The DVD Dissection: How I Met Your Mother - Season Two
Posted by Chad Webb on 10.10.2007
One of the best shows currently running is even better as an unforgettable season arrives on DVD!
Josh Radnor: Ted Mosby
Jason Segel: Marshal Eriksen
Cobie Smulders: Robin Scherbatsky
Neil Patrick Harris: Barney Stinson
Alyson Hannigan: Lily Aldrin
Bob Saget: Older Ted Mosby
Created By: Carter Bays and Craig Thomas
Directed By: Pamela Fryman and Rob Greenberg
Season Air Date: 2006-2007
DVD Release Date: October 2, 2007
Total Running Time: 484 minutes
Episode Running Time: 30 minutes (w/ commercials)/ 22-23 minutes (w/out commercials)
Unrated
The Show
Even though this is a review of season two of the show, I always like to give a brief history on the series before I get to the episodes. How I Met Your Mother is CBS sitcom that comenced on September 15, 2005. It received generally good reviews, and was created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas. The characters are based loosely on themselves with Bays being Ted and Thomas being Marshall and his wife.
The tagline reads "a love story in reverse", which is very appropriate to sum up the premise. The structure revolves around Ted Mosby in the year 2030 telling his son and daughter the story of how he met his mother, which begins in 2005. One of the most intriguing aspects of how the show is filmed can be seen by the bizarre methods of revealing storylines. The crew experiments with multiple flashbacks and non chronological techniques of storytelling throughout the seasons. For instance, the viewer will see something random occur, but only later figure out the events that led up to it.
Because of this manner of filming, it cannot be shot in front of a live studio audience, but instead the final cut is shown to a screening audience, and then the laugh track is edited in. For those who might not know, Ted is a single 27 year old architect, who lives with his two best friends from college, Marshall and Lily (who are engaged). Marshall is a law student, and Lily is a kindergarten teacher. After Marshall proposes to Lily, it prompts Ted to think more about marriage and finding his soul mate. However, his buddy Barney Stinson, a cocky womanizer, is not fond of this. Ted is introduced to an ambitious female reporter named Robin, and immediately says he loves her. Though it is explained that Robin is not the mother, Ted constantly pursues her, and she becomes a close friend of the group. At the end of the first season, Ted finally gets together with Robin, but Lily has left Marshall to relocate to San Francisco in hopes of "finding herself."
It took me a long time to actually sit down and watch an episode of How I Met Your Mother, but my girlfriend and other friends had loved it. I dislike television for the most part, so regardless of what anyone said, I had no interest. After my girlfriend bought the first season, it was inevitable for me to catch an episode at some point. I was instantly hooked. Jason Segel is a brilliant comedic actor, who was superb in the high school series Freaks and Geeks, and Alyson Hannigan was never my cup of tea, but the crew has found her strengths and conveyed them wonderfully. In season one, I felt the weakling was Josh Radnor as Ted. He has a lot of charisma and excellent timing, but his exaggerations are too goofy on occasion. Having said this, Radnor is ten times better in season two. Cobie Smulders is terrific as Robin, and her character is fascinating in that she does not want marriage or kids, but likes guns.
The best character is undoubtedly Barney, played with marvelous genius by Neil Patrick Harris, formerly of Doogie Howser M.D. fame. His mannerisms and catchphrases are just outstanding, or should I say....legendary. I could devote an entire paragraph to my favorite Barney lines. The premise of the series is effective, and by employing a unique way of unraveling the story threads, it does not strike one as a standard sitcom. It is not perfect, as certain episodes are just a tad stupid, but it is a sitcom, so one should expect nothing less.
The show airs on 8pm on Mondays, and the third season premiered on September 24, 2007.
The Episodes
DISC 1
Where Were We? (21:19) - In the season premiere, Ted and Robin try to help Marshall recover from Lily’s departure. When he gets her recent credit card charges,and sees some are from New York, he goes looking for her. This was an excellent opener with some funny stuff about break ups. 9.0/10.0
The Scorpion and the Toad (22:04) - Barney is working with Marshall to get better at being single. Meanwhile Lily has returned and Robin is helping her get a new apartment. This episode was humorous, but nowhere near as strong as anything on the rest of the season. It became redundant a little. 8.0/10.0
Brunch (21:41) - Ted’s parents are visiting, and Robin is worried they won’t like her. At the same time, Lily and Marshall are adjusting to not being a couple anymore. Also, Ted’s mother and father are hiding a secret. This plot was good, but the Ted half was not as terrific as the Lily and Marshall half. 8.5/10.0
Ted Mosby: Architect (22:03) - Ted and Robin have their first big fight, so he leaves, and Barney persuades him that being an architect makes it easy to pick up chicks. Lily and Robin then trail his path and discover he has hit it off with another girl. This was a perfect example of the inventive storytelling method and superb humor can mix wonderfully. 9.0/10.0
World’s Greatest Couple (22:02) - Marshall is having trouble staying single with so many couples around. Also, Lily stays with Barney and he finds a neat use for her company. Barney’s apartment is absolutely friggin awesome. I’m jealous, and that alone makes this episode great. 9.5/10.0
Aldrin Justice (22:02) - Marshall’s Professor is strict and grades harsh, so Barney elects himself to seduce her. Lily then gets a job working in Ted’s office, and she steals to teach Ted’s boss a lesson. This was just average, but still had plenty of cool Barney and Jane Seymour action. Ted’s boss is annoying. 8.0/10.0
Swarley (21:59) - Marshall is set for his first real date after the Lily break up, but the guys warn him that this girl has crazy eyes. Lily does everything in power to ruin the evening. Also, Barney has a new nickname. This is one of the best episodes of the show, and the various forms of “Swarley” are marvelous. 10.0/10.0
Atlantic City (22:03) - Lily and Marshall force the gang to accompany them to Atlantic City for eloping, but they spend most of the time there trying to figure a way around the three day wait for a marriage license. This was a creative little episode that provided some odd laughs. 8.5/10.0
DISC 2
Slap Bet (22:02) - Ted and Barney discuss knowing things about women. Barney feels that eventually one will locate a deal breaker. Meanwhile Ted is bugging Robin to divulge her secret on why she won’t go to the mall. One of the best television episodes ever. The Robin Sparkles video will never cease to be hilarious, and the slap bet is magnificent. 10.0/10.0
Single Stamina (22:03) - Barney’s brother James (Wayne Brady) visits, and this is the first time Robin has met him. While out clubbing, it turns out James has been concealing something. Wayne Brady was brilliant with the cast, and his chemistry with Barney was legendary…yes I said it again. 9.0/10.0
How Lily Stole Christmas (21:55) - Ted and Lily have an argument when an answering message turns up with Ted calling Lily a bad name. Barney is sick and Robin tends to him. Barney was hysterical as he normally is, and the other sub-plot was good, but not spotless. 8.5/10.0
First Time in New York (21:45) - Robin’s little sister comes to visit with her boyfriend, and says she is ready to lose her virginity. At the same time, Robin is trying to tell Ted she loves him. Saying “I Love You” is always suitable subject matter for new relationships. I enjoyed this one. 9.0/10.0
Columns (22:01) - Ted is told by a superior to fire his boss, but that is harder than he thought. Also, a nude portrait of Marshall prompts Barney to request the same from Lily. This was just tremendous from start to finish, especially the nude portraits. Ted’s boss was less irritating here. 9.0/10.0
Monday Night Football (21:30) - The group has a funeral come up on Superbowl Sunday, so they record it, and try hard to avoid hearing the score, but that proves to be difficult. I laughed heartily during this, but there is no way in hell someone would not accidentally spill the beans. On a side note, Ted’s glasses were classic. 8.0/10.0
Lucky Penny (21:32) - Ted cannot catch a flight to his dream job in Chicago, so as they scramble for a flight, he and Robin think back to what has caused the delay. Also Barney runs a marathon. Another masterfully crafted episode with innovative techniques and reliable humor. 10.0/10.0
Stuff (21:58) - Lily is asked to be in a play that is nowhere close to Broadway, and Barney then puts on his own to prove a point. As this unfolds, Ted and Robin are hung up on past relationship experiences. All I have to say about this one is….”moist.” Slap #2 appears here. 9.5/10.0
DISC 3
Arrivederci Fiero (21:48) - Marshall is set to celebrate his Fiero hitting 200,000 miles, but it breaks down, and while they wait at a mechanical garage for the news, they reminisce on the times spent in the car. I loved this episode because I have had memorable times in cars that break down, and give you trouble. A good premise. 9.0/10.0
Moving Day (22:01) - Ted and Robin decide to move in with each other, but Barney does everything he can to dissuade Ted from taking that step. As Ted moves out, Marshall and Lily attempt to be comfortable living without him. Barney’s idea of a nearby room to take one night stands from the bar is just uproarious, and the Robin/Ted developments are more interesting. 10.0/10.0
Bachelor Party (22:00) - At Lily’s bridal shower, Robin buys a gift that is inappropriate around her family. At Marshall’s bachelor party, Barney hires a stripper despite Marshall’s urging him not to. I was hoping the bachelor party episode would be funnier, but it wasn’t all that bad. It is still awesome by my standards. 8.5/10.0
Showdown (22:02) - While Marshall and Lily try sleeping apart prior to the wedding, Barney announces that Bob Barker is his father, and he will be a contestant on The Price is Right. Wow, just when you think the episodes couldn’t get any better, they do. The Price is Right stuff was unforgettable. 10.0/10.0
Something Borrowed (21:57) - Everything possible is going wrong on Lily and Marshall’s wedding day, but Barney comes to the rescue. I thought this was effective because it showed you can take something bad and turn it into something spectacular. A cheesy line I know, but this episode was solid. 9.0/10.0
Something Blue (22:02) - The second part of Lily and Marshall’s wedding occurs at the reception where Barney tries to figure out Ted and Robin’s secret. This was inevitable, but the twisty way they told us made it nice to watch. 9.0/10.0
The Video
My rule of video and sound not making a huge difference for television DVD's still applies to this show, but I just have to say the transfer is squeaky clean, absent of any major defects. The colors are bright, vibrant, and sharp, and this makes the show addictive to watch. This had the opportunity to shine in terms of picture quality because the apartment and the bar offer various stand out tones, and they took advantage of it. This is presented in full screen with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1.
The Audio
This is a sitcom, so most of what we hear is talking, but everyone sounds understandable and lucid. I never had to adjust my volume knob ton any extreme direction. The theme song “Hey Beautiful” by the Solids is expressed delightfully, and any other tune on the soundtrack is rendered fantastic as well as that famous song by The Proclaimers. Optional subtitles in English, Spanish and French are included for your pleasure.
The Packaging
How I Met Your Mother Season Two is distributed in cardboard slip case that holds two slim keep cases inside. The cases have one disc in the first case, and two packed into the second. The menu’s have the theme song and an image from the show. They are easy to navigate and look fine.
The Extras
DISC 1
Audio Commentaries - Each disc has two tracks for listen, and they all had a different cast member joining in. This disc had a track on the season premiere “Where Were We?” with creators Craig Thomas, Carter Bays, and Director Pam Fryman. They discuss the long ranging storyline changes and how watching strip club scenes with children are awkward. The second one is on “Swarley” with Writer/Producer Greg Malins and Alyson Hannigan. This is probably the least interesting commentary as the conversation goes in zany directions.
DISC 2
Audio Commentaries - The first track is on “Slap Bet” with Creator Craig Thomas, Writer Kourtney Kang, and actress Cobie Smulders. This went in depth on the Robin Sparkles angle which was great fun. The second track is on “Single Stamina” with Writer Kristin Newman and Neil Patrick Harris. This aired just after Neil came out of the closet, so that is discussed along with working alongside Wayne Brady.
Robin Sparkles Music Video (3:17) - It is only fitting that the full length music video be included on this set. I think you can find something new to laugh at each time you watch it.
DISC 3
Audio Commentaries - The first track has Writer Chris Harris and actor Jason Segel chatting on “Arrivederci, Fiero.” They talked about Fiero websites and how they don’t have back seats. The second is extremely entertaining with Creator Carter Bays, Director Pam Fryman, Bob Saget, and Josh Radnor. There is never a dull moment with Bob Saget, that’s for sure. All the commentaries were basically funny and informative. The crew member talked about the fascinating tidbits of trivia, while the cast member supplied the humor. This resulted in a healthy mixture of entertainment.
Don't forget the third slap is approaching. See how long by clicking here.
The Show: 9.0/10.0
The Episodes: 9.0/10.0
The Video: 9.0/10.0
The Audio: 9.0/10.0
The Extras: 7.5/10.0
The 411: Midway through the first season, it became apparent that How I Met Your Mother would be one of my favorite shows, and after the second season, it has only gotten better in my eyes. This set is filled with classic, memorable, and side-splittingly hilarious episodes like “Slap Bet”, “Swarley”, and “Showdown” just to name a few. The technical specifications are satisfactory, and the extras were fine, but a little sparse compared to the first season. Still, it is appreciated that so many cast and crew members were willing to participate in commentary tracks. Many shows just avoid doing them. If you have some spare cash lying around, or are searching for a new show to get into, look no further. If you’re a fan, I don’t have to say how superb this season is. I have grown to be obsessed with this show so much that I am actually watching it as they air each week. For me, this is a rarity.
