Marshall and Lily are back together, but after considering how hard it would be to face Marshall's family after calling off the wedding before, the two decide to elope in Atlantic City. They gather the gang and head off.
While in Atlantic City, Lily goes off to get a boquet while Robin gets a Bridesmaid outfit that isn't hotter then Lily's outfit, and the guys "get a veil" but actually go gamble and to a strip club. They meet back having finished their tasks, and Robin has bought a bikini shirt which Ted is attracted too. Unfortunately Marshall and Lily have to wait three days before they can get married, but they don't want to so they go to get a judge. They go to the judge, who is about to allow them to get married, until Barney yells out that Marshall and Lily recently broke up, and Ted and Robin hooked up in the closet.
The gang realizes the only way they can get married is to pay a ship captain to get them married. Barney gets them the money by revealing that he has a gambling addiction, and he gets into a game where he earns them the money with a little help from Marshall.
Lily and Marshall end up getting married for only twelve seconds, because they realize they want to get married in front of all their family and friends.
Notes
Lily and Marshall are back together, and they jump back into their engagement. They get married for 12 seconds, in the first of three actual weddings they have in the season. This is also the second of many weddings we see in the show. Weddings are a common motif in the show, and I feel like the writers are trying to keep them around to keep Ted thinking about getting married. This episode also serves as the beginning of Phase Two of Season Two. Marshall and Lily's story in Phase two is all about them getting married, and the different obstacles that stand in their way. Meanwhile Ted and Robin's relationship seems to have hope, as Robin admits she's not totally against married. However I think we all know that its doomed to fail, espescially since Lily and Marshall are back together, and having everyone in the show being in a couple seems like a bad idea.
Review
This was a great episode. Two things in particular stick out. Barney's gambling problem is the first. I love this new character trait for Barney, and it's one that makes sense for him. He's a person who does thing in excess and who enjoys luxury and money. It's also extremely funny to watch. The other great thing of note is the jokes about New Jersey. Although they don't dwell upon it in this episode, this will be a running gag. This was a classic HIMYM in perfect formula. Everybody has a motivation, and they all make sense and are fun to watch.
Ranking
9 out of 10.
Season Comparison: Season 1 vs. Season 2: "The Duel" vs. "Atlantic City"
A lot of people consider Season 2 of HIMYM to be the best season. I disagree having seen later seasons, but it is episodes like Atlantic City that show me why they would think that. It has the perfect formula that HIMYM uses perfectly. By the perfect formula, I mean that each of the characters has a motivation in this episode. Lily and Marshall want to avoid the awkwardness of dealing with their families, Robin wants to support them, Ted wants to look at Robin's Shirt Boobs, and Barney wants to gamble. Each of these reasons make sense (Robin's shirt is sexy) and each are funny to watch. When HIMYM follows this formula it is impossible to beat. The Duel was a good episode, and it had a cool swordfight, but it wasn't quite up to the level of Atlantic City.
Winner
Season 2 Episode 8: Atlantic City
Scoreboard
Season 1: 3
Season 2: 5
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