‘How I Met Your Mother’ season 9, episode 10 preview: John Lythgow returns; Barney’s ‘trap’

Is next week’s episode of “How I Met Your Mother” in some way inspired by “The Parent Trap”? There are times in which it really feels like it, based on the promo below. John Lythgow is going to return in the role of Barney’s father, and he is going to try to take it upon himself to get his parents together … regardless of whether or not he wants to. There will be shenanigans, funny moments, and also plenty of other surprises through in here, as well, and it will all probably happen while Robin rolls her eyes and calls her fiance completely immature.

Before we do anything else, let’s go ahead and present the full synopsis for this episode (entitled “Mom and Dad”):

“When Barney’s father arrives at the hotel, Barney devises a plan that makes Robin very nervous. Meanwhile, Ted is convinced someone framed him by messing up a wedding-related duty.”

Will this be the only appearance from Lythgow on the show this season? Probably not, since there is also the wedding itself coming up a little later this season. But what we are mostly curious about is if there is going to be enough time really given for us to see what his relationship with Barney really is now. These two have spent a good bit of time together in recent years, but the two episodes that they have spent together have been rocky. Just remember how desperate Barney was for his father’s approval, and then how desperate he was to turn his dad into one of the guys when he really wasn’t. So to suddenly try to force his mother upon him? Well, it could be problematic, and the last thing that Barney should be doing is framing the story in a way where his father is not able to appear at the wedding itself after feeling uncomfortable.

Is there anything in particular that you want to see on “How I Met Your Mother” next week? Share below, and click here if you want to read our full review of Monday night’s episode.

Photo: CBS