Finally, we have an episode in which the characters actually do something wedding–related rather than just casually mentioning it. Don’t get too excited; there is not an actual rehearsal or anything related to the wedding that is in less than 24 hours! As someone who loves weddings, the severe lack of wedding planning in this wedding–themed season disappoints me. If all the writers were single men, that would make so much sense. I guess we are supposed to chalk it up to the fact that Barney and Robin are not the typical love–y, marriage–y, Marshall–and–Lily–type couple. But we know they’re a wealthy couple, so where the hell is their wedding planner? Speaking of wealthy, Robin’s dress from the episode is L’Wren Scott and retails for $2,990. Too bad it was ugly and not something Robin Charles Scherbatsky Jr. would ever buy or wear.
There was a lot going on in the episode. It was big and over the top, just like Barney’s Canada–themed ice rink rehearsal dinner for Robin (spoiler alert!). But there was a standout, best moment for me: when the gang was going around cracking Canada jokes at the bar. It wasn’t the jokes themselves that got me, but what was going on in the background. For those of you who missed it, a couple’s life story was casually going on at the bar. First there was a proposal, then the wife was pregnant. This was presumably after a wedding that they spent time, money and effort planning. Then, they celebrated their son’s graduation (in a bar!). The last shot is the wife, as an old woman, sitting with an urn. I’m assuming the husband died, not her son. So, where is the kid? Why is he letting his mom bring his father’s ashes to a bar? Is that the way to mourn? Share a martini with an urn? And who is the other old dude? Is he hitting on her? With the ashes right there? Ew. It was awesome. And it reminded me that these writers, shockingly, do have the ability to progress a plotline.
The worst part of the episode was when Barney had all those puppies in a suitcase. They were so cute, but that’s definitely animal cruelty.
On a totally unrelated note, “HIMYM” is obsessed with mentioning Alan Thicke, but they have yet to mention his newly famous son Robin Thicke. I hate “Blurred Lines,” so I don’t really mind, but this does seem to be a missing Canada reference.
The next episode won’t be until Dec. 16. Boy oh boy, do they know how to drag this out.
