S6.21 Hopeless

Last week episode is forgiven and forgotten- this was a great follow-up of Legendaddy. Barney’s father continues to try to connect to his son. He wants to take Barney out together with the younger son, JJ, on a fishing trip. Barney is disappointed that he is no more Crazy Jerry, so he invites him to go out with him instead to tempt him back to that life. To impress his father more he tries to make out his life and friends to be more exciting, casting the gang in different roles.

Trying to impress Barney – and also discourage him – Jerry pretends to be drunk and behave badly, ending up being handcuffed by the police at the curb. They have a real talk, and Barney is touched that his father lied to impress him.

To make sure Jerry can go out to the fishing trip with JJ they get a ride with one of Jerry’s pupils. Barney confide in his father that he has started to question his life, and the future. He ask how he should change – the answer is more who to do it with then how Jerry says, and says that Barney will meet the right girl. Barney sighs and says, maybe I already have. My guess it is Nora that is on his mind. But of course it could be Robin as well.

Robin, on the other side is cast as Ted’s girlfriend in the play for Barney’s father. Which gets in the way when she sees a guy she had a crush on a few years ago. He seemed interested in her then – and now, and both time Ted interrupt the conversation.

Lily and Marshall is cast as a fashion mogul and playwriter in an open marriage. They take the role very seriously, and once again they are trying to prove who is the reacher and the settler in the marriage.

There were some jokes that became a bit strained after awhile, but overall I really liked the episode. Not as epic as Legendaddy of course, but promising for the future.

Writer: Chris Harris
Director: Pamela Fryman