Field Trip (How I Met Your Mother)
Encyclopedia
"Field Trip" is the fifth episode of the seventh season
of the CBS
sitcom How I Met Your Mother
and the 141st episode overall. It aired on October 10, 2011.
wants to take his class on a field trip to the GNB Tower construction site in hopes of inspiring at least one student to become an architect. However, the field trip goes awry when Ted finds he cannot enter the site and ends up taking his class to various places in the city instead, picking up Barney
and a German family in the process, while losing more students. Ted feels like his field trip is a failure, but is delighted when one of his students admits that he might consider becoming an architect (though Future Ted reveals he actually became a DJ
).
During the field trip, Barney reveals that after discovering that Nora hates Ewoks
, he assumes that she lied about her age based on the theory that everyone born before May 25, 1973 was old enough to hate the Ewoks by the time Return of the Jedi
was released. He and Ted wind up using his class and the German family as a focus group to resolve all their long-standing debates, with little resolution for their current problems. However, when Barney confronts Nora after deciding he is willing to accept that she apparently lied about her age, she explains that she has only recently watched the Star Wars
films, explaining her dislike of Ewoks.
Meanwhile, Robin
finds her sessions with Kevin, her therapist, have been going well, but is disappointed when he abruptly ends them with the claim he is moving to Alaska
. They run into each other a week later, when Kevin confesses he had to stop seeing her because he liked her, but ethically cannot date her because she was his patient. However, Robin and Kevin begin meeting each other regularly for breakfast at a diner for several days until Robin arrives late one day after running 40 blocks in the rain because she missed her bus and Kevin suggests they go on an actual date. All of Robin's friends find the relationship inappropriate, which eventually makes both Robin and Kevin uncomfortable, especially as Kevin believes he has taken advantage of the fact he knows of Robin's most vulnerable moments. However, Robin resolves the relationship by having Kevin unload his emotional vulnerabilities and they remain together.
Marshall
, in the meantime, expresses disappointment at his new job working for Garrison Cootes, especially after Cootes accepts a $24,000 settlement from a multi-billion dollar corporation responsible for polluting a lake. Though Marshall is horrified when Cootes reveals that he believes there is little hope for saving the environment anymore, Marshall is inspired to fight back after seeing an ultrasound of his unborn child. Marshall goes back to the corporation and delivers a presentation that does not go well until Garrison Cootes walks in and tells the corporation that the settlement money is not enough. When Marshall asks where they are going as they leave, Cootes replies "War, son. We're going to war." As Future Ted reveals, Marshall and Cootes were successful in saving the environment.
How I Met Your Mother (season 7)
The seventh season of the American television comedy series How I Met Your Mother was announced in March 2011, along with confirmation of an eighth season, and premiered on September 19, 2011 with two episodes airing back-to-back.-Main cast:...
of the CBS
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 141st episode overall. It aired on October 10, 2011.
Plot
TedTed 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...
wants to take his class on a field trip to the GNB Tower construction site in hopes of inspiring at least one student to become an architect. However, the field trip goes awry when Ted finds he cannot enter the site and ends up taking his class to various places in the city instead, picking up 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 a German family in the process, while losing more students. Ted feels like his field trip is a failure, but is delighted when one of his students admits that he might consider becoming an architect (though Future Ted reveals he actually became a DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
).
During the field trip, Barney reveals that after discovering that Nora hates Ewoks
Ewok
Ewoks originate from the Star Wars films. In the series, they are a species of teddy-bear-like hunter-gatherers that inhabit the forest moon of Endor. The Ewoks live in various tree-huts and primitive dwellings. They first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
, he assumes that she lied about her age based on the theory that everyone born before May 25, 1973 was old enough to hate the Ewoks by the time Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand and written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan. It is the third film released in the Star Wars saga, and the sixth in terms of the series' internal chronology...
was released. He and Ted wind up using his class and the German family as a focus group to resolve all their long-standing debates, with little resolution for their current problems. However, when Barney confronts Nora after deciding he is willing to accept that she apparently lied about her age, she explains that she has only recently watched the Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
films, explaining her dislike of Ewoks.
Meanwhile, 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 :...
finds her sessions with Kevin, her therapist, have been going well, but is disappointed when he abruptly ends them with the claim he is moving to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. They run into each other a week later, when Kevin confesses he had to stop seeing her because he liked her, but ethically cannot date her because she was his patient. However, Robin and Kevin begin meeting each other regularly for breakfast at a diner for several days until Robin arrives late one day after running 40 blocks in the rain because she missed her bus and Kevin suggests they go on an actual date. All of Robin's friends find the relationship inappropriate, which eventually makes both Robin and Kevin uncomfortable, especially as Kevin believes he has taken advantage of the fact he knows of Robin's most vulnerable moments. However, Robin resolves the relationship by having Kevin unload his emotional vulnerabilities and they remain together.
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...
, in the meantime, expresses disappointment at his new job working for Garrison Cootes, especially after Cootes accepts a $24,000 settlement from a multi-billion dollar corporation responsible for polluting a lake. Though Marshall is horrified when Cootes reveals that he believes there is little hope for saving the environment anymore, Marshall is inspired to fight back after seeing an ultrasound of his unborn child. Marshall goes back to the corporation and delivers a presentation that does not go well until Garrison Cootes walks in and tells the corporation that the settlement money is not enough. When Marshall asks where they are going as they leave, Cootes replies "War, son. We're going to war." As Future Ted reveals, Marshall and Cootes were successful in saving the environment.
Continuity
- Ted's goal of inspiring and changing the life of at least one of his students was first mentioned in "UnfinishedUnfinished (How I Met Your Mother)"Unfinished" is the third episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and the 115th episode overall. It aired on October 4, 2010.- Plot :...
". - The GNB building is still under construction.
- Robin's court-ordered therapy, started in "The Stinson Missile CrisisThe Stinson Missile Crisis"The Stinson Missile Crisis" is the fourth episode of the seventh season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and the 140th episode overall. It aired on October 3, 2011.-Plot:...
", comes to an end. - The diner that Robin and Kevin eat at is the same diner that Barney told Nora he would wait in until she agreed to a second date.
- Barney uses 83% as a statistic again. Ted mentions Barney often uses the number 83 when making up statistics.
- When Marshall is attempting to reject the settlement offer, he starts rambling and reverts to his "Fish List" stand-up comedy routine that was first introduced in "Old King ClancyOld King Clancy"Old King Clancy" is the 18th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 82nd overall. It originally aired on March 23, 2009.- Plot :...
". Marshall used his fish joke stand-up act again in "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 :...
" to buy time as Ted found his charts. - Barney is still wearing the Ducky TieDucky Tie"Ducky Tie" is the third episode of the seventh season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and the 139th episode overall. It aired on September 26, 2011.-Plot:...
in this episode, continuing his bet with Marshall and Lily. In all the flashbacks that take place before the events of "Ducky Tie", he is shown wearing one of his normal ties.
Barney's blog
Barney writes about his experience with Ted's class field trip and lists some questions that he and Ted asked the class along what he believes are the correct answers.Cultural references
- Barney describes the way Marshall censors the language in a story he tells as being "like watching The Breakfast ClubThe Breakfast ClubThe Breakfast Club is a 1985 American teen drama film written and directed by John Hughes. The storyline follows five teenagers as they spend a Saturday in detention together and come to realize that they are all deeper than their respective stereotypes.-Plot:The plot follows five students at...
on TBSTBS (TV channel)TBS , stylized in the logo as tbs, is an American cable television channel owned by Time Warner that shows a variety of programming, with a focus on comedy. TBS was originally known as WTCG, a UHF terrestrial television station that broadcast from Atlanta, Georgia, during the late 1970s...
". - During the fieldtrip the viewers are meant to believe that one of the votings is about which character is most preferable of Edward and Jacob in The Twilight Saga. In the flashback shown at the end of the episode, it is revealed that Ted and Barney actually are discussing whether the lead actor's name was Jacob James Olmos or Edward James OlmosEdward James OlmosEdward James Olmos is an American actor and director. Among his most memorable roles are William Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, Lt...
in the film Stand and DeliverStand and DeliverStand and Deliver is a 1988 American drama film, based on the true story of high school mathematics teacher Jaime Escalante. Edward James Olmos portrayed Escalante in the film and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.-Plot:...
. Ted refers to Indiana JonesIndiana JonesColonel Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., Ph.D. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials...
in his introduction to the field trip. - Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the JediStar Wars Episode VI: Return of the JediStar Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand and written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan. It is the third film released in the Star Wars saga, and the sixth in terms of the series' internal chronology...
and EwokEwokEwoks originate from the Star Wars films. In the series, they are a species of teddy-bear-like hunter-gatherers that inhabit the forest moon of Endor. The Ewoks live in various tree-huts and primitive dwellings. They first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
s are referenced when Ted suggests that Garrison Cootes only appears "soft" but will become tough like an Ewok when the time comes. Ewoks also become the basis of Barney's theory on why Nora is too old for him to date. - Garrison Cootes mentions that he has all five seasons of Friday Night LightsFriday Night Lights (TV series)Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
. - Barney refers the student who turns off the lights for his presentation "Bieber" for his resemblance to the pop starJustin BieberJustin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
. - The German family who joined along in Ted's field trip are fans of David HasselhoffDavid HasselhoffDavid Michael Hasselhoff is an American actor, singer, producer and businessman. He is best known for his lead roles as Michael Knight in the popular 1980s US series Knight Rider and as L.A. County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the series Baywatch...
, referencing the actor's German popularity. - The picture of the building that is shown when Barney starts his lecture about college is of the Main Quad of University College Cork.