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« How I Met Your Mother
Episode Recap: "Sandcastles in the Sand"
Disclaimer: I adored this episode and everything that happened in it. If you disliked parts (you know which part I speak of) then you are probably not going to agree with a lot of what I say tonight. The rest of you? Please join me in celebration — wonderful things happened tonight! Robin Sparkles was back! Robin and Barney finally gave into that burning chemistry that I have been obsessed with since “Zip, Zip, Zip”! James Van Der Beek was… funny! And now I may have used up my normal allotment of exclamation points, but you know what? I don’t care!
We open the episode at MacLaren’s, our gang seated at their usual booth. Right away, we are supposed to notice Robin’s appearance (especially her breasts). Robin admits that an old friend from Canada is coming to see her, hence the gussied-up look. When pressed by her friends, she also admits that this friend is actually her ex-boyfriend, Simon (Van Der Beek), and that he was very special to her – a summer love. Immediately, Canada jokes begin to fly including but not limited to: “Did he take your maple leaf?”, “Did he give you your first 'O Canada' face?” and “Did you ride his zamboni?” Yes, the Canada jokes are excessive sometimes, but that does not stop them from being funny. I know, I am a horrible person, but if you are going to tell me you didn’t even chuckle at that volley of bad puns and teasing, then I am going to call you a big fat liar (who probably lives in Canada).
Still talking about Simon, Robin divulges that they only dated for a week and a half (Canada only gets summer for a week at the end of July, you know) and that he dumped her after his band’s gig (band name: The Foreskins) because Louise Marsh’s parents got a pool. I am too busy laughing at the desperately thick Canadian accents to really care about anything else by this point, but I got the gist. With this new information, the gang correctly guesses that Robin is looking so sexy so she can “win” the reunion, what with her looks and her great job on the news. Simon, we learn, still lives with his parents and works at a water park, so things are looking pretty good for Robin. And then… oh, and then Simon walks in and it’s James Van Der Beek in a padded suit, balding and dressed like… like an aging rock star who still lives at home with his parents and once dumped a pretty girl for access to a pool.
Smug and happy, our fabulous foursome (not including Robin) think their girl can’t lose… until Robin freaks out, acting as if the hunkiest hunk around just smarmed his way into the bar. Oh boy is she in trouble. She immediately reverts and is suddenly an insecure teenaged girl sitting at a booth in a bar making goo-goo eyes at her crush. Simon walks over and immediately tells her she got old and then there is an absolutely hilarious exchange between him and Ted about the importance of his job metering the flow of riders on the water slides. Seriously, when did James Van Der Beek get funny? Because even as a 13-year-old watching Dawson’s Creek I thought he was kind of lame, and when my university tried to use him on my college tour as one of their “famous students” (he attended for a short while and sang a cappella, you know) I was less than impressed. But tonight… tonight I was enamored. James, I applaud your ability to play a pathetically mean Canadian nobody. Bravo!
Anyway, Robin has fallen for Simon again and the group is dismayed. Well, everyone except for Barney who, as soon as Simon revealed that he and Robin met on the set of her second music video, immediately jumped up trying to track down said video. According to Marshall, Robin has “revertigo,” which is when you slip back into a former behavioral pattern while around someone from your past. Lily also suffers from revertigo, it would seem, and thus tonight’s subplot is introduced. We will touch upon that later, when Michelle actually shows up. For now we are still focusing on Robin, who not only agrees to go on a date with Simon, but then actually plays one of his band’s tracks (“Murder Train”) over the daily montage of puppies in need of adoption that they air on her newscast. Clearly an intervention is warranted, but when Lily tries to help, Robin staunchly refuses and says Lily is acting like her mom. Which is actually the best way to get someone to act like a parent, really, and now we have Mother Lily and Father Marshall lecturing Robin on how she can’t date Simon. This culminates in Robin storming from the table screaming that she and Simon are going to “go all the way.” Seriously, I am so happy with this episode at this point, and we haven’t even seen the music video yet!
So, OK, quick aside about Lily and Michelle. Michelle and Lily were apparently very “ghetto” in high school. I was less than impressed except that Alyson Hannigan is so awkward and small that it actually sort of works. Michelle of course turns out to be very intellectual and eloquent, except when she is around Lily. Barney is tickled pink by the entire experience and we also get a quick glimpse of Ted’s revertigo around his friend “Punchy” (they greet each other and immediately fake-fight). And that, dear readers, is tonight’s unimportant subplot.
Back again to Robin, who is lugging the band’s equipment from their gig, just as she used to. Simon sits in the same van as a decade earlier and proceeds to dump Robin exactly as he had a decade earlier. Exactly as he had a decade earlier. Robin is clearly devastated and returns to the bar defeated. Barney finds her alone and crying and, guys, he immediately comforts her. Arm around her, rubbing her shoulder, telling her she is an amazing woman… comforting her! My heart flutters, it really does. And Robin, clearly as fluttery about it as I am, invites Barney back to her apartment. Now, I was in no way fooled by this ploy, but it was still great to watch Barney’s face as she whispered in his ear, even if I knew she was whispering about showing him the music video and not taking him to bed.
Back in Robin’s apartment we get some double entendres and then… the video. Oh, this video is everything I hoped it would be. The bad wig, the cheesy lyrics, the robot. And, of course, guest stars Tiffany and Alan Thicke! I am not ashamed to say that I am still singing the song in my head ("Sandcastles in the saaaaaand"). It is amazingly bad and a perfect follow-up to “Let’s Go to the Mall.” Love Ballads of the '80s (well, really the '90s, right?). Absolutely amazing. You know what is coming, though, don’t you? I bet you do.
End of the episode is Barney and Robin kissing on her couch after having watched the music video over and over and over. Finally!! I have seriously, seriously been waiting for this since Season 1. And, yes, perhaps they will crash and burn, but nonetheless I am a happy woman tonight. He made her see that she isn’t that same lame teenager from Canada that she used to be! She is his bro! Guh, I am beyond thrilled. Now, writers, listen up – don’t you dare screw this up, you hear?! I’m counting on you!!
And now that I have rambled on and on and on, here are your quotes of the evening:
• “Did you meet him at Degrassi?” – Barney referring to Simon
• “If you reedit this, there’s a tampon commercial in there” – Barney on the music video
As always, you can find HIMYM video clips in our Online Video Guide.
EDIT: Hey, guys, me again, letting you know that the Guide has also started carrying Barney's blog! If you haven't been following it, you should definitely start!
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Apr 21, 2008 11:04 PM
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Like you Justine, I have been WAITING! WAITING for Barney and Robin to hook up ever since Barney gave his reasons they would work way back in Season 1.
This episode was everything I hoped it would be and so so much more.
Nobody better diss the Robin Barney hook up because it is going to be LEGENDARY!
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Apr 21, 2008 11:12 PM
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The Barney/Robin kiss made me have "revertigo" - triggering the high pitched "yay" and clapping I would do with my best friend back as teens. I also hope the writers don't screw this up.
As for favorite parts of the episode there ate way too many, but we had to pause the dvr because of my unstoppable giggling at Lily and Marshall parenting Robin (which my friends have done to not only to each other but me as well)and Marshall screaming at Ted "Not Now!".
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Apr 21, 2008 11:51 PM
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I think there is good chemistry between Robin and Barney. I'm curious to see how they are going to play it out.
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Apr 22, 2008 12:05 AM
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LOL This is one of their funniest episodes and it's great that they didn't screw up the whole Robin Sparkles thing by playing that card all night.
BTW, I live in Canada and I love them making fun of Canadians! Even though I don't have a ridiculous accent the jokes are always hilarious. We Canadians have a very good of humour.
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Apr 22, 2008 12:32 AM
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My favorite line something like, we're about 4 or 5 gigs away from from blowing up like CRASH DUMMIES big.
Great episode again, if this doesn't get renewed, I don't get it, best comedy on TV.
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Apr 22, 2008 12:48 AM
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Excellent episode. I have already watched it twice and might watch it again tonight.
Favorite parts/quotes:
Barney: "Tell me more, tell me more, like, does he have a car?" (giggles)
(It's from "Grease", just in case anyone doesn't know.)
Barney making the Game Over sound effect from Pacman in response to hearing that Robin was going on a date with Simon.
BTW, to the Canadians on this blog, please excuse my ignorance--is there really a "Red Province" and "the Deep North" in Canada? Like the Deep South in USA? Interesting.
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Apr 22, 2008 12:49 AM
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ITA! This episode truly had it all. And I will never get the song out of my head (we were going to travel the globe ... from Alberta to Ontariooooo). I knew sooner or later Barney and Robin would hook up. And mom and pop Lily and Marshall? So funny ("Not now Ted!"). I never watched "Dawson's Creek" but I've seen James Van Der Beek on other stuff ... never knew he was so funny!
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Apr 22, 2008 12:51 AM
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jwtrout - we don't call them "red provinces" but there are some provinces that are more conservative than others - not quite the divide as in the states however. As for "the deep north"...ummm nope. 
I'm also Canadian as you might have guessed and I thought the jokes were hilarious - even the groaners like the zamboni joke. Actually, the "he's not that inuit" joke was new and pretty clever! I loved LOVED the episode too - I love Barney - I just hope that the cool insult/best buds vibe doesn't get lost in a hookup with B and R. (sorry, channelling gossip girl now). my only (mini) pet peeve - the "canadian accents" were a bit over the top - and van der beek's was more scottish (ish) than canadian. "dawson" was better at the comedy than teenage angst though, that's for sure!
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Apr 22, 2008 1:15 AM
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Wow. Almost as good as the original Robin Sparkles episode "Slapbet." I too am on the Robin/Barney bandwagon. However, I wasn't expecting it so soon like that. I'm with the others who hope the writers handle this the right way.
I could not stop laughing at the parenting bit. I had that exact conversation with my parents nearly 20 years ago.
Alan Thicke's cameo was wasted in that brief shot in the video.
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Apr 22, 2008 3:24 AM
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Great recap, and I loved this episode--I just hope Barney doesn't go all sensitive on us. I wouldn't mind him ending up with Robin, as long as he keeps the same personality. We already have Ted and Marshall for sensitivity. I have faith in the writers, though, so I'm sure they will work it out.
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Apr 22, 2008 6:14 AM
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I wouldn't mind seeing Barney with Robin at all. He'd have to stop the womanizing, of course, and that's the Barney we know and love. We've seen him in the future, but I can't remember....is he with someone then or acting the same old Barney way?
Justine, I'm so glad you mentioned that was James Van der Beek (is that how it's written?). I'm not the age group that would have watched Dawson but I did watch a few epis with my daughter. I needed a thump on the head to make me realize who that was. I saw him in a Criminal Minds episode where he played a very very scary serial killer last year, and he sure didn't look like he did on HIMYM!
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Apr 22, 2008 7:10 AM
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I think that Robin is going to pull a Barney on Barney and start ignoring him, while Barney gets all stupid and girly. They'll play this for an episode and then get back to normal.
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Apr 22, 2008 7:14 AM
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OH MY GOD! I just watched HIMYM online. HI-Friggin-larious. I knew I was gonna get to see some crazy old fat Dawson & I knew I was gonna see that crazy lame but still hilarious Robin Sparkles video, but I did not know that Robin & Barney were gonna hook up. Well, I sorta kinda got that vibe while watching it that something was going to happen with them, but I was like, no the writers aren't ever going to go there, it'll be like Gizzie all over again. Then they did. & it was legen--wait for it, wait for it some more--dary. I sooo loved this episode. Can't wait til next week. I know they can't really show previews for next week bc if they did you'd pretty much see the whole episode, I mean it's only 30 minutes, well about 22 if you add in the commercials. Which is why I love watching it online b/c no commercials...SWEEET!!!
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Apr 22, 2008 8:49 AM
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A big round of applause for HIMYM, for keeping the Robin-Barney kissage top-secret while the world fixated on the thoroughly boring "Will Britney return?" question. That scene hit me out of nowhere. I just updated my Facebook status to commend the show for going "there." Now let's see how it plays out.
My only nit to pick: The accents being borderline Swedish versus Canadian.
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Apr 22, 2008 8:50 AM
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