PHOTO: CBS
As an avid HIMYM fan, it was the season two episode entitled “Slap Bet” that truly reeled me in as a viewer. For whoever hasn’t seen that episode (and you really should, if only for this), Barney and Marshall hold a bet and, upon winning, Marshall gets to dole out five slaps throughout eternity. Three slaps have been given out so far and, during last night’s episode, we finally witnessed #4.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, Marshall and Lily hold the big dinner at their apartment. Marshall finds the perfect organic turkey for the feast, although forgets it in the cab. In a gesture of goodwill and friendship, Ted and Robin go to the Port Authrity and find their friend’s lost bird. As a ‘thank you’, Marshall decides to bequeath upon Ted or Robin the fourth slap upon Barney. However, they have to figure out which of the two will be doing the slapping before sundown. (So as to not interfere with Lily’s meal.)
The two politely insist that the other do the slapping although, really, they are both dying to do it and eventually get into an argument over it. This pleases Barney, allowing the fight to drag on in hopes of avoiding a slap altogether. As a truce, Ted eventually insists that Robin do it, since she’s the one who got out of a relationship with Barney and likely wants to smack him. Then Robin thinks that after Ted’s crappy year (being left at the altar, losing his job), he deserves this.
Surprisingly, neither one of the other are able to do it.
While this is going on, Lily’s estranged father shows up at her doorstep. After years of dissapointments with her dad (in which he paid more attention to his quest to create the next great board game than his daughter), she finally let him loose. But Marshall invites him over for Thanksgiving, thinking it’s time for them to reconcile. She is less-than-pleased, and walks out. Marshall eventually apologizes to his wife, saying family is a privilege and not a right, and that he’ll never interfere in this delicate situation and allow her to make her own choices in regards to family.
However, as Lily was hiding out in a coffee shop, she realizes the man that once gave her caffeinated coffee against her request (to whom she gave her “dead-to-me” glare) has died, she doesn’t want to feel as horrible for not having made up with her own flesh-and-blood before he’s out of her life for good. So all is well and forgiveness comes about right before the big feast.
But, wait! What about the slap? Marshall, feeling generous, offers the slap to Lily’s dad. He, however, can’t smack a complte stranger. So, as a fatherly gesture, finally gives a gift to his daughter: he gives her the last slap. Yet she can’t do it either! So Marshall just decides to untie Barney from the slapping throne, much to his relief… until Marshall just slaps him himself. “That’s four!”
Truly can’t wait for slap #5…
What’d you think? Is it as memorable as the previous Slapsgiving? Or are you all slapped-out? Discuss!
