HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 22: Come On!

Summary
Ted has decided to hit on Robin one last time. He surprises her at her apartment with flowers and a group of musicians with blue instruments. He asks her to finally make a decision and be with him, but she refuses to make a decision, and he leaves sadly.

Meanwhile Marshall learns that Lily has a fellowship to San Francisco which begins a massive fight between them, which they decide to pause while they give Ted advice.

Ted decides to give it one more shot with Robin. She is going on a camping trip with Sandy Rivers, and Ted realizes that he needs to stop this from happening, so he decides to make it rain. He gets Barney to enlist an ex who knows how to do a rain dance, and he sets about making it rain.

Meanwhile Robin takes one of her dogs to the vet, who after hearing about Ted, tells Robin that Ted is one of a kind.

Ted yells for the universe to make it rain, and it complies. He goes to Robin's apartment and the two are finally together. He then returns home to find Marshall sitting alone. Lily has left him to go to San Francisco.

Notes and Season Wrap Up
Ted begins his relationship with Robin, while Lily and Marshall's relationship comes to an end. This somewhat parallels the pilot where Marshall and Lily got engaged, and Ted first met Robin only to blow it. I call this the Sixth Phase of Season 1. To recap, Phase One was episodes 1 and 2 when Ted first tried to get with Robin. Phase Two was episode 3-9 when they were just friends. Phase Three included episodes 10-12, and Ted's secret crush on Robin that ended up going nowhere. Episodes 13-18 marked Phase Four, where this was reversed and Robin liked Ted while he dated Robin. Phase Five happened after Ted screwed up, and included episodes 19-21. Episode 22 marks the Sixth and final phase of the season. Ted and Robin finally get together. I like how many phases there are in this season. Later seasons had much less phases, and plotwise were less dynamic. Of course this season was somewhat off in terms of character, and it was only towards the end where everything clicked. The great thing about HIMYM is that each season adds more to it, and the buildup of inside jokes provides an upward trend in HIMYM seasons, usually. On a particular note, Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof guest star in this episode. Besides being close to members of the cast these two played Fred and Wesley in Angel, two tragic lovers who I loved.

Review
The Season One finale is a fantastic episode. Season One of HIMYM is very different then the rest of the series, and I felt that if it was a single romantic comedy I could have been very satisfied with this being the ending. It's beautiful to see Ted finally get the girl, and heartbreaking to see Marshall and Lily split. Both of these events were well foreshadowed, espescially in the last two episodes. It's great to have a get up and shout for joy moment, followed by a sit down and cry moment. Of course the show does continue, and things change, but if the show had been cancelled after Season 1, I would  have been satisfied with this as an ending. Of course I'm glad it didn't get cancelled, because I love the rest of the series, but there we are. I feel like this is the ultimate Ted/Robin episode. A lot of Ted/Robin fans who honestly believe they're going to end up together clearly stopped paying attention after this episode. To them, I recommend just stopping after this episode. Season One was about Ted chasing the girl, and it ends very happily with him getting her. But they aren't actually meant for each other, and Season Two will show that. Anyways I loved this episode, and am looking forward to rewatching Season Two now for my future reviews.

Ranking
10 out of 10. Perfect.

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 21: Milk

Review
It is Ted's 28th birthday, and Barney's gift to Ted is to hit on a girl at the bar with the "greatest pickup line ever" which includes calling in paramedics for a girl who must have had a terrible fall because she looks like she's an angel.

Ted then receives a call from Love Solutions, saying that his perfect match has been found. He prepares to meet her, when he is called away by Lily. He meets Lily in Dutchess County, where he learns that she is going to interview for an art fellowship in San Francisco. He realizes that she's having second thoughts about getting married. She ditches him, leaving him stranded, while she heads to the interview.

Meanwhile Marshall has fun working for Barney as his Executive Mischeif Consultant. He realizes that he has more fun doing this then he ever would have working for the NRDC.

Ted calls Robin for a ride to meet his perfect woman. He goes over the checklist and how perfect this girl is supposed to be, while she tells him how she doesn't match up with his perfect woman. She drops him off and shows him her hair which has terrible highlights in it.

Ted is about to meet his perfect woman, but realizes that he doesn't want perfect, he wants Robin.


Notes
The "paramedics" at the beginning of the episode are played by show creators Carter Bays, and Craig Thomas. Just thought I'd point that out, anyways Lily's anxiety about getting married leads to her applying for an art fellowship that conflicts with the wedding. She has created an escape route, and will spend the next episode considering whether to take it. Ted reveals what the audience all already knows. He wants to be with Robin. I'm glad he realizes that he has to give him and Robin a chance before he meets his perfect woman, or we'd be in for another Victoria situation. A lot of people think this perfect woman might be the mother, but while I think she definitely represents the mother, she isn't actually her. I suspect the actual mother to be a few years younger then Ted at least. We do get some tantalizing picture here though, of what the Mother might look like. I'm curious as to whether the Writers actually have an actress in mind, or whether they just know how Ted is going to meet her. Finally we get Marshall revealing that he is actually considering staying to work with Barney, finally admitting that the corporate life is actually attractive to him.

Review
I love the pick up line at the beginning, totally the best pick up line ever. Lily's anxiety about getting married is understandable, but distressing and you can just tell things are about to go horribly wrong. I do however love Ted realizing that he has to make a final bid for Robin. He just can't move on until he's seen that the relationship isn't meant to be for himself. Finally I thought Barney's rivalry with Clark Butterfield was great. Overall I thought this was a very good episode, and am excited for the season finale!

Ranking
8.5 out of 10.

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 20: Best Prom Ever

Summary
Marshall and Lily get their dream location for their wedding. However it's in two months, so Lily is stressed as she has to plan the wedding very quickly. Meanwhile Robin is still mad at Ted.

Lily searches for a band, and when Marshall suggests one she decides she has to see them play their song. This leads to her, Robin and Barney sneaking into a prom. Later Marshall and Ted have to sneak in with sheet music as well.

At the prom Lily has flashbacks of breaking up with her high school boyfriend Scooter, because she doesn't want to be tied down. This causes her to freak out about her upcoming nuptials. Robin tries to calm her down and helps broaden her experience by kissing her.

Meanwhile the guys get kicked out, when they get into a fight with another student, although Ted is proud to "have Marshall's back." Barney ends up distracting the guards, so Marshall and Ted can sneak back in.

The band plays Lily and Marshall's song, with they dance. Ted and Robin also dance, and Robin admits that she's missed Ted.

Notes
We're on the final stretch of the season now. Lily is freaking out about her wedding, and the seemingly resolved issues from previous episodes rear their ugly head. The wedding concerns seem fairly one sided, as Marshall seems unworried about their wedding, and excited that it's only going to be in two months. Robin begins forgiving Ted in this episode, and by next episode things between them will be back to normal. We also get our introduction to Lily's high school boyfriend Scooter, who will reappear throughout the season. Finally on a Barney/Robin fanboy note, I like seeing Barney take Robin to prom even though she ditches him and it's not a big deal in the show. It's all these little moments between them early on that leads to something much bigger later in the show.

Review
Good episode. I like seeing Lily sort of self destruct under the pressure of planning her wedding. Robin and Lily's kiss is a little overrated, but it was kinda funny. I also love the violent femmes song they played. Good Feeling is great. Overall, I come out of this episode thinking that Cobie Smulders is extremely hot. She looks really good in this episode. I guess that says something about my taste in women's apparel but whatever.

Ranking
8 out of 10.

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 19: Mary the Paralegal

Summary
Robin has been nominated for an award, so the gang prepares to go to her award ceremony. Ted doesn't know if he should go, because of his recent blunder with Robin, and Barney suggests he does and that he brings a hooker as his date. Ted refuses until he finds out that Robin is bringing her co-worker Sandy Rivers as a date. Ted consents to bring "Mary the Paralegal" who he believes to be a hooker.

Robin wins the award and purposely leaves Ted out of her acceptance speech. Ted proceeds to take Mary up to a hotel room to have sex with. However he can't go through with it, because she's a hooker and he tells her so. However as Barney reveals to Marshall, Lily, and Robin, Mary is actually a paralegal. Mary slaps Ted.

Ted gets revenge on Barney who paid for the hotel room by running up a huge bill.

Notes
Alexis Denisof plays Sandy Rivers. He was in a previous episode but I forgot to mention him. Oops. Anyways, he's from the Buffyverse where he played Wesley. He is also Alyson Hannigan's real life husband, which is part of an inside joke in the show. Sandy continues to play a part in Phase 5 and the finale of season 1. Ted and Robin are not on friendly terms at the moment, as she is majorly pissed at him. We also see another vampire in this episode, Vampire Lou, and Lily appears to be very angry at them, which appears to be a veiled reference to her role as Willow on Buffy. We also get some telepathic conversations in this episode which might be another reference to the Buffyverse, but will be repeated throughout the course of the series.

Review
A fun, light hearted episode to follow up the previous episode's darker tone. I love Ted telling Mary she's a hooker when she's not. He just keeps on digging himself in deeper and deeper. I love the telepathic conversation too. Overall I just really enjoyed this episode because everything just seemed to click. Barney was funny, and his plot was evil but hilarious. I love Alexis Denisof regardless of what part he plays. I also like seeing Robin angry at Ted. She can be real cold blooded when she wants to be. The Barney/Marshall interaction of Barney making up a statistic only for Marshall to "lawyer" him is also fun. First Seasons are always a little weaker then later seasons, but I feel like HIMYM has really caught its stride by this point.

Ranking
9 out of 10.

Favorite Scene

Ted: You're a hooker.

Mary: No, I'm a paralegal.

Ted: No....you're a hooker.

Mary: NOOOO. I'm a paralegal.

Ted: (realizing his mistake.) You're a paralegal....

(Barney's evil laughter can be heard in the background.)

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 18: Nothing Good Happens After 2 AM

Summary
Ted heads over to Robin's to make juice. However he knows that he's really planning on hooking up with her, and wrestles with the moral dilemma with his conscience, which takes the form of his girlfriend Victoria. He calls his friends to ask their opinion and Lily tells him not to go over there, because Robin likes Ted. This only encourages Ted, despite the fact that his mother always told him that nothing good happens after 2 am.

Meanwhile Barney sets out to prove that good stuff does happen after 2 am, by setting the group up to hang out with Korean Elvis. This turns out to be pretty lame, and Barney seems to have failed. However after Korean Elvis hits on Lily, she kicks him in the "nards" which proves Barney right by making the night awesome.

Ted tries to hook up with Robin despite knowing it's wrong. He goes into the bathroom to break up with Victoria, however he grabbed the wrong phone, and when he comes out, Robin has answered his phone to find out Ted is still dating Victoria. Ted leaves, ashamed of what he's done, and on his way he breaks up with Victoria. Ted and Robin both go to sleep, sad and alone.

Notes
This is the second part of the two parter began in Life Among the Gorillas. Phase Four is officially done, as Ted breaks up with Victoria, and Robin's feelings are out in the open. Now we are ready for Phase Five, which will be Ted trying to regain Robin's friendship after making a huge mistake.

Review
A good episode that is quite unique for the series. It's got a much more depressing tone, and the whole episode takes place after 2 am, so it's all very dark. I like this change of pace, and I understood Ted's dilemma. The truth is, him and Victoria is over, and he's been in love with Robin for quite a while now. He finds out that she has feelings too, and invites him over. Of course he's going to go. But the timing is just a little wrong, and it ends up derailing Ted/Robin yet again. When the episode ends, I felt bad for both Ted and Robin were so close to getting everything they needed to be happy. This episode would have been perfect, excpet for the lame B story involving Korean Elvis.

Ranking
8.5 out of 10.

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 17: Life Among the Gorillas

Summary
Marshall starts his new job at Barney's company. He finds his co-workers to be idiots, and dislikes the job because he always wanted to be an environmental lawyer since he read Life Among the Gorillas, and learned that the environment was in trouble. He considers quitting, but Barney convinces him not to quit, so he can make money for his family with Lily. He decides to simply blend in with his co-workers which pisses off Lily, who yells at him. He tries to defend his actions, and invites Lily out to a karaoke bar to meet his co-workers. She is unimpressed with them, and continues to be mad at Marshall.

Meanwhile Ted is having trouble with his long distance relationship, and seeks advice from Robin. She helps him out, but he still gets an E-Mail from Victoria telling him that she thinks they need to talk. He believes this is a break up call, and waits for Victoria to call him. Realizing that he's actually waiting for the phone to ring, he leaves to go karaoke with his friends. He tells Marshall how he feels like his relationship with Victoria is over, which somehow inspires Marshall to go make up with Lily by sing "Don't Go Breaking My Heart".

Ted returns home, where at 2:00 am Robin calls wanting him to come over. The episode ends on a cliff hanger.

Notes
This is the first part of a two parter that ends with Nothing Good Happens After 2 AM. I've called this part of Season 1 Phase Four, marked by Ted's relationship with Victoria and Robin secretly liking Ted. Well that is coming to an end, as Robin and Ted are about to collide again. The writers never let the Ted/Robin relationship go for more then a few episodes without coming back into the spotlight into this season, and this is apparent here. On a different note, I have no idea how Ted talking about his relationship with Victoria ending inspires Marshall to make up with Lily. It's rather random. Lily and Marshall's different opinions  on his job is another issue brought up but not really dealt with in this episode. It's a part of the overall story of Marshall selling out, but I think it may also be one of the more subtle signs that the Lily/Marshall relationship is in some trouble.

Review
This episode is really a Marshall episode, as it deals with his career storyline, and provides some insight into his backstory. I like the opening scene where Marshall rails against coffee and what it's doing to the environment, but then ends up drinking a cup anyways. That's really an apt example of Marshall's overall struggle with his career. On the one hand he's an idealist, and really wants to be an environmental lawyer trying to save the world. On the other hand he just wants to drink some coffee, or have some money to start a family with, or have fun with Barney. The legal guys at Barney's company remind me of a friend I had in high school who was always using words like "dope". It's funny, but could easily get old fast so I hope they don't show up again too much, or if they do they act differently. And Barney at work with his "motivational" posters is hilarious. I had his "awesomeness" poster as my desktop for quite a while. It's kind of hard to judge this episode, which doesn't have a lot of Robin, without considering the next episode where she reappears. I almost feel like I should combine the two episodes for one ranking, but I already started writing this one...

Ranking
7 out of 10.

List of 10: Ten Careers I've Considered Pursuing

I'm in college, and honestly have no idea what I'm  going to do with my life. These are the top ten careers I've considered pursuing, though I'm unsure of any of them, and not even positive how to pursue some of them. How does one become a Film Critic?

1. Lawyer
2. Novelist
3. Screenwriter
4. Politician
5. History Teacher
6. Historian
7. CIA Agent
8. Shepherd
9. Cult Leader
10. Film Critic

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 16: The Cupcake

Summary
Victoria, Robin, and Lily go wedding dress shopping, while Barney, Marshall, and Ted shop for a suit for Marshall's job interview with the NRDC. Victoria has recently been offered an opportunity to attend a culinary institute in Germany, however if she goes she has to break up with Ted. Victoria deliberates whether to stay or not, while Ted tries to decide whether to ask her to stay. In the end Victoria decides to stay, and Ted decides not to ask her too. However when they meet to discuss it they both change their mind, and realize they need to break up. Marshall asks why they needed to break up right away, so Ted decides to spend one last good day with Victoria. Afterwards they decide to try long distance which Future Ted warns never works.

Meanwhile Lily has ruined an expensive dress, and Marshall has bought a really expensive suit, so Marshall has to take a job at Barney's company instead of getting his job with the NRDC.

Notes
Future Ted warns that long distance is a bad idea, and indeed this will contribute to the end of Ted and Victoria's relationship. Many fans wonder what would have happened if she had stayed, or if instead of doing long distance, Ted just waited two years for Victoria to come back. But this isn't what happens, and so the Ted/Victoria relationship is doomed. Marshall is forced to get a job at Barney's company which is the first part of a series long struggle Marshall faces between joining the NRDC and "selling out." Monetary needs force Marshall to "sell out" for the moment, and in a lot of ways foreshadows how he's going to act out this struggle. Barney pulls at Marshall's pragmatic side, while Lily tries to pull at his idealistic side. However Lily ends up putting financial strain on Marshall that forces him deeper and deeper onto the "sellout path".

Review
I like getting to see Barney's tailor and how sketchy it is. I also like the idea of Marshall working with Barney though we don't really see it here. That was the writers being smart and planning ahead, as Marshall and Barney at work provides plenty of plot opportunites. I also like the 3 girls 3 guys dynamic in this episode. That's one of the things that Friends had was sexual balance. I guess by having only two girls, Lily and Robin have a much stronger relationship because they don't have a Phoebe to deal with. It also makes it more of a guy's show which I can't complain about. Anyways, Marshall's career struggles provide some interesting plot. By the way, why hasn't he graduated yet? He's 28, and in my experience most law students graduate at 26. Wow, I'm getting off track. I guess it's because this episode sets up a lot of things without actually standing alone very well. I feel like if I was watching the first season back when it was first showing and I got this episode for a week I'd be dissapointed because it sets up a lot of things we don't get to see. As it is though, I can watch the next episode whenever I like, and this episodes sets it and others up very nicely.

Ranking
6 out of 10.

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 15: Game Night

Summary
Victoria joins the gang for a game night, where they play a game Marshall invented called Marshgamin. This game turns out to be a series of questions about Victoria's romantic history. At Game Night, Lily tells Barney that some girl named Shannon gave her a video tape, which he tries to destroy. The gang ends up watching it to find Barney looking like a hippie and crying as he sings a song to a girl trying to win her back.

Barney storms out, and when he finally returns to the gang at the bar he agrees to tell them his story, but only if they reveal their most embarrasing moments. Marshall reveals falling down naked in Lily's kindergarten class. Lily reveals having sex while Marshall's mother was on the phone and could hear them. Robin tries to tell the story of her falling in horse poop, but everyone knows it. Victoria tells a story that we don't hear that, Marshall calls "the best story ever." Ted is forced to tell the re-return. On the night of the events of the pilot, Ted re-returned for Robin only to throw up on her rug and run out.

Throughout these stories, Barney reveals his own story. After college he went through a Granola phase where he dated a girl named Shannon. They were going to leave for the peace corps, but she ditched him for some guy in a suit. This prompted Barney to change into the suit wearing Barney he is today. In the present time, he confronted Shannon and finally had sex with her, proving how awesome he is.

The gang realizes Barney won game night, as everyone deals with having revealed their embarrasing moments.

Notes
This is pretty much the first episode where Barney is the main character. He's stolen the show a lot before, but this episode is all about his backstory. We get to see Granola Barney for the first time, and how his rejection shaped him from the good natured hippie into the rather cynical suit wearing Barney he is now. The truth is that Granola Barney isn't completely gone. He referenced that he wrote a Zine as Granola Barney, and this has been transferred to him writing a blog. He also got his catch phrase "Legendary" from Shannon. Barney is really this innocent guy who just wanted people to understand him and care about him, but he got hurt really badly and has become unwilling to go through that again. To this end he has developed armor or rather a defensive "suit" to protect himself. This suit is his tendency to be kind of a douche, espescially towards women. However while he doesn't open himself up to women, he has opened himself up to Bros, and Ted in particular. He's commited to the gang, and later episodes will explore how much he is threatened by the idea of the other members of the gang abandoning him like Shannon did. On a different note, this episode shows how good Marshall is at games, which we will see throughout the series. Also we find out that Ted isn't really vomit free since 93.

Review
My only complaint about this episode was that Marshall's most embarrasing story wasn't very funny. Everything else in this episode was perfect. I love how good Marshall is at games. It makes a lot of sense, since he is basically one big kid. Granola Barney is hilarious, and I loved the homage to Star Wars as Barney Suits Up for the first time like Darth Vader. The Robin-Ted-Victoria triangle continues, and I like how the show manages to focus on this issue for multiple episodes. It's definitely leading to a boiling point.

Ranking
9.5 out of 10.

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 14: Zip, Zip, Zip

Summary
Ted and Victoria start going out and after three weeks are ready for their first time. They head back to Ted's place because Marshall and Lily are supposed to be out of town for their ninth anniversary. However the two decided to remain in instead, and so have to remain in the bathroom until Ted and Victoria move to the bathroom. Unfortunately Lily has to pee, which is something she's never done in front of Marshall before. Afraid that their relationship has grown stale, Lily does end up peeing which she realizes later is a "first.'

Meanwhile Barney hangs out with Robin. She suits up and goes with Barney to a cigar bar, laser tag, the bar to pick up women and finally back to her place to play battleship. He prepares to hook up with her, but she is uninterested, even though he says that Ted gave them permission. She reacts negatively to this and Barney realizes that Robin has feelings for Ted.

Notes
Ted's relationship with Victoria progresses while Robin continues to hide her own feelings for him. Barney attempts to sleep with Robin, which at first seems ridiculous, but he gives her a very rational reason for why they are good together. This is the first real foreshadowing of Robin and Barney getting together, even though at the moment Barney is only interested in a hook up and Robin isn't interested at all. The two instead develop their friendship further as he becomes the second person after Lily to find out she has feelings for Ted. Lily and Marshall celebrate their ninth anniversary, man they've been together forever. I'm curious as to the timing of their engagement, since there doesn't seem to be any event that prompts it, and they've been together for a long time for Marshall to just suddenly decide to propose. Lily's worries about her relationship with Marshall going stale may seem to be resolved in this episode, but it is actually kind of a major issue lurking underneath the surface.

Review
As a Barney/Robin fan I obviously love this episode. Barney and Robin hanging out is always fun to see, and frankly there's already some sexual tension between them. I don't actually like Barney's reasoning for them to get together though, since I want their relationship to be more then just casual, but it makes sense. These two develop a lot throughout the course of the series, but their friendship remains strong. A lot of people have compared them to Rachel and Joey from Friends, but I disagree. Barney is a much more complicated character then Joey was. I prefer to compare them to Joey and Pacey from Dawson's Creek. Pacey, like Barney, was a womanizer and a screwup, but him and Joey worked because they challenged each other and made each other better. As HIMYM progresses, I see a lot more of this from Barney and Robin then just two people who were thrown together because the writers wanted to shock fans.  Anyways that's a long tangent. This episode besides seeing some great Robin/Barney moments, features Marshall and Lily stuck in the bathroom while Ted tries to hook up with Victoria. Either of those on its own would be dumb, but the two in conjunction with each other is pretty funny. Marshall and Lily's problem which originally seems to be just a comedic issue, is actually more important then that. One of HIMYM"s major challenges is having two characters who are in love and happy with each other, and trying to make that unboring. So naturally the two have to deal with how to stop their relationship from being boring. The result is pretty satisfactory for an episode plot, but I'm still a bit concerned for them going forward in the series.

Ranking
8.5 out of 10.

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 13: Drumroll...Please

Summary
Ted tells Marshall and Lily about the previous night at the wedding. He met a girl named Victoria, and the two agreed to have a "perfect night" filled with romantic fun, however after the night ended they would never see each other again. Marshall and Lily tell Ted this is stupid, but he goes on to talk about how perfect the night was, and how he had a "drumroll" moment, where he and Victoria decided to experience the buildup to a kiss without the actual kiss. Ted realizes at this point that he has to find out who Victoria really is.

Ted calls Claudia and Stewart who tell him that there was no one at the wedding named Victoria. He then turns to Barney who hooked up with a bridesmaid who might know who Victoria is. She doesn't, even after Ted describes Victoria's shoes. Ted is about to give up.

Lily recounts Ted's tale to Robin, who reveals that she knows who Victoria is. She went to the wedding only to find Ted having his drumroll moment with Victoria. She went into the bathroom to cry, where she met Victoria who told her who she was.

Lily realizes Robin has feelings for Ted, and tells her to confess her feelings to Ted. She considers either doing this or telling Ted who Victoria is. The decision is taken out of her hands however, when Ted receives another call from Claudia who gives Ted the missing piece to realize that Victoria made the cake. Robin chickens out of telling Ted her feelings, and Ted goes to reunite with Victoria instead. They finally kiss.

Notes
This marks the start of the Phase Four I was talking about before. Ted is now entering a new relationship with Victoria, while Robin has finally admitted that she has feelings for Ted. However Robin is too scared to confess her feelings, and it ends with Ted getting with Victoria instead. Victoria is nice, and many fans have said they wished she was the mother. I don't know though. In my opinion she's sort of the opposite of Robin, who is very practical while Victoria is very mushy and romantic. I feel like the mother should be somewhere in the middle. Into the romantics like Victoria, but also being cool like Robin. I also feel like this relationship was doomed because there is obviously unfinished buisness between Ted and Robin. This episode also features Marshall focusing on the Cake, which is one of many times where his character focuses on minor matters that include food, as he was also focused solely on the Pineapple in the Pineapple Incident. This is a pretty obvious character trait, but it helps to give Marshall his own plot line in episodes that seem to otherwise completely revolve around Ted, even if the storyline is minor. We also hear Barney lying about joining the Peace Corps, which is ironic as we see in a later episode that he was actually going to join the Peace Corps at one point.

Review
Not a hilarious episode, but it was definitely cute and fun to watch. I felt like the funniest part of the episode was Marshall being obsessed with the cake. Ted and Victoria is cute though, and I enjoyed seeing Romantic Ted. I thought Barney's jokes in this episode were a little weak, and for once it really seems like Barney didn't steal the show. If this was intentional I could apreciate it, since you want to balance out the attention each character gets, but frankly it felt like it was more a product of the writers not really giving him a purpose in the episode. I'll forgive them though, because the rest of the episode was really quite good, and the moment towards the end where everything came together and Ted figured out who that Victoria made the cake, was brilliantly done and was a great display of HIMYM's mastery of non-linear story telling. Everything connected, and it was perfect.

Ranking
7.5 out of 10.

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 12: The Wedding

Summary
Ted, Barney, Marshall, and Lily have been invited to a wedding of their friends Stewart and Claudia. Ted believing he signed up for a plus one decides to ask Robin who has just broken up with Dererk. She says yes, and he is excited that things with Robin finally seem to be progressing forward. However when he runs into Claudia, she states that he didn't actually check plus one, and will have to tell Robin she isn't invited. He goes to tell her, but can't after seeing that she is excited too. Instead he goes to Stewart who tells him that he can bring Robin along. Unfortunately this ignites a fight between Stewart and Claudia that derails the whole wedding.

Marshall and Ted go to convince Stewart that he has to get married, while Lily works to stop Barney from hitting on Claudia. Marshall tells Stewart he shouldn't get married if he thinks being in a relationship is hard, because being married to the right woman should be easy. Stewart realizes that Claudia is the right woman and so the two reconcile.

Ted and Robin are about to go the wedding, when Robin is called away for a chance to anchor the news instead. Ted learns that Claudia was right, and that he did not check plus one. He is convinced he is meant to be single until he see a girl across the hall.

Notes
This was pretty much two-parter episode along with Drumroll...Please. It also marked the end of the rather short Phase Three. In episodes 1 and 2, Ted was in Phase One where he tried to get with Robin. Episodes 3-9 marked Phase Two where Ted and Robin became good friends instead. Phase Three which is moving to a close marks Ted's second attempt to be with Robin, that basically ends here because chance seems to be working against them. Naturally this means that it's time for Phase Four! Also this is the first time we get to meet Claudia and Stewart who will appear again throughout the series. It never mentions how they met Stewart and Claudia, which is something I've always wondered about, but I suppose it isn't really important. This is also the first wedding we get in the series, although there will be several more throughout the series. This running motif of weddings contributes to the theme of love and marriage, and will help remind us throughout the series of Ted's quest to find his future wife.

Review
Overall this episode is pretty much par for the course for HIMYM. It had funny moments, such as Little Barney, but nothing really spectacular. Lily and Marshall arguing over their wedding gave them something to do, but really didn't elevate the episode in my mind. I think my favorite part of the episode was when Robin got called away at the end. This ironic twist of fate that kept Ted and Robin from being together. Ted's right when he says things aren't easy with Robin. Throughout the course of their relationship things are never easy, and this is because the two simply aren't meant to be. The fact that they keep trying though, is probably why fans fell in love with the Ted/Robin relationship. I think if the show had ended with the first season I probably would have been a Ted/Robin guy too. It's only after watching the rest of the series that I saw that what the Ted/Robin fans really liked was Ted chasing after Robin. I hope the writers remember that when they finally decide to introduce us to the real mother. Fans want to see the chase. Anyways that was quite a long tangent. My point was that like almost all HIMYM episodes, I enjoyed watching this one, but I know that HIMYM is capable of doing even better then this.

Ranking
7.5 out of 10.

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 11: The Limo

Summary
Ted tries to make New Year's Eve great by getting a limo. The gang drives around searching for the best party to go celebrate New Year's at. Robin initially leaves to go spend New Year's with her boyfriend Derek, but eventually rejoins the gang when Derek stands her up. Ted brings a girl from work named Marybeth along, but she leaves after realizing Ted is into Robin. Barney meanwhile finds a Russian girl to bring along to kiss at midnight. As the gang continues to search for the perfect party they run into a bald guy they assume is Moby, but he ends up being a crazy gun totion weirdo who is definitely not Moby.

 Marshall and Lily both leave the limo, only to be reunited right before midnight to share their kiss.. Derek also meets up with the gang, but Robin shares her midnight kiss with Ted instead.

Notes
Ranjit reappears in this episode, marking the first of many returns to the series. Ted and Robin have their second kiss, and Ted is now fully back into Robin as part of Phase Three. Ted notes that 2006 was a big year for him, and having seen the rest of Season 1 and Season 2, it certainly was. Ted's going to have some dramatic romances this year, and his career is going to undergo a dramatic change as well.

Review
Great episode, and I espescially enjoyed the music. You Give Love a Bad Name plays many many times, as part of Barney's Get Psyched mix. The mission to have a fun time on New Year's Eve is definitely relatable, as New Years is one of the most overhyped holidays. Marshall and Lily getting seperated provided this episode with some great drama, even though it wasn't a really dramatic event. Overall this episode was just a lot of fun. I love seeing Ranjit again, and Barney provided good comic relief while everyone else gave the episode some light hearted drama. I recomend watching this episode every New Years.

Ranking
9 out of 10.

HIMYM Episode Review: Season 1 Episode 10: The Pineapple Incident

Summary
Ted gets drunk and blacks out. When he wakes up the next morning he finds a woman sleeping next to him and a pineapple on his night stand. He also discovers that he twisted his ankle, and his coat is burned up. He proceeds to work out what happened during the night.

After getting drunk, Ted began drunk dialing and calling Robin. He even performed a song for her, standing on top of a table which he then fell off of, and injured his ankle. Marshall and Lily then put him to bed and thought the night was over.

Ted reawok and marched back to the bar. He decided to call Robin again, which caused Barney to punish him by lighting his coat on fire. Barney then puts Ted to bed, and he had thought the night was over.

However Ted learns that Carl that he returned one last time and called someone to hook up with.

Ted thinks this was Robin, but it was actually a girl he met in the bathroom named Trudy.

Robin shows up and feels awkward about Ted calling her, even though Ted claims he has moved on.

In the end Trudy disappears, and the gang eats the pineapple.

Notes
Ted claims Trudy never returned his call, however he will end up meeting her again, but because this meeting didn't involve calls I guess it remains in continuity. This episode introduces us to Drunk Ted who is quite hilarious, and proves that Ted is quite capable of hooking up with random women if he chooses to. It also is the first part of the Phase Three I mentioned in my last post. Ted's feelings for Robin re-emerge, and he's going to try yet again to get together with her. We never get to know where the Pineapple came from, but it's actually much funnier that way.

Review
This was an amazing episode of HIMYM, definitely one of the classics. What I particularily like about it is the non-linear story telling. There's really two stories being told here, the story of Ted hooking up with Trudy, interwoven with Ted trying to figure out what happened the night before. It works very well, and it's nice to see that the people working on the show aren't afraid to really push themselves. I also like that Ted is back onto his interest in Robin. Although I'm not a Ted/Robin guy, I understand that their relationship is important, and Ted won't be able to have another succesful relationship until he's resolved his relationship with her. Besides, Ted is at his best when there's a girl for him to chase.

Ranking
9.5 out of 10.

List of 10: Rankings of the First 10 Episodes

Although I give each a numerical score, I'd just like to quickly rank these first ten episodes for easy convenience.

1. Episode 10: The Pineapple Incident
2. Episode 3: Liberty Bell
3. Episode 2: Purple Giraffe
4. Episode 6: Slutty Pumpkin
5. Episode 5: Okay Awesome
6. Episode 1: Pilot
7. Episode 8: The Duel
8. Episode 7: Matchmaker
9. Episode 9: Belly Full of Turkey
10. Episode 4: Return of the Shirt

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 9: Belly Full of Turkey

Review
It's Thanksgiving and Marshall and Lily head to Minnesota to celebrate with Marshall's family. Lily is intimidated, as all of the Erikson's are large, and Marshall who is over six feet tall is considered the runt of the family. She doesn't really fit in well with the Minnesota residents, and she feels increasingly uncomfortable espescially as she thinks that she may be pregnant. She ends up leaving and gets arrested when she takes a pee in an alley as part of a pregnancy test. Marshall bails her out and the two find out that Lily isn't pregnant, however they agree that they want to be different from either of their two families.

Meanwhile Ted and Robin spend the holiday volunteering at a soup kitchen, only to find to their horror that Barney is there and he is the "volunteer of the year." They are relieved to discover he is only doing this because of a court order, however they still end up screwing up when they expose that a group of volunteers have been stealing, only to find that this is the norm. Ted gets himself, Robin, and Barney fired. In order to make it up to Barney, Ted and Robin accompany him to a strip club for dinner.

Notes
Lily shows that everything might not be okay with her current engagement. She isn't too excited to join the Erikson family, and is also scared at the concept of having kids. She doesn't really seem to be ready for marriage. Robin and Ted are quite comfortable as friends in this episode. I like to divide Season 1 into phases based on where Ted is romantically. Episode 1 and 2 were his initial attempts to win over Robin, while episodes 3-9 mark a second phase of Robin being integrated into the group and becoming good friends with Ted. But we are now ready to enter Phase Three! Also a common theory is that while the stripper Ted meets at the end of the episode isn't the mother, she might have the same name, since the kids seemed to believe that the stripper might actually be their mother: Tracy. So pay attention for any possible mother candidates named Tracy!

Review
This episode had its moments but was ultimately kind of lackluster especially when compared to the Duel or the upcoming Pineapple Incident. Barney is funny as always, and the Minnesota bit was amusing at times, but this episode overall seemed to be nothing special.

Ranking
5 out of 10.

List of 10: Ranking of Top 10 Holidays

1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving
3. Halloween
4. My Birthday (May 3rd)
5. St Patrick's Day
6. April 20
7. Easter
8. Fourth of July
9. Cinco De Mayo
10. New Years

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 8: The Duel

Summary
After Lily discovers that her apartment has been turned into a chinese restaurant, Ted invites her to move in with him and Marshall. Barney warns Ted that this is a bad idea, saying that they will edge him out, and Ted begins to get paranoid about this. He goes so far as to buy a large English phone booth in an attempt to mark his territory. This leads to a fight over the apartment between Marshall and Ted, with the two reverting to dueling using the swords they've had hanging on their wall for years.

Barney meanwhile invents a "lemon law" to dating, where they are allowed to leave a date within the first five minutes. Robin rejects this notion, and Barney dares her to sit through a full date with a nerd (Guest appearance from another Freaks and Geeks star.)

Lily shows up at the apartment right as a poorly crafted table breaks, and Marshall accidentally stabs Lily. Robin is alerted, and rushes to the hospitalthus ditching her bad date.

At the hospital Lily resolves the issue of who gets the apartment by saying she doesn't want it for her and Marshall because it's a "boy's apartment."

Notes
This was definitely a comic episode to balance out the previous episode which focused more on plot. We get to see the first of Barney's many creations for the dating world, "The Lemon Law" and we also get to see Marshall accidentally wound Lily yet again, similar to his hitting Lily in the eye with the champagne cork in the pilot. Barney once again sets out a challenge for Robin, and it's interesting to note how they interact. Robin is portrayed as Ted's love interest in this season, and she becomes Lily's best female friend, but she interacts with Barney just as much as them and far more then Marshall who she doesn't seem to have any special relationship with. It's hard to define this early relationship between Robin and Barney, but their interactions are definitely interesting. They're flirtatious, but neither of them really seem into the other, at least not yet. This also marks the first use of "Future Ted" to refer to a future version of oneself. I'm not sure if this was when people started referring to the voice of Bob Saget as Future Ted, or if he had always been referred to as such, but it definitely perpetuates it and creates a running theme throughout the series. We aren't the same people we were in the past, we're always changing.

Review
A good episode, that gets a bonus point for having a sword fight in it, because sword fights are awesome. The "lemon law" seems like a pretty good idea really, and I like this aspect of Barney's character that he creates these outlandish concepts. Still Robin's date was only kind of funny, and overall I believe HIMYM is capable of doing a lot better then this.

Ranking
7 out of 10. (Would be 6 without the bonus point.)

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 7: Matchmaker

SummaryAfter Robin does a story on a match making service, she recomends that Ted uses it, but Ted doesn't want to. Barney does however, thinking it's a great way to meet vulnerable women, and tricks Ted into signing up. Ted is then convinced that he needs the service because there aren't actually as many women out there for him as he believes.So he signs up and is told to wait three days.

Meanwhile Marshall and Lily see an animal they dubb the Cockamouse, because it has the characteristics of both a cockroach and a mouse.

Ted learns that the dating service has failed to find him a match, but there is a woman he could be suited for. Unfortunately she is engaged. Despite this Ted hits on her, which freaks her out, and he is rejected.

Ted tells the owner of the dating service that she will continue looking for his match, but she'll now do it for free.

Notes
This episode will help set up the penultimate episode of the Season, by introducing Love Solutions. Ted is desperate to find his perfect woman and seven episodes in, he is already starting to give up on finding her through the traditional method. This is also the first time that it's mentioned that Marshall and Lily are believers in the supernatural, while Robin is doubtful. It's also interesting to note how in early seasons Barney could really dissapear into the background. In the first seven episodes he has yet to have an episode that was really "about" him, although Liberty Bell was close. But instead Barney simply seems to act as one of the forces that drives Ted to make decisions. It's not a bad thing by any means, Barney's scenes still manage to steal the show often enough, but it just seems like in Season 1, Ted is the main character while everyone else acts as his supporting characters. In later seasons it becomes a much more ensemble story.

Review
I don't really know what to say about this episode. It's definitely one of the episodes that contributed to me thinking Season 1 was weaker then later seasons. Season 1 always seemed divided between episodes that were funny and episodes that were important for the plot, while later seasons managed to do both. That said, this episode wasn't bad, and the whole idea of the cockamouse was kind of amusing, but it was nothing spectacular. The Love Solutions plot will pay off later, but I didn't particularily care for Ted tracking down his supposed match. It came off as too desperate. I think Barney tricking Ted into going with him to Love Solutions by claiming his "boat was sinking" may be my favorite part of the episode, just because of its randomness. I also like Ted's speech at the end about him being convinced that his soul mate is out there. That belief that everything will end up alright is much more in character then his earlier desperation. It also fits with this episode's them of believing in the supposedly impossible.

Ranking
5.5 out of 10.

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 6: Slutty Pumpkin

Summary
It's Halloween and Ted tells Robin about how every Halloween he goes up to the roof party where years earlier he met a girl in a "Slutty Pumpkin" outfit. He proceeds to do so again, with Barney reluctantly accompnaying him. Ted then waits to meet this perfect woman while Barney uses a variety of costume disguises to allow him to hit on the same girl multiple times, until he finally gets her number while dressed up as a penguin.

Meanwhile Robin and her current person of interest go on a double date with Marshall and Lily who are dressed up as Jack Sparrow and a parrot. Robin doesn't dress up while her POI Mike does dress up as Hansel. The double date goes badly as Robin doesn't seem eager to be part of a couple.

Marshall and Lily end up winning the bar's costume contest. A disheartened Robin meets up with Ted on the roof, and they discuss how Ted is waiting for love, and Robin isn't sure if she is ever meant to even want to be in love.

Theories
A lot of people think that the Slutty Pumpkin will end up being the Mother, but I doubt it. I don't think the Mother is someone Ted has met yet, even as briefly as the Slutty Pumpkin. The Slutty Pumpkin is like that "perfect woman" you build in your head, but the real life version is actually way better. The real Mother is going to be so much more awesome then the Slutty Pumpkin.

Review
Good episode. Barney is very funny with all of his outfits, and his intro as a Top Gun pilot was awesome. Ted and Robin both confide in each other and are clearly both more then just friends even though both have dated other people since their original romantic snaffu. Robin's disinterest in having a relationship is a very interesting feature of her character that kinda gets dropped after this season. I guess it's easy to be in your mid twenties with what could be a promising career and be uninterested in a relationship, then nearly thirty with a job going nowhere. Still it's interesting to note what Robin is like in these early episodes. Marshall and Lily are almost nauseating with how "couply" they are, but that's just the way they are. Neither Marshall or Lily are people who retain any independence in their relationship, they both enter wholeheartedly. It's nice to see although at times it gets stale, luckily for those of use who want to see their relationship get shook up, they've got some drama heading their way this season. Finally I think Ted waiting for the Slutty Pumpkin is kind of lame. Barney is right, Halloween is a time to go out and have fun, not sit around and wait for some mythical "Mrs. Right".

Ranking
7.5 out of 10.

List of 10: Top 10 Halloween Costumes

I live in Isla Vista California, known for it's famously debaucherous Halloween Party Scene. Here is a list of my top 10 favorite Halloween Costumes I've seen.

1. Green Man
2. Guy in Shower (Guy carried around a plastic tub with a curtain and a fake shower head.)
3. Buddha
4. Playboy Bunny (Always hot.)
5. Sexy Nurse.
6. Birds of War
7. Dominatrix
8. A Giant Penis (I was horrified, but it was funny.)
9. Marijuana and other drugs (A group costume really)
10. Power Ranger (the ultimate classic.)

HIMYM Episode Review: Season 1 Episode 5: Okay Awesome

Summary
Robin gets her and the rest of the gang into a club called Okay. Ted and Barney tag along while Lily and Marshall host a wine tasting.

At the club Ted has a miserable time and spends the whole night with the coat check girl. Barney ends up grinding with a girl he finds out later is his cousin.

Marshall ditches the wine tasting, and goes to the club. After injuring his tooth he goes to the bathroom for some "aspirin" and comes out ready to party.

Lily also ditches the wine tasting and heads to the club. There she finds Robin despairing that she can't get into the VIP room, and the two end up flashing their boobs to get into the club. Lily meets up with Marshall doing a crazy dance, and she joins him.

Everyone ends up having a good night at the club one way or another, except maybe for Barney...

Review
Overall this episode was pretty good. Okay awesome is a great title, and I love what they did with the club. The club's noise is so loud that they actually subbed most of everyone's lines. Pretty funny and completely realistic from every experience I've had with a party with loud music. Marshall's dance when he gets to the club is pretty awesome, and is probably my favorite part of the whole episode. Also it is heavily implied that he went into the bathroom and took ectasy, so yay for the drug reference! Also for all those Freaks and Geeks fan there is a short appearance from some of the Geeks.

Marshall and Lily don't seem ready to settle down quite yet, and Marshall is compltely uninterested in having children at this point. That will change over the course of the series. Also Robin continues to integrate with the group, and also we see more of how little respect Robin gets for her job. This is a major theme throughout the rest of the show.

Ranking
7 out of 10.

There wasn't really a good picture available for Episode 5, so I decided to reference Freaks and Geeks!

List of 10: 10 Overated Things

In keeping with the Ted's theme of things being over rated here is a list of 10 really over rated things.

1. Clint Eastwood directed movies
2. The Twilight Books
3. Parades (I agree with Ted.)
4. Glee
5. High School Musical
6. American Idol
7. Most versions of Law and Order except for SVU
8. Porn (honestly, adult movies need some inspiration)
9. Drew Brees (He's not as good as people think.)
10. Environmentalism (Honestly won't make much if any difference.)

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Season 1 Episode 4: Return of the Shirt

Summary
Ted rediscovers an old shirt he suddenly likes. He decides he likes things he previously disliked, and decides to apply this his dating life. He goes after his ex-girlfriend Natalie, who he broke up with on her answering machine on her birthday while the guests at her surprise party listened on. Despite this terrible incident Natalie does get back together with Ted, and they date for three weeks.

Meanwhile Barney pays Robin to say and do funny things during her news broadcasts. This escalates until finally Robin makes a stand after someone she is interviewing tells her how important this is to him. However her "stand" ends up landing her in a pile of horse crap which is far funnier then anything Barney paid Robin to do.

Ted on the other hand realizes that Natalie isn't The One, and decides to break up with her. It's her birthday again though, and she is enraged to the point of beating him up.

Note
Not a great episode really, but it moves the characters along I guess.This is the first time Barney and Robin interact really, with him challenging her to say crazy things on the air and her eventually consenting to do so. This continues Robin's integration into the group, as well as being the very beginning of the Robin-Barney friendship that will evolve throughout the course of the series.

Ranking
5 out 10.

List of 10: 10 Things That Are Better Then I Remembered

In keeping with the list of 10, here are 10 things that are better then I remembered from the first time around.

1. Season 1 of How I Met Your Mother. (I always thought this season was the weakest, and it might be but it is still really good.)
2. Going to schol. (Honestly, learning is really under-rated, and if I wasn't so busy being a dumbass I could have enjoyed school a lot more earlier.)
3. The Wheel of Time Books. (Every time I read them they are better then I remember.)
4. Comic Books. (I thought they were so lame when I was a kid, but I'm a fan now.)
5. Visiting museums. (So much less boring then I remembered.)
6. Code Geass (An awesome anime series everyone should check out.)
7. Islam (At first I thought Islam was just a pseudo Christian religion, but it's actually quite different and has been very influential on my thoughts of late.)
8. Soap Operas (I finally learned how funny they are.)
9. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (It gets better every time.)
10. Writing (Every time I write I feel better and don't understand why I always put off doing it.)

HIMYM Episode Review: Season 1 Episode 3: Liberty Bell

Summary
Ted wonders why he is friends with Barney, as his well dressed friend leads him on a crazy night out. The two end up going to Philadelphia chasing after two girls, only to find out on the flight that the girls have boyfriends. They are then picked up by airport security because over the last few months Barney has been leaving baggage at the airport in his efforts to pick up women. After being released the head to a woman named Sasha's party, where they meet a guy who works guarding the Liberty Bell. Barney decides to drag Ted along to lick the Liberty Bell, which a tired Ted resists but eventually agrees to after Barney confesses that he doesn't simply want to have his adventures alone.

Meanwhile Robin and Lily bond with a "girl's night out". Lily gets jealous that Robin is being hit on by several guys and takes off her wedding ring, although the only guy she can attract is a gay guy who comes to tell her she sat on a grape. Still Marshall shows up and is jealous until he learns that the other guys is gay.

The episode ends with Ted realizing that Barney is his friend because he always pushes Ted to have adventures, and he talks up a girl who is NOT the Mother.

Notes
The first "Barney Episode" or episode that focuses on Barney's antics. This episode is heavy with catchprases "Suit Up" "Legendary" and "wait for it..." which I guess some people might dislike but I find hil-wait for it-arious. Hilarious. This is where the Barney character clicked for the first time and it was awesome. I also note that Robin continues to integrate herself into the group. Also we see the first signs of Lily being uneasy with being engaged which will play a huge role later on in the season.

Ranking
9 out of 10.

List of 10: 10 Intimidating Careers

This List of 10 was inspired by the girls Ted and Barney hitting on going out with linebackers. These are

ten other careermen you wouldn't want to compete with.

1. Police Officer (You don't want to get on a cop's bad side.)
2. Minister or Rabbi (If you wrong them you could be going straight to Hell.)
3. Astronaut (They've been or are going to go to space. Coolest thing ever.)
4. Air Plane Pilot (Flying your own plane is freakin' cool.)
5. Butler (Do you know that most murders are commited by Butlers? Even if that's not true, it could be.)
6. Construction Worker (I never met one I wasn't intimidated by.)
7. Musician (Not nescessarily intimidating, but you can't compete with a musician.)
8. CEO (Money equals power.)
9. Soldier (Duh.)
10. Postal Worker (Ever heard of "Going Postal" these guys are nuts!)

HIMYM Review: Season 1 Episode 2: Purple Giraffe

Summary
A week after his date with Robin, Ted has decided to move on and not call her. As soon as he's made this decision he runs into Robin having a drink with Lily and immediately changes his mind. Lily reveals that Robin told her in confidence that she was interested in Ted, but just wanted to keep things "casual." Ted decides to play along, and instead of asking her out, he invites her to a party he's "casually" decided to throw...just for her. Robin fails to show up, so Ted decides to turn the party into a "two-day-party" only for her to not show up again, and him to make it a "three day party". Meanwhile Marshall struggles to write a 25 page paper, while Lily insists on having sex with him constantly. Stress out Marshall yells at Ted during the third party, revealing what Ted's been doing to Robin who has finally shown up. Ted tries to backpedal by introducing Robin to another guy named Carlos, but eventually confesses that he threw the parties just for her. The two share a passionate kiss, but realize that a relationship won't work because Robin just wants it to be "casual" while Ted can never be casual.

Theories
Robin mentions that she will help Ted meet the right woman, which I suspect she ultimately will in one way or another.

Notes
A classic episode, and "casual" becomes one of my favorite words after this episode. It also shows that the first season has the major theme of Robin becoming one of the gang, which is espescially obvious in the early episodes of the season. The title Purple Giraffe also is a great metaphor, as in the episode Robin is covering a news story where a kid got stuck in a machine trying to get the toy. This is a theme of the series as Ted is tired of "playing the game" of meeting women and dating and just wants to get his prize (finding his soulmate) but he's going to face hardship along the way, espescially since he's going to be hung up on Robin for quite a while even though it's not meant to be.

Ranking
8.5 out of 10.

List of 10: 10 TV Romances I'm Rooting For

Because this episode had a romantic theme, I've decided this entrie's List of 10 will be Top 10 TV Romances I'm rooting for. To make this list the outcome of the romance must still be up in the air, and the show must be either ongoing or be Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

1. Barney and Robin from HIMYM. (Screw you Ted and Robin fans! Barney and Robin all the way!)
2. Andy and Nancy from Weeds.
3. Foreman and 13 from House.
4. Chase and 13 from House. (Yeah, I'm rooting for both sides.)
5. Jeff and Annie in Community. (Controversial?)
6. Spike and Buffy! (Old yes, but it was never decided, hopefully it will be in the comics.)
7. Erin and Andy from the Office.
8. Angela and Dwight from the Office.
9. Shawn and Juliet from Psych.
10. Oliver and Chloe from Smallville. (I feel like Clark and Lois is already decided which is why it's not on here.)

HIMYM Episode Reviews: Pilot

Intro
I thought I'd start of my television reviews with the pilot of my current favorite show. How I Met Your Mother is the best sitcom on the air right now, and could be the best ever. It is a perfect mix of Friends and Seinfeld. I highly reccomend that everyone watch it, and they should start with the pilot.

Summary
So the pilot to HIMYM starts off with us being introduced to the titular plot device of Future Ted telling his kids the story of how he met their mother in the year 2030. His story begins in the 2005, with the 27 year old archictect Ted Mosby deciding he wants to find his soul mate after he finds out that his best friend Marshall is going to propose to his college girlfriend Lily. Ted's quest begins at the bar where he is sort of aided by his friend Barney. Meanwhile Lily accept Marshall's proposal and the two have sex on the kitchen floor.

Ted's first attempt at soul-mate searching fails, as the girl he is chatting up is dating Carl the bartender. However at this point he meets a beautiful woman, who Barney introduces him to. He asks her out, and the two go out on a great date, that is ended early and the two don't get to have a goodnight kiss.

After relaying this story to his friends, he is urged to go and get that kiss. But first he steals a blue french horn for her, which he had earlier compared to a Smurf's penis. This goes over great, and he almost gets his kiss in the woman's apartment, only for him to ruin it by telling her that he is in love with her. It's too soon, and he leaves without getting his kiss.

But this woman would be important to Ted. She would become....Aunt Robin...

Theories
Despite what a large number of fans continue to believe, this episode alone proves that Robin is not the mother. She is "Aunt" Robin. Also this episode sets the plot up for Ted searching for his true love, so for those who believe that the Mother is anyone other then the woman Ted ends up marrying, you're wrong. From a story telling point of view, the Mother is also Ted's Lily so to speak.

Notes
I score HIMYM episodes on a much harsher scale then other television shows, because of how good it is, so even if I grade an individual episode badly, it is still worth watching, just maybe not rewatching repeatedly. Still this was a good episode, and I can forgive it for having the feel of a Pilot. Things aren't quite up to snuff, but still its very good, and this is the episode that started it all.

Ranking
7 out of 10.

List of 10: Top TV Series As Of This Posting In No Particular Order

Just so that everyone can know what other shows I like, to give them a point of reference. Here's a list of 10 shows I like that are currently on the air.

1. How I Met Your Mother
2. House
3. Smallville
4. Community
5. Dexter
6. The Office
7. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
8. Weeds
9. Big Bang Theory
10. Psych