How I Met Your Mother (TV Series) Showdown (2007) User Reviews

Barney again proves that he is indeed AWESOME!

[SLionsCricketreviews · 9/10 · 23 November 2015]

Both the story lines in this episode work quite wonderfully. As the wedding nears, Marshall and Lily find it increasingly difficult to not be in one another's company. Barney is ecstatic to be on the gameshow 'The Price is Right', as he is determined to tell Bob Baker that he is Barney's father.

Lily and Marshall have always made each other funnier, and this episode uses their wonderful chemistry to good use. The episode is full of funny moments, one of their best moments being at the start of the episode where Lily and Marshall go together to get eggs....from the refrigerator! Ted's dumbfounded look to this was equally hilarious.

Barney has always had a lot of good fortune in his life, he has seemingly being able to accomplish ridiculously difficult tasks with seamless ease. For eg: he ran a marathon with no training whatsoever in "Lucky Penny" and here, he showcases a sense of ludicrous accuracy in guessing prices of products! His certainty that Bob Baker is his father shows an innocent and naive aspect to Barney, one I'm sure will be focused in more detail as the show progresses.

"Showdown" was hilarious, with a wonderfully sweet ending. A true example of the second season's quality.

Classic HIMYM at it's best

[simbrab · 9/10 · 24 February 2016]

This is why we love How I Met Your Mother: We start with a silly premise, then hilarity ensues, but suddenly there's this emotional moment that hits right in "dem feels". The episode "Showdown" hits all of these points.

And there is a lot going on for a single episode: In the preparation for Lily and Marshall's wedding, everybody's got a job to do. There is Team Marshall, with Ted desperately trying to write a wedding toast for the groom that is fun but doesn't offend either Marshall or his older relatives. Ted also helps Marshall to record a nighty-night-tape for Lily. Then there's Team Lily, with Robin coaching the bride during her special wedding diet. Once again, the writers subvert a common cliché with humorous results: Lily has to *gain* weight to fit into her dress. Of course there is also a Marshall and Lily storyline. They planned to spend the last 14 nights before their wedding separated, but that proves to be harder than anticipated.

And then, of course, there's Barney. Not directly connected to the other story lines, although he ends up providing Marshall and Lily with unexpected wedding gifts (I really hope he received a thank you note - you'll get that in season 9). Barney's story is hilarious and awesome as always, but in addition to that we get to see a more sensitive side of him. It does bother him that he had to grow up without knowing his father. At this point in the series, it is clear that Barney is not just there for the laughs, that there is a lot more potential in this character that the writers are willing to explore. I have to say, though, (and maybe this is the only reason I don't feel like pulling a 10/10 here,) if I look at Barney's role during the entire season, I kinda feel bad for him. First he gets Lily to go back to New York and get back together with Marshall. Then he pays for their honeymoon. Now he's giving them lots of expensive wedding gifts. And all he's left with is an incomplete nude painting of himself. And snarky remarks by Ted ("yes, it's hard to be friends with you, go on!").

SPOILER ALERT: Let's not forget Ted and Robin. On top of everything mentioned above, the writers managed to slip in an ominous Ted and Robin scene, right in the beginning of the episode. Whatever happened with them is quickly dropped, but it will be picked up again in the season finale.

My Favourite Episode So Far

[slightlymad22 · 10/10 · 5 December 2014]

My favourite episode of "How I Met Your Mother" so far. No surprise Neil Patrick Harris's Barney Stinson is front and centre. Anyone who has seen my reviews of this show know what I think.

Plot In A Paragraph: Barney is ecstatic to be a contestant on the TV show "The Price Is Right" where he plans to unveil himself as the host Bob Barker's son. Marshall and Lily attempt to spend some time away from each other as the Wedding approaches and Lily finds she is too thin for her dress.

The Marshall and Lily story is cute, but this is all about Barney Stinson and the performance of Neil Patrick Harris. I mentioned recently about the softer side to Barney when it was revealed he secretly engineered Marshall and Lily getting back together. This episode we find out more about his childhood and a real vulnerable side to him. I love Neil Patrick Harris and he plays him to perfection in this episode.

Bob

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 14 June 2020]

I like the bit where he ran into the door after Ted locked it

Best HIMYM Episode!

[Immune-T-Fear · 10 November 2013]

Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect. Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect. Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect. Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect. Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect. Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect. Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect. Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect. Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect. Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect. Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect. Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect. Best episode of how I met your mother I've seen yet, just perfect.

Showdown (#2.20)

[ComedyFan2010 · 8/10 · 13 July 2015]

Lily and Marshall getting closer to their wedding and the show manages to keep this couple at it's best. I loved that story, I don't consider myself a romantic but watching the two of them having trouble to stay apart for even a night was just adorable. Besides that it was so fun to see Lily having the opposite weight problem from most other brides. And Marshall managed to help her here.

Barney's story is also funny. It is a bit crazy how he thought that Bob Barker was his father, but it was interesting to see how it will end. They managed to end it in a very Barney way, not telling Bob he is his son (or believes to), but pretending it was for the good of Bob.