How I Met Your Mother struggles, but occasionally succeeds

  
     One of my favorite sitcoms still on the air is CBS's How I Met Your Mother.  When it started it was unique, funny, had a great cast, and I could relate to the stories.  Since that time, I did meet and marry the love of my life, and she was one of many new converts I brought over to watching the show.  Having recently discussed show with several of those people, we all agree that this season has not been up to par at all.

     It isn't that it's not relevant any more.  Despite all of us in the discussion having beaten Ted to the goal (or so we hope), we are still rooting for him.  It just feels like the writing and plots have become stale and less original.  Overall, each character has some weird quirks, and then there are issues the entire groups has, but all of the best ones have already been used.  When, in season five, the episode is about how the five main characters all do something quirky, and we loyal viewers who have tuned in every week have not seen this behavior before, it doesn't feel realistic.  I strongly feel that they should call next season the last.  The end date will breathe new life into a struggling show and allow them to get back to what made it so attractive in the first place.

     With the complaints out of the way, I am happy to report that last night's episode, "Twin Beds", broke away from the mediocrity that has set in and reminded me how the show can sparkle.  Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel) decided  that twin beds would help their marriage.  Of course they were wrong, but their love, fights, and interaction played out in a familiar way that it hasn't in awhile, and reminded me that these two wonderful actors have great chemistry.  Let's see more of it.  The biggest plot, though, was about Robin's (Cobie Smulders) heart.

     Robin has been getting serious with co-worker Don (Benjamin Koldyke) this season.  While the relationship has moved faster than most real ones do, it isn't out of line with sitcom reality.  He has helped her grow as a person, and her movement away from the group is feeling natural and necessary.  I mean, who else besides sitcom characters regularly hang out with two ex-boyfriends?  In the meantime, those two exes want her back, and more than just as friends.  Ted (Josh Radnor) has always loved her, but the audience has known since the pilot that they will not end up together, so while it's heart breaking to see Ted suffer, it takes away of the bit of the drama on will they or won't they, somehow in a good way.  Barney, (Neil Patrick Harris) on the other hand, should have never given her up.  It seems apparent that they deserve a second chance, but Don is a fine distraction in the meantime, provided he just stays a distraction.

     On a side note, I take a little umbridge at Don thinking Ted was gay just because he likes to write, can cook, watches Project Runway, is not interested in football, and drinks appletinis.  I do all of those things and I'm happily married to a great girl.  It's 2010!  Please stop putting guys in stupid boxes.  However, I'm not really angry.  It was pretty funny.  I just wanted to comment.

     How I Met Your Mother airs Monday nights at 8pm on CBS.