A Change of Heart

This post is devoted to a certain Barney Stinson. By the second season of How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM), you really think you've got him figured out. He seems to be the classic, high ranking, ruthless corporate workers at a questionable company. When he's not out doing that, he's hitting on women everywhere he goes. I'm sure most people are greatly amused by him in the show, but in real life, they probably couldn't stand a day with him. That's Barney for you for the first several seasons.

But by season five, it appears the writers of the show want to do something more with this one dimensional sex-depraved creature. They begin to add two new side plots that make Barney a more genuine and lovable character. The first is his gradual realization that maybe he wants to find a special girl and stop his meaningless one night stands. The second is that maybe it's about time that he meets his father whom he never knew growing up.

Barney falls in love with another main character, Robin, towards the end of season four. She's not like the other bimbos that fall for Barney's ridiculous pickup ploys. She's Canadian and hardcore (with her secret shooting range hobby and scotch drinking), and Barney slowly develops feelings towards her. At first I thought, "oh no, Robin don't fall for that, he's a scoundrel." But then it dawned on me that Barney's actually willing to change his entire lifestyle for her, and then I started rooting for them as a couple. I won't disclose what becomes of them later in the show, but during their relationships, he becomes a changed man for the better.

HIMYM uses a few episodes each season to bring up rather heavy topics that teaches a lesson or delves deeper into themes. Early on, Barney is there to diffuse these tense moments, but by season six, he's the one that plays the major role in those deeper side plots.

As a child, Barney had no idea who his biological father was. It didn't help that he mysteriously had a black brother and that his mother told them that Bob Barker from "The Price is Right" was their dad. Barney convinced himself that Bob truly was his father out of self denial, but in season six, that changes. Barney connects with his legitimate dad and he turns out to be a complete letdown. I think that that scene is arguably one of the saddest moments in the show. Here's a clip:
(Clip pending, scene from "Legendaddy Season 6)
In the next season, Barney falls in love with a British woman, Nora. But after a mere few weeks into their relationship, he (once again) falls for Robin who unfortunately has a boyfriend too. Through a scandalous affair, Barney and Robin end up cheating on their partners. Right afterwards, Barney hopes that they can actually be together, and finally decide that they should break up with their significant other by the end of the night. They make a plan to meet up at a bar afterwards. Barney does it, but then waits for Robin to meet him up. Here's what happens when Robin enters the bar.
(Clip pending, scene from (Tick, Tick, Tick Season 7)