"Tailgate" wasn't the most original work of fiction. Marshall's story about tailgating in the cemetery was original; I've never seen a story go in that direction when a fictional character inevitably visits the grave of a deceased parent. However, the story went from oddly poignant to irritatingly ridiculous as soon as Marshall's brothers arrived, and an argument ensued about who deserved to spend the day at their father's grave, but then it returned to poignancy to sort of salvage the disastrous middle portion of the story.
Robin rang in the New Year on the television because Sandy Rivers became too drunk and unwieldy to host the annual New Year's broadcast. The writers relied on the usual crutches of any story set on New Year's Eve. Earlier, Robin sat with Kevin in her apartment and lamented her current station in the news company's corporate ladder. Kevin thought with a pro-active mind and instructed Robin to go get what she wants, but Robin was content to sit on the couch and feel sorry for herself, until the station called her in because Sandy disappeared from the broadcast. Robin found herself in position to be who she's wanted to be. On New Year's Eve, she embraced the cliches of the holiday. Originally, she was tasked with keeping Sandy in line and in view, but she lost him twice. Alone, without a broadcast anchor, and a television audience only seconds away from returning from commercial, Robin vocalized her frustrations about what 2011 didn't bring do for her. She called Kevin, who told his girlfriend to take the airwaves in place of Sandy. Robin listened to her boyfriend, grabbed the microphone, and brought the New Year in front of Times Square and a sizable TV audience (presumably). Future Ted told us Robin's life changed that night.
Lily wanted change, too, in the New Year. A book about the Mystical brought up Lily's dormant daddy issues, particularly his disinterest in whatever news Lily tells him about. The relationship between Marshall and Marvin made Lily long for a similar bond with her father. We learned she hadn't told her dad about the pregnancy because she feared his reaction would depress her. Of course, he reacted like someone just told him a 1PM dentist appointment's been changed to 1:30PM. Lily felt sad. She and Marshall read from the book of the Mystical in several scenes, and then Lily decided to grab the book and tell a story about her own life that wasn't mystical at all. Marshall felt sad for his wife. Lily just needed to remember that she's on a television show, and that when the Writers declare that a New Year brings better things, she should listen because things DO get better for Lily. Lily's father surprises her at her home, with a giant teddy bear; overwhelmed by the idea he's going to be a grandfather.
Marshall's tailgate ruminated on similar things. A year passed since Marshall received the shocking news of his father's death. Marshall claimed he just wanted to tailgate, as usual, with his dad for a Bears-Vikings game; however, Marshall didn't want the bond or connection with his father to disappear. Indeed, Marshall felt that bond decreasing as time passed since the death. The game didn't matter nor the burgers nor the beers; the only thing Marshall needed was a complete stranger tell him that he and his father are so similar it's difficult to tell them apart. Marshall then contented himself with the memories, aware that he needn't recreate any special moments because he and his dad will be together in his memories; and because his dad IS a part of him. So that was a very nice epiphany, or realization, for Marshall.
Barney and Ted were the central characters of the silly story, in which they open their own bar on New Year's Eve to treat patrons fairly and cheaply. Puzzles, the name of the bar, wouldn't over-charge for beers, or to even enter the establishment. Barney imagined the bar as a place where women would drink and then sleep with him whereas Ted envisioned Puzzles as a literary saloon. Puzzles becomes both parts of the vision: Barney chats women up while Ted opines about James Joyce's Ulysses. Inevitably, Puzzles becomes no different from any other bar. The night ends without a single patron. Barney, Ted, Kevin and the bouncer ring in the New Year together, watching a transformative moment in Robin's career.
Overall, I thought of "Tailgate" as a transition episode. Marshall, Lily and Robin experienced variances of change. The narrative's moving forward. The characters said goodbye to old arcs and the year. It was mostly successful.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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