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How I Met Your Mother Season 4 Episode 12

Benefits

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8.8

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 1/12/09

Robin and Ted explore "friends with benefits" while living together. Marshall has trouble with a few reality TV stars.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (11)

Read that magazine!

8.0

By TheDeadPuppet, Feb 27, 2013

Nice solid episode. Any Barney-centric episode is great. The Marshall subplot was good too and created an interesting divide. After watching this I discovered many men don't think the Marshall subplot was a big deal, because taking a dump at work is fine for them, while women completely understood where Marshall was coming from. Also, when you're the larger person at work people do tend to be more upset when you "read a magazine" because a poor diet leads to smellier excretions. I loved that Barney thought they were talking about masturbation.moreless
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Ted and Robin have their fights and slove them

8.0

By Lostindharma, Dec 28, 2012

I think this was a wonderful episode but one thing bothered me about it. The thing with the Marshall and the magazine was too over the top. Why can't he read a magazine at home, in his office or the lunchroom. When he talked about it I thought he was talking about what Barney thought: jacking off.

Kim Kardashian was well there. She did the best job she could. I liked that Barney told Marshall he had a bathroom in his office.

Ted and Robin are living together at this time and I think it was because both Ted (getting left at the altar) and Robin (unemployed) is why their fights are so big. I can understand why Ted getting upset with the milk carton. Thanks to advice from Barney earlier, Ted and Robin also decide to become friends with benefits. They also realize that their fights were not this big when they were dating. This is why Robin well you know. (read my previous reviews) This has an effect on Barney. He deals with it by breaking televisions. It was funny when he went to the back and found no TV and bought one to only break. He did it twice. This was a classic sitcom. Lilly tries to help Barney but to no avail. Barney tries to deal with the situation by buying stamps and milk. This throws out a red flag for Ted. When he asks about Robin and whether he loves her, the way Barney says no was great acting by Neil Patrick Harris. Another great scene when Marshall tells Barney about his magazine situation which followed Barney coming to tell that he loves tacos. It was sweet of Ted to do what he did for Barney. Also a great song at the end.moreless
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Robin and Ted become friends with benefits

9.0

By Jon_MW_14, Aug 24, 2011

"Benefits" is a great How I Met Your Mother episode. In this episode, whenever Ted and Robin get into a fight, they just stop, and have sex instead. I love how Barney decides to solve all of Ted and Robin's problems and Ted figures out that Barney is in love with Robin. I love how Robin and Ted decide to stop having casual sex and saying "Someone would get hurt", and Robin thinks that Ted will get hurt, but when Ted says he means Barney will get hurt. I love how Barney says "I love you" to Robin and she thinks he's imitating Ted. I love Marshall's subplot of being ashamed of using the bathroom at work. I give this episode a 9/10.moreless
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One door closes

9.0

By sh811a, Jul 06, 2011

Feelings are something that was never meant to be contained, like a wild animal their untamed and were always ment to be free.

Whats interesting about the episode is that even though Ted and Robin are the esential main characters of the episode, it really a Barney centered episode, he is both at his comical and humaine best. I'll admit I both laughed but at the same time felt sad for him, when he heard Ted and Robin having a physical relationship we can see it's causing him pain and he is just struggling to hold his feelings back, at times when Ted bragged Barney looked as though he wanted to punch him.

It was funny on the verbal side seeing him struggle to say his trademark work awsome as well as physical as he looks like he is about to explode he goes to the alley and throws down a bunch of outdated TVs.

But the funnest moment for me was seeing Barney talk to an unseen psychitrist and then smoke only to discover he's actually in Lily's kindergarden class where they to the talk about your feelings game.

The important lesson is to always tell the other how you feel or the anxiety will eat away at you. There was a turning point just as Lily knows his secret Ted knows it now and accepts it. That's probably not much but still it shows that the door truly is open for Barney and Ted has moved on.

My only problem with the episode that really held it back for me from giving it a higher score is the subplot with Marchall it's really lame and uninspired. The issue really wasn't a big deal which is why it wasn't that funny; the stunt casting cameo roles of the reality TV stars didn't help, personally I don't even know who the hell they are. May'be if they had actual famous TV/movie actors and actresses in those roles then that talking magazine gag might have been a little funnier instead of falling flat on it's face.

The ending I'll admit made me feel sad, Barney professed his love for Robin but his confession fell on deaf ears as Robin made a choice not to have any romatic relationships with friends. And we see the sadness in Barney's eyes knowing that a door has closed his future with Robin might be lost but also the first sign that Robin is starting to drift away from everyone.moreless
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awf..some

8.0

By avi01, Jul 06, 2011

HIMYM is back with a pretty good episode which however still had its dull moments. So far, season 4 has been weaker than the first 3 seasons but it is still a great show.

This episode had two storylines. The Barney-Ted-Robin situation and Marshall`s "reading a magazine" storyline.

Barney-Ted-Robin was great. Barney was like always on the top of his game. Of course, being in love with Robin changes the character a little but as far as he is still that funny, am ok with it. Still, I don`t think this should be dragged too much. Barney-Robin is much like Joey-Rachel in friends except that this time, it is not painful to watch (at least so far). I do think they might end getting together but will realize they don`t fit together or something like that...am not sure I want to see Barney in a long term relationship. The ending was perfect.

Now on to Marshall. I always found him funny but this season, his storylines are kinda weak. "Reading a magazine" was almost as bad as looking for the best burger thing. I get the joke and all but you can`t drag this through an episode. Marshall was still funny with the "Deals" tho.

Overall, a nice return for the show.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Josh Radnor	Ted Mosby
Neil Patrick Harris	Barney Stinson
Alyson Hannigan	Lily Aldrin
Jason Segel	Marshall Eriksen
Cobie Smulders	Robin Scherbatsky

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Heidi Montag	Herself	Guest Star
Spencer Pratt	Himself	Guest Star
Kim Kardashian	Herself	Guest Star
Bob Saget	Voice of Ted, 2030	Recurring Role
Bryan Callen	Billson	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (8)
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- Robin: (about the kiss) It was weird.
  Lily: I told you! When exes get involved, people always get hurt. But no one listens to me. Story of my life. My cuteness interferes with people hearing my message.
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- Lily: Hey, are you okay?
  Barney: Of course, why do you ask?
  Lily: Well for one, you're openly weeping.
  Barney: With joy. (tearily) So happy for those two.
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- Robin: By the way, our little arrangement is off.
  Barney: Oh, that's awes… ful.
  Robin: What?
  Barney: That's awesful.
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- Robin: Last night, we did it while returning a bunch of phone calls.
  Marshall: I knew you didn't get a rowing machine!
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- Ted: That [cereal] looks good. I'll have some of that.
  Robin: Sorry, no milk.
  Ted: But I just saw a carton of milk in the fridge yesterday.
  Robin: It's empty.
  Ted: Then throw it away.
  Robin: Can't. Trashcan's full.
  Ted: So empty the trash.
  Robin: I would, but I'm eating cereal.
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- Barney: So I explain to her, I said, "Madeline, every single international conflict essentially boils down to sexual tension."
  Ted: Every international conflict?
  Barney: Every single one, dude.
  Ted: So the crisis in the Middle East could be solved by...
  Barney: Gaza Strippers! Next!
  Ted: Apartheid.
  Barney: Apart-thighs! What else you got?
  Ted: Cold War.
  Barney: (aping Ronald Reagan) Mrs. Gorbachev, take down those pants!
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- Ted: So, last night Robin left the pizza box out on the floor, so we had sex three times.
  Marshall: Sure.
  Ted: And then this morning, before I left for work, we kissed.
  Marshall: Oh, that's weird. That is weird!
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- Barney: Ted, I have to tell you the truth. I'm in love with... tacos.
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NOTES (3)
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- The German episode title is "Sex mit der Ex", meaning "Sex with the Ex". The French title is "Petits arrangements entre amis", meaning "Little Arrangements Between Friends". The Italian title is "Amicizia e privilegi", meaning "Friendship and Benefits".
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- International Airdates: Australia: March 23, 2009 on Channel 7; Germany: January 9, 2010 on ProSieben; United Kingdom: February 25, 2010 on E4; Czech Republic: November 10, 2010 on Prima COOL
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- Music: "No More Wishing" by Hayley Taylor
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