After the legen- wait for it -dary "The Playbook", HIMYM delivers another fine episode with "Slapsgiving 2". It seems like all the series needed to get back on the right track was Barney and Robin breaking up. Now we can move the plot forward and introduce some new conflicts. This time, Lily's difficult relationship to her father. And how her husband Marshall, who by contrast is quite the family man, deals with it.
Lily's dad, who is played by Chris Elliott, is a nice addition to the group. Lily and Marshall have been treated as a joke earlier this season, so it's nice to see them being treated with some dignity by the writers and going through a real conflict for a change. Who would have thought that a character like Lily has still potential to grow?
While the main plot is rather serious for a sitcom, the side plot focusing on Barney and the continuation of the slap bet provides lots of fun. Barney goes back and forth between being mentally tortured and scared and being a manipulative bastard. What a great performance by Neil Patrick Harris! Marshall decides to yield his fourth slap, so Ted and Robin fight about who gets to slap Barney. And it gets messy. To the point that Ted admits to still being in love with Robin. Whether he was deliberately lying (as assumed by Robin) or accidentally telling a big truth he recently did a good job in hiding is not thoroughly revealed. That certainly makes things interesting for the rest of the season.
Lily's dad, who is played by Chris Elliott, is a nice addition to the group. Lily and Marshall have been treated as a joke earlier this season, so it's nice to see them being treated with some dignity by the writers and going through a real conflict for a change. Who would have thought that a character like Lily has still potential to grow?
While the main plot is rather serious for a sitcom, the side plot focusing on Barney and the continuation of the slap bet provides lots of fun. Barney goes back and forth between being mentally tortured and scared and being a manipulative bastard. What a great performance by Neil Patrick Harris! Marshall decides to yield his fourth slap, so Ted and Robin fight about who gets to slap Barney. And it gets messy. To the point that Ted admits to still being in love with Robin. Whether he was deliberately lying (as assumed by Robin) or accidentally telling a big truth he recently did a good job in hiding is not thoroughly revealed. That certainly makes things interesting for the rest of the season.