And funnier it is. The scenes of everyone owing someone a “no questions asked” are all hilarious. I will say Robin’s seemed to be a bit over-the-top, but other than that, they are all great additions to the episode. Anytime flashbacks are employed as a way for the writers to come up with creatively funny asides, the result is usually something successful. That is definitely the case in this episode. Still, the humor of those scenes has nothing on the laughs brought about by the staff of the hotel.
The desk clerks are the best part of this season so far. I was at first upset it wasn’t the original clerk, as played by Roger Bart, but Rhys Darby is equally as awesome behind the bell. He’s absolutely perfect as the unsympathetic clerk when Lily has problems, and his reliance on using the ghost as an excuse had my cracking up. By the end of the episode I was torn as to which clerk I like better. I can’t wait to see who else ends up behind the desk. He did not get to be a 40-year-old night clerk by making excuses!
Although Robin and Barney’s plot is a bummer, as usual, the rest of the episode is quite strong, making for another quality week of How I Met Your Mother. This won’t be remembered as the best episode of the show, but it’s far better than the worst we’ve seen. Overall, it’s another tally in the positive column for season 9.
Other Random Notes
- Ted stuck in a post office box is good, but calling him priority male is wonderful. Bazooka Joe doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
- “Let’s prove that we believe in marriage by working together to help Marshall hide something from his wife.”
- Barney liking the villains in the Karate Kid and other movies is one thing, but Die Hard? He’s gone too far.
- Marshall tackling Russell Brand brings up very funny images of Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
- I’m very curious what people were numbers 3 through 8 for Marshall.
Be sure to check back next week for a review on the next episode of How I Met Your Mother.
