Natural History (How I Met Your Mother)
Encyclopedia
"Natural History" is the eighth episode of the sixth season of the CBS
sitcom How I Met Your Mother
, and the 120th episode overall. It aired on November 8, 2010.
and the gang are invited to a gala party at the Natural History Museum thrown by George van Smoot, also known as "The Captain". While hobnobbing, Ted sees Zoey, with whom he is angry for writing a column criticizing his work at GNB regarding the Arcadian. It is usually positioned near crossword puzzles, which Ted solves every Saturday. At the party, Zoey introduces Ted to her husband, the Captain (Kyle MacLachlan
). The Captain is not only much older than Zoey, but also obsessed with boats. Later, Ted corners Zoey and berates her for trying to ruin his career, angrily calling her a "bored trophy wife". At this, Zoey starts crying and tells Ted that she is unhappy in her marriage. Ted immediately feels sorry for her, and he tries to commiserate with her by ranting against GNB and their obnoxious work culture, at one point even calling them a bunch of "wieners and gonad
s". Zoey's tears are a ruse, however: She reveals that she had been recording the entire conversation, and then promises Ted that his remarks will be given prime space in the next day's newspaper. However, because of the museum's acoustic capabilities, Zoey overhears Ted tell The Captain that he respects her activism, even if she did betray his trust. The Captain tells Ted that Zoey has taped him as well, and even he feels that her habit of recording statements is irritating. He promises to erase the tape for Ted, as he is impressed by the fact that like "a real man", Ted has given himself a made-up name. After overhearing the conversation, Zoey breaks into real tears and promises to erase the conversation herself, resolving to play fair from now on.
Meanwhile, Barney
goes on the prowl in the museum, pulling off pranks using various exhibits along with Robin
. He admits being in the museum many years before when he accidentally damaged a blue whale
exhibit. After catching Robin by surprise disguised as an Egypt
ian pharaoh, a security guard catches them in the act and brings them to the security office. Robin's skepticism about the blue whale incident prompts the security officer to check old records. One file, dated July 23, 1981, recounts the incident in full, but a check of the document reveals that Barney's guardian that day — his uncle, Jerome Whittaker — identified himself as Barney's father on the visitor form. Barney realizes that he may have been with his real father that day, who disappeared after. He asks Robin to keep quiet.
Marshall
tells Lily
that GNB has offered him a five-year contract. Lily, however, is still firm on her belief that Marshall will resign and pursue his dream of being an environmental law
yer. Lily also realizes that whenever she had asked Marshall about whether he would quit his job at GNB, he always responded with made-up words so that he could not be held culpable as a liar. In the ensuing argument, Marshall insists on staying in the company for financial reasons, and Lily storms out. While in another part of the museum, Lily visualizes an exhibit showing extinct College Marshall at their old Wesleyan
dorm. She talks with College Marshall, telling him that his persona was the one she fell in love with many years ago and Corporate Marshall embodied everything he despised. Just then, the real Marshall appears and promises to work harder to provide a stable future for their family. Future Ted later reveals that Marshall does leave GNB in the future (with the camera pulling back to reveal an exhibit showing extinct Corporate Marshall), but the episode ends with Future Ted just saying, "but that's another story".
, Barney presents a traveling exhibition called "Barney Stinson: A Life of Awesome", dedicated to himself.
Donna Bowman of The A.V. Club
gave the episode a B+ score, saying the episode tackled people's thoughts about their past and how they should let things go, which were explained well during the third part.
DeAnn Welker of Television Without Pity gave the episode an A- score.
Robert Canning of IGN
gave the episode a rating of 6.5 out of 10.
Chris O'Hara of TVFanatic.com gave the episode a rating of 4 out of 5.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom How I Met Your Mother
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 the 120th episode overall. It aired on November 8, 2010.
Plot
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...
and the gang are invited to a gala party at the Natural History Museum thrown by George van Smoot, also known as "The Captain". While hobnobbing, Ted sees Zoey, with whom he is angry for writing a column criticizing his work at GNB regarding the Arcadian. It is usually positioned near crossword puzzles, which Ted solves every Saturday. At the party, Zoey introduces Ted to her husband, the Captain (Kyle MacLachlan
Kyle MacLachlan
Kyle Merritt MacLachlan is an American actor. MacLachlan is best known for his roles in cult films Blue Velvet as Jeffrey Beaumont, Showgirls as Zack Carey, as Paul Atreides in Dune, and Ray Manzarek in the Oliver Stone film The Doors...
). The Captain is not only much older than Zoey, but also obsessed with boats. Later, Ted corners Zoey and berates her for trying to ruin his career, angrily calling her a "bored trophy wife". At this, Zoey starts crying and tells Ted that she is unhappy in her marriage. Ted immediately feels sorry for her, and he tries to commiserate with her by ranting against GNB and their obnoxious work culture, at one point even calling them a bunch of "wieners and gonad
Gonad
The gonad is the organ that makes gametes. The gonads in males are the testes and the gonads in females are the ovaries. The product, gametes, are haploid germ cells. For example, spermatozoon and egg cells are gametes...
s". Zoey's tears are a ruse, however: She reveals that she had been recording the entire conversation, and then promises Ted that his remarks will be given prime space in the next day's newspaper. However, because of the museum's acoustic capabilities, Zoey overhears Ted tell The Captain that he respects her activism, even if she did betray his trust. The Captain tells Ted that Zoey has taped him as well, and even he feels that her habit of recording statements is irritating. He promises to erase the tape for Ted, as he is impressed by the fact that like "a real man", Ted has given himself a made-up name. After overhearing the conversation, Zoey breaks into real tears and promises to erase the conversation herself, resolving to play fair from now on.
Meanwhile, 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...
goes on the prowl in the museum, pulling off pranks using various exhibits along with 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 :...
. He admits being in the museum many years before when he accidentally damaged a blue whale
Blue Whale
The blue whale is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales . At in length and or more in weight, it is the largest known animal to have ever existed....
exhibit. After catching Robin by surprise disguised as an Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian pharaoh, a security guard catches them in the act and brings them to the security office. Robin's skepticism about the blue whale incident prompts the security officer to check old records. One file, dated July 23, 1981, recounts the incident in full, but a check of the document reveals that Barney's guardian that day — his uncle, Jerome Whittaker — identified himself as Barney's father on the visitor form. Barney realizes that he may have been with his real father that day, who disappeared after. He asks Robin to keep quiet.
Marshall
Marshall Eriksen
Marshall Eriksen is a fictional character in the American sitcom How I Met Your Mother, created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas and portrayed by Jason Segel.-Character profile:Marshall is an easy-going, naive optimist from St. Cloud, Minnesota...
tells 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...
that GNB has offered him a five-year contract. Lily, however, is still firm on her belief that Marshall will resign and pursue his dream of being an environmental law
Environmental law
Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
yer. Lily also realizes that whenever she had asked Marshall about whether he would quit his job at GNB, he always responded with made-up words so that he could not be held culpable as a liar. In the ensuing argument, Marshall insists on staying in the company for financial reasons, and Lily storms out. While in another part of the museum, Lily visualizes an exhibit showing extinct College Marshall at their old Wesleyan
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
dorm. She talks with College Marshall, telling him that his persona was the one she fell in love with many years ago and Corporate Marshall embodied everything he despised. Just then, the real Marshall appears and promises to work harder to provide a stable future for their family. Future Ted later reveals that Marshall does leave GNB in the future (with the camera pulling back to reveal an exhibit showing extinct Corporate Marshall), but the episode ends with Future Ted just saying, "but that's another story".
Continuity
- The episode continues the story arc about Ted's GNB headquarters project and Zoey's efforts to stop him.
- College Marshall is "eating a sandwich," the show's euphemism for smoking marijuana, first revealed in the Season 3 episode "How I Met Everyone ElseHow I Met Everyone Else"How I Met Everyone Else" is the fifth episode in the third season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 49th overall. It originally aired on October 22, 2007.- Plot :...
". - The newspaper page where Ted discovers Zoey's op-ed piece condemning his work also includes articles about the DowisetreplaDowisetrepla"Dowisetrepla" is the 7th episode in the third season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 51st overall. It originally aired on November 5, 2007.-Plot:...
neighborhood and the cockamouse. - The revelation about Jerome Whittaker, Barney's father, refers to the episode "Cleaning HouseCleaning House"Cleaning House" is the second episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and the 114th episode overall. It originally aired on September 27, 2010.- Plot :...
". - Ted mentions an architecture "fun fact". Ted loves architecture "fun facts", as is first seen in "First Time in New YorkFirst Time in New York"First Time in New York" is the 12th episode in the second season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on January 8, 2007.-Plot:...
". - Though the line "legen... wait for it... dary" is iconic of the show, this is the first time it is said by accident, with a genuine interruption.
- Barney says "Challenge Accepted!", a line that he previously used in episodes such as "The WindowThe Window (How I Met Your Mother)"The Window" is the tenth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 98th episode overall. It aired on Monday, December 7, 2009.- Plot :...
" and "Baby TalkBaby Talk (How I Met Your Mother)"Baby Talk" is the sixth episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and the 118th episode overall. It aired on October 25, 2010.- Plot :Marshall and Lily visit Stuart and Claudia, who are having trouble naming their newborn baby...
". - Lily's high school boyfriend, Scooter, is shown in one prom flashback scene. The moment they had broken up was previously shown 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 :...
". - The Captain's real name is George Van Smoot. The name 'Van Smoot' was also used in the episodes "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 :...
" when Lily and Marshall get their dream house for their wedding, and again in "Robots Versus WrestlersRobots Versus Wrestlers"Robots Versus Wrestlers " is the 22nd episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 110th episode overall. It aired on May 10, 2010.- Plot :...
" when the group attend a party held by the Van Smoots. - Marshall uses his "Lawyered" catchphrase.
- The imaginary newspaper headline shows Ted wearing the wizard costume that was seen in "Architect of DestructionArchitect of Destruction"Architect of Destruction" is the fifth episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and the 117th episode overall. It originally aired on October 18, 2010.- Plot :...
". - Marshall was supposed to work for the NRDC, until he was side-tracked by the need to provide Lily and his future family some financial stability, as seen in "Life Among the GorillasLife Among the Gorillas"Life Among the Gorillas" is the 17th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on March 20, 2006.- Plot :...
".
Barney's blog
In his blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, Barney presents a traveling exhibition called "Barney Stinson: A Life of Awesome", dedicated to himself.
Cultural references
- The music playing in the background when Ted dances with Zoey is La Javanaise by iconic French singer-songwriter Serge GainsbourgSerge GainsbourgSerge Gainsbourg, born Lucien Ginsburg was a French singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's extremely varied musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize...
. - Ted encounters an old man with a monocle. His line, "Good luck killing James BondJames BondJames Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
," refers to Bond's archnemesis, Ernst Stavro BlofeldErnst Stavro BlofeldErnst Stavro Blofeld is a fictional character and a supervillain from the James Bond series of novels and films, who was created by Ian Fleming and Kevin McClory. An evil genius with aspirations of world domination, he is the archenemy of the British Secret Service agent James Bond and is arguably...
. - George van Smoot and Arthur Hobbs have a history, having worked on the musical Guys and DollsGuys and DollsGuys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably...
. - Ted mentions PhishPhishPhish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
; Lily and "College Marshall" discuss Jane's AddictionJane's AddictionJane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
. - The story takes place in the American Museum of Natural HistoryAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryThe American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
, even referencing the museum's blue whale model in the Hall of Ocean Life and their other Habitat Dioramas. It was filmed at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyNatural History Museum of Los Angeles CountyThe Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County opened in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California, USA in 1913 as the Museum of History, Science, and Art. The moving force behind it was a museum association founded in 1910. Its distinctive main building, with fitted marble walls and domed and...
. - Ted mentions Six Flags Great AdventureSix Flags Great AdventureSix Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
when Lily comments on the ironic fanny pack. - Barney says, "Who's the master, Leroy?!?", referencing the film The Last DragonThe Last DragonThe Last Dragon is a 1985 martial arts musical film produced by Rupert Hitzig for Berry Gordy and directed by Michael Schultz. The film was a critical disappointment but a financial success, The Last Dragon is now considered a cult classic. The film stars Taimak, Vanity, Julius Carry, Christopher...
.
Critical response
Reviews of the episode have been positive.Donna Bowman of The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
gave the episode a B+ score, saying the episode tackled people's thoughts about their past and how they should let things go, which were explained well during the third part.
DeAnn Welker of Television Without Pity gave the episode an A- score.
Robert Canning of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the episode a rating of 6.5 out of 10.
Chris O'Hara of TVFanatic.com gave the episode a rating of 4 out of 5.