I can see why people find this episode different to usual. There isn't an amazing amount of comedy or the usual Barney-isms or general hilarity. But this episode examines one of the main characters feelings in some detail.
It's no secret that the series is about Ted finding the mother of his children. Throughout it has always been near misses with Ted - many reviews of other episodes point out that Stella, Zoe, Victoria or (repeatedly and clearly somewhat stupidly since in episode one we learn she isn't...) Robin is going to be the mother.
What this episode manages to do, and if you actually watch it and accept for a moment that the writers have turned a little serious for a change, and do extremely well is show a common issue affecting many people - that of having to watch your friends get married and have children whilst you are still waiting to meet the right person. What Ted wants most in life, his friends are achieving.
This episode presents his feelings of loneliness, envy, jealousy and despair in finding the one thing he wants in an intriguing and very different way.
The last few minutes including Teds end speech provide a mature and quite emotional view of how anyone should feel in a relationship!
Is this a standard episode of HIMYM - No.
But give it a chance, actually watch it, and think about what it is trying to say, and it's actually very, very well done.
It's no secret that the series is about Ted finding the mother of his children. Throughout it has always been near misses with Ted - many reviews of other episodes point out that Stella, Zoe, Victoria or (repeatedly and clearly somewhat stupidly since in episode one we learn she isn't...) Robin is going to be the mother.
What this episode manages to do, and if you actually watch it and accept for a moment that the writers have turned a little serious for a change, and do extremely well is show a common issue affecting many people - that of having to watch your friends get married and have children whilst you are still waiting to meet the right person. What Ted wants most in life, his friends are achieving.
This episode presents his feelings of loneliness, envy, jealousy and despair in finding the one thing he wants in an intriguing and very different way.
The last few minutes including Teds end speech provide a mature and quite emotional view of how anyone should feel in a relationship!
Is this a standard episode of HIMYM - No.
But give it a chance, actually watch it, and think about what it is trying to say, and it's actually very, very well done.