Challenge Accepted
Encyclopedia
"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.
and Ted
argue about who is going to press the button to blow up the building, which Future Ted says is the only thing they did over the summer. Amid the arguing, Ted mentions that he ran into Zoey after breaking up and she asked to get coffee with him, which Robin and Barney say is a signal that she wants to get back together with him.
The episode flashes-forward to September 2011. Marshall
is feeling down, so Lily
decides to get them both some of their favourite soup. But shortly after eating it, Lily gets sick and begins throwing up. Desperate to stop Marshall from eating any, after an attempt to call him, she runs from the school to meet him at the house. She stops him just before he takes a bite - of his third bowl.
Marshall has an important business meeting with a prospective employer (Dave Foley
) and has figured out the time when he'll begin vomiting as well. While at the meeting, he resists vomiting, despite a plethora of disgusting images and stories that the employer tells. Eventually, he gives in and tells the employer he is set to vomit soon and runs out of the room.
Discouraged that he probably blew his chance at his dream job, he comes home and lays down to get some rest before his "countdown" finishes. He wakes up the following morning to find out that he hadn't gotten sick at all; it is revealed that Lily was throwing up because she is pregnant.
Meanwhile, with the Arcadian's demolition a day away, Ted is distraught with what to do about the lighting for the new building, and, as he has done before, decides that this warrants getting back together with a recent ex-girlfriend - in this case, Zoey. He decides to meet her and buy her an orchid like he first did for her, but Barney and Robin
stop him before he can. While on their way to stop Ted, they have a tender moment, but ultimately decide that they both need to move on. Barney eventually lets Ted press the button to blow up the Arcadian, and soon after the demolition takes place, Barney meets Nora again, and asks her to coffee, which Nora accepts. Robin is first shown to be smiling, but then quickly becomes upset as she sees that Barney wants to get back together with Nora, hinting that her feelings for him may be resurfacing.
The episode flashes-forward again to the wedding first seen in "Big Days
", where Ted and Marshall are sitting outside the church, and Ted is then called in by Lily. Ted goes inside to check on the groom, who is revealed to be Barney.
and Craig Thomas
, a majority of this Season 6 finale takes place in September instead of May "so we can pick up Season 7 exactly where we left off". Said Thomas, "This is the first time in the history of our show we're doing a finale that is not set in May. We jump ahead to September, basically to the beginning of next season."
This episode was shot with extra security because of the two major revelations at the end: Lily being pregnant and Barney being the groom at the future wedding.
" is reused in this episode.
"Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
" by George Harrison
is played during the wedding scene at the end of the episode and also played at the first episode of season 6.
IGN gave the episode a rating of 7 out of 10.
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 136th episode overall. It aired on May 16, 2011.
Plot
With the Arcadian denied landmark status, BarneyBarney 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 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...
argue about who is going to press the button to blow up the building, which Future Ted says is the only thing they did over the summer. Amid the arguing, Ted mentions that he ran into Zoey after breaking up and she asked to get coffee with him, which Robin and Barney say is a signal that she wants to get back together with him.
The episode flashes-forward to September 2011. 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...
is feeling down, so 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...
decides to get them both some of their favourite soup. But shortly after eating it, Lily gets sick and begins throwing up. Desperate to stop Marshall from eating any, after an attempt to call him, she runs from the school to meet him at the house. She stops him just before he takes a bite - of his third bowl.
Marshall has an important business meeting with a prospective employer (Dave Foley
Dave Foley
David Scott "Dave" Foley is a Canadian comedian, writer, director, and producer best known for his work in The Kids in the Hall, NewsRadio, A Bug's Life, and Celebrity Poker Showdown...
) and has figured out the time when he'll begin vomiting as well. While at the meeting, he resists vomiting, despite a plethora of disgusting images and stories that the employer tells. Eventually, he gives in and tells the employer he is set to vomit soon and runs out of the room.
Discouraged that he probably blew his chance at his dream job, he comes home and lays down to get some rest before his "countdown" finishes. He wakes up the following morning to find out that he hadn't gotten sick at all; it is revealed that Lily was throwing up because she is pregnant.
Meanwhile, with the Arcadian's demolition a day away, Ted is distraught with what to do about the lighting for the new building, and, as he has done before, decides that this warrants getting back together with a recent ex-girlfriend - in this case, Zoey. He decides to meet her and buy her an orchid like he first did for her, but Barney 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 :...
stop him before he can. While on their way to stop Ted, they have a tender moment, but ultimately decide that they both need to move on. Barney eventually lets Ted press the button to blow up the Arcadian, and soon after the demolition takes place, Barney meets Nora again, and asks her to coffee, which Nora accepts. Robin is first shown to be smiling, but then quickly becomes upset as she sees that Barney wants to get back together with Nora, hinting that her feelings for him may be resurfacing.
The episode flashes-forward again to the wedding first seen in "Big Days
Big Days
"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.- Plot :...
", where Ted and Marshall are sitting outside the church, and Ted is then called in by Lily. Ted goes inside to check on the groom, who is revealed to be Barney.
Production
According to show co-creators Carter BaysCarter Bays
Carter Bays is an American television writer. Along with writing partner Craig Thomas, he is best known as creator, writer, and executive producer of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. He has 70 episodes of the show under his belt from 2005-2009, and has been nominated for six primetime Emmy...
and Craig Thomas
Craig 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...
, a majority of this Season 6 finale takes place in September instead of May "so we can pick up Season 7 exactly where we left off". Said Thomas, "This is the first time in the history of our show we're doing a finale that is not set in May. We jump ahead to September, basically to the beginning of next season."
This episode was shot with extra security because of the two major revelations at the end: Lily being pregnant and Barney being the groom at the future wedding.
Music
The underscore from "Subway WarsSubway Wars
"Subway Wars" is the fourth episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and the 116th episode overall. It originally aired on October 11, 2010.- Plot :...
" is reused in this episode.
"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 Harrison
George Harrison
George 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...
is played during the wedding scene at the end of the episode and also played at the first episode of season 6.
Continuity
- Future Ted tricks his kids into thinking a blonde girl he gives the orchid to by mistake is their mother. He plays a similar trick 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...
". - Lily is seen with the "Marshpillow" stand-in, first seen in "Desperation DayDesperation Day"Desperation Day" is the sixteenth episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and the 128th episode overall. It aired on February 14, 2011.-Plot:...
", when Marshall walks into their apartment after an interview. - Lily speaks "conductor," as previously shown in "Subway WarsSubway Wars"Subway Wars" is the fourth episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and the 116th episode overall. It originally aired on October 11, 2010.- Plot :...
". - Barney says "challenge accepted" after Nora says it's never too late to wear sundressSundressA sundress is a dress intended to be worn by women in warm weather. Typically, it is an informal or casual dress in a lightweight fabric, most commonly cotton, and usually loose fitting. The dress is intended to be worn without a layering top, and the design must therefore cut a balance between...
es. This could be a reference from "HopelessHopelessHopeless can refer to:*Mount Hopeless, various mountains in Australia and one in New Zealand*Hopeless Records, a record label*"Hopeless" , a 6th season episode of the television show How I Met Your Mother...
", whereby Barney's dad Jerome said the biggest challenge in his life was settling down. - Nora's comment on sundresses is a throwback to the first episode of the season, "Big DaysBig Days"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.- Plot :...
," when Barney complains to Ted that the season for wearing sundresses is ending soon. In "Big DaysBig Days"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.- Plot :...
," after denying Barney's claim that she has "lost it," Robin leaves the bar to change. When she returns, Barney observes that she "sundressed up." - Lily introduces a new class pet guinea pigGuinea pigThe guinea pig , also called the cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia. Despite their common name, these animals are not in the pig family, nor are they from Guinea...
, Mr. Buttons 2, after Mr. Buttons 1 (and its fate) is mentioned by Barney in "A Change of HeartA Change of Heart"A Change of Heart" is the eighteenth episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and the 130th episode overall. It originally aired on February 28, 2011.-Plot:...
". - Barney mentions his "New is always better" rule. It was first mentioned 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 is a terrible liar, as shown in many episodes such as "Miracles", where he tells his boss he has lice and in Jenkins when Lily visits GNB.
- A montage of flashbacks show Ted asking other ex-girlfriends if they'd like "to get coffee" with him, including Natalie from "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 :...
", his former cheating college girlfriend Karen, and Robin. - Barney and Robin try to remember where Ted says he and Zoey went on their first date, but both realize they only heard muted trumpets, first referenced in "Garbage Island". It's revealed that Lily also tuned out Ted's talking about Zoey.
- Ted rips the label on his beer throughout the episode, which he first does in the first episode of the season "Big DaysBig Days"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.- Plot :...
".
Cultural references
- Marshall says Lily's vomiting makes her sound like the velociraptorVelociraptorVelociraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that existed approximately 75 to 71 million years ago during the later part of the Cretaceous Period. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is V. mongoliensis; fossils...
s from Jurassic ParkJurassic Park (film)Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck...
. - Barney and Robin do not listen to Ted by spacing out like Miss Othmar in Peanuts.
- Trader Joe'sTrader Joe'sTrader Joe's is a privately held chain of specialty grocery stores headquartered in Monrovia, California. , Trader Joe's had a total of 365 stores. Approximately half of its stores are in California, with the heaviest concentration in Southern California, but the company also has locations in 30...
was mentioned while Barney and Robin were outside the "Intersection". - The construction company is called "Muttnik Construction", referencing the Carter-Bays stamp logo at the end of every episode.
Reception
Donna Bowman of the AV Club gave the episode a B.IGN gave the episode a rating of 7 out of 10.