"The Drunk Train" is a significant chapter in Ted's story. Each member of the gang reaches a crossroads. Each member responds to their individual crosswords with honest communication. For one character, honesty means a break-up; and for another, honesty means a declaration of something surprising and stirring; and for another, it means another goodbye to a life this character's already said goodbye to two or three times before.
Ted Mosby said, "Screw the one!" when conversing with Barney the morning after their adventure on the drunk train. The drunk train, as termed by Marshall and Lily, is the last train to Long Island from Manhattan, when a bunch of stereotypical Long Islanders drunkenly gather on a train and all hell breaks loose, as hormones fly, and hook-ups are arranged. Ted's been in a rut. The dude can't date a girl he finds interesting. Each date's worse than the last. The Zoey relationship went terribly. Ted's frustrated by his search for the one because he's alone on Valentine's Day without even someone in his life who he's excited about. Thus, Ted's eager to get drunk and pick up some ladies on the drunk train.
However, Barney's been acting strange since his night as Ted's wingman. Ted's date's friend, Quinn, didn't fall for Barney's tricks. For once, the writers made a concerted effort to write an intelligent woman with a healthy self-esteem who doesn't fall for Barney's terribly unoriginal and ridiculous personas. Quinn not only called bullshit on what she heard, but she figured out the essence of Barney within three hours; of course, Barney's loyalty to Ted was enough to convince Quinn to sleep with Barney, which seemed inconsistent but whatever. Barney self-sabotaged his chances to find a one-night fling throughout the episode. Ted did not know why. Barney told him the true story of Quinn. Ted encouraged his friend to work for a meaningful relationship with Quinn rather than on a lame story and persona to land a one night fling.
Of course, we've seen the same story already with Nora. Barney needed encouragement to pursue a relationship with significance and to bid farewell to his promiscuous days. Nora was the person who inspired such change. I have no idea where the Barney-Quinn story goes, but it will be filler, and a mirror image of his last relationship. The important part of the episode happens when Ted rushes to the rooftop to console a heartbroken Robin. Kevin proposed to her again and again, even after Robin admitted her reluctance to have children. Robin and Kevin reached a crossroads. Robin was honest with him and the relationship ended. She called her best friend who rushed by his side.
On the rooftop, after she reached the conclusion of her story, Ted told her simply, "I love you." The former lovers, and current friends, stood silently in front of one another, staring; Victoria's piece of foreshadowing in "The Ducky Tie" finally began. Remember that Victoria told Ted that his friendship with Robin and Barney couldn't work. Future Ted told us, "She was right, but we didn't know that yet." The storytelling isn't organic. Ted's confession came out of nowhere. We haven't seen any inkling that Ted feels romantic love for Robin. The confession could've been something inspired in the moment, a response to his feelings of loneliness, and an instinctive desire to hold and comfort his best female friend in the whole universe. Maybe the moment got the best of him; however, Future Ted's narration in "The Ducky Tie" suggests that we're about to witness an immensely significant arc for Ted and Robin, and soon, Barney. Ted's confession seemingly existed deep within his soul; he just didn't realize it until he saw his friend in such an upset way. The man wants to take away his friend's loneliness, and sense of rejection, with his love. I hope the writers don't botch this story; it has potential.
Elsewhere, in Vermont, whilst Robin and Kevin were involved in proposal drama, Marshall and Lily worried about their reliance on keeping score in their relationship. For example, when one does something nice for the other, one feels like he or she owes the spouse. Marshall tried to keep perspective in light of the baby growing inside of Lily. The episode flash-forwarded 8 months to a sleep-deprived couple who most definitely still keep score. I don't think the 'keeping score' theme worked. Haven't Marshall and Lily reached the point where they're beyond such nonsense?
Anyway, "The Drunk Train" sort of worked and sort of didn't. The Ted-Robin thing seems forced. The Barney-Quinn thing seems like a retread of Barney-Nora. I'd prefer that the writers find a way to use Barney in a realistic way that doesn't involve a committed relationship. Barney's never-ending puns were awful though.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
No comments:
Post a Comment