Some very blatant foreshadowing comes at the end of the episode when Ted begins to tear up after the Mother comments that no mother wouldn’t be there for her daughter’s wedding. While I have no more knowledge than anyone on this situation, it’s pretty safe to assume that someone misses someone else’s wedding and it’s stuck with Ted. It’s possible that Ted’s Mother somehow doesn’t make it to his wedding, but it seems like even more of a jab at the emotional punching bag if the Mother is going to die before seeing either of her kids get married. That’s been a popular theory among some fans for years, but this episode is the first solid indication that it’s actually a feasible theory.
Another huge clue to support that theory is the fact that the Mother says she’s worried about Ted living in his stories and living in the past instead of looking toward the future. That seems like the sort of life lesson someone would give someone they love as they’re dying before their time. I’m not saying it’s a sure thing, but if it’s not, the writers definitely want us to think that way. That scene in particular makes for something interesting to think about, but regardless, it’s simply a blip of foreshadowing that really doesn’t do anything to add to the episode as a whole.
Vesuvius is wholly medicore, which is not what fans want at this point. It wouldn’t have been a terrible episode had they bypassed the giant suit catastrophe, but it still wouldn’t be very good. Similar to last week’s episode, there isn’t much weight here, at least not until the foreshadowing at the end. Hopefully How I Met Your Mother finds a way to drastically improve in the very near future, or else the finale might be quite the letdown.
Other Random Notes
- “Heard it. Loved it. Called it the greatest coincidence of the 21st century.”
- Josh Radnor looks surprisingly dapper with old man hair and a terrible sweater.
- “It’s got everything: Intrigued, betrayal, lamps!”
- Susan Tupp. Well at least that’s a new one…
- “Let’s just say I stuffed a lot of bunnies in that suit.”
- Nice to see Robin’s sister make an appearance.
Be sure to check back next week for more How I Met Your Mother.
