This week’s episode of How I Met Your Mother was entitled “Legendaddy” and it was certainly a legendary performance by Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson. Hilarious as always and vunerable enough to make your eyes glisten with tears, NPH did a more than spectacular job of showing a range of emotions as his character finally met his father.
We first meet Barney’s dad, Jerome, by way of a phony flashback during an intervention for Barney thrown by the gang at Ted’s house. NPH played the great giddy excitement role well as he spun a tale of the father he wanted to have but didn’t get (a cool smooth talking ladies man just like Mr. Stinson himself).
When Barney’s dad heads to MacLaren’s to get some help from the gang, they and we learn the truth. Jerome is actually a milk drinking, goofy, driving instructor who has a family of his own now. Obviously upset, Barney walked out of the bar on him and won’t return of any of his calls.
So it’s intervention time.
In a heartbreaking moment, which brought some closure to the storyline, Marshall reminded Barney that although he may not be the father he wanted, he’s the father he’s got and he’s still alive. This was motivation enough for Barney to head over to dinner at his Dad’s house.
The following scene was at the same time funny and poignant with Barney ragging on his new younger brother J.J. (Jerome Jr.) and then devastated when learning what his initials stood for.
Moments later, in the most powerful scene of the night, Barney attempting to get the basketball hoop down stands on the car and yells ‘Because if you were going to be some lame suburban dad, why couldn’t you have been that for me?’
It was hard not to get choked up at this point, seeing Barney in such a vulnerable and real position. Teaching his son how to use a screwdriver (Barney’s gap in knowledge), Jerome helped him get the hoop down.
Then Barney walked away, hoop in hand. How will meeting his father affect Barney? We’ll have to wait and see but if this week’s episode was any indication, it is sure to make an impact.
HIMYM did what it does best tonight, touching upon a serious topic and pulling your heart strings while simultaneously making you laugh. It was one of the strongest episodes this season.
Some additional thoughts:
- John Lithgow was FANTASTIC in this role both as the suave dad and the dorky one. It was nice to see him play something so different than the Trinity Killer.
- The gang’s gaps in knowledge (Ted’s inability to pronounce chameleon, Robin’s stupidity of common knowledge, Lily’s poor aim, and Marshall’s inability to blink/swallow pills/make good oatmeal) were a hilarious secondary storyline. My favorite gap Lily’s poor aim.
Quips of the night:
- ‘I love you daddy, I’m so happy we’re best friends now!’— Barney (in his phony flashback)
- ‘This is going to be the second most fun I’ve had on an Asian leg’— Barney
- ‘I guess you could call me the LeBron James of grapes.’— Jerome
- ‘Lily! We are living with a possum!’— Marshall
So what did everyone else think? Will Barney’s meeting with his dad have a real impact on him? Did your heart break as Barney came to terms with the situation? Which character’s gap of knowledge did you find the funniest? Let us know in the comments below!
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I think that this episode is crap though better then the last 3. I don't if they ran out of steam or changed writers but what was the funniest and smartest show is now barely watchable. IMHO.
I enjoyed both your review and the new episode. Barney is, by far, my favorite character, and I'm really glad to see that they're using his full potential. NPH is a GENIUS, and makes a character that could easily be just another jerk womanizer and lovable guy who you just want to hug real tight. I'm also happy to see they're going with some more serious storylines: HIMYM has become both deep and touching and remained hilarious in the process. Can't wait to see what will happen now!
This was a great episode, but I must say the writers should've come up with a better gap for Ted; it's quite hard to imagine encyclo-pay-dia Ted mispronouncing the word chameleo, being the word-snob he can be.
im glad to see that himym is finally doing more serious episodes. i am however disapointed that they never really finished the story of "a change of heart" (by far one of the most dramatic endings to an episode iv ever seen. in the past 2 episodes, nph has been more than spectacular. over the years many tv shows have tried to immitate the chemistry and humor of "friends", himym is the only one that has succeeded.
John Lithgow (my favorite since 3rd Rock) with HIMYM cast, what do we want more?
I loved it, it was emotional, yet funny.