3x15 The Chain of Screaming

6.5/10. I have to admit; there's an odd synergy to watching this episode while I'm also in the midst of watching Better Call Saul, but this episode is decent yet unspectacular. It's elevated by the sweet moments at the end, from Lily telling Marshall that she doesn't want him to be miserable just for them to have a nice apartment, to Ted selling his car in order to help Lily and Marshall get by. It's those nice, heartfelt moments that help keep an episode afloat even when it's not working just right.

But the comedy here was pretty hit or miss, with the food in the car jokes in particular seeming a bit contrived, and Barney's whole chain of screaming idea a little weak as well. Bob Odenkirk's a pro, and the various imagine spots where the rest of the gang stood in as "Marshall" to confront Arthur were fun, but overall the conflict didn't feel as well set up as it might have, and there weren't that many laughs along the way to balance that out.