As someone who has sadly had experience with the hot sister conundrum (not that I have given my sister a level of atractiveness; that has been left to every one of my friends), this episode hit a cord with me. The good news, most of my friends are not as good looking as Barney (I can rate the attractiveness of guys, but not my sister… is that in the Bro Code), so I really have nothing to worry about. Right?? Tell me, I’m right?? Anyway, these are my problems. Let’s got onto the episode.
Ahhh, Minnesota!!! What a great place. Just have to get this out there, why does Marshall have to wear a fake Vikings jersey when everyone else is wearing real ones, and also, in Minnesota, hockey is loved as much as football, so why no Wild jerseys…. on second thought, I’ll tell you why…. because their team name doesn’t end with “S” that’s why. ALso, I loved the callback to the 1999 NFC Championship Game. Do Minnesottians (I Guess?!?!) really eat huge food. I’m kind of dragging again, but maybe it is because I am so happy that the Colts won again!!!! Yet, I won’t do this MMAQ style, since I’m pretty sure Peter King has fair ground to sue me.
At first I was not a fan of the “Friend A goes with Friend B somewhere, and makes friends, and then Friend B thinks Friend A is stepping on his turf” cliche, but <i> Mother </i> does the cliches really, really well, like when they did the whole “during the wedding, everything goes wrong” story. Also, having Robin in a Vikings jersey… HOT (plus, a creative way to hide the bump). I LOVED the Canada rant, the “We invented Trivial Pursuit… You are welcome Earth.” I LOVED the Canadian bar, and the putting the lights off joke. That was high, high comedy. Also, although they highly exaggerate the Canadian accent, I loved how Robin slightly took it on in her pro-Canada rant. Overall, the primary storyline was well done, and was, as far as I know, a How I Met Your Mother first, a Marshall and Robin centered story. Every character has had story-arcs with the other sex, with Marshall – Lily and Ted – Robin being obvious. There have been countless Lily – Barney episode that have been amazing, and a lot of Robin – Barney ones as well, but this was the first Robin – Marshall episode, a thing that many have clamored for, and they were brilliant. And Nothing, let me put in all caps to make myself clear, NOTHING WAS FUNNIER THAN MARSHALL SINGING “LET”S GO TO THE MALL” AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE GREATEST JOKE IN THE SHOW’S HISTORY!!
The other storyline, Barney and Heather, was well done as well, even if it were equally cliched. I loved the idea of Barney and Heather planning the whole charade as well, it was a good twist on a storyling that could have gone into another Bro Code breaking scenario. The only part I wish would not have happened was Ted Mosby-ing Heather, and “getting to know” Heather. That seemed a bit weaj, but in a stellar episode otherwise, that can be forgiven. Also, kudos for the good casting of Heather, as she was really believable as Ted’s sister.
The episode was great, even though LIly had really nothing to do except tell secrets, which was not out of character, like most of the one episode gags the show has created recently. This was another solid episode, and you would have to go back another couple of years to find a better five-episode run than “Not A Father’s Day” , “Woo!!!” , “The Naked Man” , “The Fight” and “Little Minnesota.” The show is rocking, the numbers are great, it will be back for next year, and it is finally getting some recognition it has deserved. So, I’ll celebrate by singing my favorite Christmas Carol: “Pulling down her pants… Taking off my own…. Underneath the mistletoe… I will make your Sister Groan!!!… Ohh.. Heather’s Hot, Heather’s Hot”
Sneak Preview for Next Week: There will be slaps, and Robin and Ted will hook up….. However it will be slap number three, and the hookup will be extremely awkward, as it will only be a rerun of Slapsgiving. The next new episode will be in 2009, so see you all then.
