Daisy

This show began as a surprising comedy that's retained high viewings and exceptional reviews since it's debut nearly 10 years ago.

Over the years there have been some powerful seasons, some powerful episodes. "Three Days of Snow" and the finale of season 4. "The Time Traveller" was also another infamous episode that managed to bring many of its viewers to tears.

Though season 9 started out a little bit rough, I held out hope that the writers would pull it together and give us the final season we deserve.

And sure enough they have.

This episode continues the streak of powerful, emotional episodes. I've never had a show conjure so much emotion inside of me. From the beginning we're told it's Ted's love story, but it's not Ted's love story. It's Marshall's and Lilly's and Barney's and Robin's love story as well, and boy have they managed to tell them in a way no other show has managed to do before.

The entirety of this episode was absolutely incredible. Marshall and Lilly's experience during this episode was moving, and Robin's realization at the end is terrifying.

Overall, this show is amazing, and it tells love stories how they really are.

Freaking superb. I do not want this show to end.

I base my ratings on comedies on whether they make me laugh OR if they deviate from the comedy for a good hearty emotional story. But comedies are based on...was it funny. This episode was as mediocre as you can get. No good, nod bad. If I never see this episode again, nothing lost. Nothing out of the ordinary memorable.

As far as laughs are concerned...barely a chuckle here and there.

I am shocked at reviews or ratings of 9 and 10. 10 should be the absolute best episode....couldn't get any better. Tight story, great acting, legitimately funny stuff, etc. 9's should be almost perfect but just not quite. I start off with 5 or 6 and work my way up to 10 if it gets there. 99% don't. Lot of people seem to start at 10 and don't go down unless they find it significant enough to move em down. People's ratings barometers are way off.

I like the bit where billy zabka was doing some late night dirt biking

Halfway through the final season Bays and Thomas somehow managed to pull HIMYM back on the right track, and with the exception of "Slapsgiving 3", they have been producing quality episodes ever since. "Daisy" is especially noteworthy, as it is full of laugh-out-loud moments while also handling outstanding emotional parts.

Plot in a paragraph: The Mosby Boys (Detective Mosby AKA Ted, Barney, Marshall, Ranjit and William Zabka) backtrack Lily's getaway of the previous night to her employer, the Captain, decide to teach him some manners and wind up discovering a way bigger secret Lily has been keeping from all of them the whole weekend. Meanwhile, Robin's mother is not exactly helpful when it comes to keeping the bride from freaking out.

All the scenes at the Captain's house are flat-out hilarious. His house-keeping crew, his over-the-top obsession with boats, the fact that he actually ended up getting engaged with Becky (better known as "Boats, Boats, Boats!"), just like Ted had imagined it during his "sandwich"-fueled delusion in "The Ashtray". Not to mention Detective Mosby's cocky gloating over finally cracking a case.

Only for the actual revelation to completely change the mood. The HIMYM writers are so good at this. When they pull a trick like this, it makes you remember why you stuck with this series for 9 seasons, through all the sub-par episodes of season 5, season 8 or early season 9. This time, the emotional roller-coaster leads to the conclusion of the best Marshall-and-Lily-storyline in a long time.

What remains for the last four episodes is the Barney-Robin-Ted-triangle. The ending of "Daisy" indicates that we might not be done with that. We know from flash-forwards in previous episodes (especially "Farhampton") that Robin will freak out and have second thoughts about marrying Barney as the wedding approaches. Her dialogue with her mother in this episode probably plays a big role in getting her to that point, as she learns that Barney actually has a lot in common with her emotionally unavailable father. It makes sense within the series. This has been hinted at near the end of season 8 ("Something Old"). Winding up with someone resembling one of your parents has already been the theme of an episode of season 7 ("Noretta"). And if you think all the way back to season 1 ("Zip Zip Zip"), Robin's unresolved father issues was one of the first things about her to really grab Barney's attention.

Still, some of the similarities between Barney and Robin Scherbatsky Sr. presented here seemed a bit far-fetched and came out of nowhere. But this is my only criticism about this otherwise brilliant episode.