Episode no. Season 3
Episode 11 Production code 3ALH11 | Directed by Pamela Fryman Original air date December 10, 2007 | |
Written by Craig Thomas & Carter Bays | ||
"The Platinum Rule" is the 11th episode in the third season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 55th overall. It originally aired on December 10, 2007.
Contents
It was the last episode to air before the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike meant production was suspended.
Plot
Ted announces to the group that he is planning on taking out his tattoo removal doctor to a movie and is immediately met with disapproval. Barney mentions the Golden Rule: Although it is known commonly from the Bible as the ethic of reciprocity ("Do unto to others as you would have them do unto you."), Barney's take on it is "Love thy neighbor," which would lead into his Platinum Rule as "Never ever, ever, ever love thy neighbor." His point was that one should never date someone seen on a regular basis, e.g. someone at the same workplace, a next-door neighbor, etc. because such relationships never work out in the end and lead to never-ending suffering, as those involved would see each other constantly. Barney begins to outline the Platinum Rule in 8 steps as the group begins to recount on their past experiences against the Platinum Rule in attempt to persuade Ted not to go on his date. He uses examples of Marshall and Lily getting too close to a neighboring couple, Robin dating a fellow news anchor and himself having casual sex with Wendy the Waitress at MacLarens Pub.
Platinum Rule
The eight steps of the process
- Attraction
- Bargaining
- Submission
- Perks
- The Tipping Point
- Purgatory
- Confrontation
- Fallout
Even after all three experiences are recounted, Ted still decides to go. When he gets back, he tells the group that his doctor didn't consider it a date and that it is actually against AMA rules for her to date patients. Future Ted reflects on the "Platinum Rule" and suggests there is a ninth step: Co-Existence, as we see the other members of the gang begin to do so with those they dated (except for Barney). However, he hints that he and Stella would eventually date in the future.
Critical response
Donna Bowman of the AV Club rated the episode B+. Omar G of Television Without Pity gave the episode a grade B.