Blu-ray Review: ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’ on Blogcritics.

After the success of Ted, the box office failure of A Million Ways to Die in the West was a surprise to some. Did it mean Seth MacFarlane, the creator of long-running animated hits Family Guy and American Dad!, wasn’t cut out for the movies? Or should he only write scripts and voice animated characters, rather than star himself? For those who haven’t yet seen this work and are waiting to pass judgment, your chance will come as the film is released on Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday.

Honestly, I enjoyed A Million Ways to Die in the West. It may be because I am already a fan of MacFarlane’s and get his sense of humor, but many jokes landed for me consistently throughout the movie, and there are frequent laugh-out-loud-worthy bits. Setting modern sensibilities in the Old West is not a completely original idea, but MacFarlane has much to say on the topic, and writes gags both obvious and less so. It’s probably the best effort along these lines since Mel Brooks' masterpiece, Blazing Saddles, though I wouldn’t say this movie is nearly as good as that classic. Yes, as some have suggested, many of the best gags are in the trailer, robbing viewers a bit of the viewing experience in context, but there are also quite a few good ones that are not, including when discussing the origin of the town of Old Stump.

MacFarlane is quite clever. The story, that of a man who is dumped by a vapid girl, then takes up with the wife of a notorious criminal, is simple to follow, and while predictable, works for the piece. The musical number in the movie is actually an adaptation of an old Stephen Foster melody; this makes good use of historical information and shows the care that went into development. And the main premise of the film, that American movies have romanticized an era that was dirty, dangerous, and not a lot of fun to live in, is solid. Perhaps this isn’t quite the makings of a good feature-length film, but MacFarlane does put forth a decent effort at it.

I will admit, A Million Ways to Die in the West drags at spots. I watched the unrated version (offered alongside the theatrical release on the disc), which weighs in at a running time of two hours and fifteen minutes, significantly longer than your average comedy. There are probably quite a few bits that could be eliminated to improve the pacing. At times, the funny comes almost completely unrelated to the story, much in the way that Family Guy does cut scenes. But, there wasn’t a time where I got completely bored and wished it would end.

The cast is terrific. MacFarlane himself does a serviceable job in the lead role, hanging with big dogs like Charlize Theron (Prometheus, Arrested Development), Liam Neeson (Taken, Schindler’s List), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother, Gone Girl), Amanda Seyfried (Les Miserables, Big Love), Giovanni Robisi (Saving Private Ryan, Friends), and Sarah Silverman (Wreck-It Ralph, Masters of Sex), whom are all excellent. The cameos are awesome, including one from a classic 80s (actually, 1990) movie you probably won’t see coming, but is likely the best get possible for this particular movie.

The extras are decent enough. There are lots of alternative and deleted scenes, including a different opening and closing. There’s a ten minute behind-the-scenes featurette that is interesting, as well as a gag reel and a focus on locations. Theron gamely shows up for the commentary alongside MacFarlane and co-writers / executive producers Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild. The cameos are also highlighted.

Overall, while not the best comedy movie I’ve seen recently, A Million Ways to Die in the West is worth watching. It could use a bit of an edit, but the concept and many of the jokes are solid. I hope MacFarlane is allowed to try again, because while this effort may not quite be as great as one might hope, it has the ingredients which, which fine-tuned, could be something really special.

A Million Ways to Die in the West will be available on disc this coming Tuesday from Universal.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Couldn't "Last Forever"

Article first published as HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Couldn't "Last Forever" on TheTVKing.

I am deeply torn by last night series finale of CBS's How I Met Your Mother, "Last Forever." On one hand, it hit all the right notes emotionally and delivered a very satisfying tale for almost the full hour. On the other, the ending of the installment abandoned the basic premise and ruined a powerful love story, even negating the title of the show. Was this the right way to go?

"Last Forever" starts excellently. The gang says goodbye after the wedding, and after noticing the beautiful bass guitarist, Ted (Josh Radnor) departs. Much of the rest of the episode plays out in small bits over a number of years, showing the characters go through natural growth and nostalgically reviving many recurring jokes, with Ted still on the train platform talking to Bernice (Judith Drake). When we're close to the end, viewers finally get to witness the moment Ted meets The Mother, now revealed to be named Tracy (Cristin Milioti), and it's immediate sparkage.

Ted and The Mother's (Can I just keep calling her The Mother? It feels right) love story is a sweet one, full of coincidence and fate, a pair destined to be together. Their interactions in the various time periods hammer home why Ted ends up with her, and how perfect the casting of Milioti is. They have two children, and while they don't get married for quite awhile, they are happy together.

Similarly, Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) have a wonderful life, Marshall eventually getting to be a judge after all, and then moving out of the city after they have three children. Lily laments how the gang has drifted, but that is realistic, given the developments adult life and kids take one on. At least they mostly keep in touch, and we frequently see them get back together.

But then, as has been telegraphed, The Mother dies. Ted is telling the tale, what we've seen these past nine seasons, to his teenage kids six years after her passing. The daughter (Lyndsy Fonseca) tells her father that this story isn't about how he met The Mother, though, as she's barely in it. It's about how Ted loves Aunt Robin (Cobie Smulders), and with his children's encouragement, Ted grabs the blue French horn and rushes off to be with Robin.

This bit is a picture perfect moment that will warm the hearts of those stubborn hold-out Robin / Ted shippers, but it completely screws up everything else. Why is the show called How I Met Your Mother is it's about How I Met Your Stepmother? Why did the final season spend so much time convincing us Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin are right for one another if they aren't?

Look, I realize Ted has always been an unreliable narrator, and it's keeping with his character to not understand the point of his own story. But it's a big leap to ask fans to forget the path you've been trying to take them down for so many seasons and go in another direction. Not to mention, it cheapens the epic relationship between Ted and The Mother, who was right for Ted in every way. And the fact that The Mother makes a huge effort to get Robin to their wedding in an earlier episode, if we are to believe Ted always remained in love with Robin, now seems twisted and weird.

It also almost kills the character of Barney, collateral damage. Barney spends a lot of the past few years maturing and getting to a good place. Three years after the wedding, he's divorced and reverting to his old ways, chasing skirts. This goes on for many years until Barney is a pathetic, unlikeable character. True, he is saved in the end by a daughter, and that's fantastic, but it's still ridiculous that Barney never finds true, romantic love.

How I Met Your Mother has been uneven in the second half of its run. However, it has mostly been nailing this last season. To make such a slap in the face at the last moment to the fans who believed in the premise is disheartening. It's cruel and not the right choice. A small segment of the audience will be quite satisfied, but there are many, many more who will feel betrayed. If the creators knew nine years ago what their climax was, why spend all of this time convincing us the opposite was true? A near-perfect ending tainted by the final bits.

And if I can make one more complaint, when filming the kids' last moment several years ago, Radnor should have been on set with them. The way Ted's conversation to them is presented is two separate cuts that don't match feels awfully hokey. This should have been better.

I want to thank How I Met Your Mother for about seven great years worth of episodes over nine seasons. But I also want to ask "Why would you do this to us?" It's not the worst recent series finale by far, but it's also not way to leave the fans that believe in you.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Reaches "The End of the Aisle"

Article first published as HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Reaches "The End of the Aisle" on TheTVKing.

CBS's How I Met Your Mother finally gets us up to, and through, Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin's (Cobie Smulders) wedding this week in "The End of the Aisle." When it was announced that this last season of the show would take place entirely on the wedding weekend, I assumed a great many episodes would occur at the reception after the wedding. This turns out not to be the case, with only next week's hour-long series finale left, an installment that has to focus on so much more than a party. But after watching this episode, it seems the perfect way to end the regular season before going into the big conclusion.

Half an hour before the ceremony, Robin begins to have serious doubts. She knows Barney, with his initials B.S., is a big liar, and how can she trust someone like that? Besides, he didn't do the big romantic gesture of finding her missing locket. Does he really care?

Robin confides these things to her buddy, Ted (Josh Radnor), someone she has a very strong bond with, then, after some locket-resolving scenes, says that she and Ted should run away together. This is the moment Ted wanted going into this weekend, and for fans who have held a torch for the couple all these years, despite being told right at the beginning that they wouldn't end up together, this turn validates those feelings.

Of course Ted refuses. It's taken this long weekend, but he now knows he isn't in love with Robin any more, nor is she in love with him. Sure, they could be happy for awhile, but they aren't meant to be together, and it would eventually fall apart. With Barney, on the other hand, Robin has a future, a partner in crime, and someone who will make her life great. Ted is wise enough to advise this and take a step back, thus ending a major story arc in the perfect way.

This isn't enough to assuage Robin's doubts, however, and she flees, only to bump into The Mother (Cristin Milioti), then Barney. It's with her fiance that she finally calms down, seeing the love in his eyes and words, and assuring herself that she's making the right decision.

Barney, meanwhile, has been having his own crisis. Fretting over his vows, he points out to a would-be-helpful Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) that they are the best couple he knows, and even they can't keep the promises they made on their wedding day. If they cannot, how can he be expected to?

But that's just it. Despite breaking their words, they are still the best couple he knows. The only major trouble they run into is when Marshall lies to Lily. Lying may be a major part of Barney's character up 'til now, but he will gratefully give it up for Robin. She's worth everything to him. When he bumps into her, he tells her this (and soon after about the ring bear), and this fixes them. Though, minor gripe, he does lie about the flower gorilla, even if Robin may never know.

Then we're up on the altar, Marshall delivering the final slap bet slap, Robin walking down the aisle to strains of "Sandcastles in the Sand," and a final dig at Patrice (Ellen D. Williams). It's a wonderfully crafted moment, all five main characters having been given their due in "The End of the Aisle," reaffirming not only who they are, but who they will be. While next week will likely jump around, showing us what happens after this point, the ceremony itself feels like the official tie up of the show's threads, and it does it very effectively, redeeming many of the bad years of story when the series floundered.

The only real complaint I have about the entire episode involves the shots of the guests smiling up at the happy couple during the wedding. It's not that not enough characters are included; many familiar faces are likely seen for the last time, as they should be. But it's very clear in the wide shots that none of these people are in the room. I understand that, with so many actors, it would be nearly impossible to schedule such a shoot. However, it does feel hollow to realize that all the cameos are added in later, not part of the wedding scene itself, and it's obvious this is the case. How disappointing.

Overall, though, "The End of the Aisle" is a terrific entry, serving the purpose it needs to serve beautifully, and setting up a heck of a series finale. If next week is as good as this one, viewers should be left very satisfied.

How I Met Your Mother's series finale airs next Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

"Sunrise" On Final Day of HIMYM

Article first published as "Sunrise" On Final Day of HIMYM on TheTVKing.

CBS's How I Met Your Mother has reached the final day of its three-day final season, meaning we're in the last third of the last year of the show. This week's installment, "Sunrise," resolved a few lingering issues between the main characters, and despite revealing that none of them are getting a realistic amount of sleep to actually function and enjoy the wedding day, it also nicely, if unevenly, sets up the concluding arcs.

Ted (Josh Radnor) has always been in love with Robin (Cobie Smulders). That's been a major plot of the show, and this last season would ring false if it didn't pay tribute to that, even as Ted serves as the Best Man for Robin's wedding to Barney (Neil Patrick Harris). The two don't need to end up together, but Ted must finally let Robin go.

This really has to happen before Ted meets The Mother (Cristin Milioti). Otherwise, his commitment to her wouldn't feel right, just replacing his feelings for Robin with those for someone else. Ted must be in a place where is open to meeting a soul mate. For most of the show, he has not been because of Robin.

And letting go is exactly what happens. Ted makes peace with the fact that he'll never be with Robin. The metaphor with the balloon is a little hokey, but it accomplishes what How I Met Your Mother needs to do. Ted and Robin are now firmly friends, never to be anything more. It's sad, but it's also a necessary, important step to take for both of them, one Robin kind of did awhile ago, and now Ted can follow in. This story is very well done and emotionally fulfilling.

As Ted confesses his feelings anew, thankfully in a way that doesn't sound like he's asking Robin to call off the ceremony, we flashback to Ted's recent activities, allowing guest spots for a few memorable exes including Stella (Sarah Chalke), Victoria (Ashley Williams), and Jeanette (Abby Elliott). It's gratifying to revisit those faces in a natural way, woven with a tale in which Ted is almost crazy enough to try to win Robin back, and then is convinced not to. Though, I do wish Zoe (Jennifer Morrison) had been a part of it, certainly the biggest relationship neglected here, perhaps because of Morrison's lack of availability.

The three girls aren't the only returning guest stars in "Sunrise." As Marshall (Jason Segel) argues with two imaginary versions of Lily (Alyson Hannigan), his deceased father, Marvin (Bill Fagerbakke), appears to off his two cents. I do feel like Marvin is underutilized in this episode. It may have played better had only Marvin been present, instead of the two Lilys, though it's reasonable to include Lily because she is a main character who would otherwise have sat the episode out and because Marshall's problem is with Lily. Still, having Marvin deliver a couple of lines, as resonant as they might be, isn't enough use for him.

"Sunrise" resolves in Lily returning and agreeing to stay in New York. This feels cheap. Perhaps because Marshall doesn't have the argument with the real Lily and we don't get her side of the fight, or perhaps because this seems like Lily is giving up her dream for Marshall, but this doesn't sit right.


It's interesting that Marshall brings up Lily fleeing to San Francisco as they fight about their future. This is something he should long have gotten over, and it's certainly well past a fair time to bring it up. But if he is still holding on to that incident, he needs to deal with it. "Sunrise" isn't clear about if he does or not. I assume this is supposed to balance the scales when Lily agrees not to go to Italy, but instead, it feels like their relationship is crumbling and surely a breeding ground for resentment. Not a great episode for them.

In order to keep Barney in the half hour, he has a strange side story where he basically sleepwalks drunkenly down the road and passes on his wisdom to two young boys, getting Tim Gun (himself) to suit them up. This seems like a perfect story for Barney, but the way in which it plays out rings a bit hollow. I'd rather Barney have made a conscious decision to ensure the survival of his player legacy, or come to an understanding that it should die. This is fun fluff that doesn't quite hit its mark.

"Sunrise" has some things going for it, such as the strong Robin / Ted bits, but it also doesn't live up to the best emotional heft of How I Met Your Mother. Will that continue in this last batch of installments, or will it find its way to a triumphant end?

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

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Doesn't Act Like "Bass Player Wanted"

Article first published as HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Doesn't Act Like "Bass Player Wanted" on TheTVKing.

Despite some early reticence, I have to admit that CBS's How I Met Your Mother has had a pretty great final fall run. Two weeks ago "The Rehearsal Dinner" was super sweet, and this week's "Bass Player Wanted," which serves as the mid-season finale, brings things together nicely. There are complaints to be had (such as Marshall taking half a season to join the others), but overall, it's been an enjoyable, heart-warming, and occasionally funny batch of installments.

My biggest complaint is that we haven't had enough of The Mother (Cristin Milioti). After being added to the central cast and making an instant impression, we've seen her only briefly and sporadically. She is well-used when she appears, but she's missing for long stretches of time and that's disappointing because she is such a likable, interesting character.

In "Bass Player Wanted," The Mother meets Marshall (Jason Segel) when she picks him up on the side of the road. They have wonderful chemistry right off the back, quickly able to joke with and relate to one another. It's very similar to The Mother's meeting with Lily (Alyson Hannigan), and it's very easy to see how she will fit in the group because of this.

Picking The Mother was a very difficult task for the production. She not only had to be a good actress, but they had to craft a character that would enjoy hanging out with the others, not bring too much of her own baggage, but still be a well-rounded person who isn't a loner. Somehow, the exact right mix of this has been found in Milioti's role.

"Bass Player Wanted" introduces us to Darren (Andrew Rannells, The New Normal, Girls), The Mother's 'friend' who has taken over her band. The Mother mentions knowing him for a few years, so presumably he will have to be in the upcoming spin-off, How I Met Your Dad. But, since he's definitely not a pal, having him be a main player would be difficult, and that actor is in-demand, so he may not be free for a recurring part. It will be interesting to see if or how this plays out.

We also learn that The Mother has been in a band for years. This will also have to be an element in How I Met Your Dad. How much of the series might include her singing? We know Milioti has a great voice (she's been praised for her Broadway work), and knowing this gives us an interesting taste of the new project.

More important than The Mother, though, is how the central quintet of characters come together, even though this half hour sees them at odds.. Marshall finally arrives for the wedding, but Lily is very angry because he took the judgeship behind her back, dashing her professional dreams. Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) gets ticked off at Ted (Josh Radnor) upon learning of Ted's plan to move to Chicago. Lily is angry at Robin (Cobie Smulders) for siding with Marshall, even though Robin is only doing so because she doesn't want Lily to move away. Also, Robin thinks Lily is stealing her thunder.

Halfway through the series' final season, things are kind of falling apart for our protagonists. They have kept some secrets from one another, and not always put their friends first. "Bass Player Wanted" is the sweet moment when they all come together and work through those differences. It probably won't be completely smooth sailing for the rest of the season, but as the time of the wedding moves closer, these five need to stick together, and this is a good way to get to that.

There are some nice little bits in this episode, too. Linus (Robert Belushi, son of Jim) continues to get plenty of screen time, becoming a fun recurring part. The humor 'rule of three' is satisfied as a third bottle of extremely expensive scotch is broken. The Mother buys Ted a drink, and even though they don't meet, it's a cool start to their relationship, knowing as the viewers do that they will be together. And ending the episode with the fourth slap, cliffhanger-style, is appreciated.

How I Met Your Mother will return to conclude its run soon on CBS.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER "Coming Back" In the End

Article first published as HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER "Coming Back" In the End on TheTVKing.

CBS's How I Met Your Mother started as a fantastic, hilarious comedy, then devolved into dumb repetition, before bouncing somewhat back by adding a thick emotional layer over the handful of laughs. With the show's ninth and final season upon us, all designated to take place over a single weekend, it seems a big risk that could go either way. Given the track record, despite the past few year's decent delivery, confidence is not high such a move can be pulled off.

However, with last night's two installments, "The Locket" and "Coming Back," it's sure off to a great start.

These episodes are not exactly designed as a two-parter, but don't really stand-alone, either. As the long tale begins to wind up, it seems How I Met Your Mother gets more meandering and less linear, which is actually perfectly fine. We know Ted (Josh Radnor) is at the place where he meets The Mother (Cristin Milioti); the end is in sight. Now, tone is more important than definition.

Thank goodness How I Met Your Mother doesn't make us wait the entire year in order to see Ted and The Mother together. Having them this close, already in the same place, it would be annoying to have them continuously narrowly miss one another. Yet, we also know they can't actually meet until the end of the weekend, most likely the series finale. The show solves this frustration by giving us a glimpse of the two of them one year later in "Coming Back."

Their first scene is positively electric. For anyone who wondered what kind of girl would finally satisfy Ted and still be likable to the viewer, The Mother is it. Perfect casting and writing come together and suddenly the whole effort seems worth it. One small moment glimpsed, and Ted and The Mother seem like they've been destined to be together their entire life. Knowing this, and getting the reward of witnessing it, makes the waiting not hurt so much.

I'm getting ahead of myself, though, because that is the at the end of the hour. First, Lily (Alyson Hannigan) meets The Mother. One thing I've wondered is how this stranger will fit in with the so-well-established gang that makes up the principal cast. The show solves this, too, by first having her meet and befriend Lily. They aren't quite perfectly matched as pals, but they are good enough, The Mother managing to calm Lily down, giving her a valuable skill set to be included in the cast.

Lily needs calmed for two reasons. One, Ted has played her so he can get to Farhampton alone. This is a tricky bit of twist that feels totally in character with Ted, since Lily assumes Ted will try giving Robin (Cobie Smulders) "The Locket," which could reawaken old feelings. We do get a glimpse of Ted crazily flying to L.A. to find it, but don't actually see if he did or not. Hopefully, this will be covered in a later episode, perhaps with return guest appearances by Sarah Chalke and Jason Jones. But it's likely Ted has it.

What may be slightly confusing is that Ted doesn't given Robin "The Locket" yet, instead presenting her with a picture of their group from season one (the one at the end of the show's theme song). Why does Ted need to ditch Lily if that's all he's giving Robin? Logic says he has "The Locket" and has not made up his mind, possibly intending to give it to Robin, then thinking better of it. His "of course"s are not sincere, and there's more to this coming. I'm glad it's being held for now, though, as we need something hanging over the next few weeks, and this does that well.

The second reason for Lily's distress is that she misses her family, but we'll get to that story in a minute.

Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin's thread starts out less than equal to those of Lily and Ted, beginning with an unnecessary incest scare in Ranjit's (Marshall Manesh) limo in "The Locket." I mean, Ranjit isn't unnecessary, but finding out that the bride and groom share a cousin is. However, it's made up for when Barney drops the "wait for it" from the word "legendary," culminating an arc nine years in the making for him.

Thankfully, "Coming Back" gives the pair something better, having to deal with James' (Wayne Brady) divorce. See, there's a Stinson curse, which we amusingly see cast on Brady and Harris in period-ish costumes back in 1807 Russia, and James' marriage is the only thing that makes Barney believe in lasting love. Robin doesn't want Barney to find out about the split, afraid he may break off their own ceremony, but when a drunk Lily does spill the beans, Barney remains calm, telling Robin she is now why he believes, and doesn't need anyone else.

While Robin and Barney have always possessed a strong chemistry, it isn't until last year, continued in these two episodes, that we see what really makes them work as a couple. They have changed one another in a very profound way, and the depth of their love is incredibly touching. "Coming Back" proves once and for all that this wedding should happen, which makes the anticipation of the impending nuptials all the sweeter.

Finally, we have Marshall (Jason Segel) running into all sorts of obstacles trying to get back to New York before Lily finds out he has been offered a judgeship, wanting to tell her himself. Most of his problems involve a fellow traveler (Sherri Shepherd, 30 Rock). This subplot is the one that works least of all, despite Shepherd being funny, because it wraps up too easily, sort of ruining the rivalry that has been building for an hour. Marshall puts his faith in the woman and she comes through for him, contrary to everything we've seen from her up to this point. It would have been preferable for Marshall to find a different mode of transportation and run into her again along the way. But honestly, as disappointing as the climax is, it doesn't detract too much from the overall enjoyment of the episodes, which are mostly quite good.

Other highlights of "The Locket" and "Coming Back" include: a wonderful turn by Roger Bart (Revenge) as a desk clerk; Ted saying to The Mother "Hey Beautiful," which is the name of the show's theme song; The Mother's cookies' moniker being Lily's catchphrase; and Barney's anniversary gift for James. All of these combine to make the first two episodes special, promising more goodness to come over the rest of the season. These little things are part of what made the show so good in the first place, and it's nice to see them well served now.

How I Met Your Mother's final season airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Shows Us "Something New"

Article first published as HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER Shows Us "Something New" on TheTVKing.

Many were expecting "Something New," the eighth season finale of CBS's How I Met Your Mother, to show Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin's (Cobie Smulders) wedding, scenes of which we've already glimpsed in the past few seasons, and end at the moment where Ted (Josh Radnor) meets the titular mother, but not show her face. I was among those that believed I had the final half hour figured out, and we could not have been more wrong.

"Something New" details the week leading up to the wedding. Ted is not even thinking about meeting his wife at this point, ready to give up. He still has a torch burning for Robin, but has decided that, rather than wreck his friends' happiness, he will stand by and smile, then move to Chicago, avoiding his feelings.

It may be theorized that the reason Ted never meets anyone over the past eight years is because he is still hung up on Robin. Until she is wed, he thinks she is a possibility for him, and so no other girl is good enough. It may not be something he consciously admits, but it certainly seems like this is a problem hanging over Ted right now, and one that he needs to let go of to be happy.

In fact, Ted is even considering intervening, making a last-minute play for Robin, against his earlier decision. He has Robin's missing locket, and thinks giving it to her will make her happy. Lily (Alyson Hannigan) warns Ted to be careful, and it's certainly a poor decision for Ted to give Robin the missing jewelry. The act doesn't just give Ted hope, but might make Robin wonder if she is marrying the right guy. They both owe it to Barney to not let this happen, and given what we've seen of the wedding day, I don't think Ted will screw things up, thankfully.

Has Ted's love for Robin been played to death over the years? It sure has. And yet, there is something fitting about this being part of his last arc. It takes Ted back to the beginning of the story, finally giving closure to the pairing that never really happened. It bookends the arc in a very satisfying way.

They say you find someone when you least expect it. And Ted, agonizing over Robin, and intending to leave New York, isn't looking for love. He is finally at a point where finding the girl of his dreams is the last thing on his mind. At this perfect moment, enter the mother (Cristin Milioti, Sleepwalk With Me).

It's very surprising to see "Something New" reveal the face of the mother, a secret that is tightly kept under wraps until it airs. Milioti isn't a hugely known actress, though she's had success on Broadway, and done a handful of television guest spots in shows such as The Sopranos, 30 Rock, and Nurse Jackie, as well as some films. The first impression doesn't even afford us the opportunity to hear her voice, but she certainly looks the part quite nicely. I imagine, after this, a lot more people will know who Milioti is.

What will this mean for season nine? Well, presumably Ted will decide not to leave New York to stay and date the mother, but having given up his apartment, he'll probably move into his brand new house, which he has just finished. And then he'll begin dating her, and some time during the next year, he will realize that she's the one, and for once, it will feel right. There will also have to be a couple of missteps and goofs along the way. But this is Ted's end game. He, and we, who have watched for the past eight seasons, have arrived.

During this time, Robin and Barney are hanging out, torturing a snooty couple (Casey Wilson, Happy Endings and Keegan Michael Key, Key and Peele), and putting to rest any doubts about their union that may have come up in the previous installment. Watching them interact with each other, engaged in a common mission, proves exactly why they belong together. Plus, great guest stars! Ted doesn't stand a chance with Robin now.

Meanwhile, Marshall takes baby Marvin to visit his mother, Judy (Suzie Plakson), after she learns her son and his family are moving to Rome. Lily is worried that Judy will try to keep Marvin at home, or tag along, but Marshall keeps assuring his wife that Judy is only kidding when she says such things. Like many 'B' stories of the past few years, it's an amusing, though not particularly memorable, subplot.

That is, until Marshall gets a call offering him a judgeship. This is the sort of life-changing opportunity that he has been waiting for, it long having been his dream to sit on the bench. But that would mean he couldn't go to Rome to support Lily in following her dream. What to do is a real conundrum.

It stinks that How I Met Your Mother chooses to put this wedge in Lily and Marshall's marriage now. Sure, lots of shows screw with relationships when the end is near; look at the recent Jim / Pam story on The Office. But no one likes to see strife come into the marriage of a beloved couple, and this turn of events is a true no-win scenario. Will they try to make it work, living on two different continents? Or will one of them have to give up something they desperately want? Neither is very promising, even though glimpses of the future assure us that they will make it through.

"Something New" leaves the viewer with plenty of frustrating cliffhangers, but also a lot of anticipation. How will the tale play out in the final season? Next fall, we'll find out.

How I Met Your Mother turns "The Final Page"

CBS's How I Met Your Mother has begun their wrap up, getting two major characters together in this week's hour-long installment, "The Final Page." Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) has been dating Patrice (Ellen D. Williams), and when he is ready to propose after only a few weeks, he tells only Ted (Josh Radnor). Ted can't stand to let Robin (Cobie Smulders) sit idly by, knowing she is still in love with Barney, and so drives her to the site of the proposal to interrupt. But when Robin gets there, she learns it has all been an elaborate scheme by Barney to win her, and she accepts his ring.

Robin is upset with Barney at first, and she should be. He lies and manipulates her. At the same time, after How I Met Your Mother has already played so much with the two of them as a couple, any engagement has to be big. Thus, such a master plan, or something like it, has to come about, lest fans be disappointed by too small a gesture. Plus, Barney's earnestness and sincerity is enough to win Robin over, and earn his forgiveness from her and the viewers. This is a gambit played for true love, pure and simple, not just for sex, and the makes it all right.

What is more interesting to me in the whole scenario is that Barney really sells his relationship with Patrice enough for Robin to believe it. We know that he is ready to be done with games and settle down; this has been obvious for awhile. But to see Barney with a woman like Patrice, so far against his type, and to actually have a character believe he's being authentic, without seeming dumb for thinking so, is a difficult thing to do. "The Over-Correction" stuff last week makes it feel plausible. Though there is always a nagging doubt that the whole thing is fake, considering the way in which it is presented, one can't blame Robin for being fooled.

That, and how well Barney knows his friends is sweet. There are steps in his scheme that allow for everyone else to be who they are, butting in where they shouldn't. He also gives Ted the opportunity not to give up on Robin, and to keep her for himself, a friend move, rather than entrapment, not wanting to spoil Ted's happiness if Robin is still who he wants. These additions add to the successful execution, and are vital to the overall genius of the writing.

Now, after a teary and brilliant roof scene, Barney and Robin are engaged. This fundamentally changes their characters going forward, and begins building towards their wedding, which we've been glimpsing for a couple of years, mostly at the beginning and ends of seasons. This is going to shift the dynamic of the group, and really give the series some steam as it heads into those last stories of them finally and fully becoming adults.

Will How I Met Your Mother end this spring or next? No official announcement has been made, but it's very likely to be one of those two possibilities. Does the show have another whole year left in it? Should they wind things down sooner? I guess that's something we'll have to wait to find out. If it is bowing out this May, we need to hurry up and get to the wedding, though, because the series cannot end the moment Ted meets the mother. After eight seasons of set up, there has to be at least a little more.

So How I Met Your Mother definitely gets the drama right, as it has been doing for awhile now, but the comedy is still uneven. "The Final Page" has both hilarious moments, and terrible ones. Back in the day, the jokes landed solid week after week. It's a shame that this is not the case anymore. It's a good thing they have the emotional heft to keep their fans engaged.

The best comedy part of "The Final Page" is the jinx. Setting up an elaborate back story that doesn't allow Barney to talk, his friends make him squirm, and then he gets revenge, is very funny. It's the type of classic stuff that attracted many viewers in the early days of the series. There are a number of scenes in this story that really work.

I only wish the plot would have extended into the second half, at least with some resolution to Barney jinxing Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel). However, one cut scene could have adequately tied it up, so it's not completely necessary.

I also enjoy the recurring characters, like Ranjit (Marshall Manesh), Patrice, and Sandy (Alexis Denisof). I love that Hannigan's husband, Denisof, appears steadily on the series. I also really like seeing Hannigan reunited with her Buffy the Vampire Slayer character's beau, Seth Green, who plays Lily and Marshall's college friend. These are bits of nostalgia that play on the audience's emotions, and even if they are a bit gimmicky, we don't care.

Not so great is the other junk tossed in. The pit metaphor didn't work very well, and I loathed the Lily-and-Marshall-away-from-Marvin stuff. Them dropping down and crying in the middle of a fancy party is stupid and unacceptable. These characters, and the actors who play them, deserve better than this. We know that the writers can be smarter. Look at the jinx!

Overall, though, "The Final Page" is a special and memorable event in the larger arc of the show. I can't wait to see where the events of this episode will lead!

How I Met Your Mother returns to CBS Mondays at 8 p.m. ET in January.

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Article first posted on TheTVKing

How I Met Your Mother draws closer to conclusion

CBS's How I Met Your Mother, whether it does a ninth season next year or not, is undeniably drawing closer to the series finale. As such, it has been callously ending all of the non-final relationships of the main characters during a so-called "autumn of breakups," and setting up everyone for who they will be with in the end. This trend continues last night in "Splitsville."

After Ted (Josh Radnor) dumps Victoria (Ashley Williams) last week, and Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Quinn (Becki Newton) end things a few episodes ago, that leaves only Robin (Cobie Smulders) and Nick (Michael Trucco). This is the pair that most obviously should break up, as despite Nick's hot bod and the awesome sex, he is dumb, and Robin has no interest in anything long-term with him.

Actually ending things with Nick proves hard to Robin. Not because she doesn't want to hurt him, though that plays a small role in delaying the inevitable, but because she just wants to keep having fun. After a couple of serious relationships, it's not a surprise that Robin likes to blow off some steam. But Nick isn't the man she will marry, and considering her wedding to Barney has to happen before the show ends, and that could be this spring, the plot must move forward.

Barney's grand declaration of love, which he claims is fake in order to get Robin off the hook with Nick, is easy to see through for viewers and Robin alike. I thought How I Met Your Mother might try to drag it out, a la most sitcoms, by having Robin believe Barney's insistence that he isn't being sincere. Thankfully, this is not the case, and Robin calls him on his stuff, even if Barney remains cagey at the end of "Splitsville."

How quickly will things progress between them now? I think there is a clue in last week's installment, where Victoria insisted to Ted that a renewed relationship picks up where it left off, not restarting back at zero. Barney and Robin grew pretty heavy before. A quick engagement is not out of the question.

And then, once we get the second pair of supporting players out of the way, we will finally get to how Ted meets the titular mother. I hope.

"Splitsville" does bring a slightly better than average plot for Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel). With romance playing such a pivotal role this year, the old married couple with the baby have been reduced mainly to goofy bits that don't add much to the series overall. But in this episode, they are sex-deprived because of said infant until Ted can rescue them, and that is a little amusing and rings of realism.

How I Met Your Mother continues to fall short of the heights it hit in early seasons, but if the current trends are any indication, we might still be in for a heck of a series finale. The only question is, will that occur six months from now, or eighteen months?

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


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 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

Farhampton not far off for How I Met Your Mother

How I Met Your Mother began its eighth season premiere on CBS last night with "Farhampton." Much of the action was set in Farhampton, the place where Ted (Josh Radnor) will finally meet the titular mother. In fact, "Farhampton" brings viewers right up to the point where Ted is about to encounter her, and then stops just short of that fateful moment.

The creators have said before that meeting the mother may not be the end of the show. But the last few seasons have started to tease this moment, the day of Robin (Cobie Smulders) and Barney's (Neil Patrick Harris) wedding. It certainly feels like the end, now that so much time has been spent building towards it. The creators are keeping the show's biggest reveal so secret, they won't even admit whether the legs we saw belong to an already-cast actress or a stand-in. It's simultaneously nice to know that we're getting closer to the big day, but frustrating that a timeline has not been firmly established.

When will this day actually happen? November sweeps? February sweeps? May sweeps (if the series is renewed for a ninth year)? All I can say is, it will almost surely be during one of those sweeps periods. And it will probably happen very quickly, with little build up in the prior episodes, so as to surprise the fans as much as can be, given the flash forwards.

Before Barney and Robin get married, though, they first have to lose their current significant others. The tipping point for Barney's beau comes in "Farhampton" when Quinn (Becki Newton) learns that he has neglected to mention that he used to date Robin. This is a betrayal of her trust, and while Barney manages to prevent her from leaving him on the spot, it definitely seems like their nearly perfect bond has been broken. It's unfortunate, considering the awesome chemistry Newton and Harris have, but this probably is a big part of what will lead to their impending dissolution.

Robin, like Barney, is very happy with someone else. In her case, he's little more than arm candy (Michael Trucco, Battlestar Galactica, Fairly Legal), which could be why it won't work in the long-term. But before she can even get tired of the new guy, Barney drops a bombshell when he gives Robin the key to a storage space where he has stored all of their memories. It hits Robin hard, and while she thought that she was over Barney, it's clear that she really isn't. The fact that Barney has this space at all proves he feels the same way. Thus, the seeds are planted for a sweet reconciliation.

Meanwhile, Ted and Victoria's (Ashley Williams) plan to run away together hits a snag when they find it difficult to leave a note for Klaus (Thomas Lennon, Night at the Museum, Reno 911!). If it's this much trouble, is it even worth it to leave a note? And what is it with people sneaking off and just leaving a piece of paper? I know this is a sitcom, but it's gotten to be a ridiculous pattern. Please tell me that real people don't really do this? Surely, most weddings actually happen, and even those that don't usually get more than a quick scribble, right? A face to face conversation is the minimum owed to the jilted party.

To make matters even more unbelievable, Klaus, too, writes a note and flees. He tells Ted that it is because Victoria is almost perfect for him, but not quite, and that everyone meets that person that they are meant to be with eventually. This makes for a great story, but it's simply not true. There will be issues in every relationship, and plenty of people never do find the exact right person. I hate to bring a dose of cynical reality into the mix, but this just isn't how it works.

That's the problem with How I Met Your Mother. At times, it ventures too far into cartoon territory, leaving the real world behind. This is acceptable for some series, but in a show that seems to be set in the actual world, it makes some elements ring a bit hollow. That was fine when the series was still very funny, but it's not anymore. I like the growth into deeper, dramatic territory, as it has more fully fleshed out the characters, but the world around them didn't shift in tandem, which is why this is only a good show nowadays, not a great one as it once was.

And then there's Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel), who are barely necessary in this particular episode, but hang around the entire time anyway. The water haze special effect is kind of lame, and I'd rather see them sit out most of a week than be wasted in this manner.


Recent episodes of How I Met Your Mother have gotten so much better than the middle period of the series. In a perfect world, it will nail the elusive perfectly balanced dramedy tone before the end. Even in an imperfect reality, though, it has a shot at doing so. Watch How I Met Your Mother Mondays at 8 p.m. ET.

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

Robot Chicken flies high

In the season six premiere of Adult Swim's Robot Chicken, the show honors the DC Comic Universe, much in the way it has previously done for Star Wars. It's an interesting choice, given how DC's competitor, Marvel, is dominating the theaters right now. Perhaps it was hard to get the rights to Marvel, or maybe the Robot Chicken guys just saw more potential in characters that haven't been played with on screen as much lately. Or perhaps they thought that honoring DC in this way might drum up more interest in DC movies. Whatever the reason, the result is a very funny half hour using many familiar heroes and villains from the comic book pages.

The main group parodied are the Justice League, including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and their counterparts, The Legion of Doom, which is led by Lex Luthor. Neither side is presented as very intelligent or successful, in true Robot Chicken fashion. The good guys act like jerks, and the bad guys are sympathetic, more complex characters. They do battle with each other, but other than the big confrontation at the climax, the best parts are just when the characters hang out among their own, ripping on each other. It makes them relatable, like old friends.

Some of the chosen targets are pretty easy. Aquaman has long been lampooned, and rather than take a different approach, Robot Chicken goes after him with aplomb, making him central to the larger arc in the episode. However, they do it in a way that still feels fresh, rather than using the same stale stuff (mostly). Watching him jump onto an "invisible jet," only to realize he is being tricked by his friends, is very amusing.

Another running gag is Batman getting his back broken by Darkseid. Many might show the bit three times, following the general rule of humor. Robot Chicken takes it the unexpected step further and does it a fourth. What sells this rule breaking is then the characters acknowledge that they are straying from the accepted path. Somehow, that makes the fourth go-round even better than the first three!

Much of the DC episode has a central story, unlike most Robot Chicken episodes, which thrives in the small bits. This may provide less laughs overall, but when going for a full half hour, it seems necessary and right that scenes go on for more than twenty seconds. In this, the show makes the wise choice.

The stars turned up in spades to lend their voices to this episode. Many of them have guest starred on the series before, but it's cool to hear them all together, and many lend some geek cred. There's Nathan Fillion (Castle, Firefly), Alex Borstein (Family Guy), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Megan Fox (Transformers), Alfred Molina (Spiderman II), Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad), Paul Reubens (Pee-wee Herman himself), and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith lends some vocals.

But besides the big names and big characters the episode is playing off of, Robot Chicken also stays true to itself by tossing its own recurring characters into the mix, like the humping robot, and using may of the regular voice actors like Abraham Benrubi, Tom Root, Breckin Meyer (Franklin & Bash), and the creative team of Seth Green, Matthew Senreich, Zeb Wells, and Kevin Shinick. Green even tosses a bit to his wife, Clare Grant. This shows the heart and dedication of those making the show.

All in all, while maybe not as memorable as the Star Wars tributes, Robot Chicken does a good job with the DC universe. Who might they target next?

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's trickery

CBS ends this season of How I Met Your Mother with the two part episode, "The Magician's Code." It doesn't really make sense to list this as a two-parter because they really are two completely separate stories. None of the major plots continue from one half hour to the next. One wonders if, after deciding to grant 2 Broke Girls a full hour last week, someone just went and renamed the first of these two episodes.

But the title "The Magician's Code Part 1" is not the only thing that doesn't work about the first half of the finale. The entire story is dumb. Marshall (Jason Segel) is plastered as he tries to make his way home for the birth of his daughter. Big event in Atlantic City or no, surely someone would have found him some type of transportation if he explained the situation. Granted, Marshall is in no condition to explain anything, but Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) could. Unfortunately, Barney is acting so far inept that he's way out of character.

Worse is the other plot, where Ted (Josh Radnor) and Robin (Cobie Smulders) try to distract an in-labor Lily (Alyson Hannigan) with stories. These are nothing more than rapid punchlines shown in quick succession, Family Guy style. Even the larger tale of the mysterious door, while essentially clever, doesn't work in this context. Robin's insistence on treating Lily like a farm animal is horrible. And why is Lily told by her doctor to wait to go to the hospital until it is too late to administer the drugs? Not to mention, Mickey (Chris Elliott) is a terrible character.

Fans have come to expect better than this from How I Met Your Mother. Despite a weak season or two in the middle, the series has gotten relatively consistent at being good again. "The Magician's Code Part 1" does not at all live up to this high standard. The fact that the episode features something as momentous as the birth of Lily and Marshall's child makes this mistake of an episode nearly criminal.

Thankfully, "The Magician's Code Part 2" is excellent. Barney and Quinn (Becki Newton) head off on a trip, but are detained in airport security because of Barney's mysterious box. Now, at face value, Barney cannot possibly be stupid enough to act the way he does in front of these security agents, who are also unnecessarily bad at their jobs. However, the charming tone and sweetness of the situation, which ends in a proposal, is more than enough to make up for any flaws. How exciting that Barney has finally found true love!

Too bad Barney's love is not with Quinn. It's actually a little disappointing when Robin is revealed to be Barney's bride. For years, a Barney-Robin pairing has been something to root for. As Barney matures and moves on with Quinn, that changes, which is a testament to what Newton is bringing to the party. It's kind of a step backwards for Barney to return to Robin now. However, this takes place in the future, so there is time to build to the wedding properly. And fans still want Robin to be happy. As such, while it's sad that Quinn, as predictable as that would have seemed in the context of this episode, is not going to marry Barney, it's also great to see that Robin finds happiness. Bittersweetness.

Also in "The Magician's Code Part 2," Ted gives Victoria (Ashley Williams) a call. Robin tells Ted that he is not dating the right girls for building a family, something he claims to want, and Victoria is the only possibility he has squandered a chance to fulfill his dreams with. But it's Victoria's wedding day, and she shows up dressed for the ceremony, asking Ted if he wants to run off together. It seems Victoria is no longer the type of girl Ted needs to settle down with, either.

Ted pledges to do the right thing and take her to the church. Though, if she is actually considering running off with another guy, is that really the right thing? Which is why it's not so sad when Ted drives past the church and off into the sunset with Victoria. Such terrible circumstances do not point to Victoria being the likely titular mother. But she is such a delightful character that it would be good just to have her around again for awhile. And Williams makes her so wonderful that, if Ted does reveal her to be the mother, any mistakes and bad ideas would be forgiven anyway.

How I Met Your Mother will return next fall to CBS.

If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! To buy How I Met Your Mother DVDs or streaming episodes, please click here. Article first published as How I Met Your Mother's trickery on TheTVKing.com

Is 'Karma' good for How I Met Your Mother?

This week's How I Met Your Mother on CBS is called "Karma." Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) finds Quinn (Becki Newton, Love Bites, Ugly Betty) at a strip club working under the name Karma. Actually, they've both been there on a regular basis for over a year, but he finally notices her. Barney tries to ask her out, but ends up being played into spending lots of money on her. He is sincerely hurt, and seeing that, Quinn decides to give him a chance. Meanwhile, Ted (Josh Radnor) tries to decide what to do with his spare room, and Robin (Cobie Smulders) crashes in the suburbs.

Season seven has been the year of Barney looking for a serious relationship. The writers have tried him with Robin, but that didn't work out. He ends his next relationship because he thinks that he can get back with Robin, but is let down. Now he's considering Quinn. Has he learned his lesson, or will he toss Quinn aside at the first chance for another shot with Robin?

Quinn is a great character, played by the wonderful Newton perfectly. She is a match for Barney in every way, with similar personalities. If anyone has a chance to truly turn his head from Robin, as it should be, after he was scorned, it's Quinn.

So might Quinn be the woman Barney is going to marry in the flashes of a wedding seen earlier this season and last? Well, it's hard to tell. Perhaps Robin will be the bride, because she's familiar, and it's what many fans want. But it might be the bolder, more realistic move to go with someone else. And should that be the decision, Quinn might just be the perfect girl to make that happen. Plus, keeping Newton working on television is a worthy goal.

It's kind of a shock when Ted decides to move out of his apartment, where he has lived for the entire run of How I Met Your Mother. But Ted is desperately looking to make a change, because what he has been doing for the last seven years has not given him the result he seeks. He wants a wife, and he is failing over and over again. So the smart thing to do is make changes, any see if one can get different results. Giving up the apartment unsticks him from his comfort zone, and could be just what he needs.

Still, it's heartbreaking to see the place empty at the end of "Karma." It is some comfort that Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall (Jason Segel) will be back in it, given it was once their home. But it won't be the same.

While staying with Lily and Marshall outside of the city, Robin is unhappy, and thinks that they are, too. This plot culminates in "Karma" when the couple sees Ted's gift of the apartment. The question is, is this the right decision for them? They were willing to live in the suburbs for their child, but both prefer city life. Will they feel guilty for putting their own needs above the kid's? Or will they make peace with the fact that many kids are raised in New York City and do just fine, so why not theirs? This story is probably not yet over, though moving back downtown seems to be the right decision.

"Karma" is a terrific example of how How I Met Your Mother is fully recovered from the slump it was in for awhile. Tune in to CBS Mondays at 8 p.m. ET later this spring for more fresh episodes.

MORE: If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter! To buy How I Met Your Mother DVDs or streaming episodes, please click here.

How I Met Your Mother goes "Tailgating"

     CBS's How I Met Your Mother celebrates New Year's with "Tailgating." After the holiday, Marshall (Jason Segel) visit his father, Marvin's (Bill Fagerbakke), grave to tailgate a Vikings game and tell the story of the most recent New Year's Eve he and his friends celebrated. Lily's (Alyson Hannigan) dad (Chris Elliott) has an unexpected reaction upon learning of his daughter's pregnancy. Ted (Josh Radnor), Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), and Kevin (Kal Penn) open a bar in the apartment. Robin (Cobie Smulders) gets back on the air while covering for a drunk, disgraced, Sandy (Alexis Denisof). And Marshall learns to honor his dad's spirit of generosity.

     The framework story, at first, seems unnecessary. Just because the episode airs a couple of days past New Year's Eve doesn't mean that the night needs to be told in flashback. However, upon further reflection, Marshall's story with his dad fits into the larger themes of the episode. There's a parallel between Marshall and Lily's fathers, and how they react or would react to a grandchildren. There's an element, like in Robin's story, of Marshall realizing his proper place in life. Marshall also acts stupidly, like Ted and Barney, by trying to hog his father, when, really, it honors Marvin more to share what he has with others. Thus, it works.

     Lily's dad, Mickey, is a strange one. But he does show up when he needs to. With Lily's life falling into place so nicely, it's no wonder that she looks back upon her disappointing childhood as something she'd rather forget. It also ruins her ability to believe, as Marshall discovers when telling her of cool enigmas he thinks might be true, and that he can't wait to share with their child. Assuming that her father has not changed, and cannot be counted on, she doesn't even tell Mickey about her pregnancy until Marshall pushes her. But it's a good thing he does, because Mickey has gotten Lily's message. He needs to step up, and step up he does, driving all night to deliver a stuffed bear. He may still have trouble expressing himself, as evidenced by the phone call, but he will be a better grandpa than he was a dad.  Which is a good thing, since the baby's other grandfather will not be around to do the same.

     Side note, anyone else catch that Mickey is selling a boxed game called Slap Bet, an inside joke for HIMYM fans? But how is that played?

     There is a healthy layer of emotion hanging over the story in "Tailgating" that shows How I Met Your Mother's maturation. It is still a comedy, shown amply in the non-Lily and Marshall plots. But finding heart and growth is what is rejuvenating the series after it has slide into a rut for a year or two. It's how How I Met Your Mother needs to move forward, and sets up a more moving ending than may have been expected at the outset. This is a furthering of the strategy beginning last year to make the series get "more real," and it's working.

     Robin's bit is geared a little more towards comedy, in that Sandy acts in a ridiculous manner. But there is also an undercurrent of her most recent story, dealing with the news that she can never have children. Robin always puts her career before family, but learning that family is not an option is still a hard blow to take. Before, it was a choice, and now it's not. She, surprisingly, does not instantly redouble her efforts in her job, demonstrating a healthy attitude of dealing with her problems, rather than avoiding them. Encouraged by Kevin, and with few other choices, she bravely takes back to the air, setting the stage for the next step in her career. It's a great moment, one very fulfilling for Robin as a character.

     Barney and Ted's time in "Tailgating" is much less serious, providing the light touch the sitcom wants to, and should, hang on to. They go back to an earlier, alcohol infused dream to own a bar. Of course, they go about it in very different ways, with Barney wanting to have lots of sex in Ted's room, and Ted seeking intellectual discussion. They do agree that a theme song is needed. The bar doesn't work, because, let's face it, bars just don't flow that way. Instead, the patrons trash the place, and the clueless proprietors have to keep raising the drink prices--something they vowed not to do--just to break even. It's a reality check that ends their fun little experiment gone wrong.

     Interestingly, after a couple of false starts, Kevin just falls into place as Ted and Barney's bitch in "Tailgating," which is, admittedly, the only way to really break into this heavily co-dependent group. An outsider cannot come in and shake things up without turning off the main characters. But one who happily goes along with whatever they choose to do is welcome, and through this, Kevin begins to make himself a part of the whole. It's unclear if it will last, but he's the first significant other in a long time that seems to have a real chance to join. He judges the friends a little, but mostly silently, and without trying too hard to change anything. And he's good for Robin, encouraging and supportive, without being too pushy.

     Overall, "Tailgating" is not a super memorable episode that will go down as one of the How I Met Your Mother greats. But it's also not a disappointment, furthering several stories, and holding up relatively well throughout. It captures a lot of the trends working for the show right now, and delivers an interesting plot. As such, it is a fine "standard" episode between the big event weeks, which will surely happen in February sweeps.

     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 - "Tailgating" on Blogcritics.