Big Days
Encyclopedia
"Big Days" is the first episode of the sixth season of the CBS
sitcom
How I Met Your Mother
, and the 113th episode overall. It originally aired on September 20, 2010.
brings Ted
a beer, both men dressed in tuxedo
s. Marshall notices Ted is nervous by his habit of ripping the beer bottle labels. Flashing back to the present day at MacLaren's, Barney
notices Ted doing the same thing as he sits grading papers. Amidst his work, Ted is nervous about a girl at the bar he wants to approach, and Barney boosts his confidence before calling "dibs
."
While they argue, Robin
walks into the bar, disheveled with a burger and a bag of fries. After being left by Don, she has sunk into a depression, even going as far as to swear Ted to not sleep with her (which he finds easier in her current state). After a bit of heckling from Barney, Robin cleans up and struts into the bar in a sun dress, showing off her skill before waving off a guy who hits on her.
Ted notices the girl he has been watching is standing next to Cindy (Rachel Bilson
), the girl he had briefly dated from his school, and whose roommate Future Ted says is the eponymous mother. After their one date, Cindy had treated him badly when they met during the school day. Ted assumes that the woman at the bar is Cindy's roommate, and is desperate to meet her. Cindy sees Ted and takes him aside, thanking him for helping her realize what she was looking for, and invites him to say goodbye to her before he leaves.
Ted struts up to the two ladies, assuming he is going to be introduced to the woman he thinks is Cindy's roommate, but the two women kiss, and Ted realizes that it is not Cindy's roommate (Future Ted tells his kids that although he didn't meet their mother, Cindy and the woman did become mothers anyway as they ended up having a daughter). Then, he tells his children that he met their mother at a wedding. The scene flashes forward to a wedding: the church backyard seen earlier in the episode with Ted and Marshall. Ted admits to Marshall that he is nervous about his toast at the wedding and he wants it to be perfect. It is also revealed that Ted is the best man, and is called in by Lily
. It starts to rain, and Ted says that he doesn't have an umbrella.
Meanwhile, in the present, Marshall and Lily show up at MacLaren's, arguing about trying to get pregnant. Lily had set a romantic evening at home, with candles and banjo music, but when she finds out that Marshall has told his father that they are trying, Lily freaks out about how invasive Marvin Eriksen is. Marshall argues that his father is a part of his life and deserves to know, but Lily can't stand Mr. Eriksen's constant calls and domineering personality. (Barney mentions that if he knew his father's phone number, he'd be calling him all the time, before turning his focus elsewhere.) Lily goes after Marshall, and the two reconcile, agreeing that his father is somewhat insane and very enthusiastic, just like Marshall. They both then head upstairs.
Robert Canning of IGN
gave the episode a rating of 8.5 out of 10.
DeAnn Welker of Television Without Pity gave the episode a B+.
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
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 the 113th episode overall. It originally aired on September 20, 2010.
Plot
Future Ted pontificates on the important days in a relationship: "the day you meet the girl of your dreams, and the day you marry her." The audience is shown a church backyard, where 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...
brings 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...
a beer, both men dressed in tuxedo
Tuxedo
A tuxedo is a type of semi-formal dress for men.Tuxedo may also refer to:-Places:Canada* Tuxedo, Winnipeg, Manitoba, a city neighborhood** Tuxedo , a provincial electoral district in Manitoba...
s. Marshall notices Ted is nervous by his habit of ripping the beer bottle labels. Flashing back to the present day at MacLaren's, 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...
notices Ted doing the same thing as he sits grading papers. Amidst his work, Ted is nervous about a girl at the bar he wants to approach, and Barney boosts his confidence before calling "dibs
Dibs
Calling dibs is an informal convention to declare a specific right to something that no individual otherwise has any clearly recognized right...
."
While they argue, 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 :...
walks into the bar, disheveled with a burger and a bag of fries. After being left by Don, she has sunk into a depression, even going as far as to swear Ted to not sleep with her (which he finds easier in her current state). After a bit of heckling from Barney, Robin cleans up and struts into the bar in a sun dress, showing off her skill before waving off a guy who hits on her.
Ted notices the girl he has been watching is standing next to Cindy (Rachel Bilson
Rachel Bilson
Rachel Sarah Bilson is an American actress. Bilson grew up in a California show business family, and made her television debut in 2003, subsequently becoming well known for playing Summer Roberts on the prime time drama series The O.C. Bilson made her film debut in the 2006 film The Last Kiss and...
), the girl he had briefly dated from his school, and whose roommate Future Ted says is the eponymous mother. After their one date, Cindy had treated him badly when they met during the school day. Ted assumes that the woman at the bar is Cindy's roommate, and is desperate to meet her. Cindy sees Ted and takes him aside, thanking him for helping her realize what she was looking for, and invites him to say goodbye to her before he leaves.
Ted struts up to the two ladies, assuming he is going to be introduced to the woman he thinks is Cindy's roommate, but the two women kiss, and Ted realizes that it is not Cindy's roommate (Future Ted tells his kids that although he didn't meet their mother, Cindy and the woman did become mothers anyway as they ended up having a daughter). Then, he tells his children that he met their mother at a wedding. The scene flashes forward to a wedding: the church backyard seen earlier in the episode with Ted and Marshall. Ted admits to Marshall that he is nervous about his toast at the wedding and he wants it to be perfect. It is also revealed that Ted is the best man, and is called in by 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...
. It starts to rain, and Ted says that he doesn't have an umbrella.
Meanwhile, in the present, Marshall and Lily show up at MacLaren's, arguing about trying to get pregnant. Lily had set a romantic evening at home, with candles and banjo music, but when she finds out that Marshall has told his father that they are trying, Lily freaks out about how invasive Marvin Eriksen is. Marshall argues that his father is a part of his life and deserves to know, but Lily can't stand Mr. Eriksen's constant calls and domineering personality. (Barney mentions that if he knew his father's phone number, he'd be calling him all the time, before turning his focus elsewhere.) Lily goes after Marshall, and the two reconcile, agreeing that his father is somewhat insane and very enthusiastic, just like Marshall. They both then head upstairs.
Music
- "Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)"Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp " is a song written by George Harrison from his 1970 album All Things Must Pass, and a tribute to Frank Crisp, a 19th century lawyer that had been a previous owner of Harrison's Victorian residence Friar Park....
" by George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
plays when Ted and Marshall talk outside the church. - "Run Off the Road" by Ola Podrida plays near the end, when Cindy and her girlfriend are kissing.
Continuity
- Robin is currently in a post-break-up state, following the end of her relationship with Don Frank from the season 5 finale "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 :...
." - Marshall and Lily are attempting to get pregnant, following their conjugal decision from "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 :...
." - The banjo music that is played is the instrumental of the "Bang, Bang, Bangity Bang" song composed by Marshall in "Of CourseOf Course (How I Met Your Mother)"Of Course" is the seventeenth episode of the fifth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and 105th episode overall. It originally aired on March 8, 2010.- Plot :...
." - Cindy, a grad student at Ted's school, went on a date with Ted in the Season 5 episode "Girls Versus SuitsGirls Versus Suits"Girls Versus Suits" is the twelfth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 100th episode overall. It originally aired on January 11, 2010....
." - Barney attempts to tell another fake historical tale to justify his behavior, claiming that the word "dibs" comes from a 17th century captain, Sir Walter Dibs. In "The Goat," Barney cites the story of Barnabas Stinson and the Bro Code, set amidst the American Revolution. In "HookedHooked (How I Met Your Mother)"Hooked" is the sixteenth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 104th episode overall. It originally aired on March 1, 2010.- Plot :...
," Barney uses a historical evolution of the "hot girl profession" from the Stone Age, to World War I, and the Age of Flight. - A GNB colleague says to Marshall, "Sink that spud, Big Fudge," referring to his skee ballSkee ballSkee ball is a common arcade game and one of the first redemption games. It is similar to bowling except it is played on an inclined lane and the player aims to get the ball to fall into a hole rather than knock down pins...
alias revealed in the Season 5 episode "JenkinsJenkins (How I Met Your Mother)"Jenkins" is the thirteenth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 101st episode overall. It originally aired on January 18, 2010...
." - Lily's estranged relationship with Marshall's family is shown here, as was previously noted in "Belly Full of TurkeyBelly Full of Turkey"Belly Full of Turkey" is the 9th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on November 21, 2005.- Plot :It's Thanksgiving time, and Marshall and Lily are going to visit Marshall's family in Minnesota...
." - Since their marriage, Lily hasn't changed her last name to Eriksen. She let Marshall's family know about in "Belly Full of TurkeyBelly Full of Turkey"Belly Full of Turkey" is the 9th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on November 21, 2005.- Plot :It's Thanksgiving time, and Marshall and Lily are going to visit Marshall's family in Minnesota...
," and it was brought up again during her first dance with Marshall in "Something Blue." - Lily has previously poked Marshall's strange closeness with his family in "Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the SlapSlapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap"Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap" is the ninth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 97th episode overall. It aired on November 23, 2009.- Plot :...
." - Marshall's "close relationship" with his father and how he perceived his upbringing was touched upon in "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 :...
." - Barney's apparent father issues were lightly touched upon in this episode. This was brought up in "Showdown" and in "Not a Father's DayNot a Father's Day"Not a Father's Day" is the seventh episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 71st overall. It originally aired on November 10, 2008.- Plot :...
." - It has always been an internal debate among Marshall, Ted, and Barney, as to who is each other's best friend and best man. Whenever one appears to be favored over the other, they all react with a "Whoa." This was seen in multiple occasions such as in the "Pilot episode," "Bachelor Party," "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 :...
," "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 :...
," and "Woooo!." Barney also raises his voice as part of rebutting others' claims against him being Ted's best friend. - Whenever betting or payment is involved, Barney always asks for denominations in the thousands to the hundred thousands, such as in "Monday Night Football" and "I Heart NJI 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 :...
." - While Ted talks to Cindy, Future Ted voices over and says that he had expected a "savage beating." In season one's "Return of the ShirtReturn of the Shirt"Return of the Shirt" is the 4th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on October 10, 2005.- Plot :...
," Ted is mercilessly beaten by Natalie after he dumps her. - Marshall has a special weakness for Lily, and is unable to make logical arguments nor focus mentally, such as in "BagpipesBagpipes (How I Met Your Mother)"Bagpipes" is the sixth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 94th overall. It originally aired on November 2, 2009.- Plot :...
" and "Brunch." - Marshall's assumption about Lily and a "big package" was referred to in the Season one episode "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 :...
." - Ted rips the labels on beer bottles when he is nervous. In "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:...
", Ted reveals that Lily does the same thing with water bottles when she is feeling guilty. - In the season finale "Challenge AcceptedChallenge Accepted"Challenge Accepted" is the twenty fourth and final episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and the 136th episode overall. It aired on May 16, 2011.-Plot:...
" it is revealed whose wedding they are attending, Barney's.
Barney's blog
In his blog, Barney contemplates the changes in women's attire due to upcoming cold seasons of the year.Cultural references
- Cindy's date was reading Brideshead RevisitedBrideshead RevisitedBrideshead Revisited, The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder is a novel by English writer Evelyn Waugh, first published in 1945. Waugh wrote that the novel "deals with what is theologically termed 'the operation of Grace', that is to say, the unmerited and unilateral act of love by...
, The Sacred & Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder by Evelyn Waugh at the bar while her shields were up. - Barney's comment "Are you there, Barney? It's me, horny" references Judy BlumeJudy BlumeJudy Blume is an American author. She has written many novels for children and young adults which have exceeded sales of 80 million and been translated into 31 languages...
's book Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. - Marshall tells Lily he's been "Saving all my love for youSaving All My Love for You"Saving All My Love for You" is a song written by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin with arrangement by Gene Page. It was originally a minor hit for Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. in 1978 on their album Marilyn & Billy...
", referencing the same-titled 1980s hit by Whitney HoustonWhitney HoustonWhitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
from her debut album. - When Marshall gets out of his office to a crowd at work cheering on his impending sex, he shouts "Can you dig it?", referencing the same phrase from the 1979 film The Warriors, where another crowd went wild at an orator's words.
- Barney's description of Robin having squiggly lines drawn all over her and her appearance refers to PeanutsPeanutsPeanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
character Pig-PenPig-Pen"Pig-Pen" is a character in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. He is a young boy who is, except on very rare occasions, very dirty.-History:"Pig-Pen" is a nickname, invariably written in quotation marks in the strip...
.
Critical response
Donna Bowman of The AV Club gave the episode a B+ score. She said that the episode put in the show's "core competencies in a shrewdly calculated package," citing flash-forwards to the day Ted meets the Mother and how other elements could have a role in making it happen.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 8.5 out of 10.
DeAnn Welker of Television Without Pity gave the episode a B+.