It's hard not to hear Scottish or Irish instead of Canadian in much of Simon's dialogue. Weird, but apparently not uncommon.
6.5/10. This one is a pretty big miss 90% of the way through, but ties things together well at the end with Robin & Barney. Much of the episode lands with a thud, from the strangeness/awkwardness of everyone complementing the (flat-chested) Robin on her boobs, to the entire old boyfriend routine. There's the seed of a good idea with the whole "revertigo" idea, but it's clumsily executed here to where you're mostly just embarrassed for Robin, and the bit with Lily and her friend Michelle is pretty cringe-worthy even as the episode attempts to covers its tracks for the cringeyness of it. Hell, even the actual Sandcastles in the Sand video isn't anywhere near as fun or clever a parody as the original Let's Go to the Mall, with the cameos feeling forced and even the commentary on it from Robin & Barney feeling more contrived.
But it hits that one emotional note with Robin and Barney perfectly. I've never been a big fan of the two of them together, but I have to admit that the scene with them at the bar, where Barney tells Robin how awesome she is at least lays the groundwork for it in a heartwarming way. Cobie Smulders often does that drama side of the show better than the comedy, and she pulls it off extraordinarily well here, and NPH is in top form, showing an empathetic side of Barney who is still recognizably the cartoonish bro we've come to know. It's a sweet moment, and the one thing that raises this episode up from the doldrums.
Shout by LineageBlockedParent2019-03-24T23:18:29Z
The relationship between Barney and Robin is already much better than the whole romantic relationship she had with Ted, and she and Barney only kissed. But of course, it all goes back to Ted and Robin in the end. I find that really stupid.