Smitten

The "Lobster Situation" From How I Met Your Mother: Have You Ever Experienced It?

Last night's How I Met Your Mother covered two situations a lot of us can relate to: Being a grown adult who still occasionally needs a bib, and only wanting what you can't have. RIP, Cornelius the tie. Welcome to the world, Bro Bibs. But onto the emotional stuff... After Robin's recent rejection of Barney, this week found her acting like a "dumb cheerleader flirting with the quarterback" who looked like she was "going to chase Barney down with a sixer of watermelon wine coolers" (although as Robin rightfully pointed out, "those bad girls come in fourskis"). How to explain her sudden change of heart? Lily said that because Barney got the last word and locked the door, Robin was now in the classic "Lobster Situation."* Background: Robin's doctor told her she was allergic to lobster and could never have it again, resulting in this: And then THIS…. Ladies, do not try this at home. Food allergens and toxic ex-boyfriends are harmful to your health. Anyway from there on out, despite her inner voice of reason's attempt to keep her in line, Robin tried all sorts of increasingly insane and frankly, kinda desperate moves (Hey writers, Cobie Smulders deserves better!)

By Gena Kaufman

December 4, 2012

Last night's How I Met Your Mother covered two situations a lot of us can relate to: Being a grown adult who still occasionally needs a bib, and only wanting what you can't have.

RIP, Cornelius the tie. Welcome to the world, Bro Bibs. But onto the emotional stuff...

After Robin's recent rejection of Barney, this week found her acting like a "dumb cheerleader flirting with the quarterback" who looked like she was "going to chase Barney down with a sixer of watermelon wine coolers" (although as Robin rightfully pointed out, "those bad girls come in fourskis").

How to explain her sudden change of heart? Lily said that because Barney got the last word and locked the door, Robin was now in the classic "Lobster Situation."* Background: Robin's doctor told her she was allergic to lobster and could never have it again, resulting in this:

And then THIS….

Ladies, do not try this at home. Food allergens and toxic ex-boyfriends are harmful to your health. Anyway from there on out, despite her inner voice of reason's attempt to keep her in line, Robin tried all sorts of increasingly insane and frankly, kinda desperate moves (Hey writers, Cobie Smulders deserves better!) to have one last hookup with Barney to get him out of her system. Well, after getting him into her system, if you know what she means. Spoiler alert: It didn't work and he ended up on a date with the thorn in her professional side, Patrice. (Huh? I did not see that one coming. I am skeptically intrigued by this turn of events.)

This isn't the first time we've seen a similar theme from Robin and Barney (seriously, how much longer can we prolong the "They're done forever" plotline when we already know they end up engaged?!?) but I still think the "Lobster Situation" is a relatable one. It's kind of an emotionally immature reaction--and hello, Robin IS emotionally immature--but sometimes, a guy is never more appealing than when he's off limits and concentrating on anything other than you.

*Note: Although I found this lobster analogy to be a good one, it can never top this use of lobsters-as-related-to-love-lives on television. Ever.

Have you ever found yourself in a "Lobster Situation"? How did you handle it? Have you ever been a guy's lobster and did it make him want you even more?