In his critique of Monday night’s HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, Time Magazine’s James Poniewozik took the writers to task for delivering a Barney-centric episode that has “decided to simply wipe out a major character arc [Barney and Robin’s relationship] and grant itself a do-over.”
Our take: We’re okay with that.
For unlike many critics — who earlier today took to the internets to express their disdain for last night’s tour-de-force/Emmy winning performance by one Neil Patrick Harris that had Barney opening up his “playbook” by revealing the many scams, flim-flams and bamboozles that he has employs to lie, cheat, and steal his way into a women’s heart (for one night only) — we loved every minute of it.
Sure, in theory Barney and Robin as a couple was a nice idea. But if Homer Simpson taught us anything, it’s that in theory, communism worked. In reality, said stable relationship turned Barney from the sleazy womanizer we love to well, love, into a boring average Joe. And do we really need another Ted?
What noted television critic Alan Sepinwall called an episode that felt like, “[Showrunners] Carter Bays and Craig Thomas were overcompensating for the return of Barney Stinson.” We call a welcome turn of events. Seriously. As someone who spends a lot of time watching story-lines go nowhere or disappoint for months on end (see: Izzie’s ‘Denny’ hallucinations on GREY’S ANATOMY, the DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES fiasco that was season two thank-you-very-much Betty Applewhite, and 50% of DOLLHOUSE), there is something to be said for two showrunners righting a wrong, and fast! Plus, after delivering four seasons of almost flawless comedy, if there is one thing the writers of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER deserve, it’s a do-over.
Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have to get back to designing our new line of HIMYM-inspired clothing which may-or-may-not include an “I’m with Smoron” tshirt and “WWLVMD” (What Would Lorenzo von Matterhorn Do) 
