Whenever TV shows deal with the death of a character, I hold my breath and hope that the episode comes somewhat close to capturing the actuality of the death of a loved one. Largely, television writers struggle to write funeral episodes unless the funeral episode involves conflict between the deceased and the show's most central character or, in an ensemble, one of the main characters. The majority of funeral episodes involve that conflict but it usually works--critics and fans usually embrace these episodes but, for me, it's actually annoying. The only episode of television I've seen that nails the experience of losing a loved one is Buffy's "The Body." The episode abandons the tropes seen in the majority of funeral episodes.
How I Met Your Mother's "Last News" focuses on Marshall's grief over the death of his father. One wondered how the show would handle the episode--would there be any unresolved emotions from a past conflict? Of course Craig Thomas and Carter Bays had to create some internal conflict for Marshall. After a pastor asks for the family to talk about last words at the service, Marshall frets over the last words his father spoke to him. With the knowledge that his father loved and supported him as well as the fact that he was Marshall's best friends, Marshall prefers their last exchange to be more meaningful than a recommendation for Crocodile Dundee 3. But, really, Marshall's trying to come to grips with the fact that his father is gone for good, that his best friend and hero passed away. It's difficult to cope with such a reality in real life but on TV Marshall finds the closure he wants in the course of 22 minutes so that he and the gang can get back to their antics. And, really, the idea of last words is wishful thinking because rarely does one get those last words from a loved one. The death of a loved one is always sudden no matter how young or how old. The core of the story belonged to the idea of closure and moving on essentially. Some sense of emotional closure is needed before one can move on. Craig Thomas and Carter Bays were successful in conveying the core emotions of Marshall during this life-changing experience.
And one would have to be made of stone not to feel the emotion after Marshall hears the voice-mail from his father whose last words to his son is "I love you." When Alyson Hanigan's tears began to fall, so did America's or, at least, it got a bit dusty.
"Last Words" is difficult story to do in a sitcom because a balance is needed between sad and funny. The episode achieves the balance through Marshall's friends as they try to figure out their place to be helpful. Ted remarks that he's never felt so helpless. Robin's the seasoned veteran and brought along a bunch of vices for the grieving family and friends. Lily takes advantage of her opportunity to be the helpful daughter-in-law. Robin's the smartest of the friends--the Tara of the episode as it were--because she recognizes that no one can make Marshall feel better until Marshall comes to terms with his father's sudden death. Ted and Barney overcompensate in their quest to bring normalcy to Marshall but normalcy cannot be forced in such a situation. Eventually, the boys understand and the funeral motivates the two to call their fathers (or in Barney's case...actually meet him).
For the most part, "Last Words" is a successful episode. Funeral episodes aren't my favorites unless they're done very, very well because shows usually sacrifice their identities for The Very Special, Serious Hour and these episodes feel lazy and like the writers themselves don't know what the hell to do. "Last Words" maintained their identity while telling a moving A story with Marshall and his dad's death.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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