As I suspected, last week’s “The Sexless Innkeeper” was just one of those occasional flops. “Duel Citizenship” is all about the classic How I Met Your Mother moments; it’s filled with Ted and Marshall bonding and Barney’s Canada jokes. After learning that one of their favorite pizzerias in Chicago, Illinois was being closed down, Ted and Marshall decide to take a road-trip like old times. However, now that Marshall is a married man, he brings Lily along for the ride, destroying all of Ted’s plans to have a good time. Concurrently, Robin trains with Barney to become an American citizen, after she assaulted someone with a chair at the Hoser Hut; otherwise, she would be deported back to Canada. With these two storylines, “Duel Citizenship” is able to cash-in on two of the show’s classic jokes: Barney’s incessant mockery of Canada and Ted and Marshall’s college days.

The road-trip storyline is done with an excellent comparison of the current-day trip to flashbacks of Ted and Marshall’s old days. Early on Lily proves to be quite the annoying companion, with her tiny bladder and sugar snap peas. Ted is peeved that he won’t be able to relive his golden days of eating nothing but beef jerky, drinking the caffeine-loaded Tantrum, and listening to The Proclaimer’s “500 Miles” over and over again. Instead, they are forced to listen to a book on tape about a dog named Sparky, voiced by Kenny Rogers. In the end, however, the book, which has some seriously ridiculous writing, actually helps Ted and Marshall rediscover their relationship. I’ve already stretched out this “Quick Review” long enough, and I have barely touched on the Barney and Robin side of the story. Without going in to too much detail, I can say that there will be plenty of riotous laughter, whether it’s Robin mistaking Jim Varney for Jeff Foxworthy and stubbornly sticking to her guns, or Barney lecturing Canada on how they can become a better country at a Tim Horton’s in Toronto.

I think I’ve pretty much made my case. “Duel Citizenship” is great on basically every level, and definitely makes up for last week’s flop.

Grade: A

Two and a Half Men – “For the Sake of the Child”

I have mixed feelings about this week’s episode. On the one hand, it does have its fair share of humor (although an equal number of jokes that don’t land). On the other hand, the actual story elements are really forced and don’t exactly make sense, which isn’t really a death sentence for a comedy, but I feel it could have used some work. For instance, Jake is sick of Charlie and Alan’s bickering, but it doesn’t seem any different from how they’ve always acted. Jake doesn’t want to stay at Charlie’s anymore, but there really isn’t a clear reason that’s bothering him.

There are a bunch of great moments this week, such as Charlie’s freak out reactions while Jake is driving and Berta’s snarky comments, but there are probably just as many crappy jokes. Charlie and Alan’s constant bickering had the potential to be a lot funnier, but the name-calling gets old fast.

Overall, I would say that I was disappointed with this episode, but I did get a few laughs out of it. For some reason it feels like this could possibly be the last season of the show, but I think the show’s ratings would beg to differ. I need to see some sort of change in this show really soon.

Grade: C+

The Big Bang Theory – “The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary”

“The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary” succeeds on both fronts. The two storylines, which include Raj recruiting Sheldon for a card game tournament  and Howard bringing up an old pact between him and Leonard, wherein Leonard, since he now has a hot girlfriend, needs to get Howard set-up with one of Penny’s friends. Raj enters the card tournament at the local comic book store for the cash prize, but he’s only able to recruit Sheldon once he discovers that Wil Wheaton also signed up for the tournament. Wheaton devastated Sheldon’s childhood after he didn’t show up at a Star Trek event that Sheldon traveled across the country to visit. Meanwhile, Leonard, Penny, Howard, and Penny’s friend go on a double date that starts out rocky, but turns into a match made in heaven as the night progresses.

Sheldon’s obsession and determination to beat Wil Wheaton is simply hilarious all throughout the episode, and it makes for a truly delightful ending. Sheldon’s comprehension and eidetic memory of the card game has him playing out each match verbally, winning without his competitors being able to play a card. Eventually, he makes it to his match with Wheaton, and, to not spoil the ending, I’ll just say that Wil Wheaton is a pretty devious guy. With the other group, Howard is really the redeeming factor. Leonard and Penny are there just because, but it’s funny watching Howard’s date with Penny’s friend go from total disaster to a perfect match.

After the first season of The Big Bang Theory I wasn’t so sure this show was going to make it. The second season really managed to grab my attention. Now, at the beginning of its third season, this show has become one of my favorites; mainly because I can relate to it, and it makes me feel less geeky.

Grade: B+