Friday, December 21, 2012

HIMYM: Barney Proposes to Robin

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Well, if the title didn't say it all, I don't know what will. After a complicated shenanigan that had Ted sworn to secrecy that he wouldn't tell Robin that Barney was proposing to Patrice, Barney finally popped the question and Robin said "yes." I wasn't the biggest fan of it overall, but the description of the "play" was great. I totally had not put together that "the final page" referred to Barney's playbook, which he had recently burned, so I was in love with that aspect of the proposal. The more I think about the episode, however, the less I liked it, though... the Barney-Robin-Ted storyline was good, but the Ted-Marshall-Lily storyline was not. Between the trio returning to their alma mater to get screwed out of some money and the show's ever-present couple learning to party without their infant, I was left a bit bored. Obviously, all of this was to play second-fiddle to the proposal anyway, but I was disappointed in the filler of what could otherwise have been an iconic episode for the series. What did you think?
Ron P. Jaffe/Fox
How I Met Your Mother "The Final Page" (S08E11 & S08E12): Remember that time Barney stepped in front of a bus? Well, apparently he believed it was because he didn't follow a "jinx," so he now has been taking jinxing very seriously. When he accidentally falls for one after five years, the group decides that they're going to ride it out a bit, causing Barney days of pain. [who DOES that?? I laughed at the Destiny's Child part, tho!]

Ted decides to invite one of his college professors to the opening of his building because the guy didn't think Ted would ever make it as an architect. [kinda spiteful?]Ted receives the RSVP, but the professor doesn't recognize Ted's name, prompting him to drive to the college with Barney (still jinxed), Lily, and Marshall along for the ride. [who DOES this??] Marshall and Lily soon run into someone they were never able to shake, Darryl, who never left Wesleyan. They go back to his place to see his footbag inventory and begin thinking that he wants to kill them. Nope. In fact, he was about to offer them $100,000 for helping him come up with the idea. [hahaha!]

Barney decides to propose to Patrice and he gets Ted to un-jinx him by showing the ring. But Ted can't tell anyone, despite how much he wants to let Robin know. Barney then jinxes both Marshall and Lily. [hahaha!]

The night of the big building unveiling, Mickey is going to stay with the baby so Marshall and Lily can spend the night alone. [whoa to Marvin's lullaby!] Ted calls Marshall to tell him about Barney, and Marshall realizes that Ted might still want to end up with her. [omg. not THIS again!] Robin was supposed to accompany Ted to the unveiling, but he tells her about Barney's plans, and Ranjit drives them to the Worldwide News building instead. Meanwhile, Marshall and Lily get drunk as they miss their baby and eventually go home to be with Marvin. [I wouldn't wear it, but that blue dress looked great on Lily.]

Robin still tries to fight her feelings, saying that she can't keep making an @$$ of herself, but she goes to the rooftop to stop Barney anyway. She discovers a page to the playbook and reads it.

Step 1: Admit to yourself you still have feelings for the girl.
Step 2: Choose the completely wrong moment to make a move and get shot down on purpose.
Step 3: Agree that you two don't work and lock the door on the future, driving her crazy.
Step 4: Robin goes nuts.
Step 5: Find someone who annoys Robin most and ask for her help. Explain everything to Patrice.
Step 6: Check with doctor over broken ribs.
Step 7: Pretend to be dating Patrice.
Step 8: Wait until Robin breaks into your place to steal the Playbook.
Step 9: Have a big fight with Patrice over Playbook.
Step 10: Prove loyalty to Patrice by burning the Playbook, you don't need it anymore.
Step 11: Because your friends have no boundaries, you'll monitor the Intervention.
Step 12: Tell only Ted about the Patrice engagement plan.
Step 13: If Ted tells Robin, it means he's let go of her and given his blessing.
Step 14: Robin finds the secret, final play in the book, the last one that will ever be run.
Step 15: Robin realizes she's under mistletoe.
Step 16: Hope she says yes. 

Barney shows up after Step 15, and though she tells him that he can't lie to her and manipulate her, he gets down on one knee and proposes. [how would you have done it?]
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