Life Among the Gorillas
| "Life Among the Gorillas" |
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"Life Among the Gorillas" is the 17th episode in the first season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on March 20, 2006.
Plot
Marshall starts his internship at Barney's office and hates his coworkers in the legal department. They tease him about Lily making his lunch and Marshall is uncomfortable with the fictional scenarios that they construct that make Marshall choose between two women. At the end of his first day, Marshall is ready to quit, but Barney manipulates him into staying. Barney convinces Marshall that he would be happier knowing that he could provide a better life for Lily with a bigger income. Marshall asks Barney for advice on how to deal with his coworkers, and Barney suggests behaving more like his coworkers and blending. When Marshall tells Lily about his plan, Lily doesn't think that it's a good idea, but Marshall thinks that he can keep his work persona separate from his real personality. Barney shows Marshall how to act like the guys at work and Marshall gains their acceptance. Marshall's work persona begins to bleed over into his home life to Lily's displeasure. Marshall asks Lily to give his work friends a chance and they go out to a karaoke bar. Lily is not having a good time and when Marshall accepts a job offer at Barney's company Lily leaves the table. Lily asks Marshall when he decided to give up his values. He says that he hasn't abandoned his values but he wants to make good money for a couple of years so that he can give Lily a better life. Lily tells him that he can give her a great life with what he has already. The two make up by performing their favorite karaoke song on stage.
Meanwhile, Ted struggles with his long distance relationship with Victoria. He feels guilty that Victoria has sent him three care packages and he hasn't sent her any. When he calls to thank her for the most recent care package, he impulsively says that he sent her a care package a few days ago. Ted asks Robin for advice about how to cover up his fib. Robin suggests that he assemble a care package with New York-themed things and top off the package with a New York Times from three days ago. When Victoria calls Ted to thank him for the care package, he accidentally falls asleep on the phone. Feeling guilty and frustrated, Ted plans to fly to Germany to visit Victoria. But when he is buying his ticket, Victoria sends him an email telling him that they need to talk that evening. Ted worries that Victoria is going to break up with him, but Robin reassures him that he is worried for no reason. The phone call from Victoria is four hours late when Robin calls him and asks him if he wants to come over to her apartment.
Music
Continuity
- Marshalls robot dance
Barney's Blog
- In an update to his blog, Barney requests his reader's assistance in deciding the "Hottest Chick" by requesting they vote to decide the Hottest type of chick in a variety of bouts. Bouts include Cheerleader VS. Lebanese Girl.
- In his next update, Barney recapped the results of the previous bouts, and posted the latest choices for voting. Bouts include Grieving Widow VS. Librarian.
- Finally, it emerged that Taller-than-you Chick won the 2006 NHCA Championship, making it the year of the tall chick. To celebrate, Barney posted an intricate system for subtly boosting yourself to her stature.
Trivia
- Jason Segel originally tried to incorporate a Big Foot walk into a shot in "Okay Awesome." While the walk was not used in that episode, it is used in this episode when Marshall first arrives at Barney's office.
Cultural references
- The security guard calls Marshall sasquatch and Big Foot.
- Marshall's coworkers ask him to choose between Jessica Alba and Jessica Simpson, Bea Arthur and Betty White, and Angelina Jolie in a wheelchair and Scarlett Johansson with no arms.
- Marshall suggests that he could perform "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath.