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HIMYM Season 4

Season 4 DVD

Season 4 of How I Met Your Mother aired from September 22, 2008 to May 18, 2009 on CBS and contained 24 episodes from Do I Know You? to The Leap.

Synopsis[]

Himym04

Stella accepts Ted's marriage proposal. Marshall notices that Ted does not know a lot about Stella personally, and worries that he is rushing into marriage. Robin takes a new job in Japan, but quickly resigns, returning to New York in time to attend Ted's wedding. Stella warns him that inviting exes to a wedding is a bad idea and expresses concern with Robin's presence. Ted then brings the father of her daughter, Tony to the wedding. Stella stuns the gang when she then leaves Ted at the altar for Tony, with the warning about exes being just as much about her own unresolved feelings for Tony, as Ted's for Robin. Barney struggles with having real romantic feelings for Robin while still continuing to womanize, as his company shifts him to the management team of a new acquisition, Goliath National Bank (GNB).

Marshall and Lily move to their new apartment and debate over whether they're ready to have children. Robin becomes roommates with Ted and gets a job as an anchor for a 4AM news show after Barney updates and sends her resume around. Ted begins hooking up casually with Robin and Barney is distraught. Ted eventually catches onto Barney's feelings for Robin, and quickly ends things with her for his sake.

Ted is enlisted to design the new GNB headquarters but is fired after his plans for the new building are scrapped in favor of a futuristic European design. Ted starts his own company, Mosbius Designs.

Ted finds out Lily has sabotaged all of his previous relationships with anyone she can't picture Ted having a happy future with, and indirectly caused his breakup with Robin. Ted and Robin wonder if they would've stayed together if Lily hadn't planted seeds of doubt in their minds. They decide that they will get married if they're both still single by 40. As Barney sleeps with his 200th woman, he presents the list of women to a guy who bullied him in school for not getting girls. The guy is now a married father and is bewildered at Barney taking childhood taunts so seriously. Barney wonders what comes next after 200 women, and smiles at Robin from across the bar.

Ted, while carrying the yellow umbrella, runs into Stella and Tony. Tony later visits Ted, feeling guilty about taking Stella back. As an apology, Tony offers Ted a job as a professor of architecture, which Ted initially turns down.

In the season finale, Robin overhears Barney telling Ted he has feelings for her. Robin is reluctant to date him but also cannot deny her feelings for him. She decides to "Mosby" him by saying she loves him too early and initially scares Barney off until he catches on. The two cannot decide whether to officially get together or not so they kiss and agree to decide another time. Ted's next big architectural design is again rejected for the same European company that GNB chose. Ted decides he is done trying to be an architect and accepts Tony's job offer. The finale ends with Future Ted stating that the mother attended the first class he taught.

Cast[]

Main Cast

In order of character appearances

Recurring Cast

In order of character appearances

Episode List: 2008 - 2009[]

Image Title Writer(s) Director(s) Airdate #
Spying on Stella Do I Know You?
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
September 22, 2008
4x01
Ted and Stella get engaged, but Ted soon learns that he doesn't know anything about her. Meanwhile, Barney confesses to Lily that he's in love with Robin.
Best burger in ny The Best Burger in New York
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
September 29, 2008
4x02
When Marshall first moved to New York, he found a small burger place that made, "the best burger in New York". Now, to cheer up the jobless Marshall, the gang decide to track it down.
I heart nj - fighting I Heart NJ
Greg Malins
Pamela Fryman
October 6, 2008
4x03
Tired of having to constantly travel back and forth between New Jersey and New York to spend time with Stella and the gang, Ted convinces the gang to go to New Jersey. Meanwhile, Robin's career is in jeopardy.
Intervention Intervention
Stephen Lloyd
Michael Shea
October 13, 2008
4x04
Ted, Marshall and Lily all prepare to move out of their apartment, and Robin prepares to leave to Japan. In doing so, they reminisce about their past, including interventions that they held for one another.
Shelter island Shelter Island
Chris Harris
Pamela Fryman
October 20, 2008
4x05
The gang all attend Ted's wedding on Shelter Island, where Barney plans to get Robin drunk so he can have sex with her.
Happily ever after Happily Ever After
Jamie Rhonheimer
Pamela Fryman
November 3, 2008
4x06
After Ted's break up with Stella, the gang bump into her in a restaurant and, while hiding under a table waiting for her to leave, recount other people in their lives they're avoiding.
Not a fathers day Not a Father's Day
Robia Rashid
Pamela Fryman
November 10, 2008
4x07
While Barney celebrates not being a father, Marshall and Lily decide whether or not they want to become parents.
Robin woo Woooo!
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
November 17, 2008
4x08
Ted designs a building for Barney and Marshall's workplace, while Robin becomes friends with Lily's coworkers.
TheNakedMan4 The Naked Man
Joe Kelly
Pamela Fryman
November 24, 2008
4x09
Ted walks in on Robin's date, Mitch, attempting to perform a technique he's dubbed "The Naked Man", to pick up girls. When the gang find out that it worked on Robin, Lily, Barney and Ted all attempt it.
TheFight24 The Fight
Theresa Mulligan Rosenthal
Pamela Fryman
December 8, 2008
4x10
MacLaren's bartender Doug gets into a fight and draws Barney and Ted (but not Marshall) in. Robin thinks fighting is hot.
Little minnesota - the bar Little Minnesota
Chuck Tatham
Pamela Fryman
December 15, 2008
4x11
Ted's sister, Heather, is moving to New York and Ted tries to keep her away from Barney. Meanwhile, Marshall takes Robin to the bar he goes to when he’s feeling down, but she fits in a bit too well with the Minnesotan-theme.
Benefits - ted and robin in bed Benefits
Kourtney Kang
Pamela Fryman
January 12, 2009
4x12
Ted and Robin start having sex to avoid arguments, now that they live together (much to Barney's dismay). Meanwhile, Marshall feels judged for reading magazines at work.
Three days of snow Three Days of Snow
Matt Kuhn
Pamela Fryman
January 19, 2009
4x13
Three stories unfold during a snowstorm in NYC: Ted and Barney take over MacLaren's, Marshall and Robin talk about romantic rituals while picking up Lily from the airport while she races to buy Marshall a souvenir of her trip.
Possimpible The Possimpible
Jonathan Groff
Pamela Fryman
February 2, 2009
4x14
When Robin learns she has to find a job or risk being deported, Barney helps her make a video resume. Lily, Marshall and Ted all examine their own resumes.
The stinsons The Stinsons
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
March 2, 2009
4x15
The gang learn Barney has been living a secret life with a wife and son for his mother. Lily tells Marshall how she really feels about his mother.
Sorry bro - totally Sorry, Bro
Craig Gerard
Matthew Zinman
Pamela Fryman
March 9, 2009
4x16
Ted hooks up with his pretentious ex-girlfriend, Karen, whom Lily and Marshall despise. Marshall goes into work with no pants and Barney makes fun of him.
The front porch The Front Porch
Chris Harris
Rob Greenberg
March 16, 2009
4x17
Karen breaks up with Ted. He discovers that Lily was responsible and has been meddling with his relationships for years. The gang stays up late to watch Robin's morning show and Barney is seduced by Marshall's nightgown.
Old king clancy - young robin Old King Clancy
Jamie Rhonheimer
Pamela Fryman
March 23, 2009
4x18
Ted’s project to design a new building for Goliath National Bank gets scrapped but Barney and Marshall pretend it wasn’t to spare his feelings. Robin admits she once went home with a celebrity who made an unusual sex request.
Murtaugh3 Murtaugh
Joe Kelly
Pamela Fryman
March 30, 2009
4x19
Ted and Barney challenge each other to things they are too old and too young to do, respectively. Marshall helps Lily coach kindergarten basketball.
Mosbius designs Mosbius Designs
Kourtney Kang
Pamela Fryman
April 13, 2009
4x20
Ted tries to start his own architecture firm but Robin keeps sleeping with his new assistant—much to Barney's dismay. Marshall tries to ensure job security and Barney turns to him for advice after offending Lily.
Three days rule The Three Days Rule
Greg Malins
Pamela Fryman
April 27, 2009
4x21
Ted gets a girl's number but decides to text instead of waiting three days (as per the rule) to call her. Marshall and Barney decide to have some fun with Ted.
Right place right time Right Place, Right Time
Stephen Lloyd
Pamela Fryman
May 4, 2009
4x22
Ted recounts the series of events that led to him being in the right place at the right time for a life-changing encounter. Barney prepares for his 200th conquest and Marshall abuses the Graphics Department at GNB.
As fas as she can - barney really happy As Fast As She Can
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
May 11, 2009
4x23
Ted has an awkward run in with Stella and Tony, prompting Tony to apologize for "stealing" Stella by offering Ted a job. Meanwhile, Robin and Marshall recount times they talked their ways out of speeding tickets, after Barney fails to do so.
The leap The Leap
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
May 18, 2009
4x24
It's Ted's 31st birthday, but he's stuck inside designing a restaurant, despite Marshall's attempts to get him to leave. Barney finally confesses his feelings to Robin.


Notes and Trivia[]

  • This is the first season to contain 24 episodes. All subsequent seasons had 24 episodes as well.
  • Both Alyson Hannigan and Cobie Smulders were pregnant during the fourth season, so their characters are seen wearing loose clothing, and holding large objects to cover their stomachs. 
  • Alyson Hannigan's pregnancy was referenced throughout most of the season.
    • During the episode The Possimpible, Lily is shown competing in two hot dog eating contests (one in a flashback and one in the present) where she has a visibly enlarged stomach.
    • When Marshall attempts to jump across the roof to the neighboring apartment building in The Leap, Lily tries to stop him by claiming she's pregnant. She then feels insulted when Marshall says that he noticed that she's been gaining weight recently.
    • Lily's disappearance from the group after hearing Barney's dirty joke in Mosbius Designs was actually her maternity leave.  

External Links[]

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