The Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series goes to…George Sloan for How I Met Your Mother, "No Pressure."
Jenniac here and I’m going to try hard to be unbiased about tonight’s episode. I should warn you it will be VERY hard considering I went to college with George Sloan and basically harass him about HIMYM every week (and plan to harass him on set when I’m in LA next month). Tonight was his head writer debut and I was looking forward to this episode for weeks.
How I Met Your Mother Music
- Shake It Out by Florence and the Machine (plays as Marshall tell Robin what Ted can’t and Ted keeps looking)
To quote my friend Star, “that episode was fantastic, it felt classic and it was funny and dramatic. It pushed the story forward.” EXACTLY.
Just when I thought the episode couldn’t get better it did. It felt like early HIMYM episodes. It had had a ton of awesome throwbacks and also introduced a lot of new things in addition to giving some resolutions to lingering questions, but without tying things up neatly. And of there were many “carrots” given to us about FINALLY MEETING THE MOTHER.
I loved opening with Ted and the Mother. She’s is the next person Ted tells that he loves. However Ted on the roof with Robin reflecting on the past 5 years was pretty epic. The flashbacks to their relationship really did help remind me of the time that I was sort of rooting for them. However seeing them kiss was “emotional mayhem” to quote Robin who felt the same way.
Robin leaves in a rush-a (get it? No? I’ll leave the comedy writing to the pros), but then she comes back to kiss him goodbye. Ted calls Marshall to process what the hell just happened…at the bar…at 7am…no judgment, just sayin’. In their conversation they finally address Ted setting up Christmas lights for Robin (and the fact that Ted is a good friend). Lily of course joins them at the bar gives a negative interpretation of how Robin and Ted left things. It seems that Lily is rooting against Robin and Ted, but it’s because SHE IS!
While ransacking Marsh & Lil’s place looking for their sex tape he finds their Long-Term Bet box which include a TON of gems including Lily betting Marshall that Ted and Robin don’t end up together. We know Lily was responsible for a number of Ted’s past breakups – including Ted and Robin’s original break up. Lily continues to try and sabotage Ted by giving him advice to overwhelm Robin with grand romantic gestures.
Barney confronts Lily and Marshall about the Long-Term Bet box and we learn it all started 10 years earlier – complete with a never before seen flashbacks – with terrible Lily wigs. Ted learns about Lily’s bet against him and Robin as well as her rational. Barney interrupts Ted pondering about him and Robin to borrow his VCR (which for the record I own one too). It’s then that Ted realizes that Robin’s in love with Barney. Ted FINALLY tells Barney that he saw him with roses and candle for Robin, but Barney tells him everything. Ted tells Barney that Robin and Kevin broke up and Barney acts nonchalant, but also surprisingly mature which Ted notes.
The next thing we know it’s a week later and Ted picks up Robin at the airport (with a hat and sign a la Marshall and Lily) and they go to eat at the place with the Blue French Horn. Ted realizes him and Robin aren’t going to happen and takes their single and 40 deal off the table. Ted puts it all out there. He asks Robin is she loves him and she finally gives him closure by telling him no. The moment just hung there heavy in the air for a minute. It was tragic and beautiful…hauntingly beautiful.
Ted and Marshall reconvene at bar where Ted is shattered over Robin. Marshall does the best friend duty of telling Robin she needs to move out. My friend Star didn’t know where the Marshall and Robin conversation was going, but she said it played out perfectly and I agree.
Next we see Ted alone on the roof as Florence + the Machine’s Shake It Off (which is also hauntingly beautiful) plays and we see a glimpse into what happens next. Robin gives Ted back his key, packs up her stuff, and moves out. Ted finds himself happy in his own way realizing that the mother is still out there. We see Ted walk out in the rain with his black umbrella into a sea of yellow umbrellas.
I got chills.
This episode was not only one of my favorites from this season, but from the whole series. I’m so immensely proud of George. I hope for his sake as a writer and my sake as a fan that he gets to helm many more episodes in the future!
Legendary Lines
- Ted: I go camping in secret.
- Barney: Do you think that if we did it and I did a really good job that I could turn that into my baby?
- Lily: Robin again? Why does everyone keep going after Robin? How come no one ever takes a run at me?
- Ted: So I just walk up to her in Red Square with a dozen roses? Or float down to her in my hot air balloon with ten dozen roses!
- Ted: I’ve seen the Olympics I know what I’m doing. I’m going skiing bitches.
- Marshall & Lily: You know I gotta say making money off this bet just makes you feel… more alive than you have in years…yes….new hobby!
- Marshall: I starved myself for a week to get camera ready…yeah A bear claw.
- Marshall: Not yet.
- Barney: Ted you’re the only idiot I know who still owns a VCR, so you are the lucky winner of the “who gets to sit next to me and watch your best friends go bananas all over each other sweepstakes.” To the outdated viewing device!
- Barney: Even if that somebody else was you. Bro’s before hoe’s right? No matter how mad she made me Robin’s still my bro. And if you make her happy that makes me happy.
- Lily: Watch that tape! Sorry I just really want to win the bet.
- Ted: No, look I’m sorry I can’t do that anymore. As long as the door is even a little bit open I have this feeling that I’ll just be waiting around to see if I win the lottery when you turn 40. I think you know how you feel about me now and I don’t think time is going to change that.
- Future Ted: Here’s the funny thing, in my own crazy way I was kind of happy. For the first time in years there was no little part of me clinging to the dream of being with Robin. Which meant for the first time in years the world was wide open. Because kids when a door closes, well you know the rest.
Moments of Awesomeness
- Ted’s inner monologue with himself laying in bed and the expressions on his face.
- PATRICE!!!!
- Barney’s reveal in the bed with Lily and Marshall.
- A bird eye view of Barney-vision who only sees Lily’s boobs and hears that Lily and Marshall have a sex tape.
- Marshall and Lily’s Long Term-Bet Box
- Lily’s forced “Awww” after every suggestion to sabotage Ted and Robin.
- Ted drinking a 40.
- Barney dance moves in the backseat of Lily and Marshall car to and from Ted and Stella’s wedding.
- 46 minutes later…
- Barney’s bets about the sex tape.
- Marshall and Lily convincing Barney and Ted to not watch/watch the sex tape.
- Lily rubbing her belly was thrusting and moaning.
- Ted being upset that Barney smashed his VCR.
- Ted hiding behind him menu at the Blue French Horn restaurant.
- Flashbacks
- Ted and Robin’s first breakup
- Ted and Robin’s first Kiss
- Ted decorating the apartment for Christmas for Robin
- Ted and Stella’s Wedding
- Barney and Robin kissing in the Cab
- Barney breaking up with Nora
- Barney finding out Robin didn’t break up with Kevin and get his heart broken (which broke my heart a little to see again)
- Barney cleaning up the rose pedals and blowing out candles
Lingering questions
- Did you see Conan O’Brien’s cameo in MacLarens? I only saw it via facebook upon first viewing, I was too busy paying attention to all the extras in the bar who I know through George. For the record Conan is at the door when Barney rushes out about 13 minutes in.
- Do we think Ted could pull off bald?
- Does anyone else kind of want to see 2 hobos fight over a sandwich in a preppy kids back yard like Barney mentioned?
- Who did Robin move in with?
- What do you think that Marshall meant by “not yet” with a smile on his face when Lily tells him to pay up? Is it about the sex tape? Ted and Robin? Or Ted’s hair?
What song was played at end of episode
What’s the song at the end of the show?
Love the song playing at end but didn’t have time to catch it… Any ideas?
The song is “Shake it out” by Florence + the mashine
This episode was just made of awesome. I’m so glad you agree, a lot of the time recently I seem to love episodes and then people complain about them, I worry I’m way off radar! I really think this season of HIMYM has been top-notch. Other than a few disappointing (I’m looking at you, Slutty Pumpkin Returns) episodes, I’ve loved every second.
So, this week…I’m a huge Ted & Robin fan. They are just the best. Except for maybe Barney & Robin…I can never quite decide! But I love both, possibly equally, I want both to be together (I’m not going to take this thought to its natural conclusion…). So, unsurprisingly enough I loved the Ted & Robin flashbacks, and kisses, and awesome moments. Liked how Ted brought up that they aren’t actually where they wanted to be in 5 years, so what are they doing? Loved his internal monologue. Loved Robin knocking on his door. I was laughing so hard at “I GO CAMPING IN SECRET” that I almost didn’t notice Robin kiss him. My Ted/Robin heart just melted when she came back and kissed him.
Marshall & Lily were hilarious, the bets were so them. Barney dancing in the back of their car was just EPIC, especially the Single Ladies dance.
Ted’s realisation that Robin loves Barney, and his chat with Barney, was also brilliant. Surprisingly honest, mature and grown up. I’m glad everything’s out in the open now. I also enjoyed Barney’s line about bros before hos, and Robin being his bro. Firstly because it shows how much he’s grown up. And secondly, and I may have completely over-interpreted this, but I feel like it shows how much he cares about Robin as a friend that he’s willing to see her as a bro and be concerned about her happiness, rather than seeing her as a ho and therefore be concerned with his own happiness. Barney is rather awesome these days.
Now, I may have just been tired and over-emotional, but I cried from when Ted asked Robin if she loves him until the end. The pause, the tears in her eyes, the “no”…it was just heartbreaking. And then giving the key back, Ted on the roof on his own. Maaan, I can’t take that sort of thing! I know Ted & Robin don’t end up together, I’m not a silly Ted/Robin lover who thinks she’s really the Mother or something, but I do love them, even if it’s just as friends. And this feels like such the end of an era…I agree with Marshall that she had to move out, but it means no more awesome Ted-Robin-roommate moments.
I have NO idea what to make of the end “pay up” “not yet.” My impression was that it’s about Ted & Robin (that’s the only one of your 3 suggestions that was definitely ruled out in this episode) but whether that’s foreshadowing (but surely we really have done with Ted & Robin now, as much as it pains me?!) or just part of the “not yet” joke I have no idea. I actually yelled “WHAT?!” at the TV.
Think I’ll rewatch now while I eat my lunch…sorry for the long post!
As if I haven’t said enough already…just starting watching again, and didn’t notice before – the movie they’re stood outside the theatre for is The Wedding Bride!
3… can you believe they have made that many?
Just how many awful things can Jed Mosley do?!
What do you think that Marshall meant by “not yet” with a smile on his
face when Lily tells him to pay up? Is it about the sex tape? Ted and
Robin? Or Ted’s hair?
THAT´S the question of the episode. btw. the episode was fantastic, one of my favourite episodes all time. not only the story moves on and the persons took a great step. there were so many details (i.e. “wedding bride 3”, the padlock at the blue horn. ted is hiding in front of the waiter. the red hair dryer (you can keep this…:)) etc. etc)
Let me try to interprete Marshall´s “Not Yet”.
For Ted the “Robin thing” is over (by now). But the writers wants us to think that there is still a slight chance that the two will end up together. and its marshalls task (by thinking at the bet) to carry the message to us. we know himym and its twists and turns….
I loved all the callbacks to older episodes, like how Ted felt like he should have kissed Robin, the muffling of Lily’s voice, Robin being more of a bro than Ted, the chained up smurf penis, etc. The point is, the episode alone was great enough already, but these tiny things just made it even better.
After last weeks episode I was really afraid how the writers would handle the whole Ted and Robin thing this time. I was really relieved that they finally (!) ended this in this episode. At least I feel that was the point right? Give Ted closure. It would have been perfect if Marshall would have paid. I hope this confident “not yet” doesn’t mean they are going there again…
AMAZING EPISODE. Classic HIMYM 🙂
I love this show so freaking much!
“Who did Robin move in with?”
At the end of the episode when Ted talks to Barney and leaves the pub, Barney gets a call and takes out his handphone. I´m pretty sure it`s Robin asking him if she can stay at his place for a while.
Robin moves in with Marshall & Lily- saw spoilers of episode 7.18.
Best episode of the whole series.jeez that moment when ted stands by himself on the roof and that song plays in the background .awesome awesome episode wow,I cnt stop watching it
If there wasn’t so much conclusive evidence against Robin being the Mother I would say its DEFINITELY her after this episode. HIMYM always says the opposite of what is going to happen to build tension, florence and the machine lyrics that were easiest to hear and just at the right moment were, “its always darkest before the dawn.” which sounds like foreshadowing their marriage, though it could be just about Ted’s life and not about their relationship. To me, the most conclusive piece of evidence is that Ted marrying Robin would make the fact that he told a story that spanned seven years to his kids make sense. If he marries anyone else it will be like….”well dad, wtf did you tell that ridiculously long story for then?” The other piece of insanely conclusive evidence is what David Henrie, one of only four people who knows the real ending to the show , said about the ending (the other three being lyndsy fonseca and the two guys who are the brains behind HIMYM). Anyways, David Henrie said that the ending is a very satisfying one, and he said that when season one had just finished. That means it is most likely a character from the first season, who would be a more satisfying match for all of us than for him to marry Robin? I mean it would be nice if Barney married her, but not as cathartic as Ted marrying her.
But it can’t be Robin, because on St. Patrick’s day Ted said that their mother was in the bar. While Barney and Ted were in that bar Robin with Lily and Marshall in their apartment helping them deal with the fact that it was slanted. There is no way the writers would make such an obvious mistake….so there is no way that its Robin. Unfortunately I think they just wanted to show off how DAMN GOOD of writers they are. At the end of last episode I was very angry with them because the whole Ted Robin thing has been back and forth forever and I thought we got closure on it like forever ago and I was at a point where I really, really didnt want to see Ted and Robin end up together because I was just done with the whole thing. I was annoyed that they opened that can of worms again and it made me doubt that they had serious plans for this season, I thought maybe they were running out of ideas. But then, with this episode they not only made a hilarious episode, they made it incredibly touching and sentimental and to top it off they ended it with me actually WANTING Ted and Robin to get together again, then they poetically ripped my heart out!!! At every moment i was like, ok, this is where they are going to show that they are bluffing and the episode will end with them together again…but it didn’t. and to top it off, at the very end they left forshadowing in both directions! there are things that make it seem like its not Robin in that episode, like, well, everything. And then there are things like Marshalls comment at the very end that makes it seem like it IS her! Those B***rds!!! They are such good writers!!!
In the end, I have no freaking clue who its going to be….and that is the mark of some good writers, unlike Lost they have kept their secret well AND kept my interest in the show over the course of 7 years…thats pretty dope.
I’m so annoyed that we don’t get to see these episodes in the UK for ages!!!! grrrr!!! Does it seem to anyone else that the series is kinda leading up to finishing?? I really don’t want it to though!!!
Thanks for the blog!! 😀
Hi people! I know it’s a bit late and everything with episode 18 out now. But I just want to check if you guys also noticed all the purple/violet clothes, bedding, curtains, ted’s umbrella etc. at the end of this episode? Do you guys think there’s a deeper meaning to the color, like for instance indicating “the end”(what purple usually means) of ted and robin’s relationship or is it just purely coincidental? Keen to hear you guys’ thoughts…
Yes, it is leading up to the end Rachel. Season 7 is the second-last season, as their contracts ends after season 8 and it is unlikely to get renewed. Also, since most seasons run for around 25 episodes, we are getting closer and closer to the end of season 7.
I loved this episode because it was both funny, and progressed the story immensely. I loved the camping in secret line, and i loved the ending. It was such a great ending. I would’ve cried if I was an emotional person. The music was an excellent fit to the scene. I thought the first yellow umbrella chick was the mother, but when everyone else walked past it was just great. It really hammers in the message that he is moving on, although Marshall and Lily’s conversation about the bet (Pay up…not yet) threw me off. Does that mean we may have to suffer through more Ted-Robin episodes? Groan.
seriously this episode was legen……wait for it ……dary. LEGENDARY.
this episode was great. i’ll say probably my favourite too.
Did anyone notice the mother wearing a grey “Beret” in the beginning, resembles that of the first girl ted glanced upon at the end? for all we know she could be it. First of all they both wear a grey beret plus she looked like a student. Does anyone ever notice her? anyone?
Just saw this post – was doing a search for purple background on HIMYM after last night’s episode – Season 8, Ep 7.Purple was in every background shot in one form or another and also worn by a lot of people. Then at the end Robin is instead in red. It seemed obvious – but weird – but I haven’t seen anyone else comment on this. Now after seeing your comment I’m guessing there’s a running theme…. too much to be arbitrary, yes?
I found that doing the same research… purple everywhere! Any ideas? Did you find anything else?
oh, its name is SHAKE IT OUT. check it please 😉