Rabbit or Duck

Season 5, Episode 15, Aired

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7.6
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Marshall and Lily set up Ted with one of Barney's discards from his Super Bowl plea for phone calls as a Valentine's Day date. Meanwhile, Robin's invited to a party by a Don, which she suspects is really a date.
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Fan Episode Reviews (8)

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  • The gang debates whether rabbits or ducks are more desirable.

    8.5
    "Great"
    By Jon_MW_14, Aug 30, 2011
    "Rabbit or Duck" is a great How I Met Your Mother episode. I actually enjoyed the rabbit and duck debate. The only thing I didn't like was how they decided that ducks were better than rabbits, and I totally disagree, but that's the only thing I didn't like about this episode. I found it very entertaining how Barney is shown on tv with his phone number at the super bowl and now the phone is ringing non-stop. And I love Barney tries to get rid of the phone but Ted ends up getting it. And I love how Marshall and Lily fix Ted up with Natalia and she's perfect for Ted, but since Ted has the phone, he ruins the date. Don was so weird in this episode not wearing pants. I love how he turned into a duck when Robin sees that he's wearing pants. I give this episode a 8.5/10.moreless

  • Best episode in a while...not so Barney-orientated, Ted and Robin scenes were nice to see. BTW I'm a huge Ted / Robin fan. would love to see them together again ( thinking they're the new Ross / Rachel?) Pilot episodeThis episode in 6 daymoreless

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By TVanimal, Aug 30, 2011
    First off, i've managed to catch-up on all episodes starting from the pilot inside a week which, i think, is an achievement in itself. this means that tonight i've stayed up way too late to finish the catch-up just to see where every1 is at in the series. this also means that although people may not agree with my opinoin, every episode is still fairly fresh in my mind after the marathon.
    in this episode though just for a moment at the end there, i thought there might be something about to happen between Ted/Robin though i think it was more wishing them back together
    For every comedy series i watch, especially ones like this i see people in reference to their well-defined counterparts in friends (Barney = Joey, Ted = Ross, Marshall/Lily = Chandler/Monica and Robin = Rachel), with friends being the first comedy series to have the kind of balance in relationships that it did.
    Ted/Robin - the only thing that brings a downer for me in the series is that from the pilot episode we are told that Robin is Aunt Robin and not the "Mother". Having watched all the episodes so far, the relationship between them is the best and they definitely fit up there with Ross/Rachel as cutest sitcom couples. If Ted/Robin somehow end up together it will be a perfect end to the series for me unless something amazing happens.moreless

  • Best episode this season, back to the awesomeness of the first two seasons

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Xavygravy, Mar 17, 2011
    While this season has been the worst of the series, there have been a few standouts, including Girls vs. Suits and this one.
    This episode brings back the 'flashback' scenes, which give different angles on scenes you just saw. The stories are also interconnected VERY well (Barney's 'magic phone' story, Robin's story with Don and Ted's arranged marriage story).
    Don, who before this episode you thought of as a serious douche, you actually end up wanting to be with Robin when he changes his attitude, thanks to some great writing.
    There is nothing that I thought was bad about this episode. The 'Duck' or 'Rabbit' debate was very entertaining and was a great metaphor for 'the one' or 'not the one'.moreless

  • Barney gets in his hands a magic phone, that keeps ringing and ringing with hot girls calling him. ted is getting sick of being single again. Robin hates Don, or so she thinks lily and marshal have been given the job of finding ted amoreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By MaxSharp1, Mar 17, 2011
    good show, always has been... fun episode no plot holes but one little easter egg for anyone as bored or nerdy as me...
    i enjoyed ted when he found the phone in the piano, answers it... and just like that he was hooked.. haha. Now watch that one bit again and watch the window in the background, a shadow of a person is seen walking in the windows reflection who is clearly not Ted or Robin.... and they are a few floors up at the time so they cant say it was someone walking past the window, it must have been someone behind the scenes caught on film :P
    (now i watched this DVD version on my big screen, thats how i saw the person, but you might be able to see it on a smaller tv... hopefully)moreless

  • One fine Episode! Hated the storyline, but enjoyed the few laughs it brought up!

    8.5
    "Great"
    By ZakAlami, Mar 17, 2011
    I thought this episode was actually pretty nice! I kinda hated the duck/rabbit storyline, but at least I enjoyed where the episode was going. How I met your mother has, unfortunately, matured into those series which give you a few giggles between scenes, and I think we all agree it's no longer a hilarious show, but somehow, you want to keep watching, anticipating for a few more laughs to come.
    The writers insist on sticking to their cognitive style in creating comedy, which is fine by me, but let's face it: it's making the show dumber and less funny! They should find a new level of originality to spice things up! Enough with the flash-backs and the silly, immature fights! (What's with the whole unfunny fight over rabbits Vs. ducks?) Enough with the stunts. And please let them do something about Marshall and Lily's characters. Split them up or something. They're too perfect and boring on screen. Or simply, don't put them in a joint storyline as the happily-too-perfect married couple.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (3)

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    • When the gang sees Barney in the stadium at the Super Bowl, holding a placard with a phone number on it, it's the same shot as used in the ad for the show during the previous's night's airing of the Super Bowl. However, the number displayed during the Super Bowl ad (1-877-987-6401, which played a recording from Barney) was replaced in the episode with a non-functioning number (1-917-555-0197).

    • Although Ranjeet says in the first season that he is Bangladeshi, the foreign language he speaks in this episode is not Bengali.

    • We learn in this episode that Barney's ringtone is "Turkey in the Straw".

  • QUOTES (5)

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    • Ted: You're going out on Valentine's Day. I thought we had a plan.
      Robin: Getting drunk and cleaning the apartment?
      Ted: I didn't say it was a good plan!

    • Marshall: You want us to arrange your marriage? Ted: Absolutely! Look, there are two sides to dating, picking and getting picked. Getting picked I'm good at. Ladies love Teddy Westside. Marshall: You're waiting for me to comment on your self-assigned nickname. (Pause) Well here's my comment: I LOVE IT! Ted: Really? Marshall: Teddy Westside? Continue! Ted: It's the picking I suck at; I pick the wrong girls! But you guys are the best pickers I know. You picked each other!

    • Robin: So that settles it. Don's a rabbit. Ted: I wouldn't be too sure. Don… Donald… Donald Duck? And what does Donald Duck never wear, I wonder? Pants. Lily: Pants! Ted: Don's a duck. Requesting permission to lawyer. Marshall: I'll allow it. Ted: Lawyered!

    • Ted: Why don't we just get a rabbit and a duck, put them in a fighting ring, and let them fight it out! Marshall: Because that's illegal, Ted! Ted: Only if we bet on it, Marshall!

    • Barney: Keep your eyes peeled for a red sweater. Based on her texts, she's dirty, dyslexic, and wants to 96 me.

  • NOTES (2)

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    • The Italian episode title is "Coniglio o anatra", an exact translation.

    • International Airdates: Australia: July 1, 2010 on Channel 7; United Kingdom: September 2, 2010 on E4; India: October 21, 2010 on Star World; Czech Republic: December 28, 2010 on Prima COOL; Germany: February 9, 2011 on ProSieben; Slovakia: November 25, 2011 on JOJ Plus

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