Rebound Bro

"Rebound Bro" is the 18th episode of the third season of the Television Series How I Met Your Mother and 62nd overall. It originally aired on May 5, 2008.

Plot

Ted decides that it is time for his relationship with Stella (Sarah Chalke) to take the next step. Stella is strangely reluctant, however, and she tells Ted a secret: she has not had sex for five years. Ted shares this with Marshall and Lily, as he does everything. When Stella comes over on the night that she was meant to have sex with Ted, they accidentally reveal that they know her secret. Stella is upset that Ted betrayed her trust and breaks up with him.

Meanwhile, Barney tries to find a "Rebound Bro" to whom he can be a wingman to help him get women. He misses Ted and, unwilling to admit it, puts applications up on his blog. Receiving few responses except for an enthusiastic proposal from his colleague Randy (Will Forte), Barney resorts to calling up old friends and previous wingmen. After many unsuccessful attempts (one already has a wingman, one is married and has settled down, etc.) he decides to be the "Bro" to Randy and give him a chance. Unfortunately, he discovers that Randy hasn't had sex in thirteen years and Barney is repeatedly unsuccessful at getting him together with a woman, since Randy is uncomfortable with talking to women, and gets nosebleeds whenever he gets an erection. Barney is unsuccessful until he enlists Robin's help to make Randy comfortable with small-talk with women, telling Robin that he may have a sex tape with her to convince her to come and help Randy. Barney discovers that Randy was a police officer, albeit one that was fired for incompetence; nevertheless, Barney knows being in the 'force' impresses women, and quickly finds a woman who takes Randy home with her. Barney seems happy until Robin comments that "Ted doesn't know what he's missing". Barney tearfully remarks, "You had to mention Ted, didn't you?"

Stella comes to Ted's house and admits that she broke up with him because she was afraid it was getting too serious and she was looking for a reason not to get too close to him. Ted and Stella's relationship goes even further than expected as Ted meets Stella's daughter and gets to know her. Later, Stella tells Ted that her sister (who was previously meant to take care of Stella's daughter while Stella and Ted had sex) is still in town and can take care of Stella's daughter. Stella and Ted rush to a motel, where they finally consummate their relationship. When Ted jokingly picks up the phone to tell Marshall and Lily about it after the deed is done, Stella pushes him off the bed in an equally lighthearted manner.

Music

"Love Saves the Day" by Dimitri Ehrlich

Barney's blog

Barney asks people to apply for the position as his new "wingman".^[1]

Cultural references

• Things that happened in 2003, the last time Stella had sex:
  • Seabiscuit came out in the cinemas.
  • The world was just learning about SARS.
  • The Da Vinci Code was published.
  • Nell Carter died.
• After Ted describes their intimate plans as Stella's "Virginity: The Sequel," Stella replies, "Virginity 2: Electric Boogaloo?," which is a parody of the title of the 1984 movie, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.
• Barney prohibits the use of the word bro in the name of a failed Democratic Vice President candidate, preventing Randy from using Broseph Lieberman and Geraldine Ferrarbro.
• Marshall mentions that the movie Jerry Maguire was not as good as Ted built it up to be.

Critical response

Donna Bowman of The AV Club rated the episode A-.^[2]

References

External links

• "Rebound Bro" at the Internet Movie Database
• "Rebound Bro" at TV.com