That Thing Ted and Robin and Barney Do

Although it's too early to write about How I Met Your Mother's  Season 7 since we're just into three episodes, I'll go ahead and write about one of the series' best episodes to date--Episode 3, Ducky Tie. It was one of the best for it combines everything we loved about HIMYM into one amazing episode.

The jokes, the puns, the chemistry, the witty lines, the quick editing. Everything plus some.

Ted, Barney and Robin doing the that thing they do night in, night out

HIMYM's storyline is centered on one central premise: It is a story of how Ted met his children's mother. It is a story of friendship, love, and everything in between. And when things go way overboard (read: the Zoey storyline), the writers have this central premise to get back to. Episode 3 brought us back to Ted and his quest for the one who he becomes a "complete head over heels idiot for".

And who's the best person to bring us back to the central premise? Well, someone from the past: Victoria, who is one of the best--if not the best--ex-girlfriend of Ted yet. She's the perfect person to make us forget about the horror that is Stella and Zoey. She's nice, she's pretty (even more now), and she does make a lot of sense.

Ted and Victoria sharing a moment

Her speech about Ted (and Robin and Barney) not being able to work out relationships with other people in the past because of each other really did made sense. It drives home the point that Lily was telling Robin about in Episode 1, The Best Man. Deep down each of them hopes to end up with each other, albeit not being aware of it. This hope, whether seemingly baseless, false or nonsensical, is keeping them from making meaningful relationships with other people. Ted and Robin still has the 40 Pact which was recently mentioned in The Best Man. Barney and Robin still has the chemistry, one which, according to Lily, "never goes away".

Lily was right when she said, "Because deep down even if he isn't aware of it himself, Barney wants to be with you. And if it's not gonna happen he deserves to know." Ted and Robin deserved to know as well.

In order to enable each and every one of these three to move on and make meaningful relationships, each has to realize that they need to open up to persons other than each other. Try to make it work, and try wholeheartedly.

Ted subconsciously realized this when he decided to move in with Stella in New Jersey. When Stella left, Ted came running back to "this thing that you're all doing...you and Barney and Robin where the three of you hang out in the bar, night in night out, like you're all just buddies" that Victoria was so right in pointing out.

Robin realized this in Season 5 when she "left" the gang to try to be serious with Don in "Twin Beds". Unfortunately, Don turned out to be a complete douche, so Robin came rushing back to this thing. And from the looks of Season 7, Barney is realizing this subconsciously with Nora.

Ted, Robin and Barney's friendship, despite its many advantages and positive effects, is serving as a hindrance to their own realization of what they want out of life. And because of the tease Future Ted gave ("She was right. We just didn't know it yet."), I believe that in Season 7 they will all realize this and it will lead them to make life-changing decisions. We're sure that that Barney's decision will lead to a wedding. Now, what are Ted's and Robin's going to lead to? A renunciation of the 40 Pact? Maybe. I'm certainly betting my money on that.

---------------------------------------

Victoria's speech to Ted was so heartwarming that it deserves to be printed (and watched) in full. HIMYM is one of the very few seasons that can pull off something like that without being cheesy.

There is a reason that it didn't work out between you and me. But it's not Germany. And I'm willing to bet it's the same reason none of your other relationships in the last six years have lasted either. It's Robin... Yes, she is so much bigger in your world than you realize. And this thing that you're all doing. You and Barney and Robin, where the three of you hang out at the bar, night in night out, like you're all just buddies...that doesn't work. Trust me... I'm right about this. Goodbye, Ted.