Robin 101
| "Robin 101" | |
|---|---|
| How I Met Your Mother episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 3 |
| Directed by | Pamela Fryman |
| Written by | Craig Thomas Carter Bays |
| Production code | 5ALH03 |
| Original air date | October 5, 2009 |
| Guest actors | |
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Christine Tonnu (Sandy) |
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| Season 5 episodes | |
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"Robin 101" is the third episode of the fifth season of the How I Met Your Mother TV series and 91st overall. It originally aired on October 5, 2009.
Plot
Robin and Barney are officially girlfriend and boyfriend, but Barney is having trouble adjusting to couple life. He sneaks out of bed after sex as if it was a one-night stand, and when Robin has an awful day, he avoids consoling her, telling her to meet him afterwards for sex. After Robin protests, Barney makes more of an effort. When he begins acting evasively, Robin is afraid that Barney is cheating on her. She breaks into his briefcase and finds a notebook full of notes about her. Barney is taking night classes from Ted: “Robin 101: How to date Robin Scherbatsky”.
Marshall decides to get rid of a barrel he named Mabel that he used for years as a nightstand. He puts it in “The Bermuda Triangle”, otherwise known as the front step, and he waits anxiously by the window with his binoculars waiting to see who will take the barrel. So far, there are no takers.
In “Robin 101,” Ted teaches Barney which topics will distract Robin from being angry, which include hockey, guns and emperor penguins. He also teaches Barney about Robin's expressions and things to never do around her. At first, Barney plays the part of the distracted and bored student, but after Ted tests the knowledge he's given him, Barney asks him to stay. Unfortunately, Ted’s successful classes with Barney are interrupted when Robin finds out about the lessons and shows up for class. Robin gets angry and storms out.
Ted stops by MacLaren’s to talk to Robin, and he convinces Robin to give Barney another chance. Ted mentions how Barney usually tries to get rid of women after one night and tells Robin, “I’ve never seen him work this hard to keep a girl around”. The episode ends with Barney giving up his “Robin notebook”, and Marshall is upset because his barrel has still not been claimed.
Cultural references
- Marshall calls the curb in front of their building the “The Bermuda Triangle”.
- The classroom scene between Barney and Ted, references the films Dead Poets Society[1][2] and The Karate Kid.
- Barney references sports commentator Andy Gray with the popular quote 'Take a bow, son' when congratulating Ted on his first class as a professor.
- Ted mentions names Barney has used in the past including the name "Barack Obama Jr." to imply he is the son of President Obama. Barney also says 'and yes we can', referencing one of the popular slogans of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.
- Marshall asks if Lily and Robin have lost weight. Actresses Alyson Hannigan and Cobie Smulders both gave birth in spring of 2009 and were clearly pregnant during season 4.
Critical response
Donna Bowman of The A.V. Club rated the episode with a grade A-.[1]
Brian Zoromski of IGN gave the episode 8 out of 10.[3]
References
- ^ a b Donna Bowman (2009-10-05). "How I Met Your Mother: Robin 101". The AV Club. The Onion. Retrieved 2010-01-31.
- ^ Joel Keller (2009-10-05). "How I Met Your Mother: Robin 101". TV Squad. Weblogs, Inc. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
- ^ Brian Zoromski (2009-10-06). "How I Met Your Mother: Robin 101 Review. Ted schools Barney in everything you need to know about Robin Scherbatsky.". IGN (News Corporation). Retrieved 2010-01-31.
External links
- "Robin 101" at the Internet Movie Database
- "Robin 101" at TV.com
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