'HIMYM': "Tick Tick Tick" and "The Rebound Girl" reviewed

'How I Met Your Mother' has really been pulling on our heart strings recently. It's almost as though they've decided to switch genres.

Spoilers from episode airing Nov. 21st, 2011 

Last week's episode "Tick Tick Tick..." (S7Ep10) was the most depressing episode of 'HIMYM' that I have ever seen. It opened with Barney and Robin in bed together, both grappling with the fact that they'd cheated on their significant others. Throughout the episode they discussed what this meant to them: Were they destined to be together? Was it all a big mistake? By the end of the episode Barney had ended his first ever serious relationship (on the very day he was supposed to meet her parents!) and wanted to get together with Robin. Robin, despite initially agreeing, had a change of heart when her boyfriend said "I love you" for the first time. The episode ended with the series' saddest scene ever: Barney removing rose petals from Robin's bed, and blowing out candles that he had set up all over her room, before she came home. The other story line, featuring Ted and Marshall high at a concert and a pregnant Lily craving nachos was not enough to distract from the pain.

It's unclear how much time in the 'HIMYM' world passed between last week's episode and the one that aired tonight...but I'm hoping for a couple of weeks at least. If you saw it you'll probably guess why.

"The Rebound Girl" (S7Ep11) featured a lonely Ted and a still emotionally distraught Barney. They drunkenly decided that it would be a good idea to adopt a baby and raise her together. This storyline continued throughout the episode--with Barney being the one to insist that it really was a good idea, and that he really did want a baby. Robin, meanwhile, was the center of the other storyline. She was devastated when Lily and Marshall told her that they were going to move to Long Island to the house that Lily's grandparents had given them. Her anxiety was present throughout the episode, and I think most viewers assumed it was because she felt that everything was changing...including her friendship with Barney, which had presumably been damaged when she rejected him and stayed with her boyfriend. Despite Robin's anxiety and Barney's obsessive behavior  this was a much, much funnier episode than last week's. The jokes about Lily and Marshall's tiny apartment, the running gag that Robin couldn't turn around without breaking a lamp, and the appearance of a real-live baby helped to liven the mood.

Midway though the episode a distraught Robin locked herself into the bathroom at the Long Island house, declaring that she would not come out until Marshall and Lily promised not to move. Although she refused to open the door, she did end up opening the bathroom window numerous times to receive a cheese plate, have a conversation through the window with Marshall, and finally to let Barney climb through. He cautiously asked her if they could still be friends (leaving us to wonder, how much time had passed since last week's episode? Was this the first time they had seen each other since she chose her boyfriend over him?), and then proceed to tell her about the baby plan, leaving out the part where it was all his idea, and placing the 'blame' on Ted. Robin finally said something that explained her odd behavior throughout the episode: "I'm pregnant".

So, seriously, how much time has passed? Is it possible that Barney is the father? And if he isn't the father will Robin's current boyfriend want a baby? Based on Barney's behavior throughout the episode it's pretty clear that he would have no problem raising another man's child as his own and that he is still in love with Robin.

And, finally, was anyone else bothered by the similarities between Brennan's declaration to Booth at the end of last season of 'Bones' and this episode's ending?
 
On 'Bones': Brennan, "I'm pregnant. And you're the father." Cut to black.
On 'HIMYM': Robin, "I'm pregnant." Cut to black.

Ahh mid-season hiatus, you will be the death of me. Hopefully we'll find out what happens when new episodes start airing on December 5th. But, knowing how much 'HIMYM' likes to drag out storylines (who is the mother? And who is Barney marrying?) I'm wondering how long it will take before the writers choose to tell us anything about Robin's pregnancy.

Back when Hannigan & Smulders were really pregnant. Boy, this storyline would been easier then...