The Mermaid Theory
Encyclopedia
"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.
and Robin
realize they’ve never really spent much time alone, and decide to go out to dinner together. The dinner turns out be awkward, to which they agree it’s because they don’t spend much time together outside of the group. Marshall then explains Barney
's “Mermaid Theory": Long ago, sailors used to picture manatee
s as mermaids due to long periods without female contact (the vision is shown with Barney and Marshall as sailors). After hiring an unappealing female assistant two years ago, Barney had told Marshall that though Marshall views her as a “manatee” now, as he spent more time with her, she would eventually become a “mermaid” in his eyes. Barney says the “mermaid clock” is ticking, and over a year later, his assistant does in fact seem like a mermaid to Marshall, much to his horror. Marshall tells Robin he doesn’t want her to turn into a mermaid out of respect for Lily
, though he explains a woman can go back to being a manatee by becoming pregnant. The two eventually have a good time by getting drunk, though when they return to the apartment, Marshall begins seeing Robin as a mermaid. When she throws up all over the floor, however, Marshall once again sees her as a manatee, much to his relief.
Soon after Marshall and Robin had agreed to hang out, Barney had asked Lily the same, who refused, offending Barney. However, Future Ted
has trouble recalling what exactly the argument was, and only after explaining the mermaid theory does he remember the actual story. This event had in fact taken place farther in the future, while Lily was pregnant. Lily had refused because she thought Barney would picture her naked, though when Barney says he views her as a manatee now that she’s pregnant, she becomes angry. Later, the two make up when Barney says Lily can become a mermaid again when she begins breastfeeding. Ted then walks in wearing a green dress, stating "Now we’re even!” though Future Ted says that’s a story for another time.
Future Ted explains Zoey has since become a normal acquaintance among the group, although Ted and the gang are secretly terrified of Zoey’s husband, “the Captain”. Ted tells the group Zoey has invited them to an art gala, though when only Ted expresses interest, Lily cautions Ted on hanging out with Zoey alone. Ted promises nothing will happen, though while the two are together, Zoey lies to her husband when he calls by saying she is “out with friends” instead of specifically mentioning Ted. Zoey tells Ted not to worry about it, but when he tells Lily later, she becomes worried. Lily then says if Ted can become friendly with the Captain, it can straighten things out. Zoey invites Ted to come on their boat one evening, though it turns out to only be with the Captain. Due to the Captain’s seemingly sinister undertones, Ted suspects the Captains knows he’s been hanging out with Zoey and fears he will be murdered. While the Captain heads below deck to get something, Ted prepares to jump from the boat, but finds his fears were for nothing as the Captain returns with drinks. However, the boat hits a bump and Ted falls in the water. After being brought back on the boat, Ted admits his fears, though the Captain tells him he’s glad Zoey has found a new friend and expresses his interest to be friends as well, to which Ted accepts. Ted later tells Zoey he really does think of the Captain as a nice guy, but hopes he and Zoey can continue to be friends. Ted decides they shouldn’t hang out if either begins to develop feelings for the other; while both deny any such notion, a ticking clock is heard in the background, indicating the mermaid clock has begun.
In the end, the sailor story is extended, with sailor Marshall lamenting about not finding land yet. He then begins to envision Barney as a mermaid, to which he affirms they really need to find land.
gave the episode a B+ rating.
Robert Canning of IGN
gave the episode a rating of 8 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 123rd episode overall. It aired on December 6, 2010.
Plot
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...
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 :...
realize they’ve never really spent much time alone, and decide to go out to dinner together. The dinner turns out be awkward, to which they agree it’s because they don’t spend much time together outside of the group. Marshall then explains 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 “Mermaid Theory": Long ago, sailors used to picture manatee
Manatee
Manatees are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows...
s as mermaids due to long periods without female contact (the vision is shown with Barney and Marshall as sailors). After hiring an unappealing female assistant two years ago, Barney had told Marshall that though Marshall views her as a “manatee” now, as he spent more time with her, she would eventually become a “mermaid” in his eyes. Barney says the “mermaid clock” is ticking, and over a year later, his assistant does in fact seem like a mermaid to Marshall, much to his horror. Marshall tells Robin he doesn’t want her to turn into a mermaid out of respect for 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...
, though he explains a woman can go back to being a manatee by becoming pregnant. The two eventually have a good time by getting drunk, though when they return to the apartment, Marshall begins seeing Robin as a mermaid. When she throws up all over the floor, however, Marshall once again sees her as a manatee, much to his relief.
Soon after Marshall and Robin had agreed to hang out, Barney had asked Lily the same, who refused, offending Barney. However, 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...
has trouble recalling what exactly the argument was, and only after explaining the mermaid theory does he remember the actual story. This event had in fact taken place farther in the future, while Lily was pregnant. Lily had refused because she thought Barney would picture her naked, though when Barney says he views her as a manatee now that she’s pregnant, she becomes angry. Later, the two make up when Barney says Lily can become a mermaid again when she begins breastfeeding. Ted then walks in wearing a green dress, stating "Now we’re even!” though Future Ted says that’s a story for another time.
Future Ted explains Zoey has since become a normal acquaintance among the group, although Ted and the gang are secretly terrified of Zoey’s husband, “the Captain”. Ted tells the group Zoey has invited them to an art gala, though when only Ted expresses interest, Lily cautions Ted on hanging out with Zoey alone. Ted promises nothing will happen, though while the two are together, Zoey lies to her husband when he calls by saying she is “out with friends” instead of specifically mentioning Ted. Zoey tells Ted not to worry about it, but when he tells Lily later, she becomes worried. Lily then says if Ted can become friendly with the Captain, it can straighten things out. Zoey invites Ted to come on their boat one evening, though it turns out to only be with the Captain. Due to the Captain’s seemingly sinister undertones, Ted suspects the Captains knows he’s been hanging out with Zoey and fears he will be murdered. While the Captain heads below deck to get something, Ted prepares to jump from the boat, but finds his fears were for nothing as the Captain returns with drinks. However, the boat hits a bump and Ted falls in the water. After being brought back on the boat, Ted admits his fears, though the Captain tells him he’s glad Zoey has found a new friend and expresses his interest to be friends as well, to which Ted accepts. Ted later tells Zoey he really does think of the Captain as a nice guy, but hopes he and Zoey can continue to be friends. Ted decides they shouldn’t hang out if either begins to develop feelings for the other; while both deny any such notion, a ticking clock is heard in the background, indicating the mermaid clock has begun.
In the end, the sailor story is extended, with sailor Marshall lamenting about not finding land yet. He then begins to envision Barney as a mermaid, to which he affirms they really need to find land.
Continuity
- Future Ted had earlier mentioned that Lily eventually becomes pregnant and has a baby boy 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 :...
." She and Marshall first started trying to conceive at the end of Season 5. - When Robin and Marshall get back to the apartment, Robin vomits on the floor at Marshall's feet. However, when the shot changes you can see the floor and Marshall's feet and there's no sign of the vomit.
- Barney recounts some of Lily's lies, including "I love Marshall's mother." Lily previously admitted she hated Marshall's mom in "The StinsonsThe Stinsons"The Stinsons" is the 15th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 79th overall. It originally aired on March 2, 2009.- Plot :...
" which was resolved in the episode "Last WordsLast Words (How I Met Your Mother)"Last Words" is the fourteenth episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and the 126th episode overall. It aired on January 17, 2011.-Plot:...
." - Marshall sarcastically replies "myth?" when talking about mermaids. Marshall's belief in the mythological/unexplained has been well established (such as his Loch Ness MonsterLoch Ness MonsterThe Loch Ness Monster is a cryptid that is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next....
in "Monday Night Football" and aliens in "Miracles"). - Robin has claimed before that she does not like nicknames, Such as Ted's T-Mos or Teddy Westside seen In "Cleaning HouseCleaning House"Cleaning House" is the second episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and the 114th episode overall. It originally aired on September 27, 2010.- Plot :...
" and "Rabbit or DuckRabbit or Duck"Rabbit or Duck" is the fifteenth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 103rd episode overall. It originally aired on February 8, 2010.- Plot :...
", however at one point she does call Ted 'Teddy Bear' and in "The Rough PatchThe Rough Patch"The Rough Patch" is the seventh episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 95th episode overall. It originally aired on November 9, 2009.- Plot :...
" she and Barney call each other 'Ro Ro' and 'The Barnstormer' respectively, and now she and Marshall call each other 'Marsh Madness' and 'Robocop'
Cultural references
- Marshall states that the Captain "hates that he loves" the Jonas BrothersJonas BrothersThe Jonas Brothers are an American boy band. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children's television network. From the shore region of New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Paul Kevin Jonas II , Joseph Adam Jonas , and Nicholas Jerry Jonas...
. - Ted and Zoey attend a Frank Lloyd WrightFrank Lloyd WrightFrank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
retrospective. - When he accuses Lily of lying to Marshall all the time, Barney calls her "PinocchioPinocchioThe Adventures of Pinocchio is a novel for children by Italian author Carlo Collodi, written in Florence. The first half was originally a serial between 1881 and 1883, and then later completed as a book for children in February 1883. It is about the mischievous adventures of Pinocchio , an...
". - Marshall and Robin give each other nicknames based on "March MadnessNCAA Men's Division I Basketball ChampionshipThe NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
" and "RobocopRoboCopRoboCop is a 1987 American science fiction-action film directed by Paul Verhoeven. Set in a crime-ridden Detroit, Michigan in the near future, RoboCop centers on a police officer who is brutally murdered and subsequently re-created as a super-human cyborg known as "RoboCop"...
". - Barney references the Guns N' RosesGuns N' RosesGuns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
song "Paradise CityParadise City-Personnel:* Axl Rose - lead vocals, synthesizer, whistle* Izzy Stradlin - rhythm guitar, backing vocals, percussion* Slash - lead guitar, backing vocals* Duff McKagan - bass, backing vocals* Steven Adler - drums-Live:...
" when he is explaining to Marshall how a mermaid can become a manatee again. He says, "If a baby's on board that train it is headed straight back to Manatee City, where the grass ain't green and the girls ain't pretty." - Marshall mentions "Part of Your WorldPart of Your World"Part of Your World" is a song written and composed by the songwriting duo of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. It was originally featured in the 1989 Disney film The Little Mermaid, and is also featured in the Broadway musical adaptation of the film...
", a song from The Little MermaidThe Little Mermaid (1989 film)The Little Mermaid is a 1989 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the film was originally released to theaters on November 14, 1989 and is the twenty-eighth film in...
. - Zoey's ringtone for the Captain is "Anchors AweighAnchors Aweigh"Anchors Aweigh" is the fight song of the United States Naval Academy, and strongly associated with the United States Navy, composed in 1906 by Charles A. Zimmerman with lyrics by Alfred Hart Miles. Zimmerman was at the time a Lieutenant, and had been bandmaster of the United States Naval Academy...
". - The theme song of the film Crimson TideCrimson Tide (film)The film has uncredited additional writing by Quentin Tarantino, much of it being the pop-culture reference-laden dialogue.The U.S. Navy objected to many of the elements in the script — particularly the aspect of mutiny on board a U.S. naval vessel — and as such, the film was produced...
plays when Ted boards the Captain's boat. - After the Captain knocks Ted's cell phone into the ocean, he remarks, "Can you hear me now? No...because you're on the bottom of the sea", referencing the commercials for Verizon WirelessVerizon WirelessCellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is one of the largest mobile network operators in the United States. The network has 107.7 million subscribers as of 2011, making it the largest wireless service provider in America....
featuring Paul MarcarelliPaul MarcarelliPaul Marcarelli is an American actor best known as the "Test Man" or "The Verizon Guy" character in commercials for Verizon Wireless. He appeared in all of his Verizon commercials wearing a gray Verizon jacket and his own horn-rimmed glasses until 2010...
.
Critical response
Donna Bowman of The A.V. ClubThe A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
gave the episode a B+ rating.
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 out of 10.