Robin and Barney receive shocking news that they have a cousin in common, and that they might be blood relatives. Marshall worries that Lily will see a picture that reveals he's accepted the judgeship without consulting her.
This episode provides examples of:
- Achievements in Ignorance: Marshall's baby is no more ignorant of the social media site that Marshall's mother posted the 'congratulations on becoming a judge' post on than anyone else in the airport at the time, but it was Marvin who finally deleted the picture before Lily could see it.
- Blatant Lies:Ranjit: (through the divider) Don't hold back! This divider is completely soundproof! Go all the way!
- Double Subversion: While on the phone with a relative, Barney apparently learns that his cousin died in a skydiving accident. He then tells Robin that the cousin was merely fired... but was left in such despair that he committed suicide.
- Draco in Leather Pants: While trying to justify that marrying his possible cousin wouldn't be that bad, Barney claims that King Joffrey, the product of Brother–Sister Incest, was a "fair and wise leader". This is consistent with his belief that Johnny Lawrence was the true protagonist of The Karate Kid.
- Gilligan Cut:Daphne: I wish I could see your wife kick yo' ass.Marshall: I don't mean a physical fight. She's not an animal.Cut to Lily and The Mother on the train.Lily: I'm sorry I tried to bite you.The Mother: I'm sorry I swatted you on the nose with a rolled up magazine.
- Freudian Slip: While Barney and Robin believe they might be cousins:Robin: Well I can't wait till tonight, I have got some naughty, naughty, naughty things planned.
Barney: Oh, wow, you have certainly piqued my incest— interest! - I Never Said It Was Poison: When Lily is on the train with Tracy, she gives a generic description of one of the stops Ted wanted to make. Tracy, who up until this point pretended she wasn't into Ted's road trip stops, reels off the name of the person associated with that stop, cluing Lily in to the fact Tracy is also into the things Ted is.
- Sassy Black Woman: Marshall's seatmate on the plane from Minnesota, and companion for most of the rest of the season.
- Shout-Out: Barney's reference to King Joffrey from Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire.
- Surprise Incest: While driving to their wedding, Barney talks about his crazy cousin Mitch, and then Robin says she also has a crazy cousin Mitch. After checking some common details, there is a period where they think they are related via Mitch. This has them asking Ranjit to pull over so they can open the door to their respective sides and throw up. Ultimately averted, though, as Mitch was adopted into the family on Robin's side because his parents were eaten by wild animals.
- Wham Line: "And that's how Lily met your mother." This is the first time she is explicitly identified as being The Mother.note
