Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: B+ | 2 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT How I Met Your Mother
By Cindy McLennan | Season 2 | Episode 6 | Aired on 11.04.2012
Portland. Neal and a visibly pregnant Emma are in a convenience store. Neal grabs a road map to distract the clerk while Emma does a little shoplifting, which I guess we're supposed to accept is justified, because the clerk is a jerk. At the counter, there are two racks of key chains for sale. The leather keychains bear names, and both Henry and Alice are prominently featured. The Alice one reminds me of the White Rabbit clues in Neal's Manhattan flat. I can't decide if I should ditch my Neal = Bae speculation, or enhance it. There's plenty of speculation that Neal may be both Bae and the ever-hurrying bunny. Given Rumpy's many identities, I don't see any reason to rule that out.
Anyhow, there are also some metallic keychains. Neal swipes one bearing a swan for Emma. Isn't theft romantic? I'd better call my dentist once I'm done. Another customer enters, just as Neal is pocketing some Apollo Bars. He tries to warn the clerk, but Emma creates her own distraction by pretending to go into labor. Neal rushes her out of the store. The customer tells the clerk that the couple was robbing him blind, but that's all we'll see of them, so who cares.
As Neal and Emma return to the Bug, she drops her purse out from under her shirt. She's not pregnant after all -- at least not as far as she knows. Inside the car. Neal gives Emma the keychain and they start kissing, because even they know it's a wrap for the clerk and customer.
Neal and Emma stake out a motel. When a family leaves a room, Neal says, "Twenty minutes 'til housekeeping," and they rush inside -- just to take showers. Get your minds out of the gutter. This is a family show. Emma finds a left-behind (not Left Behind) dream-catcher, which we last saw in this season's premiere, in Neal's Manhattan flat. She explains that it's supposed to keep away bad dreams. Neal: "It's flypaper for nightmares? Let's keep it." Emma laughs at the idea of hanging it in the car. Neal admits it's not much of a home and suggests it's time they retire the Bonnie and Clyde act, and settle down. Emma: "Where? Neverland?" Hmmm. Neal is serious. He grabs a framed map from the bureau, tells Emma to close her eyes, and pick a spot on the map. She chooses Tallahassee. [Note: I think we've met a guy from there before. -- Rachel.] Emma's smile in this episode reminds me of how seldom she smiles in this show. It's nice to see it, yet I'm bracing myself for her heartbreak that is sure to come within the next 44 minutes. She asks Neal if he's sure this is what he really wants. Neal: "What I want is you." What I really want is some Anbesol. I kid. I kid. I'm enjoying Neal and Emma. As they kiss, we cut to commercial.