Much better. Much better.
Prior to the start of this season, 'HIMYM' showrunners Craig Thomas and Carter Bays both promised in various interviews that season 6 would have a lot more momentum as the season went on. 'Natural History', an episode written by Bays and Thomas, delivered that momentum on all fronts.
One of my favourite running storylines on this show is Marshall's struggle with the secure but corrupt corporate world versus the poorly paying but morally good NRDC jobs he wants to be doing. Here, this conflict was addressed, with corporate (at least temporarily) winning the battle. The visual of Lily looking at the College Marshall exhibit and being disappointed that he was extinct was great - it was a HIMYM'y (just go with it) moment that didn't feel obscure but completely allowed us to see Lily's conflict. And though I was initially a little sad that Marshall had caved and decided to become a suit wearing corporate man, my heart was warmed a little, in that wonderful HIMYM'y (no really, just run with it) way, to know that in time Marshall would be able to break out of College Marshall's nightmare.
The development of the Barney's Dad storyline appeared out of nowhere - and I loved it. We'd been led to believe up until that point that this was just a silly C-plot to give Barney and Robin something to do in the show. Which was sort of fine - though I'd have been irritated if it had gone on much longer, Cobie Smulders and Neil Patrick Harris clearly had so much fun playing with the exhibits that I didn't mind watching them goof off for half the episode. And kudos to NPH for acting so incredibly stunned and un-Barney like when he found out the bombshell that his Uncle Jerome may actually be his Dad. I think this has the potential to give Barney some great moments of growth (what up?). The 'who is my Dad?' story has sort of been done to death, so the idea that Barney knows who he is but not where he is breathes a little bit of life into the old gal.
If there was a weak point to this otherwise excellent episode, it'd have to be Ted and Zoey. I don't find her quite as unlikeable as I initially did but she's having a difficult time winning me over, even though we saw a much more human side to her this week. I didn't think Ted saying words across the room was massively funny either, but I don't think Josh Radnor was to fault at all, the other elements of the episode were just a bit stronger. Plus, the acoustics bit payed off, as we saw Zoey realise that Ted was actually a good guy. It was so obvious that it was going to happen, but was still a nice moment when it did.
Besides - Ted's branch of the episode gave us an appearance from Kyle MacLachlan as Cap'n Van Smoot(*), who I recognised as Charlotte's husband from 'Sex and the City' before recognising him as Agent Cooper from 'Twin Peaks'. Does that make me a bad person? MacLachlan wasn't given a huge amount to do in this episode, so I'm assuming we'll see him again. Could we possibly be looking at Ted's future father-in-law?
(*) I've seen the name Van Smoot pop up in this show before, but I can't remember where. Does it hold some significance or is it likely that the writers just find the name amusing?
To be honest, right now I don't mind either way. I'm happy enough with the episodes week-to-week that I could hold off on the mother revelations until later in the series. I definitely think the reintroduction of the character arcs has been an excellent move in reinvigorating this show, which was beginning to show its age at the end of season 5.
A couple of quick other thoughts:
- Galactic President Superstar McAwesomeville is an awesome baby name. I'm talking to you, expecting parents. And if Ted is allowed to make up his own name, can I have one too? I don't think my friends will take to calling me 'Sir Pantaloon Von Eiffel Mahal' very well.
- I enjoyed the return of the 'sandwiches' joke. That one never gets old.
- Any episode of 'HIMYM' with Bob Odenkirk is made twice as awesome, by default. I love Artillery Arthur, but Saul Goodman is a great, great character. I miss 'Breaking Bad'. *sigh*
- Go back and look at the newspaper at the start of the episode - there is an entire article written about season 1's infamous 'Cockamouse'. Wonderful stuff. There's also an article about Dowisetrepla, and in the imaginary article that Ted foresees after Zoey reveals the recording device, there's an amazing snipped of the article where Barney reveals that it's 'Just not something that a bro would do.'
- HIMYM'y. Keep your eyes peeled.
A third of the season down, and I'm a very happy Sir Pantaloon.
What did everyone else think?
