How I Met Your Mother: The Poker Game and Knight Vision

Hey guys I am back with 9x05 and 9x06 reviews, I missed last week because I was frankly really upset about it. Just because there was a lot of unnecessary drama and it was a filler episode. I honestly thought this season’s purpose was because they had so many ideas. It’s almost like they have a lot but not enough for a full 24 episodes. I don’t know I just think episodes that don’t really advance the plot serve no purpose. Anyways let’s review good and the whatever

9.05: The Poker Game

With Marshall and Daphne crossing through Chicago, Marshall reminisces about Gazola’s pizza which is an amazing call back. Barney’s bachelor poker game commences but not without its problems.

The Good:

1.  Flashforward of Barney and Lily: One of my favourite friendships on the show so seeing them have little chat and Lily helping Barney with his Robin problems is always great. The flash forward made me laugh and smile. Laugh because Lily kneed Barney in the nuts and smile because if any linger doubt if the wedding would occur was lifted. And the swarkles fandom rejoiced.
   
   
2.  Robin Standing Up For Herself: Robin is my favourite character which I’m sure I’ve mentioned before and sometimes I think she deserves more. She is such a strong and an independent woman or at least was and she doesn’t deserve to be treated poorly. So when she basically told Barney that their commitment to each other meant he should have his back I wanted to stand up and clap. Barney’s character is wired that way in which he doesn’t get it or at times can be selfish, which is why Robin is there to pull his head out of his ass. Robin deserves the world in my opinion and she’s slowly getting it. If they would only flash forward to her in the future with an amazing journalism career I think I could be satisfied with how her character’s story ended.
   
   
3. Ted Sending Marshall Pizza: With all the back and forth wedding and note confusion, the pizza ending warmed my heart. It’s so weird to not have Marshall present for these episodes in the present scenes. He’s clearly in the flashbacks and everything but still I think one of the main things about the structure of this season that bothers me is the lack of Marshall in the present and group scenes. Ted sending Marshall a pizza was an amazing callback to the past and shows that their friendship is one of the strongest the show has to offer.

The Whatever 

1. Marshall and Ted (Present vs. Note): it started out really funny and good but then it went on for a long time and we were left wondering if it would ever end. Ted would never mess up a gift and Marshall and Lily would never forget a note, it’s like their nerdy thing. Leave it to Stuart and Claudia though; shout-out to the wonderful continuity though.
   
   
2.  James Wedding Hatred: I understand that he is upset about his whole divorce, but when he was happy with Tom he was all over Barney to settle down.  I feel like if he loves his brother he should not try to destroy his happiness just because his life is a mess. I mean clearly this is the happiest Barney has ever been, why would a brother ruin that.
   
   
3.  Robin vs. Barney’s Mom: I just don’t understand maybe because I’m young and haven’t dealt with parents of my significant others, but they literally were just getting along in season eight for the Bachelor party. Lily and the Eriksen’s already do not get along can’t we have one happy set of in-laws’. Maybe Clint and Virginia will love the mother, but nonetheless I just thought this fight over Barney was pointless. I do get that mother’s feel a sense of loss when their kids get married but not getting along with your kids spouse will not help the situation. While we are on this subject Barney cutting off all ties with his family will not help Robin at all, especially because he said she was the reason (this show sometimes I swear…)

Quotes:

•    “It’s just pizza” “…Just pizza?” (Daphne and Marshall)
•    “I’m not cheating; don’t tell anyone. I’ll cut you in half.” (Barney)
• “Are you sitting down?” “Well I’m in a car….” (Lily and Marshall)
• “…But James seems really upset, but Robin’s going to be my wife, but James is my brother… but Robin lets me to sex to her…” (Barney)
•  “He’s gotten very respectful at his fake listening.” (Ted)
•  “Woman as your bride/groom I command you..” “We’ll go and give you guys some privacy.” “Do you want to take back that command you thing…” “Please can I.” (Barney, Lily and Robin)
•   “I’m marrying Robin so I can be a part of a team….” (Barney) 
•  “I am always going to have your back, no matter what.” (Barney)

9.06: Knight Vision

Ted is the only single one as always, and wants to find a date for Barney and Robin’s wedding. He chooses from three potential prospects chosen by the soon to be married pair themselves. Meanwhile Barney and Robin naturally lie their way into a cute little church stealing the story of how Marshall and Lily met and using it as their own. Also as Marshall gets closer to Farhampton he and Daphne discuss how he will tell Lily about the job he’s ALREADY taken (bad move Eriksen). Let’s get discussing:

The Good:

1. Daphne Prepares Marshall To Talk To Lily: As I admitted early on I was a little considered about this whole Daphne and Marshall storyline in the car driving from Minnesota to New York. Sometimes my point was proven and other times I was proven wrong and this week was one of those times. The bombshell was dropped that Marshall already took the judgeship job without talking to Lily, which might start their biggest fight ever since season 1 when Lily wanted to define herself outside of Marshall and left for San Francisco. I’m going to say I’m really excited, mostly because I live for couples and their angst, I was wired wrong upon birth guys I apologize. Marshall and Lily are the one couple you know will go the distance like my past favourite couple Nathan and Haley from One Tree Hill, they may have fought and broken up but you knew they were forever even though they were way younger. Marshall and Lily are the same way, this will be a big mountain to climb. I love that Daphne gave him hell for not preparing for this conversation that hopefully is a BIG conversation and is not just brushed under the rug.
   
   
2. First Meeting Re-Enactments: When I saw the twitter picture of Cobie and Billy a few weeks ago I thought A: Robin Daggers is back or B: Robin as Lily from college. One of my predictions was right. The re-enactments of how the two couples met were perfect. The added make out in the Ted/Robin/Barney one was hilarious. Barney and Robin would steal Marshall and Lily’s cute story of destiny that’s what made it so great.
   
   
3. Barney and Robin: Ugh these two, I think they make everything better. Even if an episode isn’t good they make it better. This week’s episode was really good so my love for them aside. I LOVED the prayer five and you could see Cobie trying not to break in that scene and Neil was so nonchalant he’s used to all the high fives by now. Robin not wanting to write her vows made me laugh because she is not your stereotypical girly girl, I kind of wish in season 8 we would have seen some of her not wanting to plan certain things for the wedding, you know she would have hated being at like a bridal show all day with Lily. In turn when the priest denied them the wedding, their vows basically wrote themselves when they gushed about how much they loved the fact that they found each-other. And the tears were shed… by most, or maybe just me.

The Whatever:

1. Cassie: I was so pumped for Anna Camp to be on this show but DAMN Cassie was annoying, nobody wanted to be around her. Leave it to sweet and sensitive Ted to swoop in and try to fix her. I usually find myself yelling, “She’s on her way Ted and she’s getting here as fast as she can.” I just feel sad for the guy is all. Cassie is about to be around for a while and I’m dreading it. Anna I love you girl and it’s not your fault.

Quotes:

• “Get stuck with the wrong girl tonight, the only action you’ll be getting all weekend is a self-five. And not the cool kind. Self-five. That’s the cool one.” (Barney)
• “I helped, it was either that our writing our vows, gag me.” (Robin)
• “What did I do wrong...? What did you do wrong?” (Lily)
• “Your story is so sweet you didn’t even kiss til the third date, by our third date I’d hit more bases than Bob Hope on a USO tour.” (Barney)
• “Come again for little fudge?” (Lily)
• “My husband is a sociopath who slept with over a hundred women and I’m a slut who let my boss feel me up.” “Over 250 women.” “I felt him up.” (Lily, Barney and Robin)
• “I love our story, sure it’s messy but it’s the story that got us here, about to get married.” “I love it too, every messy chapter.” (Barney and Robin)

     This week’s episode was way better than last week, it wasn't a filler episode that did not move the plot, it certainly took big leaps forward. Last week’s certainly looks interesting; I will not judge an episode by a promo. I get screwed over that way. Until next week my friends.

New Girl: What The Schmidt Edition

Hello New Girl watchers I am back to catch you up on the past three episodes of one of my favourite comedies. This is the What The Schmidt? Edition because this boy needs to get his priorities straight and become a better person before he loses his best friends. Last night's episode was a bit better in terms of the Schmidt factor but the two episodes before left irrational anger let's dive into it now shall we:

3x03- Double Date

When a set of best friends is dating another set of best friends it is only natural that you go on double dates, the only problem is there is a 5th wheel and a unknown 6th wheel. The 5th wheel being poor Winston and the unknown 6th wheel in this case is Elizabeth but in the weeks before it was Cece because Schmidt cannot pick a woman to save his life and naturally it blows up in his face, as it should have.

1. Oh Schmidt, Schmidt, Schmidt: If this character was not played by Max Greenfield I would want him voted off the island. Max plays the character so well it's hard to hate him, but bias opinions aside Schmidt is being the worst right now. When he couldn't choose between Cece and Elizabeth at the end of last season you know it would not end well for him, and he honestly deserved because cheating is wrong. I understand the part of him that didn't want to hurt either one of them but in the end he ended up destroying both of them. In Schmidt fashion he continues to avoid telling Cece and blames everything on Nick calling him the cheater. Nick was the first person he told everything so it kinda sucked when he turned around and back stabbed him like that, I understand he was scared but at some point he has to grow up and take responsibility for his actions. Cece and Elizabeth were completely devastated when they found out the truth and the audience is left wondering if they will ever forgive him. I have always been team Cece and Schmidt.. now strictly team Cece and I don't know if I want her to forgive him... at the moment he really does not deserve it. Schmidt has now decided to end Nick and Jess' happiness which is another thing I will get to... later.
2. Winston Needs Somebody to Love:  If his love for his cat is not any proof that he needs somebody to love or even more importantly to strictly get laid. He tries his hardest to score a table for his friends to show them how much they mean to him. He's lonely and by doing everything for other people he somewhat fills the void that currently is within his heart. At least that's how I see it. Winston is one of the most under-appreciated and best characters who deserves more than what he is getting right now.

Quotes:

• “How did I get so lucky, my bro and my hoe.” (Jess)
• “I made a dance so everyone will be happy.” (Nick)
• “Can you test my phone again?” “I can’t I ran out of minutes.” “MINUTES Minutes Nick who still uses minutes.” “I bought 10,000 in 1994 and I’m still using them.” (Jess and Nick). 
• “I have been banned for my lifetime from Lake Ontario.. don’t ask.” (Jess). 
• "I’m not convinced I know how to read I think I’ve just memorized a lot of words.” (Nick)

The episode overall was good the ending broke my heart, great acting shout out to Hannah Simone she always plays such a rock hard solid funny character it was great to see the emotional side of Cece as well. Hopefully Schmidt gets his "Schmidt" together soon.

3x04- The Captain

I love Nick and Jess but some parts of this episode were so uncomfortable, they are quirky and awkward which makes them loveable but some lines I cringe and am like say what now. This episode was all about Schmidt trying to sabotage others happiness because he's a little "Schmidt".

1. The Little"Schmidt" Continues: And he continues to be a pain in everyone's re-end, oh Schmidty. He believes that if he cannot be happy nobody can be happy so that basically means Nick and Jess have to grow together to move past this. Schmidt in the episode gets into both of their heads trying to sabotage their relationship. He even goes to the extreme and cuts up their condoms and eats all Jess' birth control pills thinking that'll do the trick. He really needs to work on being a better person (segway to last night's episode).
   
   
2. Nick and Jess Talk About Their Feelings: With Schmidt acting as the catalyst of a bomb ending their one month relationship Nick and Jess must learn to talk to each other. By talking it out they can avoid Schmidt being a little Schmidt. We know Nick does not like to talk about his feelings and Jess being the quite opposite leaves the audience wondering what makes them work. Well they can open up to each other ... eventually. Nick poured his feelings out to Jess telling her he really likes her which in the way he said it he loves her but it's only been a month so it's too fast. In time Ness shippers... in time it will come.
3. Oh Winston: Winston does not pick up on subtly. His response to subtly are as superb as his pranks which .. suck. Nick and Jess joke with him about Ferguson needing to get laid and he thought they were being serious so he tried oh so very hard. Ferguson does not need to get laid Winston, you do. When he meets a gorgeous lady at the pet store, he doesn't pick up that she wants to jump in the sack with him... He goes about his business and attempts to mate their actual cats and not cats as a euphemism. I just want to wrap Winston up in a hug and tell him it'll get better.

Quotes:

•  “Did you talk to tight pants and eyebrows?” (Nick). 
• “If we needed to talk about feelings they would be called talkings” (Nick). 
• “I really like you and it’s only been a month but I’m not afraid unless you’re doing the Captain and then I experience real fear.” (Nick) 
• “It’s raining celibacy hallelujah.” (Schmidt). 
• “There’s no way estrogen works that fast.” “You don’t know my body.” (Jess and Schmidt). “I’m like a nun and Nick’s my sexy monsieur.” (Jess).  
• “This last month has been the best month of my life.” (Jess)  

     Pretty good episode a little bit of uncomfortable moments here and there but I have experienced worse where I'm literally seeing red and cringing so... Shout out to the New Girl writing staff for the insinuation of Jess giving Nick a BJ but still keeping it acceptable for 9pm TV on FOX. Great work, I aspire to be you one day.

3x05- The Box

     What's in the box? WHAT'S IN THE BOX? Seven... anybody. Sorry I quote movies a lot even in real life. When someone show's up with $8K for Nick from his late father, Nick decides to burn it all on useless stuff. He then puts the remaining cash in his box with all his unwanted stuff that being overdue bills, jury duty letters and unpaid parking tickets, you know the usual stuff..

1. Nick and Jess' First Fight: You knew it had to happen sooner or later, they couldn't just stay in honeymoon bliss forever. As much as we all would have loved it, it's not realistic. Nick and money is always a sore subject so for this to the center of the first fight is not a surprise. Nick needs to grow up and realize that he is an adult and should be more money smart, Jess was completely right for trying to pay some of his bills. I do not know how he hasn't been taken to prison considering he hasn't paid his taxes, gotta love TV magic. He'd have the IRS breathing down his neck in real life but anyways, it was nice to see the resolution of this fight. Nick said he wasn't going to change for anyone which is a lie he would change for Jess and he did. He opened a bank account and is now going to save money. It's all about trust and compromise people.. at least that's the message I receive from TV and movies.
   
   
2. Schmidt's Journey: Schmidt finally realizes he is selfish and tries to become a better person. He spend the entire episode trying to better himself. He talks to his Rabbi, gets beat up by some Rabbi's and saves a man's life. After saving the man's life he then showboats the experience instead of calling 911 but baby steps people.. I believe he will get there eventually. Until he becomes a better person and a less selfish one he has no chance getting Cece or Elizabeth back, if they are even possibilities at this point.. we do not know.

 Quotes: 

• "I cried during a techno song and my tweets have been extremely literal” (Schmidt) 
• “They’re my night nuts.” “What are you a zoo animal?” (Nick and Jess) 
• “I realized something…” “What?” “I’d do anything for you Jess.” (Nick and Jess)

      I thought the episode was really good, sadly not so quotable, which is irrelevant. Anyways I'm glad Nick and Jess had their first real fight, they are out of the honeymoon stage and ready to tackle the real stuff. I am also happy to be back reviewing New Girl with you guys and I promise to try and stay as on top of it as I possibly can.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D: Jammed Pack Edition

Hello fellow S.H.I.E.L.D watchers, miss me? If you don't follow my How I Met Your Mother reviews than you have probably been wondering where I am. A member of my family died two weeks ago so television and reviewing have not really been on my mind. But I've had an entire day off of school to watch 3 episodes to review / recap for you. So get comfortable put on your thinking caps and let's get started.

1x02: 0-8-4

The first thing that came to mind when this episode began was what the heck was an 0-8-4. At the end of the pilot we learn that an 0-8-4 is an unidentified item. So the first reaction is great so they don't even know what they are getting into how am I supposed to. I thought the second episode of the season matched the first and I believe it exceeded my expectations. It's been a couple weeks since it aired so let me breakdown it down:

1. Agent Skye- Her first day in the field with the other agents was a big one and a testy one. Ward and May do not trust because she is a part of the Rising Tide, which we learn by the end of the episode they are right not to. Skye tries to win Ward over by telling him what the R.T actually does and how as a group they can be the solution. She also saves Ward's life and actually reads the safety packet for the plane which is a first... so kudos to you Skye. But even know 4 episodes deep I still do not know what her intentions are. Where do her true loyalties lie, with S.H.I.E.L.D or with the Rising Tide?
   
   
   
2. Agent May- What I love most about Whedon shows is that they display powerful women in a man's world kicking ass and taking names. And Agent May is no different, I believe she will become a big Asset to the team as the show progresses. We learn in this episode that she IS the cavalry, which I am hoping we get a flashback episode in the future about what that entails and how she ended up flying the plane instead of participating in combat. I was a little unsure of her character in the pilot because she was clouded with mystery but I guess that's what the best part is, week by week uncovering new layers to such a strong female character.
   
   
   
3. Avengers Continuity Continues:  Bravo and the crowd cheers. Or maybe just me but bless the continuity. I believe continuity is one of the most important things in a show and a show that has poor continuity will not play out well for me. So excellent work on the hammer from Thor reference and bringing the Tezerak (bad spelling) energy back. I just watched the Avengers last night for like the fifth time, I am turning into a huge comic book nerd, I think it's been slowly building for years to be honest with you. Speaking of Avengers continuity in the pilot my girl Maria Hill made a cameo appearance and in the back of my head I knew there was tons of opportunity for more Marvel characters to show but I did not expect one to show up in the second episode of the season as well. But holy shit did I ever scream at my television when Nick Furry popped up to scream at Coulson for destroying the plane and for his team of misfits. Well done, Whedon's well done.

Quotes: 

• "Oh, Congratulations Agent Ward you managed to string together 3 words into a sentence.” (Fitz). 
• “Is this your first mission together?” “NO.. it’s our second.” (Skye and Simmons) 
• “One person usually doesn’t have the solution, but a 100 people with one percent of the solution can get the job done.” (Skye) 
• “What the hell was that?” “..Her wrist.” (Fitz and Ward). 
• “I read the safety pamphlet.” “I think you might be the first.” (Skye and Ward)

The only part of the episode that I would drop in the did not care for pile would be Agent Reyes and the Peruvian team. Not that I did not believe it brought good drama and everything because it certainly did but as soon as she made eyes with Phil, I was like well this isn't going to end well. I'm sure I'm not the only one who found that part a wee bit predictable? Other than that the episode was awesome, so whatever.

1x03 - The Asset

The episode started off with an invisible force of nature completely flipping over the S.H.I.E.L.D truck set to deliver a "package" to an unidentified location. We learn that the "package" is a scientist named Dr. Franklin Hall who is idolized by FitzSimmons. The team tries to do everything in their power to save him from Ian Quinn who is this week's villain.

1. Agent Skye: My number one need to talk about character after every week it seems because I love her to death but she also makes me incredibly irrational because I do not know her intentions. When she agrees to go help save Dr. Hall I immediately think yes you go and save him for FitzSimmons but then when Quinn figures out she's snooping around she tells him that S.H.I.E.L.D is listening. She is simply confusing and I do not know what to do with her. When talking with Quinn he also strikes a nerve by saying she has no family. I am left wondering what her ultimate back-story is aside from the Rising Tide. We learn about her being in foster homes at the end of the episode so what happened to her  birth parents? Speaking of Agent Ward can we talk about her sexual tension between the two of them because yowzah it's burning up in here, especially after that boxing scene. I do not know what I want with them yet but the chemistry has certainly been undeniable since the pilot. So I say bring it on.
   
   
   
2. Gravitonium: I think this week's mystery device we shall say was the most interesting. An original prototype created by Dr. Hall that completely defies the laws of gravity was awesome. The prototype originally created by Hall is then turned life size by Quinn becoming detrimental to the world. When Coulson learns from FitzSimmons that the only way to stop the Gravitonium from detonating is by creating a catalyst. By using Dr. Hall as a catalyst the show has totally set up the possibility of  a super  villain to be created because at the end of the episode you see in the unidentified S.H.I.E.L.D freezer all though inside the device Dr. Hall is still very much alive or dying slowly and painfully... it could go either way.  

Quotes:

• "I thought I was joining S.H.I.E.L.D, not 24 hour fitness." (Skye)
• “You want me to bench press this?” “No I want you to read it.” (Skye and May).
• “You do not have the background or clearance or experience with any of this.” “I know but I have an invitation… well technically it’s an E-vite.” (Ward and Skye). 
• “You forget I saw plenty of action with the Avengers.” “…And you died.” (Coulson and May). 
• “I could get used to this people, it’s like Siri.. if it worked.” (Skye). 
• “I thought she was done for but she managed to sweet talk her way into Quinn’s office.” “How did she manage that?” “Probably with her… ugh…her…uh… boobs.” (Simmons, May and Fitz).
•  “The kids got balls.” “Thanks but  ... yuck.” (Skye)

I thought the episode overall was really good like I said this week's device was one of the most interesting and overall complex and nothing like we had seen so far. In the pilot the technology was from Iron Man 3 and in episode 2 the technology was from Captain America and The Avengers so this was the first episode in which it was something new and fresh so it was great.

1x04- Eye Spy

Last night's episode kicked off with a bizarre openings thus far. The men in the red masks with their hands handcuffed to metal brief cases. Cut to the black woman and then to the dark lights and to the red masked man with his hand almost severed off to give your head a good spin.

1. Akela: Telepathy? Mind-Reader? Human Robot... that's a new one. Akela was an interesting character, a former S.H.I.E.L.D agent under Coulson's guidance turned captured victim now human robot. Your first thought was that she could sense danger and could bend things with her mind. After she attacks FitzSimmons and Skye and they view it on a monitor the audience learns she is being watched and controlled herself via a bionic eye. Who was controlling her? The S.H.I.E.L.D team with the help of Akela find out who was controlling her and save her before the person in control can kill her. Phil then finds the controller who ends up dying because someone is controlling him as well. So who is the ultimate leader is the question. Akela who is now free and off to S.H.I.E.L.D prison asks Agent May what happened to Coulson, May does not understand the question leaving the audience to wonder what else Nick Furry did to Coulson besides fake his death during the battle of New York.
   
   
2. Big Brother: This reoccurring idea that Big Brother is watching you keeps coming up in these episodes. Last week Quinn brought it up by saying S.H.I.E.L.D was Big Brother watching Skye's every move, and this week Big Brother was the controller of Aklea's controller. If you are unfamiliar with this term and no not the CBS Hit reality show although it does share the same idea. This idea stems from George Orwell's 1984, which was a futuristic novel written in the late 40's on what the future would be like. The "Big Brother was the core of the propaganda and absolute truth signifying that no matter what you did, you were never free. Someone at a higher authority was always watching you and it is usually the government. So whether or not I am reading too much into it or I am right on track this show certainly knows what it's doing. I would like to thank my senior English teacher in high school for making me read this book because now I sound super intelligent. It's a good book if anyone wants to read it. 

Quotes

• "Only a few women in the world can pull of something so impossible. Since you run the bus it had to be her." (Coulson)
• "You're a robot, can you do that?" (Skye)
• "Be friendly Agent Ward, can you be friendly? Please don't die." (Skye)

The team came together in their specialized fields to help complete and solve yet another mission. This show continues to get better and better and I enjoy reviewing it and I hope you all enjoy reading them. Again I am sorry for slacking off... but it really was out of my control. I hope you're ready to stick with me through this series, it's going to be an amazing ride.

How I Met Your Mother: The Broken Code

Hello my dear readers. Did you think I had dropped off the face of the earth and had forgotten to write? I'm alive and well. Um, a family member passed away last week so writing a blog was not really a priority. Trying to move forward with my life was the first thing I had to do. But I am coping and I am off for a week so I am here to catch up on all the reviews I missed, so let's start with last week's How I Met Your Mother to prepare for tonight's episode.

What Worked:

1. Barney Showed Up: And the hearts of Barney and Robin fans everywhere sang and rejoiced while holding hands via the internet. At least that's how it went down for me and my twitter friends. As stated in a previous blog post nothing grinded my gears more than the out of character interpretation of Barney in "Something Old". The implication that he would rather play laser tag than to go and help Robin never made sense because he would always drop everything for her. So this episode left me delighted at the idea that he actually did show up to help her. He regretted not showing up early in time for her. In the episode they say he was enjoying beating twelve year olds which could have been re-written as he wanted Robin's father to like him... but I will take what I can get.
   
   
   
   
2. Marsh-Pillow 2.0: Oh Marshall, get to Farhampton as fast as you can because the dynamic without the core five isn't the same. Sure he is "there" via technology but it isn't like when he is actually there in human form. The only negative part about the structure of this season is Marshall road-tripping from Minnesota, because each episode only displays a few hours of time, it's going to be a few more episodes until he's physically there. The Marsh-Pillow return was a great way to make it feel like he was there. Using an Ipad and having Marshall Skype in with the gang brought a sense of realism to the show because I know from a personal side I have skyped with many people no matter where I was in the world. I loved how Marshall helped Barney and Ted sort out their "Bro Code" issue.. but more on that mess later.
   
   
   
   
3. Robin and Lily: My girls. I love the dynamic between these two ladies, there is something very real and endearing about their relationship. I know for a fact this relationship would be a great one to have in life right now. I think this whole "Robin has no girlfriends" scenario is true and stuck to the continuity of the show because besides Lily there really weren't any other women in her life. She has hung out with Nora and the two other ladies from work in "Desperation Day" back in season six. And was unwillingly forced to hangout with Ted and Barney's new flames whenever they came around but she's never really had other girls. You could argue she hit it off with Zooey but I'm sure that's the last person Ted would want to see right now, not that it's his wedding but anyways. I think this sets up the mother to be Robin's new girlfriend, which I am on board for. Bring it on now. 
   
   

What Didn't Pan Out:

1. Ted vs. Barney: My favourite men how you frustrated me. Alright kids this "fight" between Barney and Ted about Robin has needed to happen for YEARS. There has been so much pent up feelings and animosity that I was hoping for a big blow out and was left feeling completely letdown. Sure on one hand I am glad they didn't fight and ruin their 10 year + friendship but on the other hand I wanted them to let it all out. This "fight" had been building up for a long time now and I think it just didn't work out the way I envisioned it. Although Ted still does have the locket so God only knows what the outcome of that is going to be so.. hey maybe my fight is still on the horizon. I did however enjoy the speech Ted gave about wanting to turn off his feelings but not being able to because he was a human being. It was a great callback to season 1 when Ted and Robin kissed on the roof and he realized he couldn't turn off his feelings. Considering she crushed his feelings back in season 7 I do not understand how they are still lingering... but with that being said I have never been in love myself so I can't judge or even try to understand.
   
   
   
   
2. Robin's Point of View: Does it even matter? Does she even have one? Robin is my favourite character on the show... and I'm starting to get a little upset because her point of view is not being written. She is the bride and one of the main focus points of this particular story this season and I am left wondering will we ever know how she feels about everything? Like how did she feel in that moment with Ted at the park? What would her reaction have been to Barney coming to the park for her? Does she even know? Has she told Barney about the kids thing? If not, how come? Like there is so much that could be written for her that she is taking a seat on the back burner and is almost an accessory to this love story. And what I mean by that is we are seeing more of Barney's point of view than anything else, hopefully.. it changes.

Favourite Quotes:

• "What up?" "Nothing up, everything down, all parts of me down." (Barney and Ted)
• "I have girls, I gave you the list." "This list: tall girl from work, mouth breather from coffee shop, average girl from that place...." (Robin and Lily)
• "So you are mad?" "Of course I'm mad, holding hands is like the fourth grade of equivalent of banging, well in your case twelfth grade. Self-five." (Ted and Barney) 
• "I don't know what to say." "Just be yourself, say something nice." "Which one, I don't know how to do both." (Robin and Lily) 
• "You know what? That's why I only need you because  you're a psycho. My psycho." (Robin)

So those are the thoughts for 9x04 let me know if you agree or disagree and tell me why. Thank you so much for reading. Happy Thanksgiving Monday to all my Canadians, Happy Columbus Day to all my Americans and an overall Happy How I Met Your Mother Monday xoxo.