How I Met Your Mother
Recaps

As the biggest fans of Swarkles, aka The Barman and Robin, we were initially sad to see these two break up.  Then we remembered what made How I Met Your Mother so awesome... single Barney.

On last night's episode, "The Playbook," it was amazing to have the real Barney back.  Recovering instantly from his breakup, Barney used the playbook, a book of all his tricks, to deceit a bunch of women into his bedroom.

So what made this episode so legendary?

• Lorenzo von Matterhorn.  We're already trying to come up with our fake name to begin dominating the top ten Google results.
• I love how Claire (Kim Knight) just fit in with the group and even joined in during the "Hell No" harmony.
• The running gag line of "Sonuvabitch."
• The backwareds plot telling device, while not as clever as other HIMYM episodes, was still fun.  Seeing the Lily grab the sheet and realizing she's been had? Sonuvabitch.
• Hehe, he dressed as a SCUBA diver... and stuffed with a can of Pringles.
• Ted being set up.  Could the main character of the show and premise be back?  Well, not if Barey, err Lorenzo keeps scamming them.

Sure a lot of fans will complain that the multi-season build up of Barney and Robin getting together only to be broken up seven episodes into the season was short-lived.  We just want to remind them to re-watch this episode.  This was HIMYM.

Now for some of the finest How I Met Your Mother quotes of the episode after the jump.

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It was a day we never saw coming (unless you read How I Met Your Mother spoilers on TV Fanatic), but the end of a seemingly perfect televsion relationship, Barman and Robin came to an end this week.

When Ted and Marshall saw how miserable a now overweight Barney and a ghoulish Robin have become with each other, they enlisted the help of the Krakan (aka Lily) to break them up.  Using an elaborate plan that involved Crazy Meg, Alan Thicke and a storm trooper, television's best couple came to an end.

So how was "The Rough Patch," the episode that ended it all?  While not as funny as previous episodes, it certainly had its moments:

• Barney's prerecorded video on ArchiSEXture, including knowing that Marshall would be there?  Amazing!
• Using more future Ted storytelling devices like remembering Barney as fatter than he was and the porn tape accidentally falling into the VCR?  Classic.
• While a little over-the-top, you couldn't help but laugh when everyone, including Alan Thicke, came together in the stakeout van...err station wagon
• Everything involving the storm pooper
• Barney returning to his former skinny self in the matter of the walk home from the diner?  Nothing short of Legen... wait for it... dary.
• How badly are you waiting to see Alan Thicke and Robin's Candian Variety show?

Altogether the episode could have been funnier, but even a non-funny HIMYM is better than most sitcoms on television.  We're sad to see Barney and Robin broken up, but we'll be so glad to have Barney single and the show's dynamic back.  This season became Barney and Robin's show and it needs to return to its former glory.

Now for some of our favorite How I Met Your Mother quotes from the episode after the jump.

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While this week's episode of How I Met Your Mother had Ted as merely a supporting character with absolutely no mother storyline, it was still classic HIMYM to us.

Why?  Because the episode used so many of the classic Bays and Thomas storytelling devices:

• Reminiscent of the sandwiches, Future Ted called the upstairs neighbors having loud sex, bagpiping.  We hope they make a clever reference to this in a future episode
• The clever Marshall and Lily fight sequence where copies of the couple fighting around the room appeared.  Felt very HIMYM to us.
• The entire sequence in which Barney explained how he would have handled Lily was nothing short of amazing.  Marshall then attempting to re-enact it?  Ever more amazing.

You can catch up on the full events with our "Bagpipes" recap, but trust us, you need to watch this episode.  Who cares if there was no mother or overall plotline development, it was classic HIMYM.

Now for some of the best How I Met Your Mother quotes from the episode:

Robin: Okay, this is ridiculous. I can't believe these two are still bagpiping
Ted: Enough! It's been six hours1 It must be that new tantric bagpiping that Sting is into
Robin: She keeps yelling at him to play the bigpipes louder, but it sounds like she's bagpiping him pretty hard. There's a glass of water in my bedroom that's vibrating like Jurassic Park
Ted: You have neighbors, so shut the bagpipes up! | permalink

Robin [to Barney]: Why is there bag of panties labeled "April 2006" in your closet?
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Barney: There are so many great things to do with the human mouth, why waste it on talking? | permalink

Last night's episode of How I Met Your Mother took a break from the usual Ted's persuit of the mother, for a little road tripping break.  When Marshall and Ted got word their favorite pizza place in Chicago was closing, they decided to have a throwback to their old college days and road trip out there.  Only problem this time?  Lily decided to tag along.

Meanwhile, Robin got news she might get deported back to Canada due to a bar fight she got into.  Barney decides to help her pass the US Citizenship test by getting the Canadian out of her.

Find out how the road trip went and whether Robin will be staying in America in our "Duel Citizenship" recap.  Some of our favorite highlights from the episode:

• Pretty much every Canadian joke Barney got to make this episode... and there were plenty
• The flashback to Ted and Marshall singing along to "I Would Walk 500 Miles" in the old Fiero.  Classic.
• Everything related to Tantrum, even Lily clinging to the roof of the car after the credits.

Now for the best How I Met Your Mother quotes of the episode:

Ted [about him and Marshall]: We were like Lewis and Clark, if Lewis and Clark peed in water bottles and had a bong made out of a cantaloupe | permalink

Robin: How do you know the Canadian citizenship test is easy?
Barney: It's Canada. Question one, do you want to be Canadian? Question two, really? | permalink

Barney: Canada's not so bad. If they play their cards right they may even become a state one day | permalink

On last night's episode of How I Met Your Mother, the show continued to explore the new couples angle of the show as Lily and Marshall persued Barney and Robin as their new best couple friend.

Poor Lily and Marshall thought it was the best night of their life, while Barney and Robin were ready to kill themselves.  Just check out some of the evenings photos from the double date:

Meanwhile, Ted realized he was the sexless inkeeper when he picked up a girl at the bar that used him for his apartment and provided him with, well, no sex.  You can find out what happened in both plotlines in our recap of "The Sexless Innkeeper."

Now for some of the classic How I Met Your Mother quotes at Ted, Marshall and Lily's expense.

Ted: Barney, are you wearing sweat pants?
Barney: Maybe, but they're Armani! | permalink

Barney: The US Navy discovered aliens at the bottom of the ocean and for reasons I can't explain, they selected Robin and I to lead the expedition
Lily: That sounds like stuff you say to women when you're trying to get rid of them
Marshall: That's exactly what is sounds like, but if it's true that sounds totally awesome
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Random Girl: How's grading?
Ted: You just gotta make it fun, every time I see a grammatical error, I do a shot. Right now I'm smashed and I blame the public school system. | permalink

Barney: Ahh tweed, the official fabric of the eunuch | permalink

How I Met Your Mother's fifth season definitely belongs to Barney and Robin.  On last night's episode, Robin was getting sick of Barney being such an insensitive boyfriend, that Barney was actually ready to make some changes not to lose her.

And what better man is there to learn the nuances of being a sensitive boyfriend to Robin than Ted?  Barney decides to secretly enroll in a class with Ted to learn how to be a better boyfriend.

Meanwhile, silly Marshall, clearly depserate for a plotline, tries to find a new home for an old beer barrel he once used as a nightstand.  Find out if it found a new home in our "Robin 101" recap.

Now for some classic How I Met Your Mother quotes from the episode:

Barney: Funny thing, and this is just me, I like my balls attached to my body instead of rolling around next to some eyeliner in Robin's purse. Stinson out. | permalink

Ted [about a picture of Robin with nostrils flaring]: If you ever see this face, whatever you do, run and do not take a picture or she will punch you.. and you will cry.. for the third time... that night | permalink

Ted: Pop quiz. When robin is PMSing what kind of chocolate should youg et her?
Barney: Trick question. Get her butter scotch.
Ted: Correct. Why?
Barney: Butter scotch is to Canadian women what chocolate is to American women | permalink

Ted [to Robin]: I've seen barney try really hard to get women, I've seen barney try really hard to get rid of women, but I've never seen barney try so hard to keep a woman | permalink

On last night's How I Met Your Mother, Barney tried to prove just how cool and laid back his new girlfriend, Robin, was compared to Marshall and Lily.  What's the best way to prove that?

With a double date to the strip club to see Lily's doppelganger, Jasmine, stripping of course!  Meanwhile, Ted found himself going on a blind date with the same girl he's already been out with seven years ago.

So how did the two sets of dates go?  Well find out in our recap of the cleverly named episode, "Double Date."

Now for some of the classic How I Met Your Mother quotes from the episode:

Marshall [to Barney]: Ooh girlfriend troubles, I wish I could help you but my totally awesome wife just bought me a lap dance with her body double. If you need me I'll be getting grinded like some pepper in the champagne room | permalink

Barney: I don't come here that often
Waitress: Hey Barney, here's your usual and I'll send you your other usual when she's done stretching
Barney: Thank you kindly, stranger | permalink

Jen: We're going to die alone aren't we?
Ted: Well, you'll have your cats | permalink

How I Met Your Mother returned last night with its fifth season and it was an entire episode devote to Barney and Robin fans.  Lily spent the episode trying to convince television's most awesome couple to finally define their relationship.

Meanwhile, in mother news, it was Ted's first day teaching at class and he did confirm that mother was in that classroom.  Now was it the econ classroom he randomly wandered into when he said it or his actual architecture 101?  Oh HIMYM, you're so tricky.

So was the episode?   Amazing.  Between the Indiana Jones professor references to Barney's speech on how the rules of gremlins apply to avoid making a girl a girlfriend, the episode had enough jokes to keep it funny while enough Barman and Robin moments to make you smile.

Read our "Definitions" recap to try and catch anything you missed.  Now for some of our favorite How I Met Your Mother quotes from the episode.

Barney: You still seeing that guy?
Robin: Even better, seeing him naked
Barney: I shoud go see this Chinese girl I met.. I just had her last night and I already feel like seconds
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Barney: That, my friends, is the dominator 5000, the best bull whip on the market according to my whip guy. Yeah, I have a whip guy. [makes whip sound] | permalink