Episode 10 - The Fight
29 July 2009
Review
Synopsis: Introducing Doug the crazy violent bartender of MacLaren’s. When he picks a fight on the gang’s behalf Ted and Barney decide to join in. But Doug beats the guys up by himself and gives them credit for helping him. Robin is tuned on by Barney’s black eye and all fighting men in general. Marshall is suspicious and when they get sued they confess that they fabricated their involvement. When Doug confronts them about their lies Ted punches him and gets flattened. Marshall knocks Doug out. Lily tries to teach her kindergarteners that fighting is wrong with little success.
The Good: Some episodes aren’t good television but are interesting to watch and this is one of them. Fighting by its very nature is a spectator sport and characters being caught in a lie is a good hook to keep viewers interest too. By finding logical ways to involve Robin and Lily in the story the writers keep a tight focus on the idea of fighting throughout the episode.
I don’t have a problem with a character being introduced who is meant to have always been around. By including Doug in old footage from the show the writers sort of wink at their audience in a way I don’t mind because the show is meant to be Ted’s memories rather than literally what took place. And for once you can definitely believe Ted would tell this story to his children as it has a clear “moral of the story” to impart.
The character’s behaviour is generally consistent with their established traits. Again I give the writers credit for linking the story to Ted’s break-up with Stella which ought to be a big feature of his life. On Marshall’s visit to his home in Minnesota (109) we learnt that his brothers played a very dangerous game (BaskIceBall) and so it’s not a huge stretch to see him as pretty tough. Though it is clearly invented for the purposes of this episode, considering Marshall’s previous wussy behaviour (e.g. 103). Robin’s desire for ice hockey players has been well chronicled (e.g. 311) and Barney jumping into fights to impress her keeps their story bubbling. Doug’s violent irrational behaviour and his later admission of having blackouts provide a decent enough explanation for why he doesn’t remember how the fight really unfolded.
They are really building up that goat story; I hope they have a story worth telling. The shot of college Marshall and Ted with a large “sandwich” (or joint or bong) is a nice nod to the show’s mythology (305).
The Bad: There is so much detail work which is ignored or done poorly here. Inserting Doug into the story may be fine in theory but in practise is he someone they would really want to be friends with? His crazy reactions to his toupee and making sure the guys get “their” booth make you wonder how he kept his job. It’s also extremely convenient that he had blackouts isn’t it? Again though if he beat up customers for no good reason he would not be working at that bar anymore.
Robin’s character needs some attention. Since losing her job the writers just seem to throw her into any sex that’s going (with Woo girls in 408 and the naked man in 409). While that seems to be a logical story (of seeking validation through sex because she is unemployed) it is not well told here. The logic of her finding fighting men attractive is ruined when she starts being attracted to Doug and Marshall just because they punch people. It’s the writers sacrificing her integrity for a cheap laugh and no one should find such obvious humour funny enough to justify the sacrifice. Then we have one of the most bizarre moments in the history of the show. Robin comes in all nervous to ask Barney out and Marshall reveals that he and Ted lied about the fight. Instead of asking what really happened and being annoyed with them as you would expect her to she awkwardly backs away. It’s a typically unconvincing and exaggerated joke but I don’t see the logic in why she would back away instead of going on the attack.
Lily’s school children are pretty irritating. Again the writers can’t resist scripting them with wise cracking remarks which make them sound nothing like children. “We’re six, we are stupid and juvenile” isn’t something children are going to say because they aren’t aware of the perception of children by adults. Nor should they say the clearly old sitcom style line of “Where do you find these people?” to their teacher. But their implausible behaviour does raise the important question of why shouldn’t you settle things with a fight?
The show doesn’t provide an answer which is the most galling thing missing from the narrative. Ted ought to conclude that fighting is wrong for a good reason and explain that to his children. Instead he concludes “Don’t ever get in a fight with uncle Marshall, that guy’s freaking crazy.” It’s such a cop out because the writers don’t seem to be able to find a voice in either Marshall or Ted’s characters where they can explain what is wrong with fighting. So Marshall’s indignation at Barney and Ted seems to be based only on jealousy (for the attention they got). He can’t explain to the children adequately why fighting is wrong. Similarly two girls ask Barney and Ted what exactly the guys did to deserve their beating and they have no answer. The fact that the entire point of the episode doesn’t really get to the core of any of the characters beliefs is a waste. And the Fight Club parody for Marshall and his brothers was unnecessarily exaggerated. As I said, his violent hockey antics are enough to explain his toughness.
Of course there is the usual lame humour too with Barney listing black sitcoms when not paying attention. Stuff like that looks so fake it really undermines the show’s plausibility.
Comic Highlight: Lily actually makes an amusing remark which sounds entirely fitting when she asks Marshall to help teach the kids about non-violence so that she can avoid making a lesson plan. But Barney has the delivery on the not very funny line when he asks “What’s the penalty for assault? Pay a fine? Pick up trash on the highway? Coz I’ve done that before!”
How I rate your episode: Some good ideas but none thought through properly. The show just can’t help looking fake and silly when it tries to be funny. It does better with certain serious moments but here they fail to capitalise on an interesting story with any character development.
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