Last night’s How I Met Your Mother, “Bagpipes,” demonstrated that the show is not letting Robin and Barney’s monogamous bliss get in the way of its fun. Where a typical HIMYM in the past might have involved Barney trying to school Ted in the ways of singledom, there’s also potential in Barney (in competition with Ted) trying to school Marshall and Lily in the ways of coupledom.
A couple weeks ago, I talked to Maureen Ryan about the recent road-trip episode, which, she rightly pointed out, overrelied on the idea of Lily as the buzzkill ball-and-chain ruining the guys’ fun. At its best, though, what’s great about Lily and Marshall’s relationship is that he’s as much of more of a “girl” (so to speak) as she is, and hearing him brag to Barney about how he can rock an awesome pot of chamomile tea was perfect for him. “Bagpipes”—through Marshall’s disastrous attempt to be like Barney—was truer to their relationship, and funnier too.
If you want to argue about it, though, go ahead. I’ll just abruptly leave the room.
