Happily Ever After (How I Met Your Mother)
Encyclopedia
"Happily Ever After" is the sixth episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother
and 70th overall. It originally aired on November 3, 2008.
is unusually happy. The rest of his friends (other than Barney
, who is just happy Ted isn't married) are worried about him, thinking that he is repressing his emotions. Over the course of two weeks, the group tries to be there for Ted, but he insists he is fine. Eventually, the group becomes frustrated, and pushes him to unleash his emotions. Though he refuses, he does reveal that he has a map of New York to help him avoid running into Stella. Using the map, they decide to go to dinner at a restaurant recommended by one of Lily
's friends.
Unfortunately, it soon turns out that friend was actually Stella, who appears at the restaurant while the group are waiting to eat. Panicking, Ted ducks under the table, with the rest of the group reluctantly following his example. Stella places an order to go, so they decide to wait for her to leave. Lily tells Ted he is being stupid, and says he should face Stella. Ted replies that Lily would do the same thing in his position, if "Gasser" walked in.
Lily reveals that, in ninth grade, she was sat next to a boy named Michael Sasser, who was on the edge of becoming a cool kid. In one lesson, Lily passed gas loudly, and rather than be humiliated in front of her friends, blamed Sasser, giving him the nickname 'Gasser', and he was teased so badly he had to switch schools. Back under the table, Lily says that if Michael were to walk in, she would go over and apologize, and face her fear, inviting Ted to do the same. Barney agrees, saying that there are plenty of women he slept with he doesn't want to see again, but he still would not hide from them. Ted mentions Becca Delucci, which seems to upset Barney.
Becca is revealed to be a girl in prison Barney used to go to for sex. On one visit, Barney tried to chat up another inmate, causing a fight to break out. Since then, Barney has received threats from Becca on multiple occasions. Ted decides that everyone wants to hide from someone, and that they should stay under the table until the problem goes away.
Robin
agrees with Ted, saying she would hide from her father if he were to walk in. Flashbacks show Robin's father (Eric Braeden
) to be disappointed to have a daughter instead of a son, and raised her as if she were a boy. Things got worse, when Robin's father found her kissing one of her hockey team-mates when she was 14, leading to an exposition of the Canadian equivalent of Baseball metaphors for sex
, based upon Ice Hockey. After this she decided to move in with her mother.
Ted realizes all his friends are haunted by problems in their past, but it isn't too late for him to face up to his. He decides to talk to Stella, but finds she has already left. They hail a cab and follow her, but Ted still refuses to get angry, and instead wants to talk things out, despite protests from his friends. When they realize Stella isn't going back to New Jersey
, but to Tony's apartment, he is enraged that she wouldn't move into the city for him
, but would for Tony. Finally, Ted unleashes his emotions, and his overjoyed friends cheer him on.
Ted imagines himself confronting Stella, telling her she made the wrong choice and should have been with him, as Tony will only let her down again. When he actually goes to talk to her, however, he sees her and Tony with their daughter, and decides that they were meant to be a family, his anger quickly subsiding. Future Ted announces that rather than swallowing your anger, or throwing it in someone's face, the best idea is to simply let it go, so you can move on. Finally, Ted gets rid of his map, so he can get on with his life.
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
and 70th overall. It originally aired on November 3, 2008.
Plot
The day after Stella ran out on their wedding, TedTed Mosby
Theodore Evelyn "Ted" Mosby is the titular fictional character of the U.S. television sitcom How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Josh Radnor...
is unusually happy. The rest of his friends (other than Barney
Barney Stinson
Barnabas "Barney" Stinson is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris. The character has been extremely well received by critics and has been credited for much of the show's success...
, who is just happy Ted isn't married) are worried about him, thinking that he is repressing his emotions. Over the course of two weeks, the group tries to be there for Ted, but he insists he is fine. Eventually, the group becomes frustrated, and pushes him to unleash his emotions. Though he refuses, he does reveal that he has a map of New York to help him avoid running into Stella. Using the map, they decide to go to dinner at a restaurant recommended by one of Lily
Lily Aldrin
Lillian "Lily" Aldrin is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by American actress Alyson Hannigan. She is the wife of Marshall Eriksen and the best friend of Robin Scherbatsky...
's friends.
Unfortunately, it soon turns out that friend was actually Stella, who appears at the restaurant while the group are waiting to eat. Panicking, Ted ducks under the table, with the rest of the group reluctantly following his example. Stella places an order to go, so they decide to wait for her to leave. Lily tells Ted he is being stupid, and says he should face Stella. Ted replies that Lily would do the same thing in his position, if "Gasser" walked in.
Lily reveals that, in ninth grade, she was sat next to a boy named Michael Sasser, who was on the edge of becoming a cool kid. In one lesson, Lily passed gas loudly, and rather than be humiliated in front of her friends, blamed Sasser, giving him the nickname 'Gasser', and he was teased so badly he had to switch schools. Back under the table, Lily says that if Michael were to walk in, she would go over and apologize, and face her fear, inviting Ted to do the same. Barney agrees, saying that there are plenty of women he slept with he doesn't want to see again, but he still would not hide from them. Ted mentions Becca Delucci, which seems to upset Barney.
Becca is revealed to be a girl in prison Barney used to go to for sex. On one visit, Barney tried to chat up another inmate, causing a fight to break out. Since then, Barney has received threats from Becca on multiple occasions. Ted decides that everyone wants to hide from someone, and that they should stay under the table until the problem goes away.
Robin
Robin Scherbatsky
Robin Charles Scherbatsky, Jr. is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Canadian actress Cobie Smulders.- Early life :...
agrees with Ted, saying she would hide from her father if he were to walk in. Flashbacks show Robin's father (Eric Braeden
Eric Braeden
Eric Braeden is a German-American film and television actor, best known for his role as Victor Newman on the soap opera The Young and the Restless and as John Jacob Astor IV in the 1997 film Titanic...
) to be disappointed to have a daughter instead of a son, and raised her as if she were a boy. Things got worse, when Robin's father found her kissing one of her hockey team-mates when she was 14, leading to an exposition of the Canadian equivalent of Baseball metaphors for sex
Baseball metaphors for sex
In the culture of American adolescents, the game of baseball is often used as a euphemistic metaphor for the degree of sexual intimacy achieved in intimate encounters or relationships...
, based upon Ice Hockey. After this she decided to move in with her mother.
Ted realizes all his friends are haunted by problems in their past, but it isn't too late for him to face up to his. He decides to talk to Stella, but finds she has already left. They hail a cab and follow her, but Ted still refuses to get angry, and instead wants to talk things out, despite protests from his friends. When they realize Stella isn't going back to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, but to Tony's apartment, he is enraged that she wouldn't move into the city for him
I Heart NJ
"I Heart NJ" is the third episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 67th overall. It originally aired on October 6, 2008.- Plot :...
, but would for Tony. Finally, Ted unleashes his emotions, and his overjoyed friends cheer him on.
Ted imagines himself confronting Stella, telling her she made the wrong choice and should have been with him, as Tony will only let her down again. When he actually goes to talk to her, however, he sees her and Tony with their daughter, and decides that they were meant to be a family, his anger quickly subsiding. Future Ted announces that rather than swallowing your anger, or throwing it in someone's face, the best idea is to simply let it go, so you can move on. Finally, Ted gets rid of his map, so he can get on with his life.
Music
- Intro: Correatown - "All the World (I Tell Myself)"
- Outro: Regina SpektorRegina SpektorRegina Ilyinichna Spektor is a Russian American singer-songwriter and pianist. Her music is associated with the anti-folk scene centered in New York City's East Village.-Early life:...
- "Better"
Continuity
- Robin said she never played team sports in the Slutty Pumpkin episodeSlutty Pumpkin"Slutty Pumpkin" is the 6th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on October 24, 2005.- Plot :...
, which is contrary to the flashback to her hockey team visiting her house after a game and the field hockey nationals referenced in Best Prom EverBest Prom Ever"Best Prom Ever" is the 20th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired May 1, 2006. It has the least amount of viewership in season 1 .- Plot :...
. - Barney seemingly gets another chance at a threesome (the first one happening in Shelter IslandShelter Island (How I Met Your Mother)"Shelter Island" is the fifth episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 69th overall. It originally aired on October 20, 2008.- Plot :...
), after stepping inside Ted's apartment with two girls and saying he didn't expect him to be there, but, again, there is no mention of The Belt from Third WheelThird Wheel"Third Wheel" is the third episode in the third season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 47th overall. It originally aired on October 8, 2007.- Plot :...
.
Cultural references
- Marshall invites Ted to "have a catch", alluding to the final scene of Field of DreamsField of DreamsField of Dreams is a 1989 American fantasy-drama film directed by Phil Alden Robinson and is from the novel Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella...
- In the cab, when Marshall wants Ted to get more angry about Stella, he gives away a secret he knows since the Do I Know You? episodeDo I Know You?"Do I Know You?" is the first episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and sixty-fifth overall. It originally aired on September 22, 2008.- Plot :...
: "Stella hated Star Wars. She lied to you. Search your feelings, Ted. You know it to be true." It is a reference to Star Wars: Episode VStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes BackStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
. - Barney claims Ted being stood up at the altar was the "greatest train dodge since Stand By MeStand by Me (film)Stand by Me is a 1986 American drama film directed by Rob Reiner. Based on the novella The Body by Stephen King, the film takes its title from the Ben E. King song of the same name, which plays over the end credits.-Plot:...
," referring to the scene at the rail bridge.