While all this is going on Barney is in a major pickle. Now that him and Quinn are broken up, she’s gone back to dancing at the Lusty Leopard. His problem isn’t that she’s stripping again, it’s that this means he needs a new strip club.
His money is so valuable at strip clubs that they begin courting him through a series of gifts that begin to increase in value with time. Robin tells him that if he takes more time he can start getting some really nice gifts. Barney likes that idea so much that he asks Robin to be his strip club agent, an offer which she surprisingly agrees to.
She takes her role extremely seriously, taking offers from a serious of innovatively named strip clubs, before finally deciding that Barney should sign with the Golden Oldies. Barney is ticked off, as he asked her to remove them from contention. It’s then he notices her Rolex and bling necklace. Robin has been taking bribes, and because of this Barney lets her go.
Barney is on his own now, and he has a decision special in MacLarens. I’ve enjoyed the subtle references knocking LeBron over the last couple seasons, but tonight was the best. Barney gives a heartfelt decision speech, with lines pulled straight from LeBron’s decision, until he eventually announces he’ll take his talents to Mouth Beach. The only thing that was more of a joke on LeBron than Barney’s decision, was LeBron’s own ESPN special.
Robin accompanies Barney to the club in order to buy his first lap dance in an attempt to make up for trying to sneak extra benefits as her agent. They walk home extremely drunk, and Barney tells Robin how he always has a good time with her. They pause for a moment and then finally kiss, the kiss fans have been waiting for since Barney and Quinn broke up. After a few seconds Robin pushes away, says she can’t do this and runs off.
This episode was a great effort at getting back to what fans have been expecting from this season. It had its funny moments, didn’t deviate from the characters like recent weeks had, and it moved the story in proper direction for its ultimate conclusion. It has my seal of approval.
Part of the reason tonight worked so well is Marshall and Lily were separated. Their relationship is one of the best on TV and certainly the most enjoyable of the show, but in recent weeks them together just meant both characters were in a not funny rut. Separate, the show was able to properly show funny moments from both of them, and get back to their characters pre-baby. Hopefully when they’re back together in future weeks they’re out of their rut.
Other Random Notes
- Ted’s thoughts on Marshall being a stamp tramp, “It’s like when my mom likes a movie, it just means it has Richard Dreyfuss.”
- Another opportunity for Marshall to make fish jokes. “What’d you call a fish with no “i”s? Fsh”
- Robin did a great job pulling in offers for where Barney should “pitch his tent.”
- I don’t think the Boys and Girls Club will want the profits from Barney’s decision.
- Cheese and caramel popcorn is a great combination.
Check back next week for my thoughts on the next episode in the eighth season of How I Met Your Mother.
