Shelter Island (How I Met Your Mother)
Encyclopedia
"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.
, Lily
and Barney
are at the bar, when Ted
and Stella arrive. Stella grabs Barney's drink out of his hand and finishes it. She then starts ranting about how her sister is stealing her dream wedding on Shelter Island
at sunset. She explains they were just at dinner with Stella's sister, whose wedding is identical to Stella's dream. Stella's sister also mentions that she's a vegan, after which Ted proceeds to order the lamb. Back at the bar Ted swears that they will out-do Stella's sister's wedding. Stella says she hopes the wedding goes downhill.
The story then cuts to the restaurant again, where Stella's sister is eating steak and going on a tirade about her ex-fiance, who ran off with a "vitamin consultant from Whole Foods
." She had given up make up, showering, and shaving her armpits for him. The wedding was supposed to be that weekend and she can't get all her deposits back.
Future Ted comments that when you're in a relationship you develop a kind of telepathic
link with your partner. He believes they should pay for Stella's sister's meal and thinks he's agreeing with Stella across the table. Stella believes they should take over the wedding and pay her sister back for every dollar she has spent. Ted isn't sure, but Stella says that she wasted years trying to get Lucy's father, Tony, ready for marriage, and that she used to dream that Tony was "spontaneous enough." Ted agrees and tries to be spontaneous, throwing water in his face.
The story then stops as Future Ted gives the moral of the episode to his kids, as he says it is too important to leave til the end: "Don't ever invite an ex to your wedding."
Meanwhile in 2008, Robin is in Japan
"finally doing serious news" on the number one English
news channel in Japan, where she sits next to a chimpanzee with a giant bowl of marshmallows, which it throws at Robin while she is talking about the stock market. Another newscast features a "Giant Fan" blowing Robin's notes and hair everywhere while she struggles to talk about the news. Ted calls Robin and asks her to come to his wedding. Although she's unsure at first, she agrees to come.
Barney, Ted, Marshall, and Lily are at the bar, where Barney is being unusually supportive of Ted's marriage. Lily asks Barney why he hasn't tried to stop the wedding, and Barney explains it's a lost cause. He also says he's been working on a problem of utmost importance concerning Ted's marriage: He wants to have sex with Robin again, and the wedding is the best chance to hook up with her. Lily doesn't believe he'll be able to ignore the other women at the wedding.
The day before the wedding the group make a trip to Shelter Island, only to find the venue is a Yoga resort, where the bar has a no-alcohol policy, and the all-inclusive meals are 100% vegan. With no alcohol, Barney doesn't know how he's going to get Robin back into bed, as his plan depends on her being drunk. Barney, Lily, and Marshall are also frightened by the bartender, who they are fairly sure is a former member of The Spin Doctors.
Soon, Ted tells them there's a problem: Stella doesn't want Robin at the wedding, fearing that the spark may come back between Robin and Ted. As a compromise, Ted suggests inviting Tony, but Stella completely disagrees. Marshall says he agrees with Stella, and thinks Robin shouldn't come, while Barney disagrees for his own sake. Lily breaks the tie by saying the bride's wish is final, so Barney offers to call Robin. After talking to her and confirming she's coming, he lies to the others, saying he couldn't reach her.
Lily scoffs at Stella's wedding jitters and Marshall puts her in her place with a few flashbacks to when she (Lily) had "freaked out about her own freakouts" at her wedding. Lily tells Ted to wait for the next crisis, solve it, be the hero, then try to convince Stella to let Robin attend. Four minutes later, Tony refuses to bring Stella's daughter Lucy to the wedding. Ted decides to go convince Tony to allow Lucy to come to the wedding. Barney, meanwhile, meets Stella's sister, who wants to do dirty, depraved things to forget that this was supposed to be her wedding. Barney tries to resist, thinking of Robin, but eventually gives in.
When Ted arrives at Tony's house, Tony agrees to let Lucy come, but only after Ted asks him to come as well. They get back to the wedding, where Stella is upset to see Tony, before Robin arrives to make things worse. Ted argues with Stella, and they agree to tell their ex they cannot attend the wedding. At first, Stella wants to talk to Robin and Ted to talk to Tony, and Future Ted plays out a scenario where he and Stella get married and the future kids become blond. In reality Ted goes to talk to Robin.
Robin agrees with Ted that it is weird for her to be at the wedding. She tells him that she quit her job in Tokyo
and is moving back to New York
, and that he shouldn't rush into getting married, because he deserves an amazing ending to his quest for a wife. She also adds that she thought, if she ever changed her mind about wanting to get married and have kids, she wanted him to be there, and that there may still be something between them.
Ted disagrees and storms off. Robin tries to hang out with Barney, but he has a woman tied to his bedpost, so Robin leaves. Stella's sister arrives, and it is revealed the woman tied to the bed is actually from the front desk, and Barney ends up having a threesome with the two women.
Ted goes to talk to Stella, but instead finds a card saying she has run away with Tony. Marshall, Lily and Barney try to console Ted, while Robin sees Stella and Tony together on the ferry from Shelter Island. Ted finally understands that Stella wasn't really worried about Robin coming to the wedding, but was thinking about her unresolved issues with Tony.
praised guest star Jason Jones
, saying that they "all just dorked out" when casting him because they were such fans of The Daily Show
. They then thanked the latter program for its coverage of the 2008 election.
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 69th overall. It originally aired on October 20, 2008.
Plot
MarshallMarshall 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...
, 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...
and 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...
are at the bar, when Ted
Ted 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 Stella arrive. Stella grabs Barney's drink out of his hand and finishes it. She then starts ranting about how her sister is stealing her dream wedding on Shelter Island
Shelter Island (town), New York
Shelter Island is a town and island at the eastern end of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. It forms the tip of Suffolk County and is separated from the rest of the county by water. The population was 2,228 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
at sunset. She explains they were just at dinner with Stella's sister, whose wedding is identical to Stella's dream. Stella's sister also mentions that she's a vegan, after which Ted proceeds to order the lamb. Back at the bar Ted swears that they will out-do Stella's sister's wedding. Stella says she hopes the wedding goes downhill.
The story then cuts to the restaurant again, where Stella's sister is eating steak and going on a tirade about her ex-fiance, who ran off with a "vitamin consultant from Whole Foods
Whole foods
Whole foods are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible, before being consumed. Whole foods typically do not contain added ingredients, such as salt, carbohydrates, or fat. Examples of whole foods include unpolished grains, beans, fruits, vegetables...
." She had given up make up, showering, and shaving her armpits for him. The wedding was supposed to be that weekend and she can't get all her deposits back.
Future Ted comments that when you're in a relationship you develop a kind of telepathic
Telepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
link with your partner. He believes they should pay for Stella's sister's meal and thinks he's agreeing with Stella across the table. Stella believes they should take over the wedding and pay her sister back for every dollar she has spent. Ted isn't sure, but Stella says that she wasted years trying to get Lucy's father, Tony, ready for marriage, and that she used to dream that Tony was "spontaneous enough." Ted agrees and tries to be spontaneous, throwing water in his face.
The story then stops as Future Ted gives the moral of the episode to his kids, as he says it is too important to leave til the end: "Don't ever invite an ex to your wedding."
Meanwhile in 2008, Robin is in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
"finally doing serious news" on the number one English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
news channel in Japan, where she sits next to a chimpanzee with a giant bowl of marshmallows, which it throws at Robin while she is talking about the stock market. Another newscast features a "Giant Fan" blowing Robin's notes and hair everywhere while she struggles to talk about the news. Ted calls Robin and asks her to come to his wedding. Although she's unsure at first, she agrees to come.
Barney, Ted, Marshall, and Lily are at the bar, where Barney is being unusually supportive of Ted's marriage. Lily asks Barney why he hasn't tried to stop the wedding, and Barney explains it's a lost cause. He also says he's been working on a problem of utmost importance concerning Ted's marriage: He wants to have sex with Robin again, and the wedding is the best chance to hook up with her. Lily doesn't believe he'll be able to ignore the other women at the wedding.
The day before the wedding the group make a trip to Shelter Island, only to find the venue is a Yoga resort, where the bar has a no-alcohol policy, and the all-inclusive meals are 100% vegan. With no alcohol, Barney doesn't know how he's going to get Robin back into bed, as his plan depends on her being drunk. Barney, Lily, and Marshall are also frightened by the bartender, who they are fairly sure is a former member of The Spin Doctors.
Soon, Ted tells them there's a problem: Stella doesn't want Robin at the wedding, fearing that the spark may come back between Robin and Ted. As a compromise, Ted suggests inviting Tony, but Stella completely disagrees. Marshall says he agrees with Stella, and thinks Robin shouldn't come, while Barney disagrees for his own sake. Lily breaks the tie by saying the bride's wish is final, so Barney offers to call Robin. After talking to her and confirming she's coming, he lies to the others, saying he couldn't reach her.
Lily scoffs at Stella's wedding jitters and Marshall puts her in her place with a few flashbacks to when she (Lily) had "freaked out about her own freakouts" at her wedding. Lily tells Ted to wait for the next crisis, solve it, be the hero, then try to convince Stella to let Robin attend. Four minutes later, Tony refuses to bring Stella's daughter Lucy to the wedding. Ted decides to go convince Tony to allow Lucy to come to the wedding. Barney, meanwhile, meets Stella's sister, who wants to do dirty, depraved things to forget that this was supposed to be her wedding. Barney tries to resist, thinking of Robin, but eventually gives in.
When Ted arrives at Tony's house, Tony agrees to let Lucy come, but only after Ted asks him to come as well. They get back to the wedding, where Stella is upset to see Tony, before Robin arrives to make things worse. Ted argues with Stella, and they agree to tell their ex they cannot attend the wedding. At first, Stella wants to talk to Robin and Ted to talk to Tony, and Future Ted plays out a scenario where he and Stella get married and the future kids become blond. In reality Ted goes to talk to Robin.
Robin agrees with Ted that it is weird for her to be at the wedding. She tells him that she quit her job in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and is moving back to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and that he shouldn't rush into getting married, because he deserves an amazing ending to his quest for a wife. She also adds that she thought, if she ever changed her mind about wanting to get married and have kids, she wanted him to be there, and that there may still be something between them.
Ted disagrees and storms off. Robin tries to hang out with Barney, but he has a woman tied to his bedpost, so Robin leaves. Stella's sister arrives, and it is revealed the woman tied to the bed is actually from the front desk, and Barney ends up having a threesome with the two women.
Ted goes to talk to Stella, but instead finds a card saying she has run away with Tony. Marshall, Lily and Barney try to console Ted, while Robin sees Stella and Tony together on the ferry from Shelter Island. Ted finally understands that Stella wasn't really worried about Robin coming to the wedding, but was thinking about her unresolved issues with Tony.
Production
In an interview for Television Without Pity, series co-creator Craig ThomasCraig Thomas (screenwriter)
Craig Thomas is an American television writer, he, along with writing partner Carter Bays, has written episodes of American Dad!, Oliver Beene, Quintuplets and the hit CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, which they created in 2005. He has been nominated for six primetime Emmy Awards...
praised guest star Jason Jones
Jason Jones (actor)
Jason Jones is a Canadian actor and comedian who is a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.-Life and career:Jones was born in Hamilton, Ontario. He attended Ryerson Theatre School in Toronto...
, saying that they "all just dorked out" when casting him because they were such fans of The Daily Show
The Daily Show
The Daily Show , is an American late night satirical television program airing each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central. The half-hour long show premiered on July 21, 1996, and was hosted by Craig Kilborn until December 1998...
. They then thanked the latter program for its coverage of the 2008 election.
Continuity
- Marshall, Lily and Barney are driving to the wedding when all three yell "zitch dog". This game was first referenced in the "Arrivederci, FieroArrivederci, Fiero"Arrivederci, Fiero" is the 17th episode in the second season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on February 26, 2007.- Plot :...
" episode from season 2, also written by Chris Harris. Marshall, who is often noted for being good at games, wins. - Barney contemplates how to sleep with Robin again in a sequence spoofing the film A Beautiful MindA Beautiful Mind (film)A Beautiful Mind is a 2001 American drama film based on the life of John Nash, a Nobel Laureate in Economics. The film was directed by Ron Howard and written by Akiva Goldsman. It was inspired by a bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-nominated 1998 book of the same name by Sylvia Nasar...
. In this sequence, the audience can see many of Barney's concepts and catchphrases, such as the "Hot-Crazy Scale"How 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 "83% again", his favorite drink (gin and tonicGin and tonicA gin and tonic is a highball cocktail made with gin and tonic water poured over ice. It is usually garnished with a slice or wedge of lime, or lemon. The amount of gin varies according to taste...
), "suit up" (written "suit↑"), CH3CH2OH=OHOHOH, relationship ≈ freewayFirst 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:...
, fish ≈ womenOkay Awesome"Okay Awesome" is the fifth episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on October 17, 2005.- Plot :...
and several others, including a reference to "Baby Got BackBaby Got Back"Baby Got Back" is a 1992 Number One single by hip hop artist Sir Mix-a-Lot, from his album Mack Daddy. The song samples the 1986 electro single "Technicolor" by Channel One. The song's title originates from an urban slang term used to express a favorable opinion about a woman's buttocks...
" by Sir Mix-a-lotSir Mix-a-LotAnthony Ray , better known by his stage name Sir Mix-a-Lot, is an emcee and producer based in Seattle, Washington. The founder of the Nastymix record label, he debuted in 1988 with Swass...
(36-24-36). - Stella's sister Nora's wedding was mentioned earlier in the "Miracles" episode from season 3, noted by Stella to be six months away.
- When Ted goes to talk to Tony about bringing Lucy to the wedding, he corrects Tony that he has "stuck it" to Stella already, then berates himself for his habit of always correcting people.
- Barney gets another opportunity at a threesome, but 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 :...
". - Ted and Marshall have the recurring telepathic conversation in this episode, as previously seen in "Mary the ParalegalMary the Paralegal"Mary the Paralegal" is the 19th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on April 24, 2006.- Plot :...
" and "Bachelor Party" and later used in ""Three Days of Snow", MurtaughMurtaugh (How I Met Your Mother)"Murtaugh" is the 19th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 83rd overall. It originally aired on March 30, 2009.- Plot :...
" and "DoppelgangersDoppelgangers (How I Met Your Mother)"Doppelgangers" is the 24th and final episode of the fifth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and the 112th episode overall. It originally aired on May 24, 2010.- Plot :...
". Ted also has a telepathic Conversation with Stella, although she misunderstands what Ted means by "We got this" - Ted refers to Lily as "Justice Aldrin," a reference to her role in the episode "Aldrin Justice"
- When trying to convince Ted not to get married Robin states that Ted "tried to make it rain" (to which Ted angrily replies that he did in fact make it rain, but Robin dismisses this as a coincidence) for her, referencing the Season One Finale "Come On!"
Cultural references
- Marshall states he is 90% sure that bar tender is the lead singer of The Spin Doctors.
- Marshall states inviting an ex to a wedding would be like inviting the Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
to a world series.