How I Met Your Mother - 3x16 - "Sandcastles in the Sand"

[timepiececlock]

Episode reaction:

Holy crap! I'd been suspecting this might happen, kinda waiting for it actually, but I really, really like how it was done.

I've been in the Robin/Barney secret shipping lane since the Bro episode in season 1 where they played lazer tag. I think Robin is a lot more fun to watch with Barney than with Ted, and Barney is just fun to watch. Plus, you can see he seems to genuinely admire Robin.

Of course, I'm apprehensive because, well, two episodes ago we found out that Barney's slept with probably over a hundred girls and might have possibly sold someone. He's not exactly a character I want to ship with anyone, especially someone as classy and decent as Robin. So I feel bad for shipping them, because I don't think hooking up with Robin is going to make Barney change his stripes anytime soon. And even though we know he used to be a squishy-hearted wait-till-marriage peacenick when he was in college, he's been a jackass for the 8 or 9 years since. And given that they're friends and know each other and actually do care somewhat about each other's welfare, when the breakup happens it could be brutal. That's if it turns into anything.

Hmm... if this were Scrubs, I would say that they'd sleep together, Robin would say "thanks, that was fun!", and then Barney would spend next season falling completely in love with her. But I don't know if they'll do that here. So far, I do like how they handle character development, so I'm hopeful that they'll write this to be hilarious but also thoughtful.

But anyway... AAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!! I'm squeeing right now. I liked how the scene where Robin whispers into his ear mimics the scene at the bar from two episodes ago.

As a side note, Lily's "gangsta valley girl" speech was hilarious.

Comments

[spikewriter]

Hee! I've been waiting for you to get to this one since you said you were watching this series. And I've so been shipping Robin/Barney as well.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

just finished the season. I loved it! And that little look Barney gave Robin in the end...

[irrel.livejournal.com]

GOD! How did I missed this post?

I was dying for you to get to this episode, too! My sister and I were squeeing so hard when we saw it! She grabs his tie! Did you notice the TIE GRABBING? It gets me every time...

two episodes ago we found out that Barney's slept with probably over a hundred girls and might have possibly sold someone. HA! I know that shouldn't be funny... but it IS.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Tie-grabbing! I know!

I've watched that scene like nine times by now. And then the morning after scene too! I love how he kept repeating "Great plan" or whatever, like it needed to be said four times. For reassurance.

I think that I really like this potential "softening" of Barney's character specifically because it's with someone who is the kind of person that Robin is.... she's a lot like him (though without the insensitivity to women as human beings.)

Oh my gosh... did you read this fic? IT IS MY FAVORITE EVER EVER EVER. Sexy like whao but also sweet and funny.


I've now read every fic in the HIMYM section of ffnet *and* the barneyrobin comm.

[irrel.livejournal.com]

YES I HAVE READ THAT FIC AND IT'S AWESOME! Actually, that was the only fic that came to mind when you asked but I had no idea what it was called.

As for "softening" Barney's character, I'm dreading it because Barney wouldn't be Barney if he wasn't a total pig... and then I remember the Price is Right episode and I'm all for it XD

I imagine next season is going to be like that bar scene in The Goat when Barney is freaking out and Robin is totally cool.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I think they can find a balance... I think there's a lot of ways he can be funny and a jackass without the high-intensity womanizing. His job, for instance, is a great place where we see him being Barney without women being part of the joke.

I imagine next season is going to be like that bar scene in The Goat when Barney is freaking out and Robin is totally cool.

I loved that scene. I love how they've built his character up to be such a cold-hearted bastard in some situations, but then the twist is that he can only maintain the cold-hearted demeanor with women if he's clingy and emotionally needy with his "real" friends (which includes Robin) so around them he spazzes out and turns into a woobie. I'm amused that the writers have taken the "suit" metaphor for male behavior so literally with his character. It's barely a metaphor anymore when you have a character so blatant about it as Barney.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

That idea for next season is reminding me a lot of... well, something like Scrubs season 3's JD pining after Eliot mixed with BTVS season 5's Spike, and then add a womanizing character...can't think of one right now that matches. Something of that dynamic, though.