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A chance sighting of Stella leads to the gang contemplating ways in which they'd handle an unwanted encounter with a person from their past.
  • Ted makes a map of all the places that are safe and all the places to avoid Stella.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    "Happily Ever After" is a much more entertaining episode than the last episode of How I Met Your Mother. I love how Ted acts unusually happy about his break-up with Stella. I love how the gang is angry at Ted for being happy. I love how Ted makes a map of places to avoid Stella. I love how they go to a restaurant that Lily's friend recommended but that friend ends up being Stella. I love how Stella walks in and they all hide under the table. It was so cute how Lily shared the story of farting in ninth grade and blaming the boy beside her. I love how Barney shares his story about chatting with one prison inmate, then talking to another, making the other one jealous, and the inmates gets into this huge fight. It was so sad how Robin shared that her father wanted a boy, so he raised Robin as if she was a boy. I love how Ted finally lets his anger out and he's about to confront Ted, but he sees how Tony is with his daughter, and Ted just can't yell at Stella. I give this episode a 9.5/10.moreless
  • Lame.

    5.0
    "Mediocre"
    Really I expected better if Stella wasn't going to be the mother. "I just let my anger go" Right. She lectures Ted about inviting his Ex, but it's okay to rush right in and make out with hers. I didn't think Ted was Buddha and could control his anger so well. I would have enjoyed a scene where they at least talked about it. Instead we get Ted being wimp and scared to talk to the person who cheated on him. And we get an easy route to end a storyline. Is this the same show I watched a couple years ago?moreless
  • The aftermath of Ted's wedding.

    8.4
    "Great"
    After the shocking last episode, we are shocked to see that Ted is completely fine, he doesn't seem hurt at all, all his friends try to comfort him, but the truth was there was nothing to comfort. He's completely fine. Or so we think, until we find out that Ted made a guide to avoid Stella at all costs. They end up going to a restaurant, where they hope is Stella-free, only to find out Stella is there ordering something. The whole group hides under the table revealing the people they don't want to confront any time soon. Barney and a girl he wanted to sleep with, who was in prison, Robin's father, and Lilly's old high school friend. After all the stories are told, it all comes down to Te wanting to confront Stella. And secrets are revealed from the past & present. Marshall reveals that Stella didn't like Star Wars. And we find out that Stella moved in the city with Tony, when she was going to make Ted move to Jersey with her. Ted blows up and lets all his anger out. The thing that annoyed me about this episode is the confrontation that we were all waiting for didn't even end up happening, we just saw Ted imagine what he wanted to happened. Nothing happens in the end, I guess the point of this episode was to get Stella redemption and get the aftermath over with. And Ted getting over it. I just didn't like how Stella posed to be the good guy in the end. She deserved a confrontation, but like Future Ted said: She was meant to be with Tony, not Ted. I guess it all boils down to fate. A great aftermath episode, which I think was an aftershock of the drama from the last episode, because I had the same heartbreaking feeling I had from the last episode. Great episode.moreless
  • Pretty good episode.

    8.5
    "Great"
    After being left at the alter, Ted tries to pretend it didnt happen despite his friends' concerns that he hasnt dealt with his emotions. They take steps to try to get him to open up. But only a chance crossing of paths with Stella herself finally allows Ted to see that he has major unresolved issues and he sets out to confront her about everything that happened. I found this episode to be good and pretty funny at times, but so far I just dont think its one of the better ones in the season, but still give it a watch.moreless
  • After Stella leaves Ted at the alter he puts on the appearance of being totally okay with the situation.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    I'm pleasantly surprised with the turn this season has taken. The open with Ted the day after Stella runs off with her ex boyfriend is solid. Ted has taken the stance that his way of dealing with the situation (as it is with all Ohio natives and if you don't believe me obviously you haven't watched the last two BCS National Championship Games) is to avoid it. We find that he is not the only one in the group that has someone to avoid. Each person takes the trip down memory lane and talks about the one person in their life they avoid. I'm impressed with how it culminates with Ted deciding he must confront Stella and tell her just what he thinks her leaving. When the moment comes he can't do it. It's there and he just can't do it. A great scene first with Ted imagining what he's going to say and second, what happens when he catches up with her. He lets it go. He walks away. He has this chance. That's why this show will keep going. It was solid writing. Very funny. Good character development. Memorable moments. Glad to see this season is on track.moreless
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  • TRIVIA (2)

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    • When Robin is having her flashback, she is clearly dressed as a boy, but in "Memories", the last episode of the third season, when she has a flashback to tell her dog's miracle history, she must be the same age, and she is dressed with a very girlie style, and has long hair.

    • In "Slutty Pumpkin" Robin told Ted that she's never played any team sports. However, in this episode we can see she played ice hockey in a team via flashbacks.

  • QUOTES (11)

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    • Barney: What I had with Becca was the perfect relationship. She was only allowed legally to call me once a week. If she ever got clingy, the armed guards stopped her. And I never had to pay for dinner. Well, that's not true. I pay taxes. But then I guess we all pay for dinner.

    • Marshall: There she is! Go get her, buddy! Robin: Go get rid of your demons! Barney: My leg is asleep!

    • Marshall: What are you going to say? Ted: I'm gonna say, "I'm sorry things didn't work out." (everyone groans) She'll tell me her side, and I'm gonna listen. Probably should have done more of that before. Barney: Excuse me driver, could you drive us into the nearest lamp post? Everyone buckle up. Not you, Ted.

    • Robin: Who's Becca DeLucci? Barney: She's a girl who lives upstate I used to visit now and again. Ted: Where exactly upstate, Barney? Barney: Bedford Hills Federal Penitentiary.

    • Barney: Ted, I am a person who, let's just face it, there are a lot of people I don't want to see. People of the chicks-I've-banged persuasion. But if any of them were to walk in here, I would stand up, look them right in the eye, some of them for the very first time. Ted: Really? You wouldn't hide from anyone? Not even Becca DeLucci? Barney: You son of a bitch!

    • Marshall: (about Stella) She's placing an order to go. Ted: Did she seem happy? Did she say anything about me? I don't care. I've moved on. Where are those almonds? Barney: Gee, where would Ted's nuts be? My guess is in the vice in Stella's garage.

    • Barney: (comes in with two girls) Hey, kiddo. Ted: Barney, I'm fine. This isn't necessary, it's actually kind of weird. No offense, ladies. Barney: I did not realize you'd be home. Ladies, to the stairwell!

    • Ted: It's funny, looking back on it now. I was so sure Stella was the one. And when she left me, I was so devastated. But you guys got me through it, and now the painful part's over, I've come out the other side a little bit stronger. You know, I hardly even think about her anymore. That's what time does, I guess. Lily: Ted, the wedding was yesterday.

    • Ted: Okay, guys, follow my lead. (gets under the table) Marshall: What do we do? Lily: Is he serious? Barney: I'm not getting under this table. (sees a table of hot girls) I'd get under that table.

    • (Ted imagines confronting Stella) Ted: You picked the wrong guy. Stella: Ted? Ted: You picked the wrong guy. You made a really, really, really bad choice. What were you thinking? That guy? Are you kidding me? Have you learned nothing in the last eight years? You're just gonna regret this. You know that, right? You are going to regret this, and now there is nothing you can do about it because it's too late. All you can do now is go up there and start your crappy, disappointing life that will never be nearly as happy as the one you could have had with me. Good-bye. Stella: Ted, wait. Ted: Look, Stella, I am not here to win you back. I am here because I need to know that you know you made the biggest mistake of your life. Stella: I know.

    • Ted: (pointing to a map of New York City) Red areas, places to avoid. White areas are safe. Blue is water. Lily: That is just ridiculous! Robin: Well, water is blue.

  • NOTES (3)

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    • The German episode title is "Unter dem Tisch", meaning "Under the Table". The French title is "Ils vécurent très heureux ... sans enfants", meaning "They Lived Very Happily... Without Children". The Italian title is "E vissero felici e contenti", an exact translation.

    • International Airdates: Germany: December 12, 2009 on ProSieben; United Kingdom: January 21, 2010 on E4; Czech Republic: November 1, 2010 on Prima COOL

    • Music: "All The World (I Tell Myself)" by Correatown (Opening Scenes - Flashbacks to Ted and Stella's wedding day); "Better" by Regina Spektor (episode closing)

  • ALLUSIONS (2)

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    • In Robin's flashback when her father (Eric Braeden) catches her making out with her hockey teammate, the cheesy organ followed by the dramatic overacting and piano background music is deliberate soap opera satire, playing on Braeden having played Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless for years.

    • Marshall tells Ted, "Stella hated Star Wars! She lied to you. Search your feelings, Ted. You know it to be true." In Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, when Darth Vader tells Luke that he is Luke's father and Luke denies it, Vader then tells him "search your feelings, Luke. You know it to be true."

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