Subway Wars

It was inevitable after 3 quality episodes at the start of season 6, there would be a drop somewhere, and here it is!! A silly but still fun episode.

Plot In A Paragraph: At Maclarens the gang discussing what constitutes a real New Yorker. They all feel that Robin isn't one, while she believes she knows the city better than any of them. After Woody Allen is spotted at Gregor's restaurant downtown, it starts an impromptu race to Gregor's seven miles away, with Robin believes a taxi is the fastest, Marshall needs to run the seven miles, Lily uses the subway and Ted catches the bus. Meanwhile Barney has a special plan. But each really needs to win this race to compensate for something happening in their respective life.

As usual Neil Patrick Harris is the best thing in the show, but Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segel are not far behind him.

While some may pass Subway Wars off as a silly filler episode, I find it to be one of the best episodes in the whole series.

The whole concept of Subway Wars is pretty insane, with the five main characters all racing to the other side of Manhattan using different modes of transportation. The whole race is very dramatic, but that's honestly what makes it so fun. Fun additions like the map graphic, the epic music, and the frequent use of single-camera filming help set this episode apart, serving as a great showcase of how How I Met Your Mother stands out from most other sitcoms.

The humor in this episode is top-notch too, with many great jokes serving as a hilariously realistic portrayal of New York, such as the incomprehensible subway conductor, the crazy person on the bus cliche, the slow traffic light, and of course, what makes a "True New Yorker?". Outside of the NYC jokes, there are many funny character moments such as the "Why _____ Needs A Win" sequences and Marshall's western running song.

And even with all the chaos going on, Subway Wars still manages to have some great character work, with Marshall and Lily stressing out about having a kid, and Robin coping with her difficult year. Scattered throughout the episode are moments where the characters get to genuinely talk things out, so while the overall plot never really progresses, the characters do get to develop a bit. And of course, there is a very heart-warming twist near the end of the episode.

So while Subway Wars may not be everyone's cup of tea, I find it to be one of the best How I Met Your Mother episodes for its great humor, heartfelt character moments, and creativity that showcases why it's such a unique sitcom.

I like the bit where she kills a cockroach with her bare hands