Not a Father's Day

Season 4, Episode 7, Aired

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8.6
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Barney creates a holiday to celebrate not being a father. Meanwhile, Lily and Marshall are considering having a baby, but Lily first wants advice from Ted and Robin.
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  • Barney gets a call from a girl who thinks she's pregnant.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By Jon_MW_14, Aug 23, 2011
    "Not a Father's Day" is a great How I Met Your Mother episode. I love the beginning of this episode where Barney explains The Cheerleader Effect, where a group of people look hot, but as individuals, each one has a flaw. I love how a girl calls thinking she's pregnant with Barney's baby. I love how Barney is excited once he finds out that she's not pregnant. The only thing I didn't care for was "Not a Father's Day". It was just stupid and not funny. I love the Lily and Marshall plot of wanting to have a baby. I love how Lily gets so drunk that she acts like a baby and Marshall has to take care of her.moreless

  • Worst How I Met Your Mother episode ever

    3.0
    "Bad"
    By wuatenigenu, Jan 18, 2011
    First of all I have to say I absolutely LOVE How I Met Your Mother: The writing along with the acting is incredible in my opinion. But this might really be the worst episode of this show I've ever seen. Lily and Marshall see themselves confronted with the decision whether to have a baby or not. Barney cracks some mediocre jokes and Ted continues to be whiney and cheesy. The writing of this episode is comparable with Two And A Half Men : Overacting and unfunny slapstick included.

    I can not understand the people here giving it good grades. It was awful.moreless

  • Lily decides she wants to have a baby.

    3.5
    "Bad"
    By thefanof, Jan 08, 2011
    Okay, I will attempt to come up with some positives for this episode. Barney in church talking to God, Barney's shirts and Dan Lauria from The Wonder Years as Nolan. The bad? Just about everything else.

    Robin with her unbearable attempt to be Tina Fey and the even worse Lily being the centerpiece of this episode. Remember last season's debacle with the Lily's painting? The same episode where Ted had the red boots?

    Not only was it bad but this episode officially jumped the shark for How I Met Your Mother, if it had not already. Lily running around drunk during the business meeting and Marshall dressing up in wigs pretty much sent Fonzy on his jet ski over the water.moreless

  • Lily thinks about having a baby...

    10
    "Perfect"
    By mcpheever22, Jan 08, 2011
    Many think that this episode is Jumping the shark, but the writers are kind of forced to make Lily pregnant due to her real life pregnancy.

    A lot of people think HIMYM is going downhill...due to its more dramatic tone towards the end of season 3 and now season 4. I see the change in tone, but it isnt a bad thing. The show is probably going to end soon and i think its important to start making the show a little bit more dramatic instead of just random silly crap over and over because the characters are getting older and more mature and ted is probably very close to meeting the mother

    With that said I thought this episode was, not the best of the season but not the worst. There were a few moments that just fell flat on their faces but there were a lot of moments that shined. Good episodemoreless

  • Socks!

    8.5
    "Great"
    By The-A-Man, Jan 08, 2011
    This one is broody like none of the others. It is probably best to cycle through how each character deals with the issue:

    Barney: By far the best of the lot, even though he had minimal screen time (again!). His close shave with parenthood and subsequent church-based-release and then the sock moment and soul-wrenching karaoke were all touched by Legendary.

    Marshall: Liked the idea, but then nursing a drunk Lilly and an insane job made him realise that it was best postponed.

    Robin: Her fear of the little buggers was very well written.

    Ted: A father-figure know-it-all. You know, this character has SO much potential. Shame about the shocking "acting".

    An unusually soulful episode with appropriate funny.moreless
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  • QUOTES (11)

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    • Robin: (to Lily) We made all these arguments, and a sock makes the decision for you?
      Ted: I guess that was the sock-out punch, huh, Robin?
      Robin: Shut up, Dad!
      Ted: You shut up, baby hater!
      Robin: Babies are scary, okay? They have giant eyes! And the soft spot? If there's going to be a self destruct button, put it somewhere it won't accidentally get pressed!

    • Marshall: Baby, it's breakfast time in China. Lily: Yeah, it is! Marshall: Not a euphenism... wait, what would that even mean? Lily: I don't know, hot buns, sour pork, there's something there.

    • Barney: Why can't there be a day for people who are single and like it that way? Marshall: Well, now you just sound like a chubby girl on Valentine's Day.

    • Ted: After I got off the phone with Marshall, I was putting your phone back in your purse, and I found something. Robin: I have a permit for that! And the other thing is a gift.

    • Lily: Marshall and I were going to have "dinner", and I thought I was ready to have "dinner". But now I'm not sure. Am I ready to have "dinner"? Ted: Well, I had a late lunch, so I could wait on dinner. Lily: "Dinner" is a baby. Robin: Lily, that's horrible!

    • Lily: Ted, you may be single and childless, but you're totally a dorky dad. Ted: I don't think I like your tone, young lady.

    • Barney: Lily, no part of Barney Stinson does less than 110%. If one of my Michael Phelpses got loose, he's goin' for the gold!

    • Robin: Anytime you even hear the word kids you get two little lactation stains on your shirt. Ted: Thank God you're not a mom. You are such an ice queen, any baby nursing from you would get brain freeze!

    • Marshall: (looking inside Barney's 'Not a Fathers Day' card') It appears to be some sort of Asian hooker. Barney: Yes, because on Not a Fathers Day, you get a Thai you'd actually wear! Wordplay five!

    • Barney: Latest 'Not a fathers day' brainstorm—a pregnancy test, but instead of a little blue line, there's a little blue Barney going like this. (puts his thumbs up)

    • Barney: God, it's me, Barney. What up? I know we don't talk much, but I know a lot of girls call out your name because of me. Awesome.

  • NOTES (5)

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  • ALLUSIONS (0)

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