How I Met Your Mother“The Chain of Screaming”
Original Air Date: April 14, 2008
Rachel – TwoCents Staff Writer
So we finally see where Marshall works. You know, the evil law firm he sold his soul to. It’s kind of a Wolfram & Hart place, if you know what I mean. But I get ahead of myself… Ted bought a car.
Now, I’ve lived in NYC and I know that a car is one of the more stupid possessions a resident could have in the city. The parking alone can eat up hundreds of dollars. But Ted got a raise and wanted to reward himself. After Barney calls “shotgun for eternity” (which is a great idea, by the way), Marshall shows up looking very out of sorts. Over a beer, he tells his story…
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So we finally see where Marshall works. You know, the evil law firm he sold his soul to. It’s kind of a Wolfram & Hart place, if you know what I mean. But I get ahead of myself… Ted bought a car.
ReplyDeleteNow, I’ve lived in NYC and I know that a car is one of the more stupid possessions a resident could have in the city. The parking alone can eat up hundreds of dollars. But Ted got a raise and wanted to reward himself. After Barney calls “shotgun for eternity” (which is a great idea, by the way), Marshall shows up looking very out of sorts. Over a beer, he tells his story…
Marshall had been so excited to start his new job as a lawyer… there was excessive use of the word “dude” and he was very proud of his fancy but empty briefcase. One problem: Artillery Arthur. One of the senior partners, AA had a reputation for screaming (we’re talking outside-voice, top-of-the-lungs screaming) if a mistake was made. And wouldn’t you know it? Marshall got his head ripped off for not turning in a report (known as The Ninja Report to the gang, as to make things more interesting). Marshall had never had anyone treat him that way so, being the sweet, sensitive guy that he is, he breaks down in tears in front of AA. Marshall is mortified. What is he going to do now? He can’t take working in an environment like that! Poor puppy!
In an effort to help Marshall, each friend goes through a scenario of what he or she would do in the situation. Robin would take a gun to work and threaten AA (Canadians are weird); Ted would speechify like Abraham Lincoln; Lily would talk to AA like she does her kindergarten students. And Barney? Well, kids, its Barney. He suggests Marshall pass the scream on (maybe to Lily, or a waiter) in a tradition he likes to call The Circle of Screaming, which is more a chain, really. But when Marshal tries to do that, the waiter screams right back and Marshal feels horrible. Way to go, Barney.
So finally, Marshal goes into AA’s office to try Lily’s tactic of “kindergarten reasoning.” But then it all hits him… he is not doing the type job he wanted to and is in debt because of a mortgage on a crooked apartment. So what does he do? He quits (forfeiting a severance package, I might add). How will he tell Lily? (This part of the story, by the way, was told in Ted’s pristine car with catsup, ice cream, and cigar smoke a’flyin’. My husband couldn’t watch it… and neither could Ted.)
In the back seat of Ted’s car, all alone, Marshall tells Lily and, of course, she understands. They’ll find a way through. Cut to Ted writing Marshall a check. He sold his car and gave the money to the Eriksens to get them through this rough patch.
Great episode. If the writers keep this up, we may never know how Mr. and Mrs. Mosby met because the show will go on and on for years. I’m OK with that.
Best line of the episode: “Screaming is a motivational tool. Like Christmas bonuses… or sexual harassment. It’s just good business.” -Barney