Line #19 Recap/HowIMetYourMotherS2E03Brunch


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/himym_2x03.jpg]]
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3	Ted's parents stop by for a visit, and Ted learns a shocking truth they've been keeping from him for years. Lily and Marshall find it hard to get along when they're forced to spend time together with Ted's parents.
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5	----
6	!!This episode provides examples of:
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8	* AmicableExes: Ted's parents. ZigZagged by Marshall and Lily.
9	* BelligerentSexualTension: PlayedForLaughs with Marshall and Lily.
10	* BlackComedy: The finale of the RunningGag regarding Ted's parents having poor communication skills involve them avoiding to tell Ted that his grandmother is already dead.
11	* BlatantLies: Once Ted's parents stop avoiding uncomfortable topics and start honestly explaining why they got divorced, we get this line from Ted's dad:
12	-->'''Ted's Dad:''' I wanted kids, and your mother [{{BEAT}}] ''also'' wanted kids.
13	* BrokenPedestal: Ted is obviously shaken by his parents' revelation that they secretly divorced months ago after two years of separation.
14	* CallBack: Ted's mom compliments Lily's hair while avoiding discussing the latter's breakup with Marshall, [[GenerationXerox much like Robin did]] upon meeting Lily again at [[Recap/HowIMetYourMotherS2E02TheScorpionAndTheToad the previous episode]].
15	* ChekhovsGunman: Ted's sister, who was mentioned a few times, will appear in Season 4.
16	* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: The color of the clothes Ted's parents are wearing were used to hammer the GenerationXerox between them and his relationship with Robin.
17	* ComicallyMissingThePoint: While Ted is left reeling from the revelation of his parent's divorce and how their problems parallel his and Robin's, Robin is stoked that his parents ''like her.''
18	** Also, when Ted complains to his parents that he doesn't know them because they don't tell him anything, and doesn't even know how they met, his father's solution is to tell him that they met at a bar.
19	%%* DistractedByTheSexy: Marshall and Lily [[ExploitedTrope use this]] to spite each other. Ultimately, they have sex.
20	* EventTitle: The episode refers to the brunch arranged for Ted's parents'.
21	* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The episode centers around a brunch.
22	* {{Foreshadowing}}: Ted's parents broke up because they're so different and always wanted different things, see GenerationXerox below.
23	* GagPenis: Invoked by Barney when Marshall told him that he'll fight back at Lily for "sexually spiting" him.
24	-->'''Marshall:''' See at brunch, I'm gonna torture Lily right back. Yeah! There's a part of my body that she has a weakness for too!\
25	'''Barney:''' Dude! You can't whip that out at brunch!\
26	'''Marshall:''' No, not that. I'm going to unleash my calves.
27	* GenerationXerox: Ted's parents reveal the reasons their relationship fell apart over exactly the same issue that causes tension between Ted and Robin. Particularly noticeable when in the same scene, both couples are shown wearing identical colors to their counterpart.
28	* HowWeGotHere: The episode shows events in different perspectives leading up to the event.
29	* LadyInRed: Lily dressed in a revealing red dress to spite Marshall.
30	* LegFocus: Male example with Marshall. Lily apparently has a weakness for his calves, which he uses to torment her after she dresses in a revealing outfit to spite him.
31	* LikeBrotherAndSister: When Ted's parents asked Marshall and Lily if they are fine being around each other after their breakup, Marshall responded to that with this trope. Lily doesn't take that well.
32	* MistakenForCheating: Ted to his dad due to the above.
33	* OnceMoreWithClarity: The show opens with everyone fighting at brunch, we then follow the various members of the gang in order to learn why they're all fighting, adding clarity to the various fights.
34	* PoorCommunicationKills: Ted's parents. Also counts as a RunningGag.
35	* SexWithTheEx: Marshall and Lily.
36	* SomethingElseAlsoRises: Invoked. After Lily spends the entire dinner sexually spiting Marshall, he decided to sit somewhere else but couldn't.
37	* TheTease: Lily goes LadyInRed to sexually spite Marshall. Marshall retaliates by showing his calves.
38	* TitleDrop: When Ted confronts his parents over their inability to share things with him, noting that he doesn't even know how they met, his father responds, "I never told you how I met your mother? Oh, that's a great story. [[ComicallyMissingThePoint We met at a bar]]."
39	* UnresolvedSexualTension: PlayedForLaughs. Barney keeps insisting that he has a "connection" with Ted's mom.

Context Recap / HowIMetYourMotherS2E03Brunch