Entertainment
Page 8
April 4, 2014
HIMYM: a slap in the face
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Her name is Tracy McConnell. After nine seasons of close calls, slap bets, doppelgangers and yellow umbrellas, “How I Met Your Mother” fans witness the first meeting between Ted and the greatly anticipated woman of his dreams, only to have her stolen away in a shocking plot twist, which leaves viewers shocked, confused and angry. The episode relies heavily on flash-forwards and flashbacks to show the passage of time and the fate of the famous group of friends. Starting at Barney and Robin’s wedding reception, viewers witness Ted’s heartbreaking goodbye to his friends before leaving for Chicago, his first sighting of his future wife and their fated meeting at the train station. The episode cuts to the future where Ted and Tracy are planning their wedding, only to learn the joyful news that Tracy is pregnant. Another jump, and the gang learns that Barney and Robin have decided to get divorced after three years of marriage, which sets the scene for the steady deterioration of the group. Despite Lily’s tearful pleas that the gang stays together for “the big moments,” years go by, distance grows and the characters continue on with their lives.
Marshall and Lily have two more kids, and Marshall becomes first a judge, then a justice. Robin is rarely seen due to her job as a famous news reporter. Part one of the two-part finale ends after a heartbreaking conversation between Lily and Robin, in which Robin tells Lily that things can never be how they once were. The one character who does not seem to change as the years go by is Barney. At one of the gang’s now infrequent meet-ups at McLaren’s, Barney pleads with them to accept him for who he is. “I’m never going to be a guy who meets a girl and from the
first time I see her I’m just like, ‘you are the love of my life, everything I have and everything I am is yours, forever.’ That’s not me,” he said. However, in perhaps the most stunning and touching twist of the show, Barney learns that his one-night stand is pregnant, and he is going to be a father. Despite his initial refusal to accept his baby daughter, he falls in love the first time he holds her and says those words he once thought he would never say. Baby Ellie is the girl who tames Barney and turns him from his playboy life, wrapping up his character in a beautifully unexpected way.
Barney’s daughter serves as a touching way to tie up his playboy ends, and Marshall and Lily live happily ever after. Ted’s character is the one with which fans may have problems. For nine seasons fans grew accustomed to the sweet romantic who goes to crazy lengths for the sake of love. It is unbelievable that such a romantic would meet the girl of his dreams, only to put off their wedding for seven years. It is also hard to believe that he would be able to move on from her death and go back to Robin. Their relationship did not work out multiple times in the past, and it is hard to see what will change in the future. Fans of the show will certainly have mixed feelings about its ending. In many ways it is an appropriate farewell to the characters many have grown to know and love, but it also comes full circle in a frustrating and confusing way. In the very first episode, Ted tells the kids how he met their Aunt Robin, immediately taking her off the list of candidates to be the mother, but the finale twists that story in such a way that is brilliant and devious. Nine seasons, and 208 episodes later, “How I Met Your Mother” ends its run in a way that may be confusing and controversial, but unfailingly legendary.
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Headed for Hollywood Zoe Simek, a future in film
Jacob Sziráky
The story turns back to Ted and Tracy, who finally get married after seven years and have two children. The episode cuts to Ted and Tracy’s wedding. Ted then begins a monologue about the years they spent together, which is sweet until the language becomes noticeably past tense. In a shocking turn minutes before the end of the show, it is revealed that Tracy got sick, and passed away six years prior to the present day. Fans speculated from hints dropped in previous episodes that the mother was going to die, but the next bombshell was completely unexpected. Ted wraps up his story and his daughter challenges him, insisting that the story, supposedly about how he met their mother was, instead, the story of how he met and fell in love with Robin. With very little urging, Ted gets up and runs to Robin’s apartment, where he stands outside her window and holds up the blue French horn, a direct allusion to the first episode and their first date. The scene fades to black and the credits roll. The finale is a mixed bag of good and bad, including some moments of undeniable hilarity and some of heart-wrenching seriousness. The writers make a concerted effort to include references from the entire series that will resonate with fans, including the Cockamouse, licking the Liberty Bell (or not) and the Hanging Chad costume.
Hollywood and working on those films was very hard because you are in an environment where God is nowhere to be found,” she said. Simek went on to say that many people in the movie making business have everything, from money to respect to family, but that there is no joy in their
through my actions.” One way Simek set herself Staff Writer apart was through her use of Zoe Simek, a senior entrelanguage. preneurship major, has a passion “I wouldn’t swear and peofor filmmaking and has already ple would ask, ‘Why aren’t you done much to make her dreams swearing?,’” Simek said, to which come true. She has observed the she would respond, “Because I filming processes of the Disney and Dreamworks film, “I Am don’t need to.” Number Four,” and served Simek cited the words as a production assistant for of Christian author, Steven the blockbuster hits, “The We need to embrace our Furtick, who said, “If the Dark Knight Rises” and “The passions and follow the size of your vision for your Avengers.” Lord’s leading and calling life isn’t intimidating to you, “Because God has put that passion in me, He isn’t going in our lives. there’s a good chance it’s into let it go,” Simek said. sulting to God.” Simek started her cinZoe Simek She went on to say, “We ematic journey shortly after are unique because we have graduating from high school. huge passion and vision in our The filming for “I Am Number lives ... My question to everyFour” took place at her high school and Simek was given lives. They work so hard that one is, if we have been given permission to observe. As she they have no time to see their these passions, then why can’t watched the filming process, families or spend any of their we change the world? We need Simek was offered a job as a pro- money in a meaningful way. However, Simek’s co-workers to embrace our passions and folduction assistant over the sumsoon figured out that there was low the Lord’s leading and callmer in Pittsburgh. “My passion for Holly- something different about her ing in our lives, even if it requires wood has gotten much deeper and the way she did her work. taking a step in faith and letting “I realized it was because I him direct our path.” and much greater since [high had joy,” she said. “I didn’t have school],” Simek said. In her pursuit of her passion, Simek also has another pas- everything, but because I had Simek fully embraces the words sion that complements her love God I had everything I needed... I wasn’t preaching – it was of Paul: “So whether you eat or for the filmmaking process. “Being a senior, my ultimate more just letting the Spirit lead drink or whatever you do, do it dream is to bring God back to me and letting that be evident all for the glory of God.”
Coming up in chapel Sunday, April 6 Vespers: “The Mount of Olives Road” Tuesday, April 8 Amy Genders ‘14, Red Box Mission to Ukraine Thursday, April 10 Vision & Values conference speaker Michael Geer, president of Pennsylvania Family Institute
Correction In the March 28 issue of The Collegian, the article “The Gala: A Be-Jewelled-Evening,” reported that the Gala is held every other year in the Intramural Room. This year, the Gala will be held in HAL Courtyard.
GREEN EYESHADE AWARD This week’s award goes to sophomore Cameron Holloway for his consistently stellar photography and captivating art, particularly in this week’s photo spread in collaboration with Megan Daugherty. The Collegian Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors who have demonstrated consistency and excellence in their work.
Cameron Holloway
Each week, The Collegian editors select a reporter, photographer or staff member who has made a valuable contribution to the paper. The award makes a valuable addition to a portfolio or resume.