Season 3, Episode 16: Sandcastles in the Sand

Tell me more, tell me more…like, did he have a car?

Future Ted explains that Robin has come a long way from when she was “Robin Sparkles” as a teenager.  She looks super hot and explains that Simon, her first boyfriend, is in town and she’s going to see him that night.  The group questions her about her and then ends up doing a bunch of Canada jokes.  Robin ends up explaining that after his band’s gig one night while she was loading the van he broke up with her.  He was getting back together with Louise Marsh who’s “parents just put in a pool.”  They can’t believe she’s going to see this guy, but then they realize Robin’s trying to “win.”  They add up the points and Robin’s a clear winner (5-0), because Simon’s a loser.  Unfortunately, when he shows up, Robin turns back into a total love-struck teenager (complete with Canadian accent).

Later, Robin’s embarrassed, but she explains that Simon’s still got it.  The group tried to talk her up to Simon, but Simon’s such a douche that he doesn’t see what a loser he is.  Additionally, it was revealed that they met on Robin’s other music video.  Barney just asks Robin for the tape, but she refuses, so he dedicates himself to finding the video.

Back to Simon, Ted and Marshall explain that when you’re around someone from your past you revert back to the way you were when you knew them, Marshall has dubbed it “Revertigo.”  They explain Lily has it bad when she meets up with her high school friend Michelle.  So they suggest to Lily that she call Michelle.

The next day (or something) Simon showed up at Robin’s apartmen t and told her that breaking up with her was the biggest mistake of his life and he asked out.  To the group’s dismay, Robin said yes.

Lily’s friend Michelle shows up and Lily becomes, frankly, black.  It’s hilarious!

Robin’s back with Simon, and he’s just using her to promote his band.  (She ends up playing one of their songs on the air, “Murder Train” during a segment about adopting dogs.)

The group tries to express their concerns to Robin, but she’s still acting like a 16-year-old.  After Simon’s gig that night, while Robin’s loading the van Simon breaks up with her to get back together with Louise Marsh.

The group’s consoling Robin at the bar, and eventually, the everybody goes home and Robin’s trying not to cry.  But, Barney shows up and says he’s spent 3 days trying to find the video and can’t find it.  He notices something’s wrong and first laughs when she tells him and then ends up consoling her.  She tells him she just wanted to be 16 again, and Barney tells her she was lame back then is so the second most awesome person he knows (the first being this person in the mirror).  She invites him back to her place.  They’re awkwardly on the couch and he “puts it in.”  It being the video for “Sandcastles in the Sand” or artistic follow-up to “Let’s go to the Mall.”  It contained both Tiffany and Alan Thicke.  It’s so 80’s and awful.  But kinda funny.  Barney cheers her up by showing her how lame she was back then.  They watch it over and over again, until they stop watching.

Wooooooo!

The Mother-  Hands down favorite episode!  Mainly, because if you haven’t noticed it by now, I’m totally in love with Barney and NPH.  And watching Barney be so nice to her…kills me every time.  As a side note, when you watch them watching the video, notice that every time it cuts back to them on the couch they’re slowly sitting closer together.  Eeee!