This episode has a very unusual opening in that an older Robin recounts the story to her two children of how she met their father (Barney). It was immediately an interesting opening that generally stood against what the character represented. From this point on, the episode rarely lets down.
Marshall spends Christmas at home, preparing some decorations, when he meets a teenage boy, Scott, who decides to help him out with some of the workload. The kid soon turns against Marshall, as he has intended to, and parties at the place.
This storyline is the one that has lesser significance, but this time it contradicts the excitement with which Marshall and Lily try to have kids. It presents the argument that kids can become uncontrollable and devilish later in life, something which a parent cannot always stray a child away from. A child can only really grow so much from a parent, the rest of their growth is shaped by external factors. It certainly widens the scope of the two characters, who may look at the idea of having children with more care. As for the scenes themselves, they were certainly fun and entertaining.
Robin's story is done wonderfully well this episode, as we see the character slowly realize the downs of never being able to have a child of her own. She goes from ecstatic, at the news that she cannot have children, to ultimately realizing that life will always leave a hole for her. One of the later scenes in this episode reveals that Robin indeed never had kids, and she was fantasizing the idea that she was recounting to her children the story of how her father found out about their kids. Cobie Smulders demonstrates her best acting yet, as we see the sense of hopelessness in Robin. It really is something of a tragedy for Robin's character, and although I have never been fully invested in the character, Cobie Smulders's acting mixed with some terrific writing make for a highly engaging episode.
"Symphony of Illumination" is a terrific episode, that makes Robin's prospects bleaker for life, and whilst making for compelling HIMYM episodes to come.
Marshall spends Christmas at home, preparing some decorations, when he meets a teenage boy, Scott, who decides to help him out with some of the workload. The kid soon turns against Marshall, as he has intended to, and parties at the place.
This storyline is the one that has lesser significance, but this time it contradicts the excitement with which Marshall and Lily try to have kids. It presents the argument that kids can become uncontrollable and devilish later in life, something which a parent cannot always stray a child away from. A child can only really grow so much from a parent, the rest of their growth is shaped by external factors. It certainly widens the scope of the two characters, who may look at the idea of having children with more care. As for the scenes themselves, they were certainly fun and entertaining.
Robin's story is done wonderfully well this episode, as we see the character slowly realize the downs of never being able to have a child of her own. She goes from ecstatic, at the news that she cannot have children, to ultimately realizing that life will always leave a hole for her. One of the later scenes in this episode reveals that Robin indeed never had kids, and she was fantasizing the idea that she was recounting to her children the story of how her father found out about their kids. Cobie Smulders demonstrates her best acting yet, as we see the sense of hopelessness in Robin. It really is something of a tragedy for Robin's character, and although I have never been fully invested in the character, Cobie Smulders's acting mixed with some terrific writing make for a highly engaging episode.
"Symphony of Illumination" is a terrific episode, that makes Robin's prospects bleaker for life, and whilst making for compelling HIMYM episodes to come.