NOTE: For the purposes of this review, I'm treating 7.22 and 7.23 (The Magician's Code Part I & II) as one hour-long episode. It makes my life easier. I'm selfish like that.
Why can't I quit you, 'How I Met Your Mother'?
I've watched every episode of every season, so at this point I've invested far too much time to not invest far too much time moving forward. Ugh. Funny how that works.
I won't go as far to say that I want the last hour of my life back, but I will say that I'll sleep just fine without HIMYM on TV for the next several months.
The first 30 minutes of the hour-long finale that I watched would have been better spent on THIS, but what are you gonna do? I'm fine with nothing really happening in that episode other than the birth of Marshall and Lily's baby, but more laughs would have been nice. Of the handful of "stories" that Ted and Robin told Lily, most of them were just a waste of time and plain-old dumb. (Marshall trying to get up the steps and the Marshall cursed pants story were pretty bad. I wish they went further with the "Barney trying to pick up chicks as the Terminator story.")
One of the best moments of the finale was when Robin called out Ted for claiming he wants to start a family but only pursuing women where that really isn't an option. This show works much better when they are friends so we can have scenes like that. I kinda just wish that scene didn't lead to Ted and Victoria in what seems to be a sure-fire disaster. We know she's not the mother*, of course, but hopefully they don't botch that storyline in Season 8 as they seem to do with everything involving Ted Mosby these days.
*(I just had an idea. CBS should have a reality show in determining who should play the role of Ted's future wife. We could have unknown hot chicks from all over the world compete for the hearts of HIMYM fans. Who doesn't love reality TV these days? And plus, this way we get to find out who the mother is before we all die. It's a win-win!)
As far as Barney and Quinn is concerned, that whole scene at the airport was ridiculously over the top, even for this show. I'm all for some craziness and fun, but not when it was so clear from the start this was his elaborate and insane way of proposing to Quinn. Time was running out in the finale and we knew a proposal to Quinn was forthcoming...
...Just like most of us probably realized that it wasn't going to be Quinn at the wedding. I mean, why not squander another season wrapped around Ted's longing/angst/jealousy involving Robin?? We all want more of that, right? Plus, Becki Newton isn't a series regular and her new show was picked up, so who knows much much she will be available for Season 8. No, this was always going to be between two main characters. Because if there's one thing this show hasn't overdone more than Ted/Robin, it's Robin/Barney!
I would say I'm looking forward to seeing how they handle the Barney/Quinn break-up and the Barney-Robin get-together, but whatever. I'm sure it will be dragged out and painful -- just like Ted and Victoria.
Let me know when you all think in the comments section about Robin and Barney and Ted and Victoria.
NOTABLE QUOTABLES:
OLD PERSON 1: "I'm having a heart attack."
OLD PERSON 2: "I'm having a heart attack."
OLD PERSON 3: "I'm having a heart attack and my doctor is at St. Marcus Hospital."
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS:
--Zelda on the ATM machine. Legen-wait for it--Dary!
--Seriously, did anyone care whatsoever about the Robin-as-baby-photograper storyline?
--It really is a wonderful thing when the vending machine malfunctions in your favor.
THE SCORE: 666 out of 1000
Yes, I meant to do that.
