We Chose Poorly: A HIMYM Retrospective Done Under Duress

We love you, Ari <3 This week, we discuss this ICONIC fan-fave episode of HIMYM. Is it as good as people say? Maybe, but it's also, of course, deeply deeply weird. Watch out for the Spindly Man!

We liked this one but we LIED when we said we had nothing to say about it.

SUBTITLE: "Jesus Christ, We Recorded This Episode In July of 2024, I Am So Sorry." Anyway this is a p good episode of HIMYM, eh? It's kind of like a normal episode of television sometimes. This is the episode where we lay our cards on the table and admit this whole podcast will be a trans reading of the show, an objectively cool and fun thing to do. Also I (Charlie) have been fired as the first-pass editor for the episodes so, um, these should start coming out more regularly.

Ugh.

Here's a question: are WE Ted? Are we pining after an idealized notion of a television show that by definition cannot exist in real life? Will HIMYM ever give us the love we seek? Anyway this is an episode about a REALLY hot pumpkin costume.

Huh, I wonder where this Barney joke is going. Anyway, this episode gives us some short-lived conflict in Lily and Marshall's relationship and highlights Robin's internal wants! Cool! But mostly it's an episode about a very loud place.

Barney Stinson. Endearing clown? Deeply concerning man? Let's talk about it, while also squaring off in the first of what is sure to be many BLOOD DUELS between hosts!

After that pilot, we are shocked and encouraged to find that there are actual jokes in this one! Not only that but also an almost workable metaphor (sans the piss).