Unfinished (How I Met Your Mother)
Encyclopedia
"Unfinished" is the third episode of the sixth season of the CBS
sitcom How I Met Your Mother
, and the 115th episode overall. It aired on October 4, 2010.
believes he accomplished that goal, and recalls the story. The story begins when Ted is just beginning a lecture. He takes an airplane out of his pocket, but Future Ted decides to go back in time a couple days earlier, when Barney
surprises Ted one day by telling him that Goliath National Bank is reconsidering Ted's design of the new GNB building that had been scrapped before. Ted is intrigued, but decides he doesn't want to work for GNB, with he and Marshall
likening them to the Galactic Empire
. Barney seems to accept this, but later is seen to be ignoring Ted. Ted realizes Barney is playing him like he would a hot girl, as Barney really does want Ted to design the building. Barney's attempts to "woo" Ted seem to be working, as Ted finds himself wanting to accept the job more and more. Finally, Barney tells Ted they have already accepted another offer, with Marshall backing up his claim. Ted goes to Barney and offers to do the job at half price, but Marshall reveals they hadn't accepted another offer, only pretending to do so to convince Ted even more. Shocked that Barney and Marshall had lied to him, Ted declines the offer again.
Meanwhile, Robin
reveals she may not have gotten over her relationship with Don as easily as everyone thought; having seen him on TV for a news show in Chicago, she ends up drunk dialing him and leaving angry messages. Lily
tries to get her to delete Don's number, though at first she lies about it and leaves another message. Robin confronts Lily about some of her unfinished passions and asks her to delete the number of a karate
dojo
. Lily had accidentally walked into a group of kids training, where to her embarrassment had been trounced by one of the kids. Marshall also deletes the number of a booker
for the club where his band played once, and Marshall is forced to agree they would probably never get back together. When they delete the numbers Robin deletes Don's number, but ends up calling him anyway and leaving another message as she had memorized his number. Some time later, Robin attempts to leave him another message, but finds she has forgotten his number; smiling, she realizes she finally got the closure she wanted.
While giving a lecture on an Antoni Gaudí
's unfinished magnum opus
, the Sagrada Família
, he changes his mind and rushes to Barney to accept the job; he however forces Barney to take him out to dinner first, as Barney had stated he never took a woman out before "closing the deal" first. Lily and Marshall show they're still attached to their respective passions; Lily practices a kick, while Marshall sings like he had in his gig.
In the end Lily returns to the karate dojo to confront the kid; now older, the boy replies, "I knew this day would come" and he and Lily rush towards each other to fight.
gave the episode a B+ rating.
Robert Canning of IGN
gave the episode a rating of 9 out of 10.
DeAnn Welker of Television Without Pity gave the episode a B+ score.
Chris O'Hara of TVFanatic.com gave the episode a rating of 3.5 out of 5.
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 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 115th episode overall. It aired on October 4, 2010.
Plot
Future Ted states that during his early years as a professor, he had a simple goal: to give a lecture that would change someone's life. 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...
believes he accomplished that goal, and recalls the story. The story begins when Ted is just beginning a lecture. He takes an airplane out of his pocket, but Future Ted decides to go back in time a couple days earlier, when Barney
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...
surprises Ted one day by telling him that Goliath National Bank is reconsidering Ted's design of the new GNB building that had been scrapped before. Ted is intrigued, but decides he doesn't want to work for GNB, with he 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...
likening them to the Galactic Empire
Galactic Empire (Star Wars)
The Galactic Empire is one of the main factions in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It is a galaxy-spanning regime established by the series' lead villain, Palpatine, to replace the Galactic Republic in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The Galactic Empire is introduced in Star Wars...
. Barney seems to accept this, but later is seen to be ignoring Ted. Ted realizes Barney is playing him like he would a hot girl, as Barney really does want Ted to design the building. Barney's attempts to "woo" Ted seem to be working, as Ted finds himself wanting to accept the job more and more. Finally, Barney tells Ted they have already accepted another offer, with Marshall backing up his claim. Ted goes to Barney and offers to do the job at half price, but Marshall reveals they hadn't accepted another offer, only pretending to do so to convince Ted even more. Shocked that Barney and Marshall had lied to him, Ted declines the offer again.
Meanwhile, 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 :...
reveals she may not have gotten over her relationship with Don as easily as everyone thought; having seen him on TV for a news show in Chicago, she ends up drunk dialing him and leaving angry messages. Lily
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...
tries to get her to delete Don's number, though at first she lies about it and leaves another message. Robin confronts Lily about some of her unfinished passions and asks her to delete the number of a karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
. Lily had accidentally walked into a group of kids training, where to her embarrassment had been trounced by one of the kids. Marshall also deletes the number of a booker
Talent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
for the club where his band played once, and Marshall is forced to agree they would probably never get back together. When they delete the numbers Robin deletes Don's number, but ends up calling him anyway and leaving another message as she had memorized his number. Some time later, Robin attempts to leave him another message, but finds she has forgotten his number; smiling, she realizes she finally got the closure she wanted.
While giving a lecture on an Antoni Gaudí
Antoni Gaudí
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet was a Spanish Catalan architect and figurehead of Catalan Modernism. Gaudí's works reflect his highly individual and distinctive style and are largely concentrated in the Catalan capital of Barcelona, notably his magnum opus, the Sagrada Família.Much of Gaudí's work was...
's unfinished magnum opus
Magnum opus
Magnum opus , from the Latin meaning "great work", refers to the largest, and perhaps the best, greatest, most popular, or most renowned achievement of a writer, artist, or composer.-Related terms:Sometimes the term magnum opus is used to refer to simply "a great work" rather than "the...
, the Sagrada Família
Sagrada Familia
The ' , commonly known as the Sagrada Família, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí...
, he changes his mind and rushes to Barney to accept the job; he however forces Barney to take him out to dinner first, as Barney had stated he never took a woman out before "closing the deal" first. Lily and Marshall show they're still attached to their respective passions; Lily practices a kick, while Marshall sings like he had in his gig.
In the end Lily returns to the karate dojo to confront the kid; now older, the boy replies, "I knew this day would come" and he and Lily rush towards each other to fight.
Music
- The opening music is Franz SchubertFranz SchubertFranz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
's Symphony Number 8Symphony No. 8 (Schubert)Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 8 in B minor , commonly known as the "Unfinished Symphony" , D.759, was started in 1822 but left with only two movements known to be complete, even though Schubert would live for another six years. A scherzo, nearly completed in piano score but with only two pages...
, the "Unfinished Symphony" - "Beach Comber" by Real EstateReal Estate (band)Real Estate is an Indie rock band hailing from Ridgewood, New Jersey now rooted in Brooklyn, N.Y.-Band members:* Alex Bleeker – bass, vocals* Martin Courtney – guitar, vocals* Matthew Mondanile – guitar, vocals* Jackson Pollis – drums...
plays when Ted goes to meet Barney at the end of the episode
Continuity
- The story goes back to Ted pitching his initial design of the GNB headquarters in "Woooo!" of season 4. He is fired later on in the season in "Old King ClancyOld King Clancy"Old King Clancy" is the 18th episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 82nd overall. It originally aired on March 23, 2009.- Plot :...
". - Barney offers to rehire Ted as the head architect of the GNB building. In Ted's first stint at GNB in "Woooo!", it was also Barney who had arranged for Ted to pitch his design in the first place.
- Marshall's Dr Seuss hatThe Cat in the HatThe Cat in the Hat is a children's book by Dr. Seuss and perhaps the most famous, featuring a tall, anthropomorphic, mischievous cat, wearing a tall, red and white-striped hat and a red bow tie. He also carries a pale blue umbrella...
from "InterventionIntervention (How I Met Your Mother)"Intervention" is the fourth episode in the fourth season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 68th overall. It originally aired on October 13, 2008.-Plot:...
" is featured in a flashback. - As of this episode, Barney has slept with 236 women. He had hit the 200 mark in "Right Place, Right TimeRight Place Right Time"Right Place, Right Time" is the 22nd episode of the fourth season of How I Met Your Mother and 86th overall. It aired on May 4, 2009.- Plot :...
". - Due to Marshall's being in a long-term relationship, he was often left out in certain activities, such as being a wingman. In "DefinitionsDefinitions (How I Met Your Mother)"Definitions" is the first episode of the fifth season of the How I Met Your Mother TV series and 89th episode overall. It originally aired on September 21, 2009.- Plot :...
", he was not invited to tuxedo night. - Barney and Marshall were wingmen for a brief time in season 2, after Lily had left Marshall for San Francisco, in the episode "The Scorpion and the ToadThe Scorpion and the Toad"The Scorpion and the Toad" is the 2nd episode in the second season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and twenty-fourth overall. It originally aired on September 25, 2006. The title references the fable of The Scorpion and the Frog, where a frog carries a scorpion across the river,...
". - Robin is dealing with closure issues from her break-up with Don Frank in last season's "DoppelgangersDoppelgangers (How I Met Your Mother)"Doppelgangers" is the 24th and final episode of the fifth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, and the 112th episode overall. It originally aired on May 24, 2010.- Plot :...
". - Marshall picks up a pen and writes some lines down saying how it would be good for a song. Marshall's gift for songwriting was previously shown in "SlapsgivingSlapsgiving"Slapsgiving" is the 9th episode in the third season of the television series How I Met Your Mother and 53rd overall. It originally aired on November 19, 2007.- Plot :...
" with "You Just Got Slapped", "Spoiler Alert", and in "Of CourseOf Course (How I Met Your Mother)"Of Course" is the seventeenth episode of the fifth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother and 105th episode overall. It originally aired on March 8, 2010.- Plot :...
" with "Bang, Bang, Bangity Bang".
Cultural References
- The episode opens with a picture of the Sagrada FamíliaSagrada FamiliaThe ' , commonly known as the Sagrada Família, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí...
, a building designed by Antoni GaudíAntoni GaudíAntoni Gaudí i Cornet was a Spanish Catalan architect and figurehead of Catalan Modernism. Gaudí's works reflect his highly individual and distinctive style and are largely concentrated in the Catalan capital of Barcelona, notably his magnum opus, the Sagrada Família.Much of Gaudí's work was...
. Its long history and reputation for being "unfinished" was used as a parallel to the episode's storyline. Also, towards the end, Ted is nearly hit by a bus. This is in reference to Gaudí's death when he was hit by a tram, leading to halt in the construction of the cathedral. - The episode references the design of the Death StarDeath StarThe Death Star is a fictional moon-sized space station and superweapon appearing in the Star Wars movies and expanded universe. It is capable of destroying a planet with a single destructive super charged energy beam.-Origin and design:...
from Star Wars Episode IV: A New HopeStar Wars Episode IV: A New HopeStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
, and its destruction by a single X-wingX-wingX-wings are fictional starfighters from the original Star Wars trilogy and the expanded universe. They are depicted as the primary interceptor and dogfighter of the Rebel Alliance and the New Republic...
proton torpedo aimed at a vent. The scene in the garbage compactor with 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...
, Princess Leia, Han SoloHan SoloHan Solo is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise played by Harrison Ford. Introduced in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot, Chewbacca , become involved in the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire...
, and ChewbaccaChewbaccaChewbacca, also known as Chewie, is a character in the Star Wars franchise, portrayed by Peter Mayhew. In the series' narrative chronology, he appears in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
is also referenced. - Lily mentions "the time when everyone was going, 'Whassup?Whassup?Whassup? was a commercial campaign for Anheuser-Busch Budweiser beer from 1999 to 2002. The first spot aired during Monday Night Football, December 20, 1999. The ad campaign was run worldwide and became a pop culture catchphrase...
'" when trying to determine how long it had been since she took a karateKarateis a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
class. - Barney's method of seducing women (and Ted) mimics those of author and pickup artist Neil StraussNeil StraussNeil Darrow Strauss , also known by the pen names Style and Chris Powles, is an American and Kittitian author, journalist and ghostwriter...
as mentioned in The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup ArtistsThe Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup ArtistsThe Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pick-up Artists is a non-fictional book written by investigative reporter Neil Strauss as a chronicle of his journey and encounters in the seduction community.The book was featured on the New York Times Bestseller List for two months after its release in...
. - Ted mentions the architect Gaudí in his "unfinished" lecture: "Unfinished. Gaudí, to his credit, never gave up on his dream. But that's not usually how it goes. I mean it usually isn't a speeding bus that keeps the brown pointy weird church from getting built. Most of the time it's just too difficult, too expensive or too scary. It's only once you've stopped that you realize how hard it is to start again. So you force yourself not to want it. But it's always there, and until you finish it, it will always be... (unfinished)."
Critical response
Donna Bowman of The A.V. ClubThe A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
gave the episode a B+ rating.
Robert Canning of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the episode a rating of 9 out of 10.
DeAnn Welker of Television Without Pity gave the episode a B+ score.
Chris O'Hara of TVFanatic.com gave the episode a rating of 3.5 out of 5.