411 How I Met Your Mother Review: S04E03 'I <3 New Jersey'

Posted by Michael Tyner on 10.07.2008

. . .but its not "Seacacus, Seacacus!"



So, after a second viewing I decided I might have been a little harsh on last week's episode; but I do stand by my statement that it was a poor episode. They spent an entire episode setting up that Marshall got a job when it could have easily been a much funnier side plot in another episode, like this one.

Ted starts out by telling his kids about how, in the fall of 2008, he was spending all of his time on the train between New York (where he and everyone else live) and New Jersey (where Stella lives). He misses out on a romantic night with Stella (who is asleep on the couch by the time he arrives), a champagne celebration for Robin (who got the national anchor job), and dinner with Stella & her daughter (it was getting cold). Stella suggests he invite everyone over to her place some night and they can all spend some time together. Everyone thinks its a horrible idea, because everyone (even Ted) hates New Jersey.

Back from commercial, Ted is talking about how Robin hates her job at Metro News 1. She gives a farewell speech on her last broadcast, and Marshall wonders why she sounds like an idiot as she talks about being a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. Meanwhile, everyone else heads across the river to experience some wild New Jersey nightlife. . . but Stella can't find a babysitter, so they have to hang out at her house. But the night is going to be awesome! Stella thinks she has some beer out in the garage, and as she goes to get it Marshall launches into a tirade about how lame it is, they should be out at a bar drinking alcohol on Saturday night! They all want to leave, and Stella walks in while they are planning to leave. She suggests they hang out at the coolest bar in New Jersey, which just so happens to be in her basement.

Barney makes a lame joke about liking blowfish, and no one will give him a fistpound. He refuses to put his fist down until someone gives him the satisfaction of a fist pound, and after mentioning Ted moving to New Jersey she goes to answer the door. Ted freaks out while Stella lets Robin in, and prewarns her not to bump fists with Barney. Robin didn't get the job; she got an interview for the job. She wants to go beg for her old job back, but Barney tells her that she'll hate herself for it. He likens it to when he hooks up with a chick, doesn't call her again, and she randomly calls him to hook up again; that look on their face when they're through is the look she'll have because she'll hate herself, too. Of course, it doesn't sound quite a serious coming from Barney because he tells her there is a video online where she can SEE that look.

Stella comes rushing downstairs, warning everyone not to drink the beer because she bought it before she got pregnant with Lucy. She sends Ted and Marshall to Price Co., where Marshall is really starting to like New Jersey. Everything has a cupholder, you never have to hold a cup again! Marshall finds dog shirts, and loves them! New Jersey is great! Barney is starting to crack, his fist still up waiting for a bump; Lily wonders where Robin is and of course she is upstairs calling her old boss back. They try to stop her, but she is told that if she can make it to the station (back in New York) in 30 minutes to read the 11 o'clock news she can have her job back. Barney tries to stop her, but she is out the door and off on Lucy's bike to to make it to New York.

Ted thought that Stella had agreed to move to New York, but it isn't safe for Lucy and Stella's whole life is in New Jersey (she is on the PTA, she is the deputy mayor, and a whole host of other things). New York is the greatest city on the planet, but people are nice in New Jersey. Stella and Ted argue in front of everyone, Stella eventually telling Ted to live wherever he wants and storming out. Barney begs for a fist pound every point Ted and Stella make. Ted argues that New York has Sinatra, but Stella says he was from Hoboken. Ted fires back, "Yes, but he wasn't signing "Seacacus, Seacacus!" Lily tries to convince Stella she'll like New York, Marshall didn't like it at first either, but Marshall goes off in the moment of the night, ranting about how much he hates New York.

Ted goes to talk to Stella, but Lucy woke up with the arguement. She wants to hear a story, and Ted says he'll go get her mom but she wants Ted to read it to her. As he reads her the story, he looks around and realizes that New York really is no place for Lucy. Once she's fallen asleep, he finds Stella and tells her that he is moving to New Jersey. Robing, meanwhile, has made an amazing bicycle trek to the studio only to get there and 'sign off' on Metro News 1 for good in her opening words for the news.

Lily finally gives Barney a fist pound, his hand tied in the air to keep it up, for helping Robin get her self-esteem. They all meet up at McClaren's back in New York where Robin shows up looking sad; they all ask what is wrong, and she didn't get the job. They did offer her another job, though; foreign correspondence. She tells them that she is moving to Japan as Barney looks at her in shock, hand still waiting a congratulatory high five on the new job as the episode ends.

After last week, this episode was a breath of fresh air. Sarah Chalke was back as Stella and we got to really see some of the plots taking shape for this season, with Robin apparently moving and Barney still not having told her how he feels. Ted is moving to New Jersey, and for the first time we saw him really interact with his future step-daughter in a very touching scene.


LINE OF THE NIGHT: " New York is the city that never sleeps; well guess what, I like sleep!." - Marshall in his rant about New York

The 411: After last week's poor showing, this week the show was back on track with a funny and focused episode. The season looks to be advancing pretty well, and they have even thrown a few curveballs that are working to the shows advantage. We saw Ted interact with Lucy for the first time in a very touching scene that was set beautifully by the music, something the show continues to do exceedingly well. With Sarah Chalke scheduled to appear in many episodes this season maybe it won't suffer as much as I had originally thought.

Final Score:  8.0   [ Very Good ]