Desperation Day
Encyclopedia
"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.
mentions how lonely she is with Marshall
still living with his mother in Minnesota, Barney
explains the story of Desperation Day, the day before Valentine's Day. Barney claims that single women will find themselves desperate and easy to hook up with on the eve of Valentine's Day. Robin
decides to prove him wrong and says she will be hanging out with her female colleagues that night, though Barney believes they will be just as desperate as any other woman. That night, Robin hangs out with her colleagues, while Barney hits on women. However, Barney then takes interest in one of Robin's colleagues, Nora, who had just arrived. Nora privately tells Barney that unlike Robin and her other colleagues, she actually loves Valentine's Day. Barney hints that the fact she tries to appear romantic comes across as desperate, and instead begins explaining how to play laser tag. The two return to Robin to find her friends have left, as they had gone home with two other guys. Nora soon leaves as well, to Barney's disappointment, but gloats to Robin how her colleagues had fallen for Desperation Day. Robin however points out its after midnight, and Barney had failed to hook up with a woman on Desperation Day. She also claims Barney is beginning to like Nora; though he denies it, Robin later invites Nora to play laser tag with Barney. Future Ted
states it was the first time Barney had been on a date on Valentine's Day.
After confessing their feelings for each other in the past episode, Ted and Zoey are happily dating though they agree to take things slow. Zoey invites Ted to help bake cookies one night; when Ted describes this is as odd to the rest of the gang, they tell him "baking cookies" is essentially code for staying over for the night. Ted arrives at Zoey's apartment with an overnight bag, but she sends him home, saying he was being presumptuous. Later Zoey apologizes and tells Ted she is ready to get serious. However, Ted feels there is added pressure as Zoey has just been divorced and begins feeling anxious.
Meanwhile, Lily misses Marshall, and is especially disappointed as it's Valentine's Day; the couple has an odd tradition of watching Predator
every year on Valentine's. After admitting to have used a stuffed pillow as a stand-in to Marshall, Lily finally heads to Marshall's home to convince him to return. Marshall doesn't wish to leave so soon, but it becomes clear Marshall's mother has become annoyed with his presence, though not admitting it to Marshall. Marshall has essentially reverted to his teenage self, playing his old video games and not even realizing how much Lily misses him or his mother's annoyance of him. Ted soon joins Marshall, claiming to help Marshall deal with his loss though in reality trying to avoid the pressure of committing to a relationship with Zoey. Lily finally announces she's heading back home to New York, leaving Marshall saddened. Marshall reveals to Ted the real reason he has stayed in Minnesota is because he feels lost without his dad, and doesn't wish to return to his life. The two agree to drive back home that night, as flights have been canceled due to a storm. During the drive, Marshall has trouble seeing the road ahead when the image of his late father appears in his back seat, giving him advice on how he drove in such conditions. Encouraged by his father's words, Marshall makes it back to New York. Lily is later thrilled when Marshall comes home, and the two watch Predator
together.
Zoey later greets Ted at his apartment and shows him her own overnight bag. Ted jokingly calls her presumptuous, and the two kiss, thus ending their anxieties about commitment. In the end, Lily is shown having a quiet break-up with her pillow (which she had nicknamed "Marshpillow.")
gave the episode a rating of 8.5 out of 10.
Donna Bowman of The A. V. Club gave the episode a grade of A-.
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 128th episode overall. It aired on February 14, 2011.
Plot
When LilyLily 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...
mentions how lonely she is with 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...
still living with his mother in Minnesota, 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...
explains the story of Desperation Day, the day before Valentine's Day. Barney claims that single women will find themselves desperate and easy to hook up with on the eve of Valentine's Day. 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 :...
decides to prove him wrong and says she will be hanging out with her female colleagues that night, though Barney believes they will be just as desperate as any other woman. That night, Robin hangs out with her colleagues, while Barney hits on women. However, Barney then takes interest in one of Robin's colleagues, Nora, who had just arrived. Nora privately tells Barney that unlike Robin and her other colleagues, she actually loves Valentine's Day. Barney hints that the fact she tries to appear romantic comes across as desperate, and instead begins explaining how to play laser tag. The two return to Robin to find her friends have left, as they had gone home with two other guys. Nora soon leaves as well, to Barney's disappointment, but gloats to Robin how her colleagues had fallen for Desperation Day. Robin however points out its after midnight, and Barney had failed to hook up with a woman on Desperation Day. She also claims Barney is beginning to like Nora; though he denies it, Robin later invites Nora to play laser tag with Barney. Future 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...
states it was the first time Barney had been on a date on Valentine's Day.
After confessing their feelings for each other in the past episode, Ted and Zoey are happily dating though they agree to take things slow. Zoey invites Ted to help bake cookies one night; when Ted describes this is as odd to the rest of the gang, they tell him "baking cookies" is essentially code for staying over for the night. Ted arrives at Zoey's apartment with an overnight bag, but she sends him home, saying he was being presumptuous. Later Zoey apologizes and tells Ted she is ready to get serious. However, Ted feels there is added pressure as Zoey has just been divorced and begins feeling anxious.
Meanwhile, Lily misses Marshall, and is especially disappointed as it's Valentine's Day; the couple has an odd tradition of watching Predator
Predator (film)
Predator is a 1987 American science fiction action film directed by John McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and Kevin Peter Hall. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox....
every year on Valentine's. After admitting to have used a stuffed pillow as a stand-in to Marshall, Lily finally heads to Marshall's home to convince him to return. Marshall doesn't wish to leave so soon, but it becomes clear Marshall's mother has become annoyed with his presence, though not admitting it to Marshall. Marshall has essentially reverted to his teenage self, playing his old video games and not even realizing how much Lily misses him or his mother's annoyance of him. Ted soon joins Marshall, claiming to help Marshall deal with his loss though in reality trying to avoid the pressure of committing to a relationship with Zoey. Lily finally announces she's heading back home to New York, leaving Marshall saddened. Marshall reveals to Ted the real reason he has stayed in Minnesota is because he feels lost without his dad, and doesn't wish to return to his life. The two agree to drive back home that night, as flights have been canceled due to a storm. During the drive, Marshall has trouble seeing the road ahead when the image of his late father appears in his back seat, giving him advice on how he drove in such conditions. Encouraged by his father's words, Marshall makes it back to New York. Lily is later thrilled when Marshall comes home, and the two watch Predator
Predator (film)
Predator is a 1987 American science fiction action film directed by John McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and Kevin Peter Hall. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox....
together.
Zoey later greets Ted at his apartment and shows him her own overnight bag. Ted jokingly calls her presumptuous, and the two kiss, thus ending their anxieties about commitment. In the end, Lily is shown having a quiet break-up with her pillow (which she had nicknamed "Marshpillow.")
Continuity
- It was hinted that Ted might develop feelings for Zoey in the episode "The Mermaid TheoryThe Mermaid Theory"The Mermaid Theory" is the eleventh episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and the 123rd episode overall. It aired on December 6, 2010.-Plot:...
." They kissed in the previous episode, "Oh HoneyOh Honey"Oh Honey" is the fifteenth episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and the 127th episode overall. It aired on February 7, 2011.-Plot:...
." - In "Bad NewsBad News (How I Met Your Mother)"Bad News" is the thirteenth episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and their 125th episode overall. It aired January 3, 2011.-Plot:...
", Barney holds a poster for the 47th Semi Annual Laser Tag Tournament, in which he participates in this episode. - Ted corrects Robin and Zoey that his British Morning Socks are not slippers. Ted has a habit of correcting people, as shown in "Spoiler Alert".
- The shirt Marshall is wearing while back in Minnesota says "Tarkenton High School Phys Ed.", a reference to Fran TarkentonFran TarkentonFrancis Asbury "Fran" Tarkenton is a former professional football player, TV personality, and computer software executive....
, who was previously mentioned in Little MinnesotaLittle Minnesota"Little Minnesota" is the 11th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 75th overall. It originally aired on December 15, 2008.- Plot :...
. - Marshpillow will return in "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:...
," as Lily copes with illness while Marshall is away from the apartment.
Cultural references
- Aside from being Marshall and Lily's annual Valentine's Day tradition, the episode pays homage to the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie PredatorPredator (film)Predator is a 1987 American science fiction action film directed by John McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and Kevin Peter Hall. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox....
when Barney mimics the Predator's clicking sound and thermal vision while on the prowl. - Marshall is playing Dr. MarioDr. Mario (video game)is an action puzzle game designed by Gunpei Yokoi and produced by Takahiro Harada. It was developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy consoles and released in 1990 and 1991....
and Ted discovers he has a copy of Super Mario KartSuper Mario Kartis a go-kart racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The first game of the Mario Kart series, it was launched in Japan on August 27, 1992, in North America on September 1, 1992, and in Europe on January 21, 1993. Selling eight million copies...
. - Barney claims to be Huey LewisHuey LewisHuey Lewis is an American musician, songwriter and occasional actor.Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many of the band's songs...
and says that Robin's heard the newsHuey Lewis and the NewsHuey Lewis and the News is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California. They had a run of hit singles during the 1980s and early 1990s, eventually scoring a total of 19 top-ten singles across the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Contemporary and Mainstream Rock charts...
. - Barney tells another fake history lesson by saying that Saint ValentineSaint ValentineSaint Valentine is the name of several martyred saints of ancient Rome. The name "Valentine", derived from valens , was popular in Late Antiquity...
had a "best bro" - Saint Desperatius. While Ted notes that Barney's version of St. Valentine's history is true, it is not completely accurate. Only Christian marriage was outlawed, not all marriage. In that same fake history lesson Saint Valentine and Saint Desperatius give each other a "High V" (high fiveHigh fiveThe high five is a celebratory hand gesture that occurs when two people simultaneously raise one hand, about head high, and push, slide or slap the flat of their palm and hand against the palm and flat hand of their partner...
), referencing the Roman numeral systemRoman numeralsThe numeral system of ancient Rome, or Roman numerals, uses combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet to signify values. The numbers 1 to 10 can be expressed in Roman numerals as:...
where 'VVV is the twenty-second letter in the basic modern Latin alphabet.-Letter:The letter V comes from the Semitic letter Waw, as do the modern letters F, U, W, and Y. See F for details....
' equals 5. - Robin points out the "two white Urkels" at MacLaren's, referencing the iconic television character Steve UrkelSteve UrkelSteven Quincy Urkel, generally known as Steve Urkel or simply Urkel, is a fictional character on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters, portrayed by Jaleel White...
from the show Family Matters. - Gray's PapayaGray's PapayaGray's Papaya is a hot dog restaurant with two locations on the West Side of Manhattan, open 24 hours a day year-round. The two locations of Gray's Papaya in Manhattan are:* 402 Sixth Avenue at 8th Street and* 2090 Broadway at 72nd Street....
is a popular hot dog restaurant (3 locations) in the West SideWest Side (Manhattan)The West Side of Manhattan refers to the side of Manhattan Island which abuts the Hudson River and faces New Jersey. Fifth Avenue, Central Park, and lower Broadway separate it from the East Side. The major neighborhoods on the West Side are West Harlem, Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley, Upper...
of Manhattan. The gang visited one such branch in the season 1 episode The Limo.
Critical response
Robert Canning of IGNIGN
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.
Donna Bowman of The A. V. Club gave the episode a grade of A-.