How I Met Your Mother "Trilogy Time" Review

Post-college grads, or really anyone in their early-to-mid-twenties, always look ahead to the future to a time when they're settled down and stable and married and raising a family. If not those things then people look forward to other things and ahead to other things. There's an argument to be made for contenting oneself with the present, in living in the moment, in digging everything to use a beat term, because one will soon look back and wonder why they were ever in such a rush (to borrow a sentiment from Everwood). "Trilogy Time" shows different periods of the lives of Marshall and Ted, when they looked ahead and dreamed of who they'd be and the life they'd lead the next time they sat down to watch the Star Wars trilogy only to be disappointed when, three years later, they weren't anywhere near their idealized lives.

"Trilogy Time" is about anticipation and it teases the audience with each three year leap. Bays and Thomas love to build to certain moments whether it's tragic or joyful--the build is a staple of the HIMYM episode. Thus, "Trilogy Time" builds and builds. Initially, the dreams of Marshall and Ted are ridiculous, scenes out of the 1920s and 1930s. As the years pass, each leap becomes more melancholic: one year Marshall is dealing with Lily leaving him; another year, Ted was left at the altar and two of his friends were fornicating behind his back. In 2009, Ted said that something would be wrong with him if he hadn't met his wife, married her and started a family by the time 2012 rolls around. In 2012, a still single Ted who's been recently rejected by Robin is horrified that something's wrong with him. Marshall and Barney try to console him; but Ted imagines a 2015 life in which Marshall owns a sailboat and is living the idyllic life he pictured for himself while Robin married a douchebag in a trucker hat. Ted's story is fairly overt in its meaning but it's also a commentary on where the series is: Bays and Thomas know its season 7 and heard from many fans and critics about the need for them to take Ted to the point in the story where he actually meets the other. The show runners extend an olive branch to impatient fans by flash-forwarding to 2015 when Ted is a father and living an 'amazing' life.'

Barney never imaged anything more than lots of sex with different women in his future; however, he's changing in his old age. Living with Quinn has changed things. Barney had her throw her possessions away and use hers, which Lily interpreted as Barney's issues with commitment. He's unwilling to buy new items when the relationship inevitably ends. Barney scoffs at the notion, but things aren't natural or easy between them. For instance, Barney goes outside every night at 8PM to pass gas because Quinn forbade it. The reminisces of the night bring about an epiphany in Barney: he realizes he wants to spend the rest of his life with Quinn. The moment is certainly earned. Barney's been on this reformed path for some time, only relapsing when his heart has been broken. The character became as stale as the joke that future Barney was with his different women.

Marshall achieved what he wanted. He is a successful environmental lawyer and a soon-to-be father. He may not have an amazing moustache but he has a beautiful life. The other two just want the same kind of life. It should be interesting watching Ted reach the amazing point of his existence when he meets and marries his wife. Of course, this happens three years down the road and the show is only guaranteed one more season; an additional two seasons probably won't be an issue but I'd rather the series end sooner rather than later. I haven't mentioned that I thought the episode was quite lousy. It was full of filler scenes, so the show could end on the image of Ted with his daughter and manipulate the viewer into forgiving the writers for such a lousy story. There were two good moments but a bunch of junk before that, so yeah, not a fan of "Trilogy Time."

Other Thoughts:

-I directed three nonsense films in 2008 about three eccentric billionaires. "Trilogy Time" had some elements of those three movies; perhaps I should file suit against the series. My friend Funk gave a great performance as eccentric billionaire Scrooge McDuck. Jason Segal's performance of successful lawyer was essentially the same performance as Funk's. Of course, I merely jest about filing suit. Less than 500 people watched parts of my trilogy. It's not surprising that my friends have the comedic chops of well paid actors though.

-I have no other thoughts.

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