The second act of "The Perfect Cocktail" might be the worst second act of a sitcom in the 2010-2011 television season. Now, I'm not an avid viewer of sitcoms but I doubt many shows reached the depths that tonight's HIMYM did in its train wreck of a second episode. And, really, the entire episode sucked. The second act was simply remarkable in how bad it was. The entire episode made me wonder how a room full of smart writers collectively decided to tell this particular story they way they did. The calendar's turned to May. The studio executives have dollar signs in their eyes because the final sweeps period of the 10-11 TV season has arrived. How I Met Your Mother needs momentum as the narrative approaches the season finale. Unfortunately, it's forced and contrived.
Conflict's essential for any story regardless of the genre. It's one of the first rules any one learns in any kind of creative writing class. In the past, the show created conflict from the relationships between its core characters and disposal guest stars. This season, apparently, the writers decided to create conflict between the three boys--Ted, Marshall and Barney. The conflict isn't completely forced. The Arcadian has been around since October, when Jennifer Morrison joined the show. The Arcadian's been a constant source of conflict since its introduction. The building's standing between Ted and his dream of building his very own New York skyscraper. Zoey constantly fights for the preservation of the building. Things change when she hires Marshall as her lawyer in her attempt to save the Arcadian from destruction. Marshall's decision hurts Ted and Barney. The only reason Marshall took the job is because his boss sabotaged his chances at the environmental gig Marshall's desired. It's his way of retaliating against a company as powerful as GNB. Barney feels the most betrayed because he's in charge of the project. The two friends feud. They stop speaking to one another. Contrivance.
HIMYM's success used to be its ability to balance human moments with its trademark comedic surrealism. In recent seasons, the writers haven't been as successful striking that balance. The circumstances of Barney and Marshall's feuds are believable. Their careers are being altered by the other's decisions. It's serious business, especially in today's economic and job climate. But Barney's a one-dimensional cartoonish character. Any story that doesn't involve John Lithgow is played for comedy. How can the writers expect the audience to take Barney seriously? One week, he talks about how he hates who he is sometimes. The next week, he's the same old Barney. Consistency is key.
The story's designed as a building block for the final episodes of the season, and it is, but it's so poorly executed, and it leads to the worst second act in sitcom history. My issue isn't with the comedic aspect of the story, rather it's the kind of comedy the show used. Literally, the entire second act consists of Robin and Lily brainstorming the perfect cocktail to end the feud. We're treated to HIMYM's trademark snippets from the past--in this case, Barney and Marshall's respective reactions to various liquors. NPH and Jason Segal are great throughout each of these scenes as they're both bizarre and funny; however, it's annoying and, importantly, absolutely terrible. These characters are thirty-something year olds written as directionless twentysomething year olds. Robin and Lily are involved in a subplot about their booth being taken by another group of girls. Furthermore, Zoey and Ted's relationship feels like it's being written by teenagers. Josh Radnor could write better romance than his bosses do.
The characters never communicate anything their feeling with one another. They're good friends who are the most passive characters on network television. Ted resents Zoey's protests but he won't tell her. Robin and Lily want the boys to be friends again but they decide alcohol's the solution. Barney and Marshall only honestly communicate with one another once whisky removes the sub from the text, and it's the best part of the episode because Barney and Marshall resemble actual human beings--it also made me realize how much time this series wastes and wastes. The girls' plan fails because the boys blacked out and forgot they forgave one another. Ted supports Zoey's decision to preserve The Arcadian because she grew up in the building (THAT's the reason?), which creates more conflict then Lily longs for a drink and the show recycles the atrocious Absinthe bit.
Listen, HIMYM has produced some horrible episodes in its six seasons. "The Perfect Cocktail" is the worst episode I've ever seen from this show. Maybe the alcohol bits eluded me because I never drink alcohol. I'd like to think that I'm not the only one who recognized how horrible that portion of the episode was though. I'm only curious about how Ted and Zoey break up because Ted just told her he loves her, and we know the two aren't destined for marriage. I do not care about anything else the show set up in the episode. Jennifer Morrison's beauty and that top she wore in The Arcadian was the only part of the episode that put a smile on my face.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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