Doppelgangers (How I Met Your Mother)
Encyclopedia
"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.
is ready to have a baby, Lily
is not, so they reach a compromise: they make a pact to start trying to have a baby once they finally see Barney
's doppelgänger
. One day they finally spot Barney's doppelgänger, who appears in the form of a brunette cab driver, but later find out it is only Barney's tactic to pick up women from the UN headquarters and sleep with one woman from every country on the planet. Meanwhile, Ted
decides to get his hair dyed blonde, much to the amusement of the gang. Robin
finally gets an offer for her dream job as lead anchor at rival station WNKW. However, she eventually decides to give it up as it requires her to move to Chicago
and she wants to stay in New York
for the sake of her relationship with Don. Having nearly had to deal with Robin's departure, Barney realizes that the addition of a baby to the gang would not be that bad after all, and dresses up as an Estonia
n street performer in order to convince Lily that the fifth doppelgänger has appeared. Lily and Marshall see through his act, but thank him for the gesture, assuring him that he will be a part of their family.
Robin is disappointed when Don tells her that he accepted the WNKW job. Heart-broken that Don was not willing to give up the job like she did, she breaks up with him and moves back to Ted's apartment. Ted tells her that although they have all been searching for their doppelgängers, things have changed so much in the five years since they first met that the five of them are now, in fact, doppelgängers of their own selves. Ted comforts Robin by saying she has become more courageous and that doppelgänger Robin is 'amazing'. They nearly make out, but Robin bursts out in laughter when she takes off his cap and sees his blond hair again. Four months later, Lily sees a street vendor selling pretzels who bears an uncanny resemblance to Barney and gathers the rest of the gang to witness the doppelgänger, but they find that the vendor looks nothing like Barney. Just as Barney is about to protest, Marshall stops him. They realize that one only sees what one wants to see, when one wants to see it, and know that Lily is finally ready to have kids.
IGN
gave the episode a rating of 8.9 out of 10.
Cindy McLennan of Television Without Pity gave the episode a C+ rating.
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 112th episode overall. It originally aired on May 24, 2010.
Plot
Although 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...
is ready to have a baby, 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...
is not, so they reach a compromise: they make a pact to start trying to have a baby once they finally see 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...
's doppelgänger
Doppelgänger
In fiction and folklore, a doppelgänger is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune...
. One day they finally spot Barney's doppelgänger, who appears in the form of a brunette cab driver, but later find out it is only Barney's tactic to pick up women from the UN headquarters and sleep with one woman from every country on the planet. 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...
decides to get his hair dyed blonde, much to the amusement of the gang. 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 :...
finally gets an offer for her dream job as lead anchor at rival station WNKW. However, she eventually decides to give it up as it requires her to move to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and she wants to stay in 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...
for the sake of her relationship with Don. Having nearly had to deal with Robin's departure, Barney realizes that the addition of a baby to the gang would not be that bad after all, and dresses up as an Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n street performer in order to convince Lily that the fifth doppelgänger has appeared. Lily and Marshall see through his act, but thank him for the gesture, assuring him that he will be a part of their family.
Robin is disappointed when Don tells her that he accepted the WNKW job. Heart-broken that Don was not willing to give up the job like she did, she breaks up with him and moves back to Ted's apartment. Ted tells her that although they have all been searching for their doppelgängers, things have changed so much in the five years since they first met that the five of them are now, in fact, doppelgängers of their own selves. Ted comforts Robin by saying she has become more courageous and that doppelgänger Robin is 'amazing'. They nearly make out, but Robin bursts out in laughter when she takes off his cap and sees his blond hair again. Four months later, Lily sees a street vendor selling pretzels who bears an uncanny resemblance to Barney and gathers the rest of the gang to witness the doppelgänger, but they find that the vendor looks nothing like Barney. Just as Barney is about to protest, Marshall stops him. They realize that one only sees what one wants to see, when one wants to see it, and know that Lily is finally ready to have kids.
Music
- "LifesizeOne Cell in the SeaOne Cell in the Sea is the first studio album by A Fine Frenzy , released under Virgin Records on July 17, 2007...
" by A Fine FrenzyA Fine FrenzyAlison Sudol , known professionally as A Fine Frenzy , is a US alternative singer and songwriter and pianist. Her debut album, One Cell in the Sea, was released on July 17, 2007, and peaked at number 91 on the Billboard 200 chart... - "Hungarian Dance No. 5Hungarian Dances (Brahms)The Hungarian Dances by Johannes Brahms , are a set of 21 lively dance tunes based mostly on Hungarian themes, completed in 1869.They vary from about a minute to four minutes in length. They are among Brahms' most popular works, and were certainly the most profitable for him. Each dance has been...
" by Johannes BrahmsJohannes BrahmsJohannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
(when Barney talks about leasing a cab to get together with foreign chicks)
Continuity
- The show has a running joke that doppelgängers exist for the main cast. Prior to this episode, we have seen: Stripper Lily, Mustache Marshall LesbianLesbianLesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
Robin, and MexicanMexican peopleMexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
Wrestler Ted. - In the episode "Robots Versus WrestlersRobots Versus Wrestlers"Robots Versus Wrestlers " is the 22nd episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 110th episode overall. It aired on May 10, 2010.- Plot :...
", Lily tells Marshall that when they see the final doppelgänger (Barney's), that will be a sign that they need to start trying to have a baby. They finally see Barney's doppelganger, a fertility specialist named Dr. Stangel, in the season six episode "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:...
". - "TelepathicTelepathyTelepathy , 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...
" conversations taking place between members of the group were previously used 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 :...
", "Bachelor Party", "Three Days of Snow", "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 "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 :...
". - The gang's issue with Ted "pulling off" certain styles was first explicatively highlighted in "Everything Must Go", with his red cowboy boots. In other episodes, it has included an old shirt, how he does his hair and his goatee.
- While discussing whether Ted can pull off "that blond look", he mentions working for a summer as a lifeguard at a country club. At the end of the fourth season episode The PossimpibleThe Possimpible"The Possimpible" is the 14th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 78th overall. It originally aired on February 2, 2009.- Plot :...
, you can also see part of Ted's resume as he erases his stint as Dr. X at his university, and it shows that Ted worked as a lifeguard at a condominium complex in the summer of 1998. - The episode flashes back to "fireworks kiss" of Robin and Don's "Super Date" 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 :...
". - Don mentions having given up on "pants", referring to the time that he didn't wear them during his first broadcast with Robin in "Last Cigarette EverLast Cigarette Ever"Last Cigarette Ever" is the eleventh episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 99th episode overall. It aired on December 14, 2009.- Plot :...
". - Towards the end, the episode flashes back to the very beginning, the series' pilot, showing Marshall and Lily after their first engagement, the flashback to how Ted met Barney, Ted meeting Robin across the crowded bar, and to a scene 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 :...
" with Barney and Robin's first public appearance as a couple. - In Barney's world map, ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
is not checked off. At Marshall and Lily's wedding however, he tells to Robin and Ted that he once has been with an Argentinean exchange student. - In the episode Right Place Right TimeRight Place Right Time"Right Place, Right Time" is the 22nd episode of the fourth season of How I Met Your Mother and 86th overall. It aired on May 4, 2009.- Plot :...
Robin remarks that there isn't much 'ethnic diversity' in the women Barney has slept with (in regards to viewing his 'list'). It could be that the world map is a new goal he's had since reaching 200. - Marshall uses a variation on his phrase "Lawyered" in this episode, when he and Lily are talking about what the universe wants and they see Barney's doppelgänger he says "Universed".
- Lily quotes the episode "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 :...
" when she says "Marshall Eriksen, put a baby in my belly." - In "Last Cigarette EverLast Cigarette Ever"Last Cigarette Ever" is the eleventh episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 99th episode overall. It aired on December 14, 2009.- Plot :...
", Future Ted states that Lily quits smoking on the day she decides to get pregnant, which she does at the end of this episode. Thus making Lily the first character on the show to quit smoking for good.
Barney's blog
- Barney's blogBlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
is again mentioned in this episode, as well as Barney telling people to read it. - Barney explains why you should not have kids until you are at least 45. He also mocks Ted for dying his hair blonde.
Cultural references
- Among some of the names the group calls Blonde Ted are Billy IdolBilly IdolWilliam Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
, Slim ShadyEminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, Brigitte NielsenBrigitte NielsenBrigitte Nielsen is a Danish model, actress, musician and reality television personality who began her career modelling for Greg Gorman and Helmut Newton and several years later made appearances in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV and is also known for her marriage to Sylvester Stallone...
, Dolph LundgrenDolph LundgrenDolph Lundgren is a Swedish actor, director, and martial artist. He belongs to a generation of film actors who epitomise the movie action hero stereotype including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme.A graduate in chemical...
and Ellen DeGeneresEllen DeGeneresEllen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
. Lundgren and Nielsen were mentioned as a homage to their roles in Rocky IVRocky IVRocky IV is a 1985 American film written by, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the fourth and most financially successful entry in the Rocky franchise...
. - Ted uses the Washington GeneralsWashington GeneralsThe Washington Generals are an American exhibition basketball team, best known for their spectacular losing streak in exhibition games against the Harlem Globetrotters.-History:...
and the Harlem GlobetrottersHarlem GlobetrottersThe Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
as a metaphor for Robin's career and love life. - Barney spoofs Jules VerneJules VerneJules Gabriel Verne was a French author who pioneered the science fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea , A Journey to the Center of the Earth , and Around the World in Eighty Days...
's book, Around The World In Eighty Days, with him getting "around the world in 180 lays".
Critical response
The AV Club gave the episode a B rating.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 8.9 out of 10.
Cindy McLennan of Television Without Pity gave the episode a C+ rating.