Episode no. Season 5
Episode 3 Production code 5ALH03 | Directed by Pamela Fryman | |
Written by Carter Bays
Craig Thomas Original air date October 5, 2009 (2009-10-05) | ||
"Robin 101" is the third episode of the fifth season of the How I Met Your Mother TV series and 91st overall. It originally aired on October 5, 2009.
Contents
Plot
Robin and Barney are officially girlfriend and boyfriend, but Barney is having trouble adjusting to couple life. He sneaks out of bed after sex as if it was a one-night stand, and when Robin has an awful day, he avoids consoling her, telling her to meet him afterwards for sex. After Robin protests, Barney makes more of an effort. When he begins acting evasively, Robin is afraid that Barney is cheating on her. She breaks into his briefcase and finds a notebook full of notes about her. Barney is taking night classes from Ted: “Robin 101: How to date Robin Scherbatsky”.
Marshall decides to get rid of a barrel he named Mabel that he used for years as a nightstand. He puts it in “The Bermuda Triangle”, otherwise known as the front step, and he waits anxiously by the window with his binoculars waiting to see who will take the barrel. So far, there are no takers.
In “Robin 101,” Ted teaches Barney which topics will distract Robin from being angry, which include hockey, guns and emperor penguins. He also teaches Barney about Robin's expressions and things to never do around her. At first, Barney plays the part of the distracted and bored student, but after Ted tests the knowledge he's given him, Barney asks him to stay. Unfortunately, Ted’s successful classes with Barney are interrupted when Robin finds out about the lessons and shows up for class. Robin gets angry and storms out.
Ted stops by MacLaren’s to talk to Robin, and he convinces Robin to give Barney another chance. Ted mentions how Barney usually tries to get rid of women after one night and tells Robin, “I’ve never seen him work this hard to keep a girl around”. The episode ends with Barney giving up his “Robin notebook”, and Marshall is upset because his barrel has still not been claimed.
Critical response
Donna Bowman of The A.V. Club rated the episode with a grade A-.
Brian Zoromski of IGN gave the episode 8 out of 10.