Welcome to this weeks installment of inconsistent character development. I find it endlessly annoying that a show that is based around it's own history so carelessly ignores the history it's built. Why, after everything we've come to know about Robin and Barney, would either one go out of their way to fight for custody of Lily and Marshal's child? It makes absolutely no sense. The whole episode is a contrived situation that blatantly ignores the characters that have been developed over the last 7 years. To make matters worse, there wasn't even a funny joke mined from said situation. Granted, the idea of a game show to name one's godparent is awesome, and Marshal's game show host jacket was amazing and Professor Infosaurus was the best use of Ted's kids in years, but nothing in this episode was really all that funny.
To add to the unbelievable characterizations, I didn't buy the conflict at the end of the show either. What does Lily and Marshal listening to their friends problems have to do with drinking at MacLaren's? Ted asks does having a kid mean the end of an era just like that. Yes, Ted it does. So, if you need to unload with your friends you show up at their place and unload. I thought we established last year that the era of MacLaren's was coming to an end. I don't think it's horrible at all for Marshal and Lily to stop going to the pub, yet that's the point the show seemed to be making. The premise just didn't work at all.
Of course not everything was horrible about the episode. I enjoyed the line, "Questionable denim choices aside, he's a good dad." Some might say that describes someone I know...
1-3!
I suddenly realized that I have been missing the point of your bogging about HIMYM. I was under the impression that you were commenting on HIMYM. I now know you are poking fun at talking heads. You are parodying the technique Howard Stern and Rush L have used to make millions. You are genius. Just like Rush watching the democratic convention, you know you are going to hate it before you start and watch to determine the tack of your criticism. The joke is on me I was reading at face value. The following was a response to the blog before I realized it w a vehicle of parody.
ReplyDeleteWhen you disagree with the writers view of their characters you are sure they are violating their history, but it might be worth trying to see thie viewpoint. I know, although the show starts with a voice over, you don’t accept the idea that this is one man’s view of his friends, with all the inconstancies a personal reflection include. So I’ll try to stay with the view of the story that you present while ignoring this point.
ReplyDeleteWhy, after everything we've come to know about Robin and Barney, would either one go out of their way to fight for custody of Lily and Marshal's child? One reason is a simple quote, “Challenge Accepted.” Both characters will compete at anything. Another reason is that a godfather is more then the person who takes over when you are dead. They are the primary, nonparent adult influence on a child. Barney has already demonstrated his desire to fill this role. The middle name demonstrats his desire to influence the baby. It is an extension of his validation of himself by trying to get others to emulate him. “Suit up Ted, “ was in the first episode, if you need history. The last reason is only in the shallowest stories, are the characters so single dimensioned that they can be characterized as bachelor who will never be a parent, or career woman who can never have a child. You must have encountered people who have determined that they will have no, or no more children for a number a reasons. When you listen to these people, you can hear their acceptance of their decision, and understand how it is what is right for them. I have also found that most of them do wonder, what if they did have a child and can miss the opportunity while understanding that their decision was the correct one for them. Being able to capture the duality of people and the conflicting motivations that make up a person is a sign of a good writer.
The final conflict and your inability to see the point is when I realized that you were parodying talking heads. A major theme has been the impact of being parents on friendships. Marshall and Lily have been completely focused on getting pregnant to having Marvin while ignoring their friends. Whether it is parenting or some other priority in your life there are times when your life will take priority over friendships. The difference between ending up alone or life long friends is finding the time when your needs can be set aside and you can allow their concerns to take center stage. Will it always need to take place at MacLaren’s, no but the initial overture had to be on their tuff. It was friends saying, “We will come to you to hear your concerns. We will not determine what is important. If you think it is import, there is time to hear you out.” This was an acknowledgment that they needed to be a bit self absorbed but they now have time for what they find important.
I do agree that the writing is not what it was, but we know they are trying to fill a timeline dictated by money, not storyline. Barney at the door was week, although I liked when Marshal reopened the door to allow him to finish. Robin on the motorcycle was cliché, and makes you wonder how she ever ended up with this guy but I did smile. If you wrote about how the characters have become cliché of themselves, I could not disagree. That is the end of any situation comedy, when the characters become so flat that they become cliché. I believe that has happened and the show has jumped the shark, but it is the normal course shows follow when the stay too long, but there are still times when the writing shows what it can be; but if you cant approach it with a open mind you will miss the valuable moments and the fun. And yes, I thought Denise wrote the denim scene ending as a bartender at a tiki bar.
I think you give the writer too much credit and look to deep into something that isn't there. If it was just about competing then a good writer would make that point. Barney says I don't care about the kid I just want to win. Robin says I hate kids but there's no way Barney gets picked over me. None of those points were made. We were to believe that all three wanted custody of the kids. No matter what other traits you may want to pull up, the overriding trait of both these characters, THE reason Ted and Robin broke up, THE reason Barney and Robin made sense is that neither wanted anything to do with children. We've had whole episodes done about how horrible Robin is around kids. It makes ZERO sense to have her competing for the right to parent one. And I'm sorry, but there is no arguement that proves otherwise. I agree, good writing would show the complexity and duality of character, this wasn't good writing, there was no complexity there.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the ending, I expected to get push back from you on my stance. I understand what the writers were trying to show and I see the validity of the point, but I don't agree with how they had it play out. Lily and Marshal's life has changed dramaticly and as wrong as saying the have no time for "anything under an 8" having them go to MacLaren's to resolve the issue is wrong. If it is so important for Ted to have them in his life then he needs to meet them, not force them to keep things the way they were. Ultimately, I think this was the point the writers were trying to make, meeting half way, but I don't see making Lily and Marshal go to the bar before Ted was willing to bend as fair to the couple who just had a kid.