55 hours before Barney and Robin’s wedding, the group was finding their way to the Farmhampton inn for a weekend that would be, “life changing,” as Ted put it. The two-episode opener kicks off with the stories of their journeys. Ted and Lily driving, Marshall at an airport returning from Minnesota with Marvin and Barney and Robin driven by Ranjit.
As simple as each journey seemed, complications soon arose. Ted put on his driving gloves and shared his plans of “Lil and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” which included a stop at the house of Florian Von Otterloo and other monuments. Less than impressed by his antics, (Ted also refused to drive above 50) Lily insisted he drop her off at a train station. Later we learned Ted’s intention was always to push Lily to take the train so that he could give Robin the locket she had been looking for at the end of season 8.
It turns out, Ted had taken a trip to Los Angeles to retrieve the locket from Stella’s storage unit. When Lily realized this was Ted’s plan she tried to intercept the gift he was giving Robin at the Inn, but it turned out to be a photo of the gang.
Lily’s train ride turned out to be a positive in the end considering she was the first of the gang to meet The Mother.
The nights most anticipated moment was everything it has been built up to be. The Mother and Lily shared perfect chemistry. They laughed and joked, shared similar language references, (sumbitch cookies) Lily even tried to bite her and eventually they shared a hug. Overall, it was a fun and satisfying moment to watch.
Marshall spent the entire two episodes trying to get transportation to the inn. His first attempt was in his seat on an airplane where he gets into an altercation with the passenger seated next to him named, Daphne. That interruption got them taken off the plane and left in an airport with no flights to New York till the following week. At the end of the hour, Marshall and Daphne come to a charming agreement to share a car and drive to New York together.
Finally, we get to Barney and Robin who are being driven by Ranjit. The two are flipping through mental photographs of family members trying to figure out which member of the family will be the “wildcard” that ruins their wedding. Eventually, the couple finds they share a Canadian cousin. This of course sends them into panic believing they are related, but it eventually turns out they are not blood related. They decide no one can ruin their wedding no matter what family attends (later we see future Ted indicating he will be the wildcard). At the Inn, Robin gets a second scare when it is revealed that Barney’s brother; James and his husband are getting a divorce. This was the couple that made Barney believe in marriage so it is understandable why she would panic. Thankfully, Barney took the news better than expected, but rushes to take down the anniversary decorations he had left in their hotel room.
Everyone with the exception of Marshall is now at the inn waiting the following days of the wedding weekend. We are left wondering how ted will be the Wildcard at the wedding and with a flash forward scene of Ted one year later with the future mother of his children at that very same inn.