HIMYM: The Drunk Train

Ok.  Time for real talk.  This show is really letting me down. It's been feeling like the past couple of episodes have been stalling.  Granted, we had a HUGE (relatively) plot development at the end it was essentially more of the same.  We're waiting on Lil' Shall to have the baby.  We're waiting on Barney to get the courage to be in love with Robin.  We're waiting for Robin to dump Kevin.  We're waiting for Ted to stop being annoying.  We're waiting for the writers to realize that the show doesn't have to end when Ted meets the mother.  WE CAN DEAL WITH IT.  The waiting was fine to a point, but now it's just incredibly boring and the jokes are getting old (really though how many lines can Barney keep giving and we find funny?).  Read the episode highlights after the jump.

• Everyone's at the bar discussing their Valentine's plans.  Granted, this is irrelevant except for this joke:

• Lil' Shall invite Robin and Kevin to join them on a couples vacation.  They lectured them on what it takes to stay together for 16 years and still be blissfully happy. Ahhh silly young loves, it's as simple as not keeping score.  WHATEVER YOU DO don't keep score of who owes who.
• Barney and Ted come to learn about the magical thing called the Drunk Train on the Long Island Rail Road.  As a poor sap who is forced to take this beast everyday, it was not as delightful a storyline as I imagine it was for others.  First off, in real life, no one wants the drunk train.  Maybe I am just way lame but I think I'd rather look on a street corner that the LIRR Drunk Train for a mate.  But Ted is desperate for a little hanky panky and can't handle searching for "the one" so on to the train they go.

• Barney is able to convince Ted to join him on this quest for cheap lays because he spent three hours being Ted's wingman the night before.  Annoying, clingy Ted hung on every word of some annoying chick and Barney was forced to talk with her friend all night.  I like this new character for one main reason: she calls Barney out on his lame pickup lines.  He tells her that he suffers from enormous penis syndrome and she tells him to get a life.  Here here.
• Robin and Kevin are swept up in their romantic weekend with Lil 'Shall.   So much so that Kevin pops the question. THE question.  Now as soon as he gets down on his knee we all collectively say "ahhhhh so this is how they're getting rid of him."  No one believes that Robin is actually going to agree to it.  No one.
• On the Drunk Train, Barney and Ted find out that the "ladies" are a little more aggressive than they expected.  Also that the drunk train is late and they are adults so they obv fall asleep.  [Note to the writers:  there is no last train to Long Island.  You can always find your way back to that demon island, no matter what hour of day it is.]

• Robin tells Kevin that she needs some time to think it over, and he asks her not to tell anyone yet.  Natch she tells Lil' Shall.
• Ted and Barney give it another whirl, this time with lots of coffee.  Shockingly, still no luck but this time Ted starts to notice that Barney seems to be holding back with his attempts at the ladiez.
• Lil' Shall are so happy for Robin that they can't help making terrible allusions to the fact that they totally know Kevin proposed.  Fantastic.  They also notice that Robin doesn't seem all too happy about the news.
• When they ask what's up, Robin tells them about the fact that she can't have children.  She's worried that this will mean that Kevin won't want to marry her.  Although, while she's saying this, I kind of got the feeling that she's hoping that this is a reason for him not to marry her.  I still don't believe that she ever loved him more than Barney.
• When Robin does tell Kevin the news, he doesn't care because it's not the end of the world and they can still adopt or whatever.  Robin tells him that she doesn't want children EVER and kind of breaks up with him because she doesn't want him resenting her down the road.  I have to say, with as many problems as I've had with this episode, I loved how they treated this issue.  I love that they've never faltered with Robin's wishes to not have children.  Even when she realized she couldn't, she's still sticking to what she wants and they're not caving in because it would be neat and easy.  Kevin always wanted kids, Robin never did, of course they can get married.  It's just sad that Robin's two major relationships have ended because she's committed to not having children.
• Ted convinces Barney that he really has feelings for this girl, and it's the reason he can't stop talking about her.  Seeing Barney feel that way about someone makes Ted want to be back on that track.  Ever since Stella crushed him, he really hasn't let himself get out there. 

• Lil' Shall come home to realize they have a problem.  They keep score.  I really think that was it.  They are getting real boring.
• Ted comes home and goes to the roof to find Robin.  She's smoking an upset because of Kevin and, I think, because she's realizing it's going to be hard to find someone who doesn't want kids.  Ted tells her he loves her.  Because why not.  Happy Valentine's Day.

Catch How I Met Your Mother Mondays at 8 on CBS