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How I Met Your Mother Review: “Gary Blauman” (Season 9, Episode 21)

There are many things that I expected we would see in season 9 of How I Met Your Mother, but a return of Taran Killam as Gary Blauman was certainly not one of them. Sure, this season does revolve around his real-life wife's character's wedding, but his previous four episodes didn't really leave any reason for him to return. Ignoring that fact completely, the writers found a way for him to fit into this season with an episode called Gary Blauman, and the result is absolutely incredible.

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After Blauman storms away from the wedding, Ted tells his kids what many of the guest stars from over the years are currently up to. Instead of having scenes for each of the individual characters, director Pamela Fryman opted for an extended rotating shot, where sets are changed and the various characters move in. It’s a remarkable bit of directing, and all the acting comes together for an excellent sequence. It’s one of the best individual scenes that this show has ever featured, as not only was it well-planned and well-executed, but it also evoked memories of some of the most memorable episodes of past years.

Still, as emotional as that scene will likely be for most fans, it has nothing on the final scene of the episode. Seeing Ted and the Mother finally kiss is nice, but it’s really the chemistry between the two that makes the interaction so great. This is the first moment where Ted knows that this woman is “the one,” and the build-up to the kiss is just about perfect. It’s a wonderful moment, and it almost makes me wish we could see a full season of these two as they date.

While “Gary Blauman” likely won’t be remembered as one of the best in the series, it’s finally an episode that is fitting for the end of a show. It properly pays tribute to many things fans have loved from earlier seasons, while also working within the plot set up for this season. It’s neither too sappy nor too over-the-top, yet it has a good amount of humor and emotional moments. Gary Blauman is an excellent outing for HIMYM by any standards and should definitely leave fans impressed.

Other Random Notes

  • Scottish-mexican fusion sounds like an excellent restaurant.
  • I would love to read poetry from the mind of Billy Zabka.
  • The Robin’s hair of seating charts.
  • “You take the man’s wife before you take his accidental curly.”
  • I really want to go to Tuckahoe Funland.
  • Only Ted would dive into a deep, involved story about his closest friends at the start of a first date.
  • “Point, comma, get to the damn!”
  • Blah-Blah’s name is Carol. One of the great mysteries of the show has finally been solved.
  • What Ted was unable to do on the first date with Robin (seal it with a kiss), he did with the Mother. Give it up Robin theorists.

Be sure to check back next week for more How I Met Your Mother.