By the seventh season, we shouldn't be expecting too much from How I Met Your Mother with regards to the identity of the Mother. The viewers have been tugged every which way and it's unlikely the we'll learn the truth anytime soon. However, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the show. The characters we love are still there and they're still funny as ever. If given the proper situation, they can do hilarious things, emotional things, and the Mother doesn't even have to be considered.
The season begins with "The Best Man," which has several promising themes, but comes up short from a plot perspective. There's really nothing moving the episode forward aside from what individuals are doing. Barney does "market research," Ted is schmosbying it up, Robin is dealing with her feelings for Barney, and Lily and Marshall hide their pregnancy. There's no central plot connecting everything, only the setting of Punchy's wedding. There were still good things to be found--Robin expressing her feelings to Barney when telling Barney what to say to Nora, Robin and Ted talking--and we get a general sense where the season is going.
I liked the second episode, "The Naked Truth" a bit more. There are more of the classic HIMYM gags with Beercules and Martin Short as Marshall's new boss, both of which aren't overly funny but are funny enough. And Barney's scenes with Nora really set the conflict that will arise. (If Colbie Smulders weren't so good, the scene in the first episode probably would be very cheesy.) Barney truly wants to change and Nora believes and accepts him. Meanwhile, Ted realizes what he needs in a woman, leading into the cliffhanger, Victoria's return. So now Victoria, Ted's old girlfriend, is back. I don't think she'll be the Mother, but I liked her originally so I'm guessing she'll be better than Zoey.
Score: 8.6/10
Monday, September 19, 2011
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