It's hard to choose between just plain old single Barney and Barney in a committed relationship with Robin because both options make good TV but somewhere down the line we all know that no matter what direction Barney chooses, he'll still end up loosing Robin. Because two awesomes cancel each other out. At least that's what tonight's episode of How I Met Your Mother tells us.
The premise of "The Rough Patch" is simple yet it hits close to home for most couples. Every couple goes through what Lily describes as a "rough patch" and Barney and Robin are clear examples of people who have let themselves go simply because they're comfortably stranded in a committed relationship. The thought of Barney giving away his porn stash, though, is enough to indicate that "legendary Barney and cool Robin" turn into "Fat Barney and Old Robin" is more than just a rough patch.
Barney's eating too much because he's tied down in a relationship and is stressing out while Robin isn't happy because of what Barney has turned into--- a predicament that Ted and Marshall are starting to realize so they embark on a mission to break up Barney and Robin. Lily, who has mastered the art of breaking up, joins Ted and Marshall in formulating a scheme to reignite the four biggest fights Barney and Robin have ever been in...all at once. In the end, though, we learn that the reenacting the battle of dirty dishes, the ex-girlfriend conflict, the Star Wars altercation and the Canadian-American war didn't need to happen for Barney and Robin to realize that they're just miserable together.
I like how Robin ended things with Barney by saying, "Maybe this isn't a break up. Maybe this is two friends getting back together." It is indeed a bittersweet ending but I have high hopes for Barney and Robin as they return to their old ways. Plus, there's that failed Canadian variety show to look forward, thanks to Alan Thicke.
-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist(Image courtesy of CBS)