Air Date: March 17, 2014
An unexpected guest causes last minute problems for Robin and Barney; the gang is split on whether or not to let him stay.
It is three days after Barney and Robin's wedding and the Mother and Ted is about to go out on their first date. However, Ted, at The Mother's suggestion, decides to shelve his plans of dinner at a Mexican-Scottish Fusion Restaurant, agreeing that the two cuisines are not really supposed to go together. While looking for another place to eat, Ted notes the difficulty of getting into a restaurant without an advance reservation, which reminds him of a situation he was in three days ago, that of Gary Blauman:
Two hours before the wedding, Gary Blauman shows up — despite not being on the guest list — and congratulates Robin on her impending marriage to Barney. Robin, a bit confused and panicky about this sudden turn of events, asks for Marshall's help to find Blauman a seat in the reception. After Robin leaves, a confused and panicky Marshall calls Ted to help him find a seat for him.
The episode provides examples of:
- A Day in the Limelight: We get more characterization for Blauman (regularly as a background character at Barney and Marshall's job), as we see he is rather polite and is genuinely excited about being at the wedding. Also we get to know how he got a previous interaction with the gang (plus James and Zabka).
- Because You Were Nice to Me: William Zabka adores Gary Blauman because, for once, he didn't snub him and instead recognized him from his poetry book.
- Bizarre Taste in Food: Ted initially planned to have his date with The Mother at a Mexican-Scottish Fusion restaurant, to which The Mother says that it's "two things that should not fuse". They only opt to not try it when they see there's live music (Mariachis playing bagpipes).
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: During the "Where Are They Now?" Epilogue part of "Gary Blauman", Future!Ted is explaining what became of Blah Blah (or rather, revealing that he doesn't know)... only to remember her name is Carol. She then turns to the camera in exasperation. "Thank you!"
- The Bus Came Back: Blauman didn't kill himself (Barney lied).
- Casting Gag: Taran Killam, who plays Gary Blauman, is Cobie Smulders' real-life husband.
- Character Development: When Ted and The Mother's date didn't go well, Future!Ted narrates that in the past, he would have given her an impulsive full speech about real love, but after everything he has lived during the show, Ted just knew that he didn't have to if it was destined to work out.
- Character Shilling: For Gary Blauman. Even though he is presented as another jerk co-worker in Marshall's division, this episode shows many other good and sympathetic things he did for others: he stopped Lily from a Break-Up Embarrassing Tattoo, recognized Zabka as a poet and called out James' Never My Fault attitude toward his divorce.
- Code Emergency: Robin and Marshall have a "Code Red", which is applied when an unexpected guest arrives and they have to find him a seat at the wedding reception.
- Continuity Nod:
- Ted calls out Lily for having also a butterfly tattoo and making fun at him for his accidental Tramp Stamp, which Marshall and Lily still laugh at.
- The "It's for the Bride" answer is brought up once again.
- All of the Secondary Characters during the Epilogue are brought back.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Barney wants to kick Gary Blauman out of the wedding. Why? Because Gary ate four of his fries! The fourth one was an accidental curly fry!
- Divorce Is Temporary: James manages to get back with his husband Tom.
- Embarrassing Tattoo: Lily claims Gary Blauman saved her from getting a Sugar Ray tattoo on her entire back after her break-up with Marshall, getting only a half-butterfly instead.Lily: Marshall, Gary Blauman saved you from a lifetime of looking at Sugar Ray when we do it on your birthday.
- Foreshadowing: Robin calls to Patrice's radio show to complain about a man not listening to her.
- Future!Ted's narration about friends drifting apart also foreshadows that Robin would eventually get separated from the gang because of her job and how it hurts to her seeing Barney reversing into a womanizer and Ted having moved on with The Mother.
Future!Ted: That's how it goes, kids. The friends, neighbors, drinking buddies, and partners in crime you love so much when you're young, as the years go by, you just lose touch....- Later Future!Ted also adds how they can reconnect, which also foreshadows that Robin would eventually return to the gang to attend Ted's wedding.
Future Ted: You will be shocked, kids, when you discover how easy it is in life to part ways with people forever. That's why, when you find someone you want to keep around, you do something about it. - Haggis Is Horrible: The Mother's reaction when Ted suggests a Mexican-Scottish fusion restaurant, especially when he mentions the "haggis enchiladas".
- Never My Fault: Gary finally calls out James for placing all the blame of the divorce on him.
- No Bisexuals: After James reveals that he had an affair with Gary Blauman, Ted realizes that his battle of knowledge against Gary over a woman was really Gary competing with the girl for Ted. It's never brought up that he could be a bisexual. (Although, to be fair, the rest of the people in the scene do not act as if they agree with Ted, quite the opposite).
- One Degree of Separation: Turns out everyone knows Blauman. Even James and the poet Billy Zabka.
- The Oner: The "Where Are They Now?" Epilogue is done as one long 360-degree shot along the parking lot.
- Out of Focus: Robin only appears in the Cold Opening and has two lines during Patrice's part of the Epilogue.
- Secondary Character Title: In Season 9, there's an episode named after Gary Blauman.
- Serious Business: Barney hates Gary Blauman not for eating four of his fries, but for the fourth fry being a curly fry that was accidentally left there. The other guys agree.Marshall: You take another man's wife before you take his accidental curly!
- Straight Gay: It's revealed that Gary Blauman is, since James cheated on his husband with him. Ted only assumes Blauman is gay instead of bi.
- "Where Are They Now?" Epilogue: Future!Ted gives a quick narration about what happened to many of the secondary characters:
- Carl MacLaren keeps on working at MacLaren's with his son.
- Jeanette is sent to court-mandated therapy, where she meets Kevin and end up together.
- Ranjit became an owner of a limousine service after earning money from the stock exchange.
- Patrice will start her own talk-show on radio called "Patrice! In the Morning" with Robin being one of the callers.
- William
Zabka becomes the youngest person ever to win the American Humanities Medal for Literature. - Zoey Pierson shows up on the news every once in a while, protesting various causes.
- Scooter finally moved on from Lily by marrying her doppelganger, Stripper Lily (a.k.a. Jasmine).
- Steve (a.k.a. The Blitz) from Blitzgiving is still under the curse of the Blitz.
- Ted finally remembers Blah Blah's real name, Carol.
- Sandy Rivers' career in USA is terminated after his sexual behavior caught up with him, which forces him to work in Russia. He's still a perverted jerk.
- James Stinson gets back together with his ex-husband Tom, and their adopted children.
- Gary Blauman comes back to the wedding.
