HOMELAND - THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON Review

Article originally published as Blu-ray Review: ‘Homeland – The Complete Fourth Season’ on Blogcritics.

Season four was a chance to start over for Showtime’s Homeland. With Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), one of the leads of the first few seasons, and his family and friends dropped from the cast, the show was allowed to refocus on Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) and the activities of the CIA. For a series whose quality was beginning to suffer, being able to hit the reset button reinvigorated the storytelling and the characters. And while this fourth year didn’t quite hit the highs of the first (though I don’t expect Homeland to ever match that outstanding freshman run), it did outshine the past two years and make itself good again. This pivotal batch of installments, The Complete Fourth Season, is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.

Carrie herself, the core of the show, does not change much in season four. She’s still a mess, pursuing her righteous cause while ticking off authority. She really pushes the boundaries of what viewers will be able to overlook and still like her. She still doesn’t follow the rules, and while she does get the job done, the ends don’t always justify the means.

Take, for instance, the new character this year of Ayaan Ibrahim (Suraj Sharma, who played the title character in Life of Pi), a young Middle Eastern man whose family and friends are killed in a drone strike in the season opener. Carrie approaches him and does what she feels she must to win him over, which crosses a line most people would not cross. In her new position as station chief in Pakistan, she can’t be doing that. She must set a good example.

Of course, Carrie is not alone, and Homeland once more builds an interesting tapestry, rather than just putting one person front and center. The aforementioned Ayaan is a complex, layered character, giving a personal face to the ‘other side.’ Because his frame of reference is so far removed from most viewers, he ends up being an unpredictable story, one hitting home in a time when the morality of drone strikes is hotly debated. Quinn (Rupert Friend) has a parallel storyline as Ayaan’s, but from the American perspective. Senator Andrew Lockhart (Tracy Letts, playwright of August: Osage County) is a new obstacle, the (necessary) stereotype that wants to sweep mistakes under the rug. Carrie’s sister, Maggie (Amy Hargreaves) becomes more vital to the story because she is now raising Carrie and Brody’s baby.

Saul (Mandy Patinkin) is second in importance only to Carrie, and more beloved. His journey through The Complete Fourth Season is even more gripping than hers. On the outside now, trying to settle down with his wife, Mira (Sarita Choudhury), one might think Saul is done with the crazy life of the CIA. That person would be wrong, of course, and it doesn’t take him, always restless, long to get drawn into the same events that Carrie is involved with. This plot contrivance may be a bit of a stretch, but it doesn’t feel like it the way Homeland does it, and fans want to see Carrie and Saul together, anyway.

In short, I do think The Complete Fourth Season is probably the second best year of the show so far, and certainly makes me look forward to the fifth season, premiering in October.

If you’re going to watch Homeland – The Complete Fourth Season, I have to recommend going Blu-ray. The Middle Eastern setting often brings our characters outside, and high definition gives depth to the shadows and allows greater detail in the unforgiving light. During the bloody action scenes, the sound is well mixed, and if you have surround sound (these discs are 5.1) and a big enough television, it can feel like you’re right in the muck with our heroes.

The special features are a little lighter than I’d like this year. We get some deleted scenes and character profiles on Quinn, Khan (Raza Jaffrey), and Sherazi (Nazanin Boniadi), as well as three “Script to Screen” featurettes. And that’s it. I really wish for some discussion about the new direction, comparisons to real life conflict, and a look at how Carrie has developed. Instead, what we get is pretty much fluff filler, and that’s disappointing. The latter does deal a bit with writing and production, but not enough.

Still, the story is good, and Homeland remains an enjoyable program.

Homeland – The Complete Fourth Season is available now.

How I Met Your Mother The Complete Season 7

CBS's How I Met Your Mother started out as one of the best sitcoms on television, and then sagged a bit in the middle. However, by season seven, owing to a deeper level of emotion, and some development in the characters' lives, the series had regained its momentum, beginning to build towards a climax (even though it's uncertain if that climax will happen in season eight, or nine, or...). Now, all twenty-three episodes of season seven, plus extras, have been released on a three disc set dubbed "The Ducky Tie Edition."

As year seven commences in Ted's (Josh Radnor) search for the titular mother, his friends are continuing to grow up and move on. In fact, as we see in cut scenes in several episodes set slightly in the future, Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) is finally tying the knot, before Ted no less, though we won't find out who Barney's bride is until the final moments of the season. Is it Robin (Cobie Smulders), whom is still haboring feelings for him? Is it Nora (Nazanin Bonidai), whom Barney wronged, but maintains a torch for? Or could it be the soon to arrive on the scene stripper, Quinn (Becki Newton, Ugly Betty), who understands Barney in a way that no woman ever has before?

Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel) are even further into adulthood. They announce in the season premiere, "The Best Man," that Lily is pregnant. But do they want to raise a baby in New York City? It isn't long before they find a place in the suburbs. This moves them further away from their friends, hurting their social life. Is this the right decision for them?

Other events important to the lives of the gang occur throughout the season. Some ones well worth mentioning are:

• "Ducky Tie" Barney loses a wager to see Lily's breasts, and Ted runs into old flame Victoria (Ashley Williams), sparking a "What if...?" question about his ex.
• "Noretta" Kevin (Kal Penn) freaks everyone out when he tells them that people always choose a mate similar to their parents. Visual gags ensue.
• "The Slutty Pumpkin Returns" Ted reunites with a mystery flirt from years ago (Katie Holmes), and Barney learns that he's one quarter Canadian. It's a good thing that it's Halloween. The horror!
• "Tick Tick Tick" After cheating on their significant others with each other, Robin and Barney decide how, or if, they will break up with Kevin and Nora.
• "The Rebound Girl" Barney and Ted decide that they should raise a child together. There is no way that this can possible go wrong, right?
• "Tailgate" Marshall visits his father's grave to update him on that gang's life.
• "The Burning Beekeeper" The story of Marshall and Lily's housewarming party is told repeatedly from different perspectives.
• "Karma" Barney meets Quinn, a stripper who steals more than his money, and Ted seeks to fill the void in the apartment, and his life, left by Robin after she moves out.
• "Trilogy Time" Ted realizes that he has been stuck in a rut, and wonders how he might finally make a positive change in his life.
• "The Magician's Code" (two part finale) Lily goes into labor while Marshall is drunk with Barney in Atlantic City. Then Barney proposes to Quinn, while Ted gets a visit from Victoria on her wedding day.

This is a great batch of episodes, and is definitely proof that How I Met Your Mother still deserves its spot on the air. Rather than continuing to grow stale, the series has reinvented itself in a very interesting way, moving into the stage of the characters' lives past the carefree days of youth. It isn't a perfect year, but it's much better than several of the previous ones.

There are plenty of extras included in The Ducky Tie Edition set. Besides getting your own copy of the infamous tie with it (possibly depending on where you buy it?) , there are also deleted scenes, a gag reel, and audio commentaries on certain episodes. Featurettes include a look at writing the series, making the series, and all of the great guest stars that appear. There is also a look at Neil Patrick Harris getting his star. Very cool, and enough to satisfy

How I Met Your Mother The Complete Season 7 The Ducky Tie Edition is available now.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! Check out my website, JeromeWetzel.com! First posted on TheTVKing

How I Met Your Mother meets "Noretta"

     This week's How I Met Your Mother, "Noretta," delves into the chemistry of relationships. James (Wayne Brady) comes to visit, and is grossed out by just how much his brother Barney's (Neil Patrick Harris) girlfriend, Nora (Nazanin Boniadi), is like their mother, Loretta (Frances Conroy, Six Feet Under, American Horror Story). Kevin (Kal Penn) says this is perfectly normal, that people often end up with spouses who have similarities to their parents. Suddenly, the whole group begins seeing their significant other this way, and all sexual attraction dissipates.

     Is this true? Do people really end up with their parents? It's certainly possible. Kids imitate the adults in their lives. Watching their parents interact shapes much of who they are, and it's what they grow up thinking of as normal. So, of course, they would seek out a similar person, so that they can have a similar relationship as their parents do. Even if the parents get don't along, it's still what the child is used to, which is why there are negative repeating patterns as well as positive. Luckily, in this series, and in the case of these characters, those qualities are overwhelmingly positive. Obviously, this does not hold true for everyone, or society would be stagnant, but it's a valid trend, and one worth noting.

     The conceit is great because it gives How I Met Your Mother the chance to bring back some of the wonderful performers who play the characters' parents, and all in one episode. Besides Loretta, there is Ted's (Josh Radnor) mother, Virginia (Christine Rose, Heroes), Lily's (Alyson Hannigan) father, Mickey (Chris Elliott, Everybody Loves Raymond, Eagleheart), a glimpse of Kevin's unseen-before mom, and best of all, the return of Marshall's (Jason Segel) deceased father, Marvin (Bill Fagerbakke, SpongeBob SquarePants, Coach). Robin's (Cobie Smulders) father, Robin Sr. (Ray Wise, Reaper, 24) sits this one out, but that's OK, because he appears in last week's episode. Each of these actors are great in various roles, and having them together in one episode is a wealth of riches.

     It should be noted that Fagerbakke's return, the subject of much sorrow and grief last season, is done in a lightly comedic way. There are no tears or sadness accompanying it, and that's a good thing. Marshall has really begun to move on with his life, something he needs to do.

     Hilarity ensues when the characters have to play opposite their parents in sexual situations. The elder performers give it their all, fully committing to the scene, leaving their "children" to shrink back in disgust. It's equal parts disturbing and funny. Perhaps the best gag, though, comes as Marshall and Lily both get the complex at the same time. This leads to Marvin and Mickey on screen together, leaning in for a kiss. It's not sexy, but it will have viewers roaring with laughter. Thank goodness the camera stops before it happens! To show that would turn into pure silliness, and ruin the moment.

     Of course, because this is a point that hits home with a lot of people, it would be uncool of How I Met Your Mother to leave viewers hanging without resolution. Thus, it's left to Barney to say that his mom is the coolest person he knows, and that any similarity between Nora and Loretta is wonderful. This is a healthy, mature attitude to take. Nora and Loretta don't look alike, so there's no conflict there. All Barney is saying is, you love your parents; why not pick someone who shares their best qualities? And he's right. One doesn't want someone exactly like one's parents, but it's impossible to imitate their relationship without a partner who is looking for the same things as you. Thus, it works on a number of levels.

     In "Noretta," Barney is looking forward to finally having sex with Nora. He's been patient, something unusual for the character, but necessary for the growth he is experiencing, and the level of effort he puts into the relationship. Because How I Met Your Mother is a sitcom, zany events pop up to try to derail his sexy night with his girl. Barney pushes through, as he always does. What's unusual here is that Barney isn't just pushing through for the sex, as he has numerous times before. Instead, there are real emotions present, and care for Nora in his actions. Which is why, despite everything, it appears that things work out in the end for the couple. Love wins the day, and can overcome anything. A nice message leaving viewers feeling good.

     "Noretta" is significant because there is a real focus on where Ted stands in the group. The entire theme of How I Met Your Mother involves Ted finding his future children's mother. Yet, at this point in season seven, he is the only one currently single. Lily and Marshall have been together since well before the series begins. But with commitment-phobic Barney and Robin now getting serious with Nora and Kevin, respectively, it reminds Ted just how much he is failing in this mission. He may very well end up being the last one left alone. It's not his fault, it's just the way the characters have developed.

     It's true that Ted is not in the right place in his life to settle down for most of the series thus far. As much as he wants a partner, he isn't emotionally ready. He goes through a series of mistakes, has trouble finding himself, and ends up acting like a jerk many times. This isn't the right attitude to have when finding the woman of one's dreams. But now Ted is turning things around, and finally getting to the soul of who he is. He is satisfied professionally, and not desperate but open to love. It's in this state that he is ready to meet the mother, and hopefully he soon will. How I Met Your Mother will be running at least through the spring of 2013, but the mystery cannot be stretched out that long. It's time to end it.

     Kevin is still an enigma in terms of how he fits into the group. He's rapidly getting past the creepy stage, which starts because he is Robin's therapist when they meet. But he can't help that encounter, and he's moved past it. He is correct in his criticisms of the codependent group, but that also makes him more of an outsider. The central characters aren't likely to change their behavior, so he either needs to get with the program and join in, as Nora does to some degree, or move on, as so many others have. What points to the former possibility is that he does make effort, such as this week when he pretends to be a Weird Al (who cameos a 1980s version of himself) fan to make Ted happy. It's a generous, compassionate move that bodes well for Kevin. 

     How I Met Your Mother is back on the right track, so for fans who gave up on it during the rocky last couple of years, it's time to come back. Watch How I Met Your Mother Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

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Article first published as TV Review: How I Met Your Mother - "Noretta" on Blogcritics.

"The Best Man" looks for "The Naked Truth" on How I Met Your Mother

      CBS's How I Met Your Mother returns with two all new episodes. In the first, "The Best Man," the gang heads to Punchy's (Chris Romano) wedding. Marshall (Jason Segel) drinks for both he and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) so that no one will know that she is pregnant. But seeing all of the babies at the event spurs them to reveal their good news, even though it's still very early in the term. Also, Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) tries to gather the courage to ask Nora (Nazanin Boniadi) out again. That's too bad for Robin (Cobie Smulders), who would really like Barney back.

     The second episode, "The Naked Truth," finds Marshall begging an old friend (Jimmi Simpson, Breakout King) to remove some embarrassing videos of him from the internet so that he can land a job that he wants. But Marshall comes to realize that he may be forgetting a part of himself, and his dream boss, Garrison Cootes (Martin Short, Damages), hires him anyway, so it's all good. Barney waits all night in a diner to prove his commitment to Nora, reminding Ted (Josh Radnor) of the feeling that he is looking for sharing with a woman. Then Ted spies former flame, Victoria (Ashley Williams, Warehouse 13).

      Both of these episodes focus on a theme that has become prevalent on How I Met Your Mother as of late - growing into the adults these friends will be. Marshall really suffers a crisis of faith, not sure he is ready to leave his past behind to become a father. Part of this may be from the lingering grief over his own father's death last year. Being gone, Marshall begins to immortalize his father, holding him up as a gold standard. It's hard to live up to a memory. But Lily realizes that Marshall doesn't have to give up who he is to move on. He can merely reconcile the two identities. Parenthood doesn't erase everything that comes before it.

     Barney's quest for love after years of endless, meaningless sex is a breath of fresh air. It doesn't at all ruin the character that he seeks to better himself. The framing story for "The Best Man" continues last year's glimpses of Barney's wedding, though the bride's identity is still a mystery. Is it Nora? Is it Robin? It's hard to say, but one thing is certain: Barney's friends seem completely at ease with his decision, and they would not be if he were making a mistake. This means that whoever Barney's mystery wife is, which will not be revealed for some time to come yet, his happy ending is in sight. Thank goodness!

     Because Robin is still mooning over Barney, it is very possible that she will be the bride, despite being just as commitment-phobic as Barney, once upon a time. Yet, Robin has matured, too, in that she knows what she wants now. For the moment, that's Barney, but she cares enough about him that she will not stand in the way of his happiness, even if that's with another woman. Their dance number together in "The Best Man" is teeming with chemistry, so that might bode well for Robin. Whether Barney will eventually wake up and see what's right in front of him, or Robin will get over her former beau and move on, is up in the air. Either way could be great, if handled correctly.

     For the first few seasons of How I Met Your Mother, in fact, the entire original premise of the show, concerns Ted's quest for the love of his life. Somewhere along the way, gradually, he has given up on that dream. He has become cynical and no longer thinks he can have that perfect future. For awhile, this makes his character less sympathetic. But the framework of the series establishes from the first episode that Ted does get everything that he wants, and his reawakening in "The Naked Truth" to his quest reinvigorates the character in a way that is needed, but forgotten about until now.

     Might Victoria be a stepping stone to Ted's destiny? She isn't the mother, as far as we know, but of all the relationships Ted has over the years, she is the one he shows the purest joy being with. She comes at a time when he is really into his quest to find the right woman, and they share something very, very special. Only her career drives them apart. Well, that, and Ted not being able to resist Robin while Victoria is in Germany. So Ted has some making up to do with Victoria. But whether they date again or not, now that she is re-entering his life, they surely have a lasting connection, and maybe she will help Ted find the thing that he lost.

     Of all the things that could stand in Ted and Victoria's way for a rekindling, Robin is no longer one of them. Ted loves Robin dearly, and pursues her for a long period. They spend a significant amount of time being a couple, but that has cooled. They are just friends and roommates now. This is beautifully illustrated in a balcony scene between the two of them in "The Best Man." Robin wants to help Ted with his problems, but there is no spark coming from either side. While timing may admittedly be the factor that is needed to flip things back again, it seems their time has already passed. Which is kind of nice, since Robin and Barney's chemistry is so strong, and there doesn't need to be another fight between Ted and Barney.

     After a couple of floundering seasons, How I Met Your Mother is growing into something really special once more. It mixes humor and real emotional maturation to find the right combination to keep it going, now that it has moved past it's original concept. It's a very welcome development.

     Watch How I Met Your Mother Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.


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Article first published as TV Review: How I Met Your Mother - "The Best Man; The Naked Truth" on Blogcritics.

How I Met Your Mother says "Challenge Accepted"

     CBS's How I Met Your Mother closes the sixth season with a twist and a mystery in "Challenge Accepted." The wedding framework story, which has popped up several times throughout this year, is revealed to be Barney's (Neil Patrick Harris) ceremony, though the bride is still, as yet, unknown. Signs point to either Robin (Cobie Smulders) or Nora (Nazanin Boniadi). Back in the present, Ted (Josh Radnor) considers giving his relationship with Zoey (Jennifer Morrison) another shot, while Lily's (Alyson Hannigan) food poisoning turns out to be pregnancy, a bit of good news at the end of a very hard year for Marshall (Jason Segel). And Ranjit (Marshall Manesh) makes another cameo.

         To learn that Barney will soon be getting married is a shocker, to say the least. Although the seeds of maturation have been planted and have started to take root in the perennial bachelor, as season six concludes, he is a far cry away from monogamy. Barney has tried to be with one woman a couple of times in the last couple of years, and it hasn't taken. This, despite the fact that Barney's girlfriends, Robin and Nora, have both been near perfect for him. In the past, it has been shown that Barney was once a romantic. Season seven will likely bring a return to that old Barney, though a transformation back will never be fully complete.

     While Barney has a long way to go, he is nothing if not determined when he puts his mind to something. By uttering "Challenge Accepted" after reuniting with Nora, Barney is saying that he is ready to try a relationship again, and this time, he is determined to make it work. That phrase cements the character of Barney as turning a corner, as he does not lightly embark on such challenges. He generally only accepts them if great amusement or reward can be gained. Romance is not a source of amusement for him, despite his derision towards the concept, so the latter is more likely.

     The question is, will it be Robin or Nora that tames Barney? Nora is most likely, based on a survey of where the characters currently are. But Robin gives Barney a longing look at the end of "Challenge Accepted," and fans have been rooting for the couple for quite awhile. It appears that season seven is set up to be a back and forth between the two women for Barney's affections, ending with one of them walking him down the aisle. Robin still has growing to do herself if she wants to win, but after her serious pairing earlier in the season, she can probably bridge the gap between single Robin and Mrs. Robin. -son. See what I did there?

     If Ted and Robin tie the knot, that leaves Ted the sole single member of the group. How I Met Your Mother begins with Lily and Marshall's engagement, spurring Ted to seek a woman of his own. It has already been revealed that Ted will meet his children's mother at Barney's wedding. This takes a little of the sting off, as looking at the group from the outside, Ted has always been much more suited to marriage than either Barney or Robin. For either one of them, or perhaps both, to get married before him will be very painful to Ted. Unless he already has a potential mate in the pipeline, which the show says he soon will.

     The mystery of the mother has been kept up for six full seasons on How I Met Your Mother, with varying degrees of success over time. With two more seasons ordered, it may elicit groans to learn the mother's identity will be kept under wraps for at least another year. As excruciating as the wait has been, if the series were to announce the mother will be revealed in next year's season finale, it would take a lot of the pressure off. A smart move would be to begin casting early, and end next season with a big reveal, allowing at least one season of courtship to be in the docket.

     To do otherwise would be a mistake. How I Met Your Mother has floundered when comedy and premise is stretched too thin. A restoration has begun in season six, far superior to season five, because an emotional maturity is settling over the group as they actually begin to move forward with their lives. Ted is stuck, and cannot move on, until he meets the mother. As such, logically it is time for that to happen. Since the wedding is already pinpointed as the date he will do so, and the wedding is still awhile away, the creative team should begin pushing the show in that direction. Such a development could earn the series its strongest season yet.

     A large part of the rejuvenation of season six can be credited to Marshall, who is worrying about his career, still grieving the sudden loss of his father a few months ago, and frustrated with his wife's inability to get pregnant. Not that he blames her, but he really wishes it would happen already. One of those obstacles is hurdled in the final moments of "Challenge Accepted." While predictable from early on in the episode, it is no less satisfying to see the Eriksens celebrate their joyous news. They deserve a break.

     As to what is next for Marshall and Lily, obviously Marshall needs a job. Lily's Kindergarten teacher pay will not support a family alone. Marshall so far has had to balance the need for serious income versus his passion to save the world. It would be a sad step backwards if Marshall is forced to return to the corporate world after all that he has been through. But is there an environmental lawyer job with a decent salary realistically available in today's economic climate? That is up to the writers of the show to figure out.


     With an early pick up for two more seasons, How I Met Your Mother will definitely be back next fall on CBS.

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Article first published as TV Review: How I Met Your Mother - "Challenge Accepted" on Blogcritics.

How I Met Your Mother Has "A Change of Heart"

     CBS's How I Met Your Mother is riding a wave of creative resurgence, turning out better quality episodes these past couple of months than they have in the past couple of years. A large part of this success can be attributed to the fact that they've gotten more dramatic. While comedy has been the show's strong suit, playing just for laughs doesn't a great sitcom make. Pathos are needed to care for the characters and develop a stake in the going-ons. The series used to be really good at that, but waned in recent years. With Marshall's dad's (Bill Fagerbakke) death, and Barney's (Neil Patrick Harris) search for a father and a real relationship, there has been plenty of emotion evoked, and done right this time.

     As promised in interviews, though the death was back in early January, the feelings brought up by it have continued to permeate the series. In last night's episode, each of the series regulars visits a doctor (comedian Suzy Nakamura, practically wasted here) to have their heart checked, concerned about an unexpected heart attack like the one that took out Marvin Eriksen Sr. Marshall (Jason Segel) even goes back a second time with a mustache, supposedly a disguise, in his opinion, though the doctor was no more fooled than the viewers. The appointments reminds us of the drama, while the mustache lets us laugh. It may sound a little corny, but the mustache joke really made this thing work.

     Also, the episode brought back the gag of substituting 'sandwich' for marijuana, as they have done several times before. It works for both network censors AND the fact that the whole show is a story a father is telling his kids. I'm not complaining, as I find it incredibly humorous whenever any character mentions smoking a sandwich. Plus, eating a sandwich makes them hungry? Priceless!

     The other really funny stuff this week involves Robin (Cobie Smulders) being denied a dog, so she dates a man who acts just like a dog. The actor playing her date is forgettable (did anyone else think this would be a good part for Taylor Lautner?), but the cast really sells the bit, and it leads to many good puns. Plus, the guy is called Scooby, and with the pot connection in the episode, it adds another layer referencing a certain cartoon often associated with drug use, in which sandwiches were also more subtley substituted.

     Zoey (Jennifer Morrison), who is Ted's (Josh Radnor) love interest this season does not appear in this episode. She is finally becoming likable, after months of just being annoying, but the show has confirmed on screen that she is not the mother referenced in the title. Was this always the intention, or did it come about because fans did not respond positively to her? Discuss.

     The main arc in the episode was about Barney finding love. In flashbacks, we have seen that Barney was a sweet, sensitive soul until his heart was ripped to shreds by an unfaithful girlfriend. Previously, Barney pursued love with Robin, but for whatever reason, the show's writers decided to drop that pairing, at least for now. Instead, Barney is now falling for a girl named Nora (Nazanin Boniadi, General Hospital).

     Nora likes who Barney really is, assuming that the womanizing lecher he is seen as almost every week on the series is a facade. I think it is safe to assume that, though, both because of the long-ago scenes we have been shown, and the flashes of Barney that glimmer through when he thinks no one is looking. Nora enjoys laser tag and hanging out with our guy. Last night, she confesses wanting to get married and raise children. Barney readily agrees, before later claiming that he lied.

     Did Barney actually lie about his wish for happy ever after? Lily (Alyson Hannigan) doesn't think so, and dares him to man up and go back to her. Barney finds Nora, but only daydreams about confessing the truth to her before sadly walking away. IMDB lists Nora as scheduled for the next new episode, so hopefully Barney will get another chance.

     I want Barney to find love. His character has seemed less and less authentic as time has ticked on in the series, and I do not attribute that to bad acting. On the contrary, I think Neil Patrick Harris has the true spirit of the character pinpointed. Barney created his persona because of hurt, but one can only live a lie for so long. I feel like Barney is getting tired of conquests himself, and so it may be time to take the character in a new direction. His upcoming arc where he will meet his father (John Lithgow, Dexter) will hopefully heal some of his past hurt enough to move forward with a new love.

     The question remaining, though, is will Nora be able to get past Barney's behavior? He hasn't told her about the way he has been living yet. If they have any chance of working out, he has to. While I like Nora, and I wouldn't mind seeing Barney date her for awhile, I don't feel like she is the one Barney will marry. Instead, I want her to help him grow as a person so that he is ready for Robin.

     Once Robin is ready for him, of course. While Robin has dabbled with long-term relationships, including a very serious one in the past year, she is still finding herself, too. With her career finally working out in a way she wants it to, her own transformation may be closer to an ending than a beginning. I don't think that the series will get them together again until near the end of its run, if ever. But I'm not expecting that to be more than a year or two away, so perhaps a Barney and Robin reunion is in the cards sooner than you think.

     I do not know when the next new episode of How I Met Your Mother will air, as many shows take some or all of March off from airing new episodes, but it still has some more stories before bowing for the season. The series airs Monday nights at 8 p.m. on CBS.


Article first published as TV Review: How I Met Your Mother - "A Change of Heart" on Blogcritics.

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