Robin’s big struggle in the episode is the fact that the ring makes her invisible to men. This was visited in one of the first episodes of the show, where Lily was jealous of Robin getting hit on, but assumed the reason no guys were talking to her is she was wearing her engagement ring. Robin isn’t as concerned about getting hit on. Her problem is more that she now has to pay for things (such as rent) and wait in line.
She tries taking the ring off and her problem is solved, she’s able to get beer with no trouble. However, when she puts it back on, she does her best Bilbo Baggins and becomes completely invisible. Eventually though, Marshall explains to her that the look you get from, and can give to, the one love of your life supersedes all the other previous perks.
Marshall and Lily have been busy having weird hook-ups due to Lily being turned on by thinking of Marshall as a bad-boy. It all starts when Marshall tries on Ted’s leather bracelet, and Lily becomes instantly turned on. However, the bracelet is giving Marshall a horrible rash, but he says once you have a child, sex is hard to come by, so a few pus-filled boils are worth it for Lily to find him sexy. Of course, his hand ends up growing to the size of a balloon, and that’s when Lily tells him that he never needs to do anything but smile to turn her on.
This episode stuck to the recent trend of quality episodes turned out by the show. I’d like to say that How I Met Your Mother is back, but with how poorly this season started, I’m going to need to see a few more quality episodes to be certain of that. However, with Ted dating again, and the reveal of the mother on the horizon, the future is yet again bright.
This episode puts to rest the theory that Barney’s half-sister was going to end up being the mother. That rumor had been circulating the internet since she was first referenced, but didn’t nearly fit in my opinion. However, now that we see she was just a meaningless hook-up, it’s nice that one theory can be put to rest.
Other Random Notes
- There’s probably a pretty big market for hipster mad-libs.
- In recent weeks it seems the show has forgotten that it isn’t The Big Bang Theory. Two weeks in a row with Harry Potter references and now even a Lord Of The Rings precious? The only geek moments used to be related to Star Wars. For the record, I’m not complaining.
- Ted would have a dream journal. And send out “Food For Thought” e-mails.
- Watching Ted date a college girl felt like I was watching Liberal Arts all over again. Too bad this one was just a hipster as opposed to someone Ted could actually end up with.
- The best joke of the episode was Robin talking about New York becoming as rude and expensive as San Fransisco.
- Snap’s been jealous of crackle all day.
- Always nice to see them throw in a musical number. Not as good as Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit, but still great to have one in the episode.
- Only seeing the prequel Star Wars films is definitely not close enough for someone as in love with the original trilogy as Ted.
- A possum as an olive branch? Interesting choice Barney. “Are your sure he’s not just pretending to be dead?”
Check back next week for my thoughts on the next episode in the eighth season of How I Met Your Mother.