You would expect sitcom authors to drop a bombshell like that in the season finale. But five episodes into a new season? Wow. That's what makes How I Met Your Mother so special. They are never afraid to make it hurt, and to polarize, while they're at it.
First of all, let's talk about Ted and Robin. Their relationship seems to be downplayed in many reviews and fan reactions. At this point in the series, they know each other for roughly three years. One of these years, they spent exclusively as a couple. Which went absolutely fine until they realized that their oppositional future plans would prevent a 'happily ever after' for them. For the most part of one other year, Ted has been chasing after Robin. So only the remaining year, only a third of the time they know each other, they spent as friends without openly displaying romantic feelings for each other. And they still managed to sleep together at some point during that time.
So not only are Stella's concerns valid and understandable. Beyond that, Robin's objection, albeit surprising and seemingly coming out of nowhere, does in fact make sense. Is the Ted and Robin chapter really irretrievably closed? Doesn't seem that way from Robin's perspective. As for Ted, maybe there is a reason why of all people it's Marshall, Ted's best friend, who sides with Stella on the no exes issue. He knows Ted better than Ted knows himself. If Ted refuses to confront certain feelings, you can bet Marshall is on to him. Marshall has also been the one who articulated his concerns about Ted moving too fast with Stella most explicitly. Why is Ted rushing into this? Does he hope he'll truly get over Robin once he's happily married, and therefore he can't get there fast enough? I wouldn't put it past the creators of the show that they actually had something like this in mind as a subconscious motivation for Ted's decisions. When I had a close look at the flashbacks Ted had in his near-death experience, when his cab was T-boned, I was astounded to see how many of them featured Robin. I counted 15 scenes with Robin in the foreground, and only 3 with Stella. And yet Ted's immediate reaction was to propose to Stella. Sometimes you think you're living out one story, but the truth turns out to be something else entirely.
Back to this episode. After Barney had digested the shock of Robin moving away, he came up with a simple plan about how to compensate for not spending so much time with her anymore: Sleep with her at the next opportunity! And it could have worked, as Robin got indeed emotional and vulnerable at Ted's wedding. It is interesting to see her approach Barney on her own when she's in that kind of place. After what happened when she got dumped by Simon, she must know where this is leading. What she doesn't remotely realize is that Barney might actually be looking for more than casual sex. That misconception might lead to hurt feelings for Barney at some point. As of this point in the series, however, his biggest concern is that Robin wasn't desperate enough to engage in a three-way. Well, Stella's sister stepped into the breach. Does Barney officially win the belt now?
I guess you either love or hate this episode. I love it, for the emotions, the intensity, and the fallout: Ted and Stella are done. Ted and Robin might not be. And the Robin and Barney story is getting more and more intriguing.
First of all, let's talk about Ted and Robin. Their relationship seems to be downplayed in many reviews and fan reactions. At this point in the series, they know each other for roughly three years. One of these years, they spent exclusively as a couple. Which went absolutely fine until they realized that their oppositional future plans would prevent a 'happily ever after' for them. For the most part of one other year, Ted has been chasing after Robin. So only the remaining year, only a third of the time they know each other, they spent as friends without openly displaying romantic feelings for each other. And they still managed to sleep together at some point during that time.
So not only are Stella's concerns valid and understandable. Beyond that, Robin's objection, albeit surprising and seemingly coming out of nowhere, does in fact make sense. Is the Ted and Robin chapter really irretrievably closed? Doesn't seem that way from Robin's perspective. As for Ted, maybe there is a reason why of all people it's Marshall, Ted's best friend, who sides with Stella on the no exes issue. He knows Ted better than Ted knows himself. If Ted refuses to confront certain feelings, you can bet Marshall is on to him. Marshall has also been the one who articulated his concerns about Ted moving too fast with Stella most explicitly. Why is Ted rushing into this? Does he hope he'll truly get over Robin once he's happily married, and therefore he can't get there fast enough? I wouldn't put it past the creators of the show that they actually had something like this in mind as a subconscious motivation for Ted's decisions. When I had a close look at the flashbacks Ted had in his near-death experience, when his cab was T-boned, I was astounded to see how many of them featured Robin. I counted 15 scenes with Robin in the foreground, and only 3 with Stella. And yet Ted's immediate reaction was to propose to Stella. Sometimes you think you're living out one story, but the truth turns out to be something else entirely.
Back to this episode. After Barney had digested the shock of Robin moving away, he came up with a simple plan about how to compensate for not spending so much time with her anymore: Sleep with her at the next opportunity! And it could have worked, as Robin got indeed emotional and vulnerable at Ted's wedding. It is interesting to see her approach Barney on her own when she's in that kind of place. After what happened when she got dumped by Simon, she must know where this is leading. What she doesn't remotely realize is that Barney might actually be looking for more than casual sex. That misconception might lead to hurt feelings for Barney at some point. As of this point in the series, however, his biggest concern is that Robin wasn't desperate enough to engage in a three-way. Well, Stella's sister stepped into the breach. Does Barney officially win the belt now?
I guess you either love or hate this episode. I love it, for the emotions, the intensity, and the fallout: Ted and Stella are done. Ted and Robin might not be. And the Robin and Barney story is getting more and more intriguing.
