- Kevin's declaration that everybody marries their parents ruins Marshall and Lily's romantic evening, but will anything keep Barney from getting lucky with Nora? And will Kevin finally get fed up with Ted and Robin's close relationship?
- After Barney's brother James meets Nora for the first time, he admits that he doesn't like Nora with Barney if only because her behavior is too reminiscent of their mother, Loretta. Kevin, in turn, states that it's not too unusual for people to end up with someone like their parent. That comment makes for a very uncomfortable romantic night for Marshall and Lily, the former whose discomfort is taken one step further. If Barney knew about James and Kevin's comments, his night may also be particularly spoiled as tonight is the night that he and Nora are going to make love for the first time. But other things may ruin their potential first time. Meanwhile, Kevin and Ted have to come to an understanding about the other's relationship with Robin.—Huggo
- Barney's brother, James (Wayne Brady), pays a visit before Barney and Nora leave for a date which Nora promises will be special. Barney is looking forward to finally having sex with Nora after waiting for all this time. He is determined nothing to come in the way of that. Nora takes Barney Ice skating first. Though James admits that he thinks Nora is a nice girl, he is unsettled by the fact that she is too much like their mother, Loretta (Frances Conroy). She has a British accent, the way she hugs him, and the phrase "Guess what my sweet boy, tonight I have a special treat for you". Kevin, the therapist, comments that it is natural to like people who remind them of their parents.
During their date, a series of mishaps, including Nora breaking her tooth while ice skating, a rat falling onto her head, and a man committing suicide nearly dissuades Barney from sleeping with her. He manages to turn all the incidents around, although he is unsettled when he sees the similarities between Nora and his mother. However, he sleeps with Nora anyway and remarks that her resemblance to his mother makes her more special to him.
Marshall accidentally insults Lily when she admits to feeling unattractive as her body begins to swell from pregnancy. To show her how beautiful she is, Marshall makes up a board game. However, the plan backfires when Lily recalls Kevin's words about how it is natural to like someone who resembles one's parents; Lily remembers that her father also loved to create absurd board games. When she admits to being uncomfortable around Marshall because she keeps imagining her father, Marshall winds up seeing familiar traits of his father in Lily (like having a midnight snack or enjoying a foot rub). They cancel their romantic plans for the evening, though Marshall admits that the common traits that Lily shares with his father makes her attractive to him all the same.
Meanwhile, Ted admits to Robin that he is uncomfortable with Kevin after seeing Kevin standing in the apartment in his boxers. When Kevin tells Robin that the incident occurred after he spilled coffee on his pants after seeing Ted walk by half-naked, he admits that he feels uncomfortable with how close Robin and Ted are considering their history. Robin assures him that there is nothing between her and Ted and that Ted is insecure about being alone. When Robin and Kevin's evening together in the apartment is interrupted by Ted, Kevin goes along with Robin's insistence on comforting Ted. However, he becomes upset when Ted invites Robin to a "Weird Al" Yankovic concert until Ted openly admits to feeling lonely and the sole reason he invited Robin was because he had already exhausted all his other friends and acquaintances. He had even asked his mom who turned him down and refused to let him ask his stepdad Clint (Harry Groener). Sympathizing with Ted, Kevin pretends to be a "Weird Al" fan and agrees to go the concert.
At the bar, Ted says that he had suggested to "Weird Al" the lyrics for Like a Surgeon. Kevin and Robin go to the apartment, leaving Ted alone at the bar, where he meets a "Weird Al" fan who strangely resembles his mother. In the final scene, it is revealed that "Weird Al" gets a fan letter from Ted in 1985 which does in fact give him the inspiration for "Like a Surgeon".
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