The Slutty Pumpkin Returns
Encyclopedia
"The Slutty Pumpkin Returns" is the eighth episode of the seventh season
of the CBS
sitcom
How I Met Your Mother
, and the 144th episode overall. It originally aired on October 31, 2011.
reminds his kids about how ten years earlier he met the Slutty Pumpkin
, a girl in a provocative pumpkin costume who appeared to be very compatible with Ted, during the rooftop Halloween party. However, he lost the Kit Kat
bar that she had written her number on and waited each year in vain for her to appear again.
In October 2011, Ted sees the slutty pumpkin costume in the window of a shop, where the owner willingly divulges the identity the woman who rented it in 2001. Ted meets Naomi, the girl who wore the costume; she has also been searching for Ted, and they start dating. Ted immediately realizes they have no chemistry and that he has no feelings for her, but he can't bring himself to end the relationship so quickly after finally finding her. When Ted decides that he needs to break up with Naomi, he's stunned to see she's wearing the slutty pumpkin costume; he says that he loves her and they have sex. They arrive at the Halloween party on the roof wearing the costumes they wore when they first met. After Naomi consumes a Tootsie Roll drink, she confesses that she found their relationship as awkward as Ted did, but felt similarly resistant to ending it (though Ted does not reveal to her how he felt). They break up amicably.
Meanwhile, Lily's
judgment is impaired by the fact that she has "pregnancy brain," and impulsively decides she wants to live in the suburbs after she and Marshall
inherit her grandparents' house. Though Marshall wants to live in the suburbs, he does not want to take advantage of Lily's state of mind. Under the pretense of arranging for a real estate broker to assess the house, Lily tries to trick Marshall into giving in due to the wholesomeness of the trick-or-treaters who soon arrive. However, when Lily realizes how her pregnancy brain has affected her ability to make decisions, she agrees to wait until she can think clearly before she and Marshall decide whether they want to move away from the city.
In the meantime, Robin
learns from Barney's
father Jerome Whittaker through Facebook that Barney's paternal grandmother was born in Manitoba
, thus making Barney one-quarter Canadian. Barney is horrified and Robin goes out of her way to emphasize Barney's Canadian heritage to compensate for all the mockery she has endured from Barney over the years. She agrees to stop if Barney wears a Mountie
costume for the Halloween party on the roof, but Barney resists and winds up wearing an American-themed boxing outfit instead; however, Robin points out that Barney is not uncomfortable on the cold rooftop in his shirtless costume, due to his Canadian ancestry. When he returns home later, a fantasy sequence ensues in which his Canadian side manifests physically and Barney futilely tries to beat him up; the Canadian version of Barney is unfailingly polite and friendly -- and unharmed -- throughout the attack.
Mohsin Akhtar of Metacritic
graded the Episode B+, praising the 1/4 Canadian storyline.
The episode attracted 10.49 million viewers.
How I Met Your Mother (season 7)
The seventh season of the American television comedy series How I Met Your Mother was announced in March 2011, along with confirmation of an eighth season, and premiered on September 19, 2011 with two episodes airing back-to-back.-Main cast:...
of the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
, and the 144th episode overall. It originally aired on October 31, 2011.
Plot
Future TedTed Mosby
Theodore Evelyn "Ted" Mosby is the titular fictional character of the U.S. television sitcom How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Josh Radnor...
reminds his kids about how ten years earlier he met the Slutty Pumpkin
Slutty Pumpkin
"Slutty Pumpkin" is the 6th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on October 24, 2005.- Plot :...
, a girl in a provocative pumpkin costume who appeared to be very compatible with Ted, during the rooftop Halloween party. However, he lost the Kit Kat
Kit Kat
Kit Kat is a chocolate-coated wafer confection that was created by Rowntree's of York, England, and is now produced worldwide by Nestlé, which acquired Rowntree in 1988, except in the United States where it is made under licence by The Hershey Company. Each bar consists of fingers composed of three...
bar that she had written her number on and waited each year in vain for her to appear again.
In October 2011, Ted sees the slutty pumpkin costume in the window of a shop, where the owner willingly divulges the identity the woman who rented it in 2001. Ted meets Naomi, the girl who wore the costume; she has also been searching for Ted, and they start dating. Ted immediately realizes they have no chemistry and that he has no feelings for her, but he can't bring himself to end the relationship so quickly after finally finding her. When Ted decides that he needs to break up with Naomi, he's stunned to see she's wearing the slutty pumpkin costume; he says that he loves her and they have sex. They arrive at the Halloween party on the roof wearing the costumes they wore when they first met. After Naomi consumes a Tootsie Roll drink, she confesses that she found their relationship as awkward as Ted did, but felt similarly resistant to ending it (though Ted does not reveal to her how he felt). They break up amicably.
Meanwhile, Lily's
Lily Aldrin
Lillian "Lily" Aldrin is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by American actress Alyson Hannigan. She is the wife of Marshall Eriksen and the best friend of Robin Scherbatsky...
judgment is impaired by the fact that she has "pregnancy brain," and impulsively decides she wants to live in the suburbs after she and Marshall
Marshall Eriksen
Marshall Eriksen is a fictional character in the American sitcom How I Met Your Mother, created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas and portrayed by Jason Segel.-Character profile:Marshall is an easy-going, naive optimist from St. Cloud, Minnesota...
inherit her grandparents' house. Though Marshall wants to live in the suburbs, he does not want to take advantage of Lily's state of mind. Under the pretense of arranging for a real estate broker to assess the house, Lily tries to trick Marshall into giving in due to the wholesomeness of the trick-or-treaters who soon arrive. However, when Lily realizes how her pregnancy brain has affected her ability to make decisions, she agrees to wait until she can think clearly before she and Marshall decide whether they want to move away from the city.
In the meantime, Robin
Robin Scherbatsky
Robin Charles Scherbatsky, Jr. is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Canadian actress Cobie Smulders.- Early life :...
learns from Barney's
Barney Stinson
Barnabas "Barney" Stinson is a fictional character created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris. The character has been extremely well received by critics and has been credited for much of the show's success...
father Jerome Whittaker through Facebook that Barney's paternal grandmother was born in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, thus making Barney one-quarter Canadian. Barney is horrified and Robin goes out of her way to emphasize Barney's Canadian heritage to compensate for all the mockery she has endured from Barney over the years. She agrees to stop if Barney wears a Mountie
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
costume for the Halloween party on the roof, but Barney resists and winds up wearing an American-themed boxing outfit instead; however, Robin points out that Barney is not uncomfortable on the cold rooftop in his shirtless costume, due to his Canadian ancestry. When he returns home later, a fantasy sequence ensues in which his Canadian side manifests physically and Barney futilely tries to beat him up; the Canadian version of Barney is unfailingly polite and friendly -- and unharmed -- throughout the attack.
Music
- "One Week" by Barenaked LadiesBarenaked LadiesBarenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
, which Naomi tells Ted is "their song" because it had been playing when they first met. - "Living in AmericaLiving in America (song)"Living in America" is a 1985 song composed by Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight, and performed by James Brown. It was released as a single in 1985 and reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
" by James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
Continuity
- Barney is still wearing the Ducky TieDucky Tie"Ducky Tie" is the third episode of the seventh season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and the 139th episode overall. It aired on September 26, 2011.-Plot:...
in this episode, continuing his bet with Marshall and Lily, even wearing it around his arm, when dressed up as a boxer. - The montage of flashbacks of Barney making fun of Canada includes scenes from "Last Cigarette EverLast Cigarette Ever"Last Cigarette Ever" is the eleventh episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 99th episode overall. It aired on December 14, 2009.- Plot :...
" and "Duel Citizenship". - Lily's grandparents originally wanted to move to Florida in the season 5 episode "Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the SlapSlapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap"Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap" is the ninth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 97th episode overall. It aired on November 23, 2009.- Plot :...
", but did not because of her father's unemployment. - Ted once again tells a girl he loves her at an inappropriate time. It was first seen in the first episode in the series, "Pilot" when Ted tells Robin that he loves her, even after going out on only one date.
- While trying to convince Marshall to move to the suburbs, Lily tells him that they would have plenty of room. This references how Marshall feels as though New York is "designed for people who are smaller than him" as mentioned in "I Heart NJI Heart NJ"I Heart NJ" is the third episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 67th overall. It originally aired on October 6, 2008.- Plot :...
". - Barney uses the phrase "Classic Schmosby!", first used by Punchy in "The Best ManThe Best Man (How I Met Your Mother)"The Best Man" is the premiere episode of the seventh season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and the 137th episode overall. It aired on September 19, 2011.-Plot:...
". - Naomi goes to make "Tootsie Rolls", which Ted had remembered her making 10 years earlier in the original episode "Slutty PumpkinSlutty Pumpkin"Slutty Pumpkin" is the 6th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on October 24, 2005.- Plot :...
".
Barney's blog
Barney continues to deny his Canadian heritage and lists some reasons why he thinks the U.S. is better than Canada.Cultural references
- When Barney discovers he is 1/4 Canadian, he cries out, "No, it's not true, that's impossible!" This is a reference to Luke SkywalkerLuke SkywalkerLuke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
's famous reaction when learning that Darth VaderDarth VaderDarth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
is his father in The Empire Strikes BackStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes BackStar Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. The screenplay, based on a story by George Lucas, was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan...
. - Barney makes a grand entrance at the costume party as Apollo CreedApollo CreedApollo Creed is a fictional character from the Rocky films, initially portrayed as the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World. He was played by Carl Weathers. Many believe his character was modeled after Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali while Rocky Balboa was based on relatively unknown...
from Rocky IVRocky IVRocky IV is a 1985 American film written by, directed by, and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the fourth and most financially successful entry in the Rocky franchise...
, complete with flag backdrop and James BrownJames BrownJames Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
's "Living in AmericaLiving in America (song)"Living in America" is a 1985 song composed by Dan Hartman and Charlie Midnight, and performed by James Brown. It was released as a single in 1985 and reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
" as background music. - Naomi mentions that she came across lots of Big LebowskisThe Big LebowskiThe Big Lebowski is a 1998 comedy film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Jeff Bridges stars as Jeff Lebowski, an unemployed Los Angeles slacker and avid bowler, who is referred to as "The Dude". After a case of mistaken identity, The Dude is introduced to a millionaire also named...
, Harry PotterHarry PotterHarry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
s and Antoine DodsonAntoine DodsonKevin Antoine Dodson is an 'accidental singer', actor, and former resident of the Lincoln Park housing project in Huntsville, Alabama, whose interview on local television news became an Internet sensation and resulted in an Auto-Tuned song by The Gregory Brothers that "has sold thousands of copies...
s through the last Halloweens. - When Ted and Naomi are making out, Ted believes “she sounds like those cows in Temple GrandinTemple GrandinTemple Grandin is an American doctor of animal science and professor at Colorado State University, bestselling author, and consultant to the livestock industry on animal behavior...
’s hug machineHug machineA hug machine, also known as a hug box, a squeeze machine, or a squeeze box, is a deep-pressure device designed to calm hyper-sensitive persons, usually individuals with autism spectrum disorders...
.” - The famous Canadians Robin makes reference to are Justin BieberJustin BieberJustin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
, Yukon BlondeYukon BlondeYukon Blonde is a Canadian indie rock band originally from Kelowna, British Columbia. Formed in 2005 as a quintet called Alphababy, the band members changed the name in late 2008 at the suggestion of Jon-Rae Fletcher, with whom the band was touring. The band has been based in Vancouver since 2009...
, and John DiefenbakerJohn DiefenbakerJohn George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
. Barney uses the expression, "heavens to GretzkyWayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
." - When Robin tells Barney that the Canadian one dollar coin is called a LoonieLoonieThe Canadian 1 dollar coin is a gold-coloured, bronze-plated, one-dollar coin introduced in 1987. It bears images of a common loon, a bird which is common and well known in Canada, on the reverse, and of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse.The design for the coin was meant to be a voyageur theme,...
and the two dollar coin is called a Toonie, he says that it sounds like a Hanna-BarberaHanna-BarberaHanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
character. - Most members of the group apparently have "friended" Barney's biological father, Jerome Whittaker, on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
. Marshall mentions that Jerome has gotten quite good at Bejeweled BlitzBejeweled BlitzBejeweled Blitz is originally a Facebook application which is developed and published by PopCap Games. It soon expanded into a downloadable game, based on the then-in-development Bejeweled 3 engine, due to popularity of the differences from Bejeweled 2 and its new graphics. As with the Bejeweled...
. - Robin is dressed as a Vancouver CanuckVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. - When Barney arrives home and splits into Canadian Barney, his forehead glows in a reference to the scene in Superman IIISuperman IIISuperman III is a 1983 superhero film and the third film in the Superman film series based upon the long-running DC Comics superhero. Christopher Reeve, Jackie Cooper, Marc McClure and Margot Kidder are joined by new cast members Annette O'Toole, Annie Ross, Pamela Stephenson, Robert Vaughn and...
where evil SupermanSupermanSuperman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
splits and good Clark Kent emerges. - Lily complains that her grandparents' gifts are like "the world's worst Showcase Showdown".
- Naomi sings "One Week" by the Barenaked LadiesBarenaked LadiesBarenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
, the song that was playing on the night that she met Ted.
Critical response
Donna Bowman of the AV Club graded the episode at B. Bowman gives guest star Katie Holmes praise for exceeding low expectations.Mohsin Akhtar of Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
graded the Episode B+, praising the 1/4 Canadian storyline.
The episode attracted 10.49 million viewers.