Ted Moseby is a Jerk!

[arabian]

Quick thoughts on How I Met Your Mother behind the cut ...

I actually thought this episode was only so-so. I'm not talking in terms of Robin/Barney, but the episode over-all. It was just ... okay. There were funny moments to be sure (this IS HIMYM), but it was just overall okay. Actually, I liked the Robin/Barney stuff; unfortunately it highlighted my biggest issue with the episode: How Barney was pretty much completely cut off from the gang because Ted is being pissy. Look I get WHY Ted is pissy, I do, but it doesn't make him seem any less a jerk right now. So I was bothered how Barney was excluded because of Ted; really shows how unimportant he is to everyone else.

I HOPE it's a matter of the others just giving Ted space right now, and after a week or so, they'll be like, okay, we're going to spend some time with Barney now. Because otherwise, hello!? Worst friends ever. Except for Robin. Who pushed Ted about Barney; who looked upset when Ted dissed Barney; who spent some time with Barney, supposedly for blackmail -- but no, see below! -- helped him out, commiserated with him and was all-around great.

My other big problem. Hmm. HIMYM has shown me something I was unaware of. I didn't like Sarah Chalke as replacement Becky on Roseanne. But LOVE her as Elliot on Scrubs. So I thought, 'it was just because she was replacement Becky that I didn't like her. But, yeah, I don't really like her as Stella either. She annoys me as much as she did as replacement Becky, which means, nah, I don't like Sarah Chalke. I just really, really like Elliot. So, I really hope she is NOT the mother. Like REALLY, really hope ... but I don't think she is.

Random thoughts:

- Barney can totally NOT have a tape and Robin TOTALLY has to know that. Why? They were at ROBIN's apartment. Thus, no tape. Thus, Robin helped Barney just to help him and they both know it, but are being coy about it.

- I'm a tad bothered by HOW the sex is being handled. It's being treated like it WAS a one-night stand where Barney took advantage of a drunk, miserable Robin, and by the time they were making out, Robin was not drunk, not miserable, but was instead, giddy, laughing, smiling and sending flirty, anxious, DO!ME!DO!ME! looks Barney's way every five seconds. I'm having faith in Carter/Bays though. This is intentional. I'm just going to keep telling myself that. It. is. intentional. We WILL get pay-off. There was a reason they did their first time (first time, damnit!, not a one-time-thing!) was presented as emotional, as opposed to just a roll in the hay.

- Ted is just a jerk. Look, I like Josh Radnor, but I really think they could have done better casting if the plan was to write Ted this way. I say this because there have been times in the past where I logically get where Ted is coming from, but because of how JR plays him, Ted comes across as a jerk. It's just a vibe; he doesn't have the right level of vulnerability to play that would make Ted's jerky actions come across as understandable, rather than "TED MOSEBY IS A JERK!!!" There, I said it; I think they could have done a better casting job with Ted.

- I didn't like how Barney came across as vaguely pathetic at points. Barney is NOT pathetic, show!

Sigh, you know all of this could have been overcome, had it been an awesomely funny episode, damnit!

Well, I intended them to be quick ...

Comments

[harper47.livejournal.com]

Oh - yes, they were at Robin's apartment. I did not get that so you are completely right. Aw.

I agree with you 100% on the casting of Ted. I have always just tolerated Ted and it is very much a result of the way Josh Radnor plays the role. He just lucked into this because I do not see any levels beneath the surface acting he gives. He does okay, at times better than okay, but mostly just okay. Sigh.

I don't like Sarah Chalke either (and I fear that's heresy since so many people obviously do like her). But then I don't like her on Scrubs either - the few times I've watched it.

I'm trying to keep the faith but last night was a big smackdown.

[paintedinflames.livejournal.com]

Even though I missed the ending, I pretty much agree with you about it all. I really thought I was the only one who didn't like Stella! I mean, I don't HATE her, but she's not really my favorite character... IDK. Maybe it'll pass.

[candlewaxdreams.livejournal.com]

I was annoyed at Ted too for how he was ignoring Barney. I was so glad that Robin was defending Barney and hung out with him a little. Ted is being a pissy princess right now.

[buffyx.livejournal.com]

Honestly I found this episode lacking in the funny. Not even Barney's scenes made me laugh much. Marshall was the funniest with his looking up of 2003 trivia.

Good point about Robin's apartment! I hadn't even thought of that.

[marikenobi.livejournal.com]

Oh I kept saying Shut up Ted.

I hated the way he is treating Barney. Also the whole deal with Stella. Yeah Ted you were wrong. You don't share those things. I hated that they had her say Ted was right.

Ugh...

And if we don't see Marshall and Lily soon with Barney I'll be MAD! Hello!! Who went and got Lily back?

what you said!

[la-tante.livejournal.com]

word to all but most expecially your faith in carter/bays and the paragraph you wrote around that and word also to your dislike of sarah chalke....don't really care one way or the other for stella and feel like since ted's the central character of this show, i ought to really really care who he's hooking up with, right?

and super word to wanting an unpathetic barney. barney is nothing but awesome. he is not could never be pathetic......