Did you all see Barney Stinson at the Super Bowl, waving that sign? It was legendary and on top of that—the number was a working one. My fellow supervisor called it and said you got a recording of Barney saying he loved you. That’s How I Met Your Mother for you!
Future!Ted talks about watching the Super Bowl at his apartment with the gang, minus Barney. And if you missed the Super Bowl spot, there it is—the actual footage on Ted’s TV. The gang solves the mystery of the missing Barney while Robin calls dibs on his wings.
CREDITS!
At MacLaren’s, Barney asks who won the Super Bowl. The gang is surprised because they saw him—he interrupts to say he won. He has a cell phone that doesn’t stop ringing. The camera pans to reveal Ranjit, who Barney has employed as his personal driver now that all these girls are after Barney. He meets one such woman—a hot woman in a red sweater. Robin comes over to tell the gang she agreed to a date with Don, her slacking co-anchor…WHOM SHE HATES! (Remember this. This is big). Marshall resumes teasing her about how she will marry Don while Robin protests. Barney comes back to reveal his many texts, leading to an almost hysteria—until Mrs. Stinson calls. Ranjit tsks, saying he had an arranged marriage and is happy. Marshall says it’s old-fashioned to meet someone and fall in love, like Robin and Don. Robin states that Don just asked her over to his house with some of his buddies. The gang sadly tells Robin that she wasn’t asked out on a date. Robin denies this until Marshall asks if she wanted Don to ask her out. Robin reiterates that SHE HATES DON…She HATES him so much, she wants to rip his clothes off…She stalks off as Barney continues to receive texts. Ted says he’s done with the dating game. He asks Marshall and Lily to “arrange marriage” him.
Marshall and Lily are tickled pink. Ted thinks it’s a slam dunk because they picked each other so they have good taste. He agrees to a double date on Valentine’s Date. And if all goes well, he’ll marry the girl. And he’ll impress her—he’s going to wear his good blazer. Marshall is psyched and teases Robin about liking Don. She denies this again. SHE HATES HIM. Marshall talks about the complexities of love and hate. This prompts Ted to get his book of Book of Optical Illusions. At first glance, it looks like a rabbit but when you look close enough, it’s a duck. Marshall argues that the duck is the thing you hate but the rabbit is the thing you love. Ted argues that it’s the opposite and the women agree. That then starts the great Rabbit v. Duck arguments which involves a lot of fast forwarding until Marshall agrees that Ducks are better than Rabbits. Robin says that Don is her Rabbit. But then Ted uses the following logic: “Don…Donald…Donald Duck. And what doesn’t Donald Duck wear?” Lily: “Pants.” Ted: “That’s right, Donald Duck doesn’t wear pants.” So, Don is Robin’s Duck. Marshall gives his permission for: “Lawyered.”
Meanwhile, Barney is on a string of dates. Every time he is close to closing the deal, his phone goes off. And the call is always offering someone better. This goes on, back and forth between the Fortress of Barnitude and MacLaren’s until Barney meets a woman who can stretch her leg around her neck and open a beer with her toe. And that’s her bad leg. Barney’s phone goes off but now he realizes it is something he hates…And it appropriately turns into a white rabbit. He throws out the phone, but can still hear it. He leaves Gymnast to pick up the phone.
Valentine’s Day arrives and the Eriksons have forgotten to get their dear friend Ted a date. They rush around MacLaren’s, but it ends with “no’s” and Marshall getting maced. They hope that Ted forgot. He didn’t and tries to come up with a song about the groom, his favorite blazer and trying to rhyme something with blazer. Robin comes out in a really nice dress and asks Ted to come with her to Don’s. He agrees and says that if the date goes well, he’ll lie about having dinner resevs and “duck” out. Robin opens the door to reveal—an entirely nude Don with a strategically placed heart-shaped box. An alone, entirely nude Don with a strategically placed heart-shaped box. He’s surprised. Ted peaces out.
Back at Don’s, he tells Robin that he was doing the “Naked Man”—which he found at some guy’s blog (plug! Barney has a regular blog!). He says he was stupid to think it would work on Robin…Even though we know it totally does. He asks if Robin thinks he’s a playboy. And she sees rabbit ears and leaves. She starts to clean the apartment and tells Ted to have fun on his date.
He meets Marshall outside the restaurant and Marshall reveals how they found his girl. After going through a desperate list that included Blah-Blah (who has been committed), Barney gives them his phone in desperation. They set Ted up with one of the girls. Who is the Gymnast. Future!Ted tells us that Natalia was really great and she reveals she will be kicked out of the country as her visa has expired. So she needs to get married. The waiter comes over and asks “Rabbit or Duck?” Ted thinks hard and says “Rabbit” before running out. Barney runs in to ask for his phone. Lily says she hid it…
…In Ted’s piano. He picks up the phone and is hooked. He sets up a date just before he meets Marshall. We see the phone buzzing underneath the table before Ted says “Rabbit.” He meets a blonde at MacLaren’s, where Barney takes his phone back while Ted tries to keep it. Finally, Ranjit slaps some sense into them and Ted heads back upstairs. He and Robin share a beer on the couch and toast to having each other.
Tag: Don apologizes to Robin for his behavior. He reveals that he was married straight from college and just got divorced. He says he’s not used to being single and knows that he hasn’t been doing his best. He admires Robin and wants to be more professional. He offers to get her coffee and stands up to reveal…pants. Now, Robin sees a duck bill and curses.
Not as strong as the last episode, but a cute Valentine’s Day interlude. Though I wish they would decide—is Ted ready to settle down or does he want to play some more? Come on, show. Ted, his children and the audience aren’t getting any younger!
Also: Rabbit or Duck?
Quote of the Episode:
“What would your viewer think?” –Marshall to Robin.
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