The Sexless Innkeeper
Encyclopedia
"The Sexless Innkeeper" is the fourth episode of the fifth season of the CBS
situation comedy
How I Met Your Mother
and 92nd overall. It originally aired on October 12, 2009.
", Lily
and Marshall
are very excited to have another couple to hang out with. Future Ted explains that they had fared poorly with previous couples, coming across as clingy and desperate. With Barney
and Robin
now a couple, they hope to turn their luck around. After an evening together, Lily and Marshall are under the impression that it was "the best night ever", despite Robin and Barney being obviously bored and uncomfortable throughout.
Robin and Barney ignore their messages and avoid Lily and Marshall, but they eventually admit that they don't want to be "couple friends". Devastated, Lily and Marshall blame each other for the failure, citing Marshall's bizarre photo montages of trivial events and Lily's tendency to plan big outings much too quickly. After a week apart from Lily and Marshall, Robin and Barney realize they miss their friends, and head over to their condo, only to find them enjoying the company of another couple. Barney and Robin are crushed by the rejection, and sing a rendition of "All by Myself
" as a duet.
They interrupt another couple's night at Lily and Marshall's apartment, leading them outside with a trail of egg timer
s for Charades
. In the rain, Barney and Robin ask for one more chance, which Marshall and Lily grant them, attracted by their "bad boy... and girl" mystique. ("I think we can change them," says Marshall.) They promise to never fight again, and share a hug.
Meanwhile, Ted
has settled into the persona of a professor, often wearing a tweed
jacket, even at MacLaren's. He claims it attracts the ladies, but after a woman leaves his apartment in the morning without having sex, Barney calls him the "Sexless Innkeeper." He elaborates with a poem set in a Dickensian version of Queens, where he was caught in a blizzard, walked a few blocks to an ugly woman's apartment, and feigned sleep to avoid sex. Ted is annoyed at the new nickname, which of course spurs Barney on.
Later, as Barney and Robin leave for brunch with Lily and Marshall, Ted recites a poem of his own for Barney, telling the tale of a busty young blonde woman who was turned on by his professor persona. Barney's is skeptical, but is left speechless when the young woman appears at Ted's bedroom door, inviting Ted back to bed, thus ending the reign of the Sexless Innkeeper. After Robin reminds Barney of their planned brunch with Marshall and Lily, he screams, "What have I done?"
rated the episode with a grade B.
Brian Zoromski of IGN
gave the episode 6.8 out of 10. The review described the episode as "disappointing and mostly unfunny"; he went on to say that he liked the premise of Marshall writing sentimental songs for mundane occasions, but that it was not part of a believable story.
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...
situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
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 92nd overall. It originally aired on October 12, 2009.
Plot
As seen in "DefinitionsDefinitions (How I Met Your Mother)
"Definitions" is the first episode of the fifth season of the How I Met Your Mother TV series and 89th episode overall. It originally aired on September 21, 2009.- Plot :...
", 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 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...
are very excited to have another couple to hang out with. Future Ted explains that they had fared poorly with previous couples, coming across as clingy and desperate. With 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...
and 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 :...
now a couple, they hope to turn their luck around. After an evening together, Lily and Marshall are under the impression that it was "the best night ever", despite Robin and Barney being obviously bored and uncomfortable throughout.
Robin and Barney ignore their messages and avoid Lily and Marshall, but they eventually admit that they don't want to be "couple friends". Devastated, Lily and Marshall blame each other for the failure, citing Marshall's bizarre photo montages of trivial events and Lily's tendency to plan big outings much too quickly. After a week apart from Lily and Marshall, Robin and Barney realize they miss their friends, and head over to their condo, only to find them enjoying the company of another couple. Barney and Robin are crushed by the rejection, and sing a rendition of "All by Myself
All by Myself
"All by Myself" is a power ballad written and performed by Eric Carmen in 1975.The verse is based on the second movement of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18...
" as a duet.
They interrupt another couple's night at Lily and Marshall's apartment, leading them outside with a trail of egg timer
Egg timer
An egg-timer is a device the primary function of which is to assist in timing the cooking of eggs. Early designs simply counted down for a specific period of time. Some modern designs are able to time more accurately by depending on water temperature rather than an absolute time...
s for Charades
Charades
Charades or charade is a word guessing game. In the form most played today, it is an acting game in which one player acts out a word or phrase, often by pantomiming similar-sounding words, and the other players guess the word or phrase. The idea is to use physical rather than verbal language to...
. In the rain, Barney and Robin ask for one more chance, which Marshall and Lily grant them, attracted by their "bad boy... and girl" mystique. ("I think we can change them," says Marshall.) They promise to never fight again, and share a hug.
Meanwhile, 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...
has settled into the persona of a professor, often wearing a tweed
Tweed (cloth)
Tweed is a rough, unfinished woolen fabric, of a soft, open, flexible texture, resembling cheviot or homespun, but more closely woven. It is made in either plain or twill weave and may have a check or herringbone pattern...
jacket, even at MacLaren's. He claims it attracts the ladies, but after a woman leaves his apartment in the morning without having sex, Barney calls him the "Sexless Innkeeper." He elaborates with a poem set in a Dickensian version of Queens, where he was caught in a blizzard, walked a few blocks to an ugly woman's apartment, and feigned sleep to avoid sex. Ted is annoyed at the new nickname, which of course spurs Barney on.
Later, as Barney and Robin leave for brunch with Lily and Marshall, Ted recites a poem of his own for Barney, telling the tale of a busty young blonde woman who was turned on by his professor persona. Barney's is skeptical, but is left speechless when the young woman appears at Ted's bedroom door, inviting Ted back to bed, thus ending the reign of the Sexless Innkeeper. After Robin reminds Barney of their planned brunch with Marshall and Lily, he screams, "What have I done?"
Cultural references
- Marshall has a story about seeing Sammy HagarSammy HagarSam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
eating a Belgian waffle in Cabo San LucasCabo San LucasCabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
, where Hagar has a nightclub called Cabo Wabo Cantina. - Ted asks Barney: "Wait, If this was last year (2008), why are you acting like it was Oliver TwistOliver TwistOliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, published by Richard Bentley in 1838. The story is about an orphan Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to...
?", referring to the title of Charles DickensCharles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
' second novel. - Ranjit says to Marshall and Lily "Phalguni and I are just not that into you" mirroring the name of the 2009 film He's Just Not That into YouHe's Just Not That into You (film)He's Just Not That Into You is a 2009 American romantic comedy film directed by Ken Kwapis, based on the self-help book of the same name by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, which in turn was inspired by a line of dialogue in Sex and the City...
.
Continuity
- Robin and Barney's being questioned by the maître d’ for having dinner for two is a reference to the episode "World's Greatest CoupleWorld's Greatest Couple"World's Greatest Couple" is the 5th episode in the second season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on October 16, 2006.- Plot :...
", where Marshall is questioned for having brunch by himself. - Lily and Marshall's issues regarding other couples had already been introduced in "The Platinum Rule", when we learn about their "relationship" with the next-door couple. That same episode also shows Marshall and Lilly's love of playing charades.
- On one of the failed couples nights, as the other couple gets up to leave, Marshall says "If you leave now Colonel Mustard just gets away with it" showing that Marshall already knows who was guilty before the end of the "CLUE" game. Marshall is great at games as introduced in "Game NightGame Night"Game Night" is the 15th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on February 27, 2006.- Plot :...
". - This is the second time the gang references Oliver Twist, the first time being in 'Sorry Bro' when Barney mocks Marshall's cut off pants by saying "Please sir, may I have some more?"
- Marshall's likelyhood of singing was introduced in "Spoiler Alerts" and "Slapgiving".
Critical response
Donna Bowman of The A.V. ClubThe 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...
rated the episode with a grade B.
Brian Zoromski 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 6.8 out of 10. The review described the episode as "disappointing and mostly unfunny"; he went on to say that he liked the premise of Marshall writing sentimental songs for mundane occasions, but that it was not part of a believable story.
External links
- http://itwasTheBestNightEver.com/ Tie-in website for the episode.