Three Days of Snow
| "Three Days of Snow" | |
|---|---|
| How I Met Your Mother episode | |
| Episode no. |
Season 4 Episode 13 |
| Directed by | Pamela Fryman |
| Written by | Matt Kuhn |
| Production code | 4ALH13 |
| Original air date | January 19, 2009 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
|
Cal Gibson (Ryan) | |
"Three Days of Snow" is the 13th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 77th overall. It originally aired on January 19, 2009.
Plot
Ted and Barney set up dates with two young women in a band (Barney repeatedly pulling aside Ted to insist that he not be specific in his plans), planning to meet back at MacLaren's the next night. The next night, with a huge snow storm outside, they sit alone at the bar, waiting for the girls. Barney and Ted beg Carl the bartender to leave them in charge of the bar for the rest of the night, as Carl has charity work to attend to. The girls finally show up, along with their "band", which is actually the Arizona Tech "Fighting Hens"[1] Marching Band, filling the bar with dozens of rowdy college students. After being overwhelmed with bartending (calling the bar "Puzzles"[2]), and a call from Carl telling them he was returning, Ted and Barney quickly direct the band upstairs to their apartment to continue partying. The band members are very grateful.
Lily and Marshall reflect on a tradition of Lily bringing a six-pack of beer with her every time she returns from a trip, Marshall meeting her at the airport. The couple had decided to end the tradition, but both soon change their minds. First, Marshall gets Robin to drive him to the airport in the midst of a huge snowstorm to pick up Lily, arguing with her about the importance of traditions in relationships. They get trapped on the side of the road after a snow plow covers them in snow, but they eventually get to the airport terminal. When they arrive, Lily is not there. Marshall realizes that that day's lunchtime phone-call ritual between himself and Lily had been in a voicemail Lily had left to inform him that her flight was cancelled. Marshall had ignored the call because he felt that all of their traditions were slipping away and that it was a natural progression of their relationship to let their rituals die. Lily's plane has been grounded and will arrive in New York in 2 days (the episode runs Marshall and Lily's stories parallel to imply that they are on the same day).
Meanwhile, after realizing she wants to continue the tradition, Lily panics and tries to find some vintage Seattle beer to give to Marshall. Arriving at the airport an hour early, she encounters Ranjit, and they drive to a local liquor store, only to find that the store only has a keg instead of six-pack. She treks back to the airport, only to find no Marshall. Suddenly, airport residents start playing marching band instruments to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, and Marshall emerges to greet Lily. The players are the marching band from earlier in the episode, following up on their promise to return the favor. Marshall suddenly realizes he now has to bring a marching band each time he picks up Lily.
Critical response
Donna Bowman of The A.V. Club gave the episode an A rating.[3]
Michelle Zoromski of IGN gave the episode 8.3 out of 10, commenting that it was "a good episode" but pointing out a storyline flaw as "you can't take liquids on a plane anymore".[4]
The TV Critic rated the episode 67 out of 100, describing the humour as "decent" and praising the twist at the end.[5]
Cindy McLennan from Television Without Pity gave the episode an A−.[6]
References
- ↑ Recap of Three days of Snow at channelguidemagblog Retrieved 6 July 2013
- ↑ Tailgate (How I Met Your Mother)
- ↑ Grade it (2009-01-19). ""Three Days Of Snow" | How I Met Your Mother | TV Club | TV". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ↑ Zoromski, Michelle (January 20, 2009). "How I Met Your Mother: "Three Days of Snow" Review". IGN. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
- ↑ "The TV Critic". tvcritic.org. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
- ↑ McLennan, Cindy. "Snow Job". Retrieved June 8, 2014.