“Bass Player Wanted”

Some of my favorite episodes of How I Met Your Mother are the ones that show how deeply intricate life in general — not to mention Ted’s story — can be sometimes. Each decision is the catalyst for a thousand other events, each tiny change in the plan leads to an entire reversal of what was supposed to happen. And sometimes the mere presence of other people, also experiencing this same phenomenon, can cause some of the biggest changes.

These episodes work so well because the show focuses on the little details instead of one big problem. The mother is a prime example. Think of all the Ted could have met her but didn’t because one tiny thing went awry — someone was in the wrong place at the wrong time or looking the wrong way for just a split second. What if Ted had met the mother at any of those times? Would he have been in the right place in his life to recognize how important she could be? Would he even have been single? Would it have mattered?

This episode was one of those episodes. The evil front man of the mother’s band, Darren, who was scheduled to play at the wedding, tries to dig deep into the gang’s friendships and cause trouble, for fun, and reveals that Ted plans to move to Chicago the day after the wedding. Barney is hurt — “It’s not even a real place, it’s a style of pizza!”. To make up for it, Ted proves he would, in fact, “live the dream” as Barney puts it, and go to jail for his friend (“the most noble, nay, “bro-ble” thing) by breaking in and stealing yet another bottle of $600 scotch. Just as they are about to enjoy the new bottle, Darren accidentally knocks into it. In a rage, Ted punches Darren in the face, and an angry Darren quits the band. The mother, happy that she has her band back, buys Ted a drink, but doesn’t stay around to watch him drink it. Perfect setup. Missed opportunities. The cycle repeats.

Barney also finally knows now the real reason Ted is leaving – to get his distance from Robin. It will be interesting to see how the locket plot plays out (you know, the one they dangled and then completely dropped almost two months ago) now that Barney knows that Ted’s feelings are still there.

In the B-plot, Marshall is finally back with the gang, his fight with Lily on pause. I imagine the next few episodes between the two of them will be difficult to watch for anyone who believes in Marshall and Lily’s love as much as I do. But I have faith they will work it out. I mean, they have to – it’s a sitcom, after all.

Tidbits:

  • Other things Barney has called “the dream”: a suit made of prosciutto so you can eat your way naked, lions fighting a tyrannosaurus, pooping all in one day so you don’t have to poop again for a year. (This is also called “dump day,” and barney swears he never said that was the dream but just something that science is days away from being able to make a reality.)
  • “You guys are hilarious and adorable!” “I like that he gets how hilarious and adorable we are!”
  • “You have been sleeping with a doll that looks like Marshall all week!” “Not true! After we do our business I make Marshpillow sleep on the couch!”
  • “I can’t handle confrontation.” “Yes you can!” “You make some good points.”
  • “I swear on my mom’s grave – no – I swear to God – no – I swear to Hef!”
  • The fourth slap is imminent!