BARNIE STINSON

CHARACTER COUNTS:
Barney Stinson, "How I Met
Your Mother"
By GRANT DARWIN
Published Nov. 11, 2009. 1729 views
Suit up!
The oversexed, well-dressed, witty yuppie that is Barney Stinson may
be perhaps the most hilarious character on TV. Played by Neil Patrick
Harris (of Doogie Howser MD and Harold & Kumar fame), he delights
audiences on CBSs sitcom How I Met Your Mother.
Stinson embodies a comedic flamboyance built on extreme
bachelorism and a never-ending supply of quick quips inspired by
sexism, partying and womanizing. Absurd gentlemans bets, ridiculous
theories on women and life and a penchant for the perfectly timed
high five (What up!) ensures that the laughs never stop. In Season 1,
Barney discusses his Halloween costume strategy: Every Halloween,
I bring a spare costume, in case I strike out with the hottest girl at the
party. That way, I have a second chance to make a first impression.
Stinson perfectly contrasts Jason Segals (Forgetting Sarah
Marshall) terminally whipped Marshall Eriksen and Josh Randers
hopeless romantic Ted Mosby. The three together, along with
their female cohorts Lily and Robin (Allison Hannigan and Cobie
Smulders) provide an interesting commentary on five very different,
but decidedly modern thirty-somethings in Manhattan. Moreover,
Stinsons love of sex and suits is only exceeded by his love of himself,
leading to a slew of very quotable one-liners. Barney remarks about his
first sexual experience in Season 3: That was the night I was born. I
rose like a phoenix from her mentholated bosom and strode into the
world, Armani-clad and fully awesome.
A brilliant blend of excessive male chauvinism and self-appreciation
coupled with a flair for absurd commentary, Barney Stinson is one of
my favorite, and one of the most entertaining, characters on TV today.
To be brief, there is no way of being brief about Barney Stinson. He is a legend in
his own mind, and will go out of his way to tell you so. He is overconfident to the

point of hyperbole, and as far as he's concerned, his opinion is not just the best:
it's the ONLY one that counts. He makes it a point to be the life of the party ...
and if there isn't a party, he'll find a way to make one, and make it "Legen ...
wait for it ... and I hope you're not lactose intolerant because the second half
of the word is ... dary!" Barney is an insufferable womanizer, though whether it
stems from a fear of committment or a simple disdain is debatable. However, if
someone he considers a friend is having relationship troubles, he will go out of
his way to tell them exactly how they should be resolved. He's also fiercely loyal
to the people he earmarks as his friends - even if they may not reciprocate the
sentiment. (Never mind that his loyalty may show itself in strange, underhanded
ways: he once helped Marshall reunite with Lily by undermining Marshall every
time he tried to go out with another girl.) He's also a born performer, fond of
karaoke, sleight of hand, and showing off whenever there's a piano present. He
hates seeing anyone upset or depressed, though he won't outwardly say so instead, he'll go to some ludicrous end to cheer them up - including mocking
them until they lose their temper, and end up laughing about it afterwards. If
anyone calls him on it, he'll just wave it off with a "No need to thank me - I'm just
that awesome".
Underneath all his ego and bluster, Barney is a sensitive and very self-conscious
person ... very, very, VERY far underneath. He's buried the sensitive, long-haired
hippie he used to be under several layers of expensive suits and swagger, and if
it ever shows up briefly, he'll cover it up immediately afterwards. It could be said
that Barney Stinson wants to keep the party spinning around him constantly so
that he won't have to stop and think about how fleeting it all is. He lives in the
moment, and if he's robbed of that moment, he's nothing.
Since his arrival in Paradisa, however, a lot of the crazy times in the castle have
started to soften him back up. He's lost and regained friends, both to temporary
death and to Paradisa sending them home. He's starting to actually share more
with some of his Bros, and be a little more honest about himself - though he'll still
be quick to either bluster over it afterwards, or tell them to pretend the moment
never happened.