, and Up All Night were each funny but underwhelming, and I'm pretty sure NBC is running repeats of its Thursday night lineup, so that should indicate the kind of week it's been.  My hope is that seeing these usually strong shows phone it in this week means that we've got a lot to look forward to in the near future.


How I Met Your Mother 7.06-- Mystery vs. History:  This show is famous for having some episodes that are very sitcom-y in that they really are just filler, there to issue a few laughs and maybe, just maybe move a subplot along by baby steps.  And that's exactly what we got from HIMYM this week (no pun intended on the baby steps thing).  We found out that Marshall and Lily are having a BOY, and...well, that's pretty much everything of note that happened.  The rest of the episode had Kevin noting some of the gang's less than psychologically sound behaviors, which for me threw up a red flag that he and Robin may be headed for trouble soon (not that I was expecting them to last, since the writers are kind of already slowly ruining the character, as they do whenever we aren't supposed to get too attached).  Oh, and also, they painted the baby's room a truly hideous shade of yellow.  Oh yeah, and Ted went on a date with a girl he did not research on the Internet, and who is also...not the mother.

2 Broke Girls 1.05-- ...And the 90's Horse Party:  More clever banter, more hipster bashing, more crazy antics involving the girls' adorably awkward boss.  Overall, this episode was definitely chock full of things I enjoy...except for forward momentum.  This show needs to get a thread that can tie episodes together, something slightly more significant than the running total of funds for their cupcake shop. 

Up All Night 1.05-- The Birth:  I was skeptical going into this about having the birth as an entire flashback episode, but this actually turned out to be the best show of the week (though as discussed, the competition was far from stiff).  All three of the lead actors were charming and hilarious as usual, and it was admittedly fun to get to see what happened before the beginning, in a sense.  Maya Rudolph was especially funny as Ava in pre-baby meltdown mode (and she wasn't even the one having a kid), and bonus points to the writers for not dragging out the actual labor scenes, which are always, always tedious to watch.

Two additional thoughts:  pretty sure whatever reruns they dig up of Parks and Community will be better than the new episodes of most of these shows.  Additionally, New Girl has been on hiatus for two weeks, and isn't coming back till November 1st, and I...don't really miss it at all.  Oh well.