Barney helps Robin create a video resume so that she can find a job in seven days and won't be deported back to Canada.
This episode provides examples of:
- Artistic License – Law: Robin's immigration issues would have been more complicated to solve. First off, her work visa would have already expired soon after she left her job at Metro News 1, as a work visa is tied to a specific employer. This also means that just getting another job wouldn't have solved the problem, as her new employer would have to sponsor her for a new visa, which is a lengthy and complicated process.
- Averted, however, when Marshall takes back his suggestion for Robin to enter a Citizenship Marriage, as he correctly notes that the paperwork for this would never be processed in time to prevent her from being deported.
- Balloon Belly: The show
hid Alyson Hannigan's pregnancy by making her participate in hot dog eating contests. - Beyond the Impossible: According to his video resume, Barney spent his entire life going past both of what is possible and impossible.
- Blatant Lies: Barney is not interviewing himself in his video resume and he also did not sing said resume's theme song.
- Citizenship Marriage: Discussed as a possible way to keep Robin in the country, but subverted immediately as Marshall realizes the paperwork wouldn't be processed quickly enough for that to work. Poor Barney was ready to propose to her on the spot before Marshall dismissed the idea.
- "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: "Subverted" according to Barney.
- Fake Nationality: In-Universe As his own interviewer, Barney posed as a Fake Brit and a wee-bit Scottish.
- Funny Background Event: When Marshall is stating to Robin that she can stay if she marries a U.S citizen, Barney went on one-bended knee, ready to propose to her... and hops back up when they realize that won't work.
- Glory Days: The episode's subplot revolves around Ted, Marshall and Lily's reluctance to let go of their past "mini-glories".
- Meaningful Background Event: The above-mentioned Funny Background Event. It's amusing, but also sweet and a little sad; the moment really emphasizes how much Barney loves Robin.
- Meaningless Meaningful Words: Most of Barney's Portmanteaus, the Portmantitle included.
- Not Even Bothering with the Accent: Barney claims that he is not interviewing himself in his video resume stating that the interviewer is British. When "the interviewer" speaks to Barney again, he uses a Scottish accent. When concluding the interview, "the interviewer" reverts to his English accent.
- Portmanteau: Aside from the obvious Portmantitle, Barney (along with Marshall and Lily) drops joint words from time-to-time.
- Portmantitle: The episode title stems from the words possible and impossible, things that Barney claimed that he spent all his life passing beyond.
- Supporting Protagonist: Since this is Robin's A Day in the Limelight episode, Ted is obviously just in the background. And even then, it is Barney who ends up saving the day.
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: According to the lyrics of the song in Barney's video resume, the singer is not Barney because that would be really lame.
- Take That!: Barney took a shot at corporate America stating that they always want someone who seems to be doing something but actually does nothing.
- Testosterone Poisoning: Barney's video resume shows nothing but him showcasing his manliness, a lot of awesome stuff and some Stuff Blowing Up.
- Truth in Television: So, Robin's about to be deported — a green card marriage is the obvious solution, right? Sure enough, it is one of the first ideas the gang comes up with, but Marshall realizes what anyone with experience in bureaucracy can tell you: getting paperwork processed and making a marriage official takes longer than you'd think. (Normally, this wouldn't be such a problem, but Robin's got less than a week, so even if it would probably be processed in time, they're smart not to risk it.)
