Episode 403: I Heart NJ

This episode is listed as #404 - looking at the continuity, though, it looks like it might be airing third, before Intervention.

On to the spoilers.

Expect the Barney’s Blog entry from this episode to be about The Cheerleader Effect, in which men look at a group of women and believe them to be hotter than they actually are. [The highly scientific explanation: Men focus on each women's best attributes and combine them, giving the impression of a super-hot woman.]

In employment news, Robin seems to have had it with Metro News One and is looking elsewhere. Marshall might [MIGHT, let me stress this for the people who will immediately start freaking out, I don't have a lot of context for this so assume I'm getting it wrong before you assume the writers have lost it] be going corporate again by working at Barney’s company - presumably, it’s in a VERY temporary capacity, given that we’re talking about the place that perfected the Chain/Circle/Pyramid of Screaming. He could just be acting as Barney’s lawyer for some reason.

Ted and Stella, meanwhile, are having the “do you move here or do I move there?” debate. Ted’s okay with moving until he starts to fear turning into someone who’s FROM New Jersey, and Stella turns her basement into “McJersey’s” to prove that life in New Jersey wouldn’t be so different. [Which: Good strategy, given that if Ted's not at work, at home, or with Stella, he's at MacLaren's.]

Continuity-wise: It makes the most sense for this to air third. The current third episode, Intervention, is the one where everyone’s moving - Robin’s job hunt explains the move to Tokyo, Ted’s decision-making process makes a good buildup to moving in with Stella, and whatever Marshall’s doing at Barney’s company, it would make sense if it were quick money to take care of some bills he and Lily needed to pay before they could move in to the Dowisetrepla apartment.