HIMYM Review: The Stamp Tramp

How I Met Your Mother:

 "The Stamp Tramp" Review

After last weeks utterly disappointing episode, I was seriously praying for the show to return to form. Although this episode did not get off the best of starts, it manages to push the story along, albeit at a very slow pace.

As we learnt from Season 7, Marshall became a lawyer for an environmental agency Honeywell & Cootes. We finally get to see him in proper action in this season with a major case which looks like it will run through a fair amount of the season, This time there are no complaints because it has the potential to be a really interesting side story arc. 

Although it was great to finally see Marshall outside of the apartment, the comedy was fairly satisfactory. It was also good to see an old friend return, whose character looks to become more beefed out. His lines somewhat faltered and seemed childish initially. But as the episode developed you soon understand why. It was a clever turn of events.

Barney and Robin were put together in the most disappointing story of the three. Barney's behaviour was the typical absurdity we all come to expect from him, but usually there is a serious reason behind it all. It was practically non existent in this case. 

As for Robin, she played an over the top, exaggerative role too which was somewhat funny. More so because of her expressions and how she turns into a hyperactive addict rather than the actual liners. The final moments of the Barney/Robin story was to be expected at some point, but it could have been implemented in a better, more heartfelt storyline and was far too rushed. 

Ted and Lily's plot was the best part of the episode. This also began rather slowly but it  eventually gained some steam and produced a nice heart warming side story which also produced the most amounts of laughs. The retrospective moments were a great addition and it was nice to see Ted and Lily still learning about one another and becoming closer even though they've been friends since university. What was best though was Ted learning about himself. His reactions about his past self was funny and definitely relatable.

Overall it was a fairly standard episode which (although in no way seemed to progress the main "Mother" arc) allowed for some more development of the other characters storyline's that will ultimately progress to the final conclusion. The inclusion of some minor twists was also a nice touch.

7/10     

Side note: Some sports themed jokes fell a little flat for me as they related to the NBA and as a Englishman I did not understand it. But of course for some Americans it may be hilarious. So for any American viewers comment below if you found it funny or not!