Twin Beds (How I Met Your Mother)
Encyclopedia
"Twin Beds" is the 21st episode of the fifth season of the CBS
situation comedy
How I Met Your Mother
and 109th episode overall. It aired May 3, 2010.
and Don have only been dating a short while, he surprises her by suggesting she move in with him. The rest of the gang think it might be too soon, so she agrees to let them meet Don, which she had specifically avoided before. They enjoy his company, but it soon becomes clear Don doesn't know that both Ted
and Barney
had once dated Robin. Don eventually finds out from Barney and Lily
about the past relationships (Don had thought Ted to be gay), and, unable to comprehend that Robin continues to hang out with two of her exes, leaves the bar. Don apologizes the next day and offers to invite them over for dinner. Once he and Robin have left, Barney reveals to Ted he still wants Robin. Ted tries to convince him he doesn't, and shows him the "letter"; Ted explains that every time he broke up with someone, he would write a letter to convince himself why he shouldn't get back with the girl in the future. Ted had Barney write such a letter after breaking up with Robin, although it becomes clear after reading it he still misses her. Ted reads his own letter, and realizes he too misses her. The two end up arguing about who should get to be with her, becoming very drunk, and eventually crashing Don's place, much to Robin's embarrassment. The next day, Ted and Barney apologize for their behavior, but Robin reveals she wants to take a break from the rest of the group and has agreed to move in with Don. Barney decides to still pursue Robin. Several days go by with no word from Robin or evidence that she has moved out, but one day Ted checks her room and finds it empty; all that's been left behind is the blue french horn Ted had once stolen for her.
Meanwhile, after spending a weekend sleeping in separate beds at a hotel, Marshall
and Lily realize they both enjoy their personal space and get separate beds for their own room; they even plan to get a third bed just for sex. After going to Don's place for dinner, however, Lily begins to fear sleeping apart could ruin their marriage; Don reveals he and his ex-wife slept in separate beds before divorcing. Marshall isn't keen on giving up his own bed, but after having sex, Marshall ends up climbing into Lily's bed with her.
rated the episode grade B-.
Amanda Sloane Murray of IGN
gave the episode 8.2 out of 10.
Cindy McLennan of Television Without Pity gave the episode a B- 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...
situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
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 109th episode overall. It aired May 3, 2010.
Plot
Although RobinRobin 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 :...
and Don have only been dating a short while, he surprises her by suggesting she move in with him. The rest of the gang think it might be too soon, so she agrees to let them meet Don, which she had specifically avoided before. They enjoy his company, but it soon becomes clear Don doesn't know that both 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...
and 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...
had once dated Robin. Don eventually finds out from Barney and 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...
about the past relationships (Don had thought Ted to be gay), and, unable to comprehend that Robin continues to hang out with two of her exes, leaves the bar. Don apologizes the next day and offers to invite them over for dinner. Once he and Robin have left, Barney reveals to Ted he still wants Robin. Ted tries to convince him he doesn't, and shows him the "letter"; Ted explains that every time he broke up with someone, he would write a letter to convince himself why he shouldn't get back with the girl in the future. Ted had Barney write such a letter after breaking up with Robin, although it becomes clear after reading it he still misses her. Ted reads his own letter, and realizes he too misses her. The two end up arguing about who should get to be with her, becoming very drunk, and eventually crashing Don's place, much to Robin's embarrassment. The next day, Ted and Barney apologize for their behavior, but Robin reveals she wants to take a break from the rest of the group and has agreed to move in with Don. Barney decides to still pursue Robin. Several days go by with no word from Robin or evidence that she has moved out, but one day Ted checks her room and finds it empty; all that's been left behind is the blue french horn Ted had once stolen for her.
Meanwhile, after spending a weekend sleeping in separate beds at a hotel, 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...
and Lily realize they both enjoy their personal space and get separate beds for their own room; they even plan to get a third bed just for sex. After going to Don's place for dinner, however, Lily begins to fear sleeping apart could ruin their marriage; Don reveals he and his ex-wife slept in separate beds before divorcing. Marshall isn't keen on giving up his own bed, but after having sex, Marshall ends up climbing into Lily's bed with her.
Continuity
- In this episode, Marshall exclaims that he is surprised her hourly pee breaks are not just steam, this is a reference to the episode "Duel Citizenship" in which we learn Lily pees hourly when on the road to Gazola's.
- The episode tells of how Ted writes letters to "Future Ted" in the aftermath of many of Ted's breakups, 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 :...
," Karen from "Sorry, BroSorry, Bro"Sorry, Bro" is the 16th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 80th overall. It originally aired on March 9, 2009.-Plot:At 1:45 am, Robin gets up so she will be in time for her 4 am talk show that she now anchors...
" and "The Front PorchThe Front Porch"The Front Porch" is the 17th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 81st overall. It originally aired on March 16, 2009.-Plot:...
", Ted and Stella's breakup in "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 "Happily Ever AfterHappily Ever After (How I Met Your Mother)"Happily Ever After" is the sixth episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 70th overall. It originally aired on November 3, 2008.- Plot :The day after Stella ran out on their wedding, Ted is unusually happy...
," Ted and Robin's breakup in "Something Blue," and Barney and Robin's breakup 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 :...
". - Younger Ted advises older Ted to never get back with Karen through the letter. Ted, however, did get back with her in season 4 episode "Sorry, BroSorry, Bro"Sorry, Bro" is the 16th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 80th overall. It originally aired on March 9, 2009.-Plot:At 1:45 am, Robin gets up so she will be in time for her 4 am talk show that she now anchors...
". - Ted and Robin's fighting over the empty milk carton is a call back to their fight from the Season Four episode "BenefitsBenefits (How I Met Your Mother)"Benefits" is the 12th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 76th overall. It originally aired on January 12, 2009.- Plot :...
." - In the beginning scene, Don says "But, umm..." much like Robin did, starting in the episode JenkinsJenkins (How I Met Your Mother)"Jenkins" is the thirteenth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 101st episode overall. It originally aired on January 18, 2010...
. - Ted stole the blue french horn from a restaurant to woo Robin, calling back to a motif used in season 1, especially during the pilot episode.
- Barney proposes that he takes Robin until she's at the age of 40, at which point Ted could have her back. Ted made a deal to marry Robin if they were both still single at the age of 40.
- The nickname "Teddy Bear" was how Robin used to call Ted in season 2. Robin, however, was said to hate nicknames, such as Ted's self-given one, "T-Mos".
Cultural references
- Marshall exclaims that sleeping next to Lily is like sleeping with Ganesh, a Hindu god with many arms, because she is constantly poking him.
- Barney partly quotes John LylyJohn LylyJohn Lyly was an English writer, best known for his books Euphues,The Anatomy of Wit and Euphues and His England. Lyly's linguistic style, originating in his first books, is known as Euphuism.-Biography:John Lyly was born in Kent, England, in 1553/1554...
's "All is fair in love and war." - The scene in which both Ted and Barney talk about "getting rid of Don figuratively... or literally?" is similar to the classic HitchcockAlfred HitchcockSir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
thriller Strangers on a TrainStrangers on a Train (film)Strangers on a Train is an American psychological thriller film produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and based on the 1950 novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith. It was shot in the autumn of 1950 and released by Warner Bros. on June 30, 1951. The film stars Farley Granger, Ruth Roman,...
. - Ted is served an appletiniAppletiniAn apple martini is a cocktail containing vodka and one or more of apple juice, apple cider, apple liqueur, or apple brandy. Optionally, vermouth may be included, as in a regular martini...
at MacLarens after having to reassert that he is straight to Don, who believed him to be gay. Appletinis are the drink of choice of JD from ScrubsScrubs (TV series)Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
, who considers it a "straight-guy drink".
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...
rated the episode grade B-.
Amanda Sloane Murray 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 8.2 out of 10.
Cindy McLennan of Television Without Pity gave the episode a B- rating.