How I Met Your Mother- Baby Talk recap/review

Sometimes in life, you have a problem and a piece of media comes along and meets you right where you are. Most of the time, it is a book. For instance, years ago, one of us was disenchanted and bored with religion, then along came “Velvet Elvis” by Rob Bell. One of us was wallowing in self-loathing, feeling like a failure, and then came along the author Tim Keller. You get what we mean. It’s rarely a TV show, but this week, shockingly, How I Met Your Mother was that piece of media.

One of us (Ern or Leeard), let’s call her “EL” has been dealing with the same issue that Robin was. No, we don’t have an annoying co-anchor. But EL was depressed because it seemed like guys only fall for the innocent, needy girls who are little more than babies. This is offensive, because it makes girls think that we have to pretend to be dumb (which is a BAD thing that is beneath us) if we don’t want to be alone. We actually understand why guys like the innocent little girls, and some of it is valid, but where does that leave the girls who just aren't like that?

Story: EL has a friend who is completely naïve, unthreatening, and innocent to the point where she should have someone with her at all times to help her navigate the world. This girl has guys falling all over her. While EL is not one to get jealous of her friends, it was still a little depressing to see guys love the little girl act. EL wonders: Will she die alone because she can change her own tire and comes across as direct, not innocent? Very recently, one guy admitted to EL that he liked EL’s friend at a carnival. While EL glared at him for liking a girl way younger than he is, a ride swung around and a carnival-goer sprayed this guy with vomit. There IS a God, and he loves EL.

This episode was about why it is ok for guys to like girls who act like children, but a girl is never attracted to a guy who talks like a little boy. Barney saw this as a challenge (we love how he sees everything sex-related as a challenge) and spent the next few days trying to pick up a girl whilst talking like a little baby boy. He finally found a freak of a woman who was into it. She said, “Who’s your mommy.” Barney cringed at that before, lightbulb!, he realized he could complete the challenge by sleeping with her.

Ted dated Robin’s new co-anchor, Becky, who is such a little girl that she gets stuck in revolving doors and talks like she is eight. Finally, this wore on Ted, but not before he defended the relationship to Robin. He said, “It’s nice to feel needed.” Because Robin never made Ted feel needed and took care of her own business, he felt like less of a man and, possibly, unnecessary in his relationship. This is totally understandable.

Robin was depressed, as EL was, so she went to another ex, Barney, to ask if she made him feel the same way. She did, but Barney thought this was awesome. This was a both a sweet and funny moment. We loved Robin saying “I got this,” both in Ted’s flashbacks and in Barney’s apartment, as she took care of business. This shows that some guys actually do like smart women. (Right???) Maybe one day, EL will find her own Barney. Wait….ew….did we just write that?

Marshall came to the realization that all the women he lusted after in his life were somebody’s daughter. He, hilariously, decides that he wants boys to avoid watching his little girl grow up to be ogled or slutty enough to date Barney. He used old home remedies to ensure the spawning of a male child but then found out that Lily was doing the same thing to get a girl. In the end, they agree to let fate take its course. They still don’t have a proper baby name though.

Beyond the subject of the episode, there were lots of laughs and quotables. Even the tired "trying to make a baby" plot was funny and brought something new. All the storylines worked, and Barney won his challenge (as he always should).

Episode grade: A-