Sitcoms rarely deal with the deaths of important characters, or characters that are important to key characters. "The Last Words" focuses around the death and funeral of Marshall's dad, and what should have been a fairly quiet and reflective episode, is instead one that is tonally inconsistent and jarring.
I wanted "The Last Words" to be quiet, to put the viewer in Marshall's shoes - to have him deal with this death and in the process, to have him grow up. There is one episode in a specific television show - one of my favourites - "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" where a key character deals with a world changing death. That episode is like none other in that show, and took that show to new heights as far as quality was concerned. Of course, Alyson Hannigan is the connection to that episode, which is "The Body".
I find in this episode, almost all attempts at humour to not work. Any piece of humour at the funeral is stilted, because such an occasion does that warrant humour. Of course, the special guest star appearance by Danny Strong (also another "Buffy" connection) works, because his character is written as the stereotypical high school bully. When Ted and Barney are looking at videos of people getting hit in the groin, it is sheer awful. The writers lack the control to create an episode that is really special, without having to inject its dumb humour.
Some of the flashback scenes work, and some of the moments where the gang contemplate what their dads' final words would be is well done. It does move the plot forward in one other aspect, that is Barney is ready to meet his father. The idea in this episode is one pivotal to life. A final word is overrated, as it does not convey the love a father shares for a child over a lifetime. A last word can really be what you want it to be, as Marshall so rightly chooses by the end of this episode. That moment at the memorial service was well done, but I have to say, I am disappointed by Jason Segel's lack of scope as far as dramatic acting is concerned. Alyson Hannigan, in a role that required less, was far better.
"The Last Words" is wildly inconsistent. At times, a contemplative experience, and at other times, filled with trite humour, this episode unfortunately falls into the 'less than good' category of the show. It is fair to say that the episode was a misfire, at least personally, and it feels very much like many other HIMYM episodes.
I wanted "The Last Words" to be quiet, to put the viewer in Marshall's shoes - to have him deal with this death and in the process, to have him grow up. There is one episode in a specific television show - one of my favourites - "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" where a key character deals with a world changing death. That episode is like none other in that show, and took that show to new heights as far as quality was concerned. Of course, Alyson Hannigan is the connection to that episode, which is "The Body".
I find in this episode, almost all attempts at humour to not work. Any piece of humour at the funeral is stilted, because such an occasion does that warrant humour. Of course, the special guest star appearance by Danny Strong (also another "Buffy" connection) works, because his character is written as the stereotypical high school bully. When Ted and Barney are looking at videos of people getting hit in the groin, it is sheer awful. The writers lack the control to create an episode that is really special, without having to inject its dumb humour.
Some of the flashback scenes work, and some of the moments where the gang contemplate what their dads' final words would be is well done. It does move the plot forward in one other aspect, that is Barney is ready to meet his father. The idea in this episode is one pivotal to life. A final word is overrated, as it does not convey the love a father shares for a child over a lifetime. A last word can really be what you want it to be, as Marshall so rightly chooses by the end of this episode. That moment at the memorial service was well done, but I have to say, I am disappointed by Jason Segel's lack of scope as far as dramatic acting is concerned. Alyson Hannigan, in a role that required less, was far better.
"The Last Words" is wildly inconsistent. At times, a contemplative experience, and at other times, filled with trite humour, this episode unfortunately falls into the 'less than good' category of the show. It is fair to say that the episode was a misfire, at least personally, and it feels very much like many other HIMYM episodes.