(S05E17) Let's see ... this week, we got Ted in the future telling his kids the story that Barney told a police officer after he'd been pulled out of the Hudson River. So did we get Barney's version of events, or the version Ted might remember from his own role?

I'm going with this being Barney's version of events, because it's the only way I can justify the way in which Ted described to Barney the "super-date." All in all, there were several moments that made me smile, but I wasn't laughing as hard as I usually do during an episode of 'How I Met Your Mother.'

However, I'll forgive the episode that because it did entertain me and more importantly-- it gave us all some much needed closure!

Going into this episode, I had completely forgotten that Jennifer Lopez was scheduled to appear. It's a little surprising that they'd have a big guest star so shortly after Carrie Underwood's appearance last week, but there's no fear yet that 'HIMYM' is headed down the same path 'Will & Grace' did with their parade of celebrity guest stars. 'Mother' is still bringing clever and creative storytelling.

First of all, I love the title of Lopez' character's book: 'Of Course You're Still Single, Take a Look at Yourself, You Dumb Slut.' If that book were really out there, I bet it would be an instant number one bestseller. People love titles that don't take themselves too seriously. The 'Dumb Slut' tagline wasn't as appropriate on her follow-up book on financial advice, but those taglines do stick with you.

By the way, the little nod to Robin's "But, um..." in her interview segment with Anita (Lopez) was beautiful. It's such a reward to long-time fans when the show tucks in little things like that. One of my favorite things about 'HIMYM' is how tight the continuity is, which considering the often non-linear storytelling, is essential to keep straight.

Speaking of continuity, I couldn't help but think that Anita's "No" technique is just another way to get a guy "on the hook." I'm a little disappointed to see two dating technique episodes back-to-back. Especially when the end result of the two actions is essentially the same: the hookee (or person you said "No" to) is totally beholden to you, waiting for you to reel them in and say "Yes."

Still, I thought Lopez was very good in the role of Anita, and looked fabulous as well. She kind of faded out of the episode for awhile as we focused on the unresolved Barney-Robin issues, but her return to face Barney's "No" was one of the episode's funnier moments. Her attempts to leave and stay strong were tempered perfectly with her pathetic crawling back. Poor Barney. And yes, his response to her final offer was completely over the top, but isn't that status quo for Barney?

Barney highlights:

--Replacing his old plan of "I'm going to sleep with her" with a new one when he finds out she wrote the aforementioned book. The new plan? "I'm going to sleep with her."

--Describing the microfiber in his suit as the smallest, and it gets softer when it gets touched.

--Questioning Ted on why he was breaking into song

Ted's song description of the super-date was one of the odder interludes in the episode. This is the reason I choose to believe we are getting Barney's version of events, even though it's Ted telling Barney's version to his kids in the future. It makes sense for Barney to add a musical number in his stories, because his reality is our surreality.

He did get very real with Robin, though, in finally apologizing for their break up and trying to assure her that she was never just another number to him. It was a sweet gesture to give her the super-date, but more impressively he agreed to not sleep with Anita, which lead to that funny reverse - "No" scene.

As much as I didn't think the repetitive "Bang Bang Bangity Bang" song was a good representative of the gang's insensitivity to Robin recently, I was glad to see Robin break into the song at the end, if only because it means we can finally be completely done with the Robin-Barney relationship. The characters can move on with their lives, which apparently means Robin can move on with Don, and we can move on with the show.

If Lily is such good friends with all of these people, why the hell would she have never said anything to any of them about how they were regularly reducing Robin to tears? That doesn't fit at all with the Lily we've come to know. She'd never sit idly by while a friend suffers if she can do anything about it.

Is it just me, or does it seem like the writers don't really know what to do with Lily anymore as a character this season? She's been reduced to a supporting character in most of the storylines; it's as if she's become Marshall's shadow now that she's married to him.

I need a good strong Lily-centric storyline that has nothing to do with Marshall. She's a strong character in her own right that's been forgotten. She's an artist, an independent spirit, incredibly strong and protective of her friends and family, and has been hilarious in the past. I know she was hard to focus on when she was pregnant, but that's, like, so last year. You got Robin in a hot little red dress this week, after all, and she was preggers, too.

I still love you, 'HIMYM.' I'm still on board to find out who the mother is no matter how long you drag it out. I even enjoyed a lot of this episode, but I don't think it was as strong as last week's similar outing, and I know you're capable of even better!

[Watch clips and free episodes of 'HIMYM' at SlashControl.]