User Reviews

This episode was the best Robin centric episode yet. I always knew Cobie Smulders could act but damn, she was outstanding in this episode.

I also loved the fact that her response to not being able to have kids wasn't the typical "oh, I didn't want them anyway." She portrayed the true and raw emotion of finding out such news so perfectly. I guess when you know you can't have something, you realise all of the good things about it. Sort of like "Graduation Goggles." Similar anyway.

I really hope things pick up for Robin and get better. This episode truly was a heartbreaking one.

I gave it a 9 out of 10 and not a full 10 because I didn't enjoy Marshall's scenes on the roof. It wasn't that funny considering the main plot of that episode. We needed solid gold comedy to bring us back from the devastation of Robin's news.

The scene at the end with Ted was the sweetest thing ever. He's such a good person. Their friendship really is something special. The best friendship out of the whole gang.

Ah that was a sweet episode. From start until finish. Robin goes through all the issues one can have about having babies. She is worried she is pregnant and then gets the great news that she isn't. The dance her and Barney did was hilarious including Dr. Sonya joining them.

And then comes the more emotional part, she finds out she can't have children. And sure, she never wanted any and I am sure she will not worry about it in life, but when finding out such information it can take a while to digest it. Great acting. And wonderful how Ted was a great friend that he always is to her.

The use of Robin's "children" was a good idea. It tricks the viewer into first believe that she had kids, and not just kids but with Barney. And then we find out that they were imaginary. Which keep the future open about Barney, even though we know she will have no kids.

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.

Comedies suppose to make you laugh. I ranked this episode so high because it made me cry. After seven seasons you get in touch with the characters and you get to care about them. Very well written and executed. Not funny, but emotionally fulfilling

What Ted does in the end there is no way any person would not want to be with him. But he wants children and she can't give him.

I hoped that Barney and robin were to get married and when I saw the intro that was robins voice saying this is how I met your father. Can't lie I celebrated that. I have Only watched the first 5 minutes so far but this episode starts of really strong. 7th season and the show is still top notch, and I'm enjoying every episode. I don't usually like watching sit-cons but this show was something that felt different, the characters mature during the seasons but maintain the reasons why they are so entertaining. This episode is a 100/100. Tbh I'm kinda now overhyping the episode just to fill the required characters.

A great episode but the plot is kind mediocre and unreasonable