When the gang helps Barney's mother move out of her house, they discover the identity of James's real father.
This episode provides examples of:
- Bait-and-Switch: The entire episode is building up to Barney finally meeting his father after finding a letter written by Loretta to a man named "Sam Gibbs". It's revealed that he is really James' father instead.
- Blatant Lies: Loretta put more effort into some of her lies than others.
- The Bus Came Back: Loretta and James return to help Barney with a little Character Development.
- Captain Obvious: After Barney spends the rest of the evening pretending that Sam is his father, Loretta has to break it to him that Sam isn't his father because he's black. Also, Ted comes to the conclusion that Sam can't be Barney's father after noting that Barney and James have a two-year age difference and Sam and Loretta only saw each other for a few months.Robin: [Ted]'s also quite the detective.
- Cloud Cuckoo Lander: Barney psyched himself up to possibly meet his father, and doesn't respond well to see it's James's father instead.
- Funny Background Event: As James and Sam bond over singing "Stand By Me," Barney keeps trying to break in to their harmony and Lily calmly keeps grabbing his tie and leading him off scene.
- Gilligan Cut: It's unknown, even to the gang, what Barney said to make them all help packing.
- Hilariously Abusive Childhood: Once again we see that Barney's childhood was less than happy and his mother fed him elaborate lies to try and hide how he had no friends, and why his father wasn't in his life.
- I Was Quite a Looker: Once again it's mentioned that Loretta was very popular in the 70s. When they meet Sam Gibbs and mention her name to him, he repeats her name with a playful smile.
- Lies to Children: Barney has lived his entire childhood believing everything his mother told him, realizing later that she tried to do her best to not hurt Barney's feelings. James was quite aware of that the whole time.
- Lily and Marshall are debating if they are going to tell his future child if Santa exists, with Marshall insisting that they have to give them a happy childhood.
- Not So Above It All: James proudly boasts about catching up to all his mother's lies way ahead of Barney. A few seconds later, he finds a glove Michael Jackson sent him... before just catching up to that one.
- Oh, Crap!: First Robin oversells Ted to her friend, then she goes too far in the other direction, then she goes wildly in both directions and texts it to everyone. Each time, Ted has a mild Oh moment.
- Open-Minded Parent: As soon as Sam and James meet each other, Sam is very happy to finally see him, explaining that he was absent because he wanted to respect Loretta's wish of raising James herself. Later, James is showing him pictures of his husband and son. It's important to note that Sam is a minister, and he was still happy to know that James has a family, regardless of his sexual orientation.
- Parents as People: Near the end of the episode, Loretta recognizes that she mostly avoided talking about Barney and James' fathers to spare her own feelings, recognizing that it was selfish from her part, finally giving Barney the chance to meet his real father. Barney would eventually accept it in Last Words.
- Shout-Out: Ted makes an example about overselling by describing to Robin The Karate Kid.
- Straight Man: James tries to get Barney to admit that Bob Barker isn't his real father either.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: In part, the gang accept to help Barney and James pack everything, since it's a rare occasion they have to see some of Barney's origins.Lily: It gives us a rare insight into the makings of Barney Stinson. (picks up Barney's old basketball t-shirt) Like, look at this. Who was a cute little basketball player before he became the biggest pervert in the world?
- What the Hell, Hero?: James calls Barney out for believing their mother's constant lies, and Loretta gets confronted about the same.
- Your Mom: Subverted. When Barney tells Ted that something he's packing isn't going to fit, Ted responds "Yeah, that's what your mom said." Except he meant it literally.
