How I Met Your Mother

Season 9, Episode 12

Starring Josh Randor, Jason Segal, Alyson Hannigan, Cobie Smulders & Neil Patrick Harris
CBS, Mondays 8pm

By Nick Palumbo

With 22 hours left before the wedding, we are brought in to see that Barney is handcuffed to a pipe in a security office. However instead of panicking he is asking the guard to push the button on a monkey toy on his desk. Robin tells the guard not to hit the button in an angry tone. She is furious at Barney because their rehearsal dinner started 10 minutes ago, and instead of being there they were waiting for the cops to come get Barney from the laser tag office he was in. Knowing Robin is mad, Barney tries to plead his case to the security guard explaining how he was suppose to have a surprise laser tag rehearsal dinner.

A few months earlier, Barney had one of his genius ideas to have a laser tag rehearsal dinner. The gang immediately jumps on him and tells him that it is one of his dumbest ideas yet, and that was saying something. Robin also reminds Barney that their marriage is about compromise, because she agreed to have the wedding in New York when she wanted to have it in Canada. Barney finally agrees to have a normal rehearsal dinner, but he doesn’t seem to want to let the idea go just yet. Ted begins to talk wedding ideas for the rehearsal dinner and says he would like the play the piano as their wedding gift. Both Barney and Robin say no, but then Ted offers to dress up as Liberace. Immediately Barney and Robin agree to allow it. A few days after Robin pulls off Barneys surprise bachelor party, Barney declares the wedding is off and that he thinks Robin should move out. Seeing how serious he was Robin went to grab her suitcase, only for it to be filled with puppies. It was a total prank on Robin to get her back for the surprise bachelor party.  Because of this prank, Robin now told Barney to stop pulling pranks. The gang then agreed with Robin, but Barney insisted that she was doing an even bigger prank on him.

With the rehearsal dinner about to start, Barney was still convinced that Robin was trying to pull off a surprise laser tag rehearsal dinner. When the ice machine breaks and Robin needs more ice, Barney volunteers to go get more ice believing that it is all apart of the plan. Robin says no to him and makes him promise he is not going anywhere. Barney, even after he promises to stay, immediately leaves as soon as Robin leaves the room.  

 Meanwhile, Lily is distraught that she is in the dark about the rehearsal dinner because of her inability to keep secrets. Ted agreeing she cant keep secrets, Lily reminds him that she has been able to keep her mouth shut about his move to Chicago and points out that he has broken his promise to play piano at the wedding rehearsal dinner dressed as Liberace as his piano lessons had not gone well. Lily then tells Ted and Robin about her plan to Italy being in shambles because Marshall took up a judgeship without asking her. Ted is angry with Marshall for his selfishness, but Lily knows that her husband would never intentionally hurt her. But then Robin receives a phone call and must deal with Barney after learning that he went to the laser tag arena and is currently awaiting arrest after threatening one of the staff after realizing there was no surprise rehearsal dinner. When Robin leaves, Ted comforts Lily and says he knows she is good at keeping secrets. He then offers to tell her one more, and he leans in to whisper. Lily then stands up to announce to the guests that there is going to be a change in venue.

Back in the security office, Barney is still convinced that there is one massive surprise and just wants to go to his surprise dinner. Robin however keeps telling him there isn’t one and that their marriage isn’t about playing pranks on each other. Barney then breaks out of his handcuffs and hands her a pair of ice skates. Barney then goes into telling Robin he may lie to her once in awhile, but only if it means an amazing surprise. Snow begins to fall and then the office walls lifted up, for us to see them standing in the center of an ice rink with all their friends and family. Barney tells Robin that if they couldn’t be in Canada for the wedding, he wanted to bring Canada here for her.

Alan Thicke and James begin to sing, and Lily turns to Ted and thanks him for letting her know the secret even though it was almost done. Ted then admits he didn’t take piano lessons but instead took ice skating lessons for this. He jumps on the ice only to fall flat on his face. Robin tells Barney how much she loves him, and promises to get him back for this.

            Overall this episode, even though not moving the plot foreword with meeting "The Mother", really solidified Barney and Robin’s relationship. Throughout the entire season, both Barney and Robin have been finding out many things that could possibly make their wedding not work. However at the conclusion of each episode them seem to find a way to make it work. This episode shows something a little different. This shows how Barney and Robin are actually meant for each other. Barney confesses that he might not always tell the truth, but that his lies are for the greater good and possibly something truly LEGEN-WAIT FOR IT-DARY. Even though as a fan, I still am waiting for "The Mother" to make her appearances I couldn’t help but love this episode. But tune in on December 16^th for the episode called, “Bass Player Wanted”. Maybe we will see "The Mother", remember she is a bass player!