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Twelve Horny Women
HIMYM episode 8x08 (168)
THW4
First aired:
November 26, 2012
Director:
Pamela Fryman
Writer:
Eric Falconer
Eric Romanski
Barney's Blog

Images (4)

Marshall takes on his old friend/new nemesis Brad in the biggest case of his career. Meanwhile, the gang reminisces about their own run-ins with the law, leading to a debate over who was the biggest delinquent as a teenager.


Recap[]

A little ways down the road, Marshall is present before a panel of judges from the New York State Judiciary Committee, who, according to Future Ted, would choose the destiny of his career. They are present there to discuss his conduct during the Gruber Pharmaceuticals case. Marshall then recounts what happened. 

At the trial, Marshall asks Brad how he could trick him, as he thought they were friends and even had brunch together. Brad tells him that after his girlfriend Kara broke his heart again, he "suited up and started lying to get what he wanted."

After Marshall starts by demanding 25 million dollars from Gruber Pharmaceutical for polluting Frog Lake, Brad gives stupid arguments and uses his body to convince the all-women jury and even the judge. He then gains sympathy from the jury by talking about his break-up with Kara. He then brings out a quack as his witness who tells the court that the pollution in the lake can help the animals living there.

Marshall then brings a duckling from the lake recovering from acute dermatitis to win the jury over. Just when Marshall thinks that he could win the case, Brad shows the court a video of him at Frog Lake, which shows him in his trunks, enjoying himself at the lake and flexing his muscles at the camera.

Judge Donovan asks Marshall if he wants to bring in any final witnesses. Marshall is momentarily stumped, but then sees Brad scratching himself and calls him to the witness stand and asks him to take off his shirt. When Brad takes his shirt off, it is shown that he is also suffering from acute dermatitis from swimming in the lake. The jury then declares Gruber Pharmaceuticals guilty of polluting Frog Lake, but Judge Donovan only orders them to pay 25 thousand dollars, instead of the 25 million dollar claim. Disappointed, Marshall asks the judge the reason behind this. He tells him that although Gruber Pharmaceuticals was guilty, he can't ruin the company for giving a rash to a few animals, clearly expressing that Judge Donovan doesn't care about the environment and blatantly put his own opinions over executing justice.

Later, at MacLaren's, Brad meets Marshall and tells him that he reminded him why he got into law: to fight for the little guy. He tells him that he quit his job and is now working with Marshall at Honeywell & Cootes, and is going to use his ways of manipulation to save the world. Marshall is still not ready to forgive Brad, but forgives him when he invites Marshall to brunch. Brad says that Judge Donovan was an idiot and it should be people like Marshall who should be behind the judge's bench.

After recounting the events of the case, Marshall tells the panel of judges that his talk with Brad made him realize he wanted to be a judge. He asks them to consider him for an appointment to a judgeship. The panel tells him that they will deliberate on this over the following months.

Meanwhile, the rest of the gang, who are going to the hearing to support Marshall, discuss their time as juvenile delinquents. Barney tells the others that he has a huge rap sheet as he was a badass in his teen years. Lily says that in 1994, she was the neighborhood bully and was feared by everyone, even Scooter, before they started dating. She indulged in underage drinking with him and even slapped a police officer when he caught them. Ted says he was arrested multiple times as a teenager. Robin says that during her road tour as Robin Sparkles, a couple of Mounties came to the hotel room she was partying in, telling her that they received noise complaints. Instead of lowering the music, she threw the TV in the room out the window and was arrested three hours later drunk, naked and driving a Zamboni.

However, after a bailiff at the courthouse recognizes Barney and tells the others that he was a member of their magic club, the others also admit the truth. Robin was actually given an award for being the nicest and most well behaved guest at the hotel and Ted was pilloried at the Shaker Height Renaissance fair. Only Lily's story appears to be true; when she is walking with the gang after the trial and starts to whistle, the people on the street flee after seeing her.

After kissing at Mouth Beach, Barney and Robin pretend that it never happened but things are a little awkward between them. Later, at MacLaren's, Barney tells Robin that he doesn't want things to be weird between them and he is done pursuing her and making a fool of himself. After Barney leaves to pick up another girl, Robin thinks about what he just said and exclaims, "Huh."

Continuity[]

  • Brad and Marshall got brunch together in World's Greatest Couple​​, which is also the episode in which Brad and Kara's on-and-off relationship first comes up.
  • Brad says that he started to "suit up and lie to get what he wants" to which Marshall replies "It happens." This is a reference to Barney's change depicted in Game Night.
  • Robin's past life as Robin Sparkles has been featured in Slap Bet​​, Sandcastles in the Sand and Glitter​​.
  • The case against Gruber Pharmaceuticals was first introduced back in Field Trip​​ when their legal team offered a settlement of a paltry $24,000. It was Marshall who convinced Garrison Cootes to push for more money.
  • Barney's ability to get free from a standard set of handcuffs has been mentioned in Hopeless and The Magician's Code - Part Two.
  • Marshall and the judge both use the phrase I'll Allow It.

Future References (Contains Spoilers)[]

  • Marshall will eventually hear back from the New York State Judicatory Committee in Something New​, which will become a main plot point of Season 9.
  • Barney proclaiming to be done with Robin will be the focal point of Lobster Crawl.

Gallery[]

For a listing of all images on the wiki tagged as being from this episode, see Category:Twelve Horny Women images.

Memorable Quotes[]

Barney: I'm done. You don't have to worry anymore.
Robin: What do you mean?
Barney: I'm done. Trying to get you. I can't do it anymore. I'm sorry it's taken me this long to figure it out, but I promise... I'm done making a fool of myself.
Robin: Barney, you haven't been making a fool out of yourself-
Barney: It's okay, it's okay. I want it to be okay. So here's what's gonna happen: I'm gonna get us two drinks, come back and comment on the likely size and color of the nipples on that redhead at the bar... with the big, dark nipples... And you're gonna be grossed out, but you're gonna laugh a little anyway, and then you'll tell a funny story about 'that bitch Patrice' at work, but neither of us are gonna say "Hey, how's it going? Good to see you!" because, it really will be good to see you. Think we can swing that?
Robin: Yeah. I do.
Barney: Badass.

Robin: I didn't want to brag, but I think it's time to acknowledge that I was the ultimate teenage badass of this group.
Lily: You were a teen pop star in Canada. You sang songs about the mall.
Robin: Hey. There is a dark side to being a rocker on the road north of the 49th.

Cop: Barney check it out. I found my scrapbook from the old days.
Barney: We're kind of busy right now, Warren. We're scaring kids straight, so-
Warren: No, no. Barney was the youngest member of our Magic Enthusiasts Club years back. Famous for escaping from handcuffs.
Ted: Handcuffs, huh?
Warren: Very tiny hands. That was his secret. See you around, baby hands.
Lily: So, you don't know the bailiff because you were a badass. You knew him because you guys were in a nerd club together.
Ted: Where you dazzled audiences with your sleight-of-tiny-hand.
Barney: So I was a late hand bloomer! Go ahead, laugh, laugh like all the others, but those magicians pulled off the greatest trick of all: they accepted me.
Robin: Okay, well, to be fair, I may have slightly exaggerated my badass story, too.

Marshall: Even if that's true, I'm still not sure that I can forgive you.
Brad: Would you object to an 11:15 brunch rezzy for two tomorrow at the Popover Pantry?
Marshall: I'll allow it.
Brad: Yes! The Brunch Bros are back!
Marshall: And thank God we were, because well, what he said next is the reason that I'm sitting in this chair.
Brad: Seriously, thanks-- for giving my soul a little redempsh. And B-T-dubs, that judge was an idiot. It's people like you, people with hope and vision and integ, that should be behind that bench making the calls.
Marshall: And that's when I realized I wanted to be a judge. Because judges are the ones who can effect real change. And that's why I'm here, before the New York State Judiciary Committee. I hope that you will consider me for an appointment to a judgeship.
Judge #2: Thank you, Mr. Eriksen. The panel will take this under advisement.
Marshall: Take your time.
Judge #2: It could be a few months.
Marshall: Better tell my wife I won't be home for dinner.
Judge #2: Get out.

Notes and Trivia[]

Goofs and Errors[]

  • Scooter says his name is Jeff, but in Something Borrowed it was stated that his name is Bill.
    • It's possible (albeit unlikely) that he changed his name.
  • Robin's flashback shows her partying in 1993 when she would have been 13. This contradicts previous stories saying she lived with her dad until she was 13 when he caught her kissing a teammate on her hockey team, then sent her to an all boys school. She wouldn't have started her career as Robin Sparkles until 14 or 15.
  • Robin states that she got a "ZUI" (pronounced ZEE-yoo-eye), but being Canadian, she should have pronounced it ZED-yoo-eye.
    • She might simply have gotten used to the former pronounciation after so many years in the USA.
  • In making his case that Gruber Pharmaceuticals polluted Frog Lake, Marshall holds a tiny yellow duckling & states that “Puddles” had spent the past 3 months being nursed back to health. In reality, a 3 month old duck would resemble an adult & would’ve been able to fly for the past several weeks.
    • It may have been a move by Marshall to gain the jury's sympathy, exaggerating the duckling's condition.

Allusions and Outside References[]

Music[]

  • Celldweller - The Best It's Gonna Get (J Scott G & Joman Remix)

Other Notes[]

  • Because of his actions in lowering the charges against Gruber Pharmaceuticals, Judge Donovan can be accused of judicial misconduct for blatantly dismissing a gross amount of credible evidence, having a prejudicial effect on the administration of the business of the courts among reasonable people, and having a conflict of interest pointing in favor of the defendants.

Guests[]

Reception[]

  • The episode received 8.73 million viewers. [1]
  • Donna Bowman of The AV Club gave the episode a B. [2]
  • Max Nicholson of IGN gave the episode 7.2 out of 10, saying, "This week's episode wasn't particularly laugh-out-loud funny, but it was still a nice watch, and didn't come with any glaring issues or painfully unfunny moments -- and at this point in the series, that's kind of a godsend. Even the final scene with Barney and Robin was actually solid, and Neil Patrick Harris's monologue at the end was well delivered. Although it wasn't a classic episode of HIMYM, "Twelve Horny Women" was definitely pleasant, and perhaps the best episode we've seen this season". [3]
  • Angel Cohn of Television Without Pity gave the episode a C, saying that the episode was "nearly entirely pointless" and refers to the subplot as "RIDICULOUSLY stupid". [4]
  • The St. Petersburg Comic Review gave this episode 8 out of 10 stars. "...Marshall jokes in front of the judges..."

References[]

External Links[]


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