‘How I Met Your Mother’ season 8, episode 17 preview: Captains and bikinis

“How I Met Your Mother” has aired some rather strange episodes over the course of its eight-season run, but Monday night’s “The Captain” may very well be one of the strangest … at least if you base it on the promo below.

Within the twenty seconds given to us, we admittedly have no real idea as to just what in the world is actually going on here. We have Barney walking around the women in bikinis, Ted meeting up with Zoey’s ex The Captain (Kyle MacLachlan) for the first time in two seasons, funny costumes, artwork, and Marshall promising to get into an argument with Lily … while also saying that the two are probably still going to “do it” afterwards.

The essence of this promo is obviously just meant to be a distraction from what could end up being the real story of this episode. We know that Abby Elliot is going to be back yet again as Jeanette, and the road ahead for Ted’s “mistake” is going to get even messier. While we do not know the full trajectory for this story just yet, we do know where it will end up leading: with a fire that makes Ted realize that he has more or less hit rock bottom on his quest for love.

Ultimately, it’s a shame that Jennifer Morrison is not joining MacLachlan in his grand return to the show, but considering the fine work that she is doing at the moment on another hit show in “Once Upon a time,” you cannot really be surprised. (Plus, this show shoots in Vancouver, which is a little bit of a journey from the “How I Met Your Mother” set in California.

Overall, what do you think about this promo? If you want to read some more “How I Met Your Mother” season 8 scoop all about Barney and Robin, be sure to just pay a visit over to the link here.

Photo: CBS