"Definitions"

[mo_anam]

I've seen some very compelling, interesting analyses of episodes of HIMYM, of ideas and themes that are emerging, and some very thorough picspams that prove that a picture really is worth a thousand words.

I don't do pictures. I do words. I turn on subtitles when I'm watching TV and movies in English, even on episodes and movies I've watched

Comments

[mo_anam]

It was the realization that they were using "flugelhorn" as an emotional safe word that really prompted me to think more deliberately about some of their other interaction in this one, because I think an awful lot about the relationship is revealed in that one moment, you just have to look for it. One thing I love about these writers, is they don't write down to the audience; they fully expect us to engage with the material and look beyond the surface. Which is also how they get away with quite a bit of their humour, by simply alluding to it and letting us connect the dots for ourselves.

Interesting that you point out that the closest he gets to a declaration of love is "it's not like I don't like you"- for some reason, I didn't even really think about that comment. But you are right- it is far from a declaration of love, but it's all he offers her. Why? He's told her, and everyone else, that he loves her before, but now he can't. They are endlessly fascinating.

You're really hitting something on the head- this is a small group of friends, and she already has one ex in it, and that could really be influencing her to play things really safe with Barney. She's already thinking about what happens when it doesn't work out.