Spoilers after the jump. Nothing particularly earth-shaking, just plot spoilers and info on some recurring characters who should be showing up.
ALSO: Little Minnesota is now 4.11 and Benefits is now 4.12. (Not surprising, since LM is the Christmas ep and we’ve heard before that Benefits is airing in January.)
Lily’s been in Seattle for some reason, and she and Marshall are planning to let their longstanding tradition (in which he picks her up from the airport, and she brings him back a six-pack of beer) die, presumably because the Fiero died. As her arrival approaches, though, they both start to have doubts – Marshall worries she’ll bring beer and he won’t be there, Lily worries he’ll be there and she won’t have beer. This looks like it’ll be the episode’s A-plot – it will also include Robin and the return of Ranjit.
Meanwhile, Carl is also back, and for some reason he’s let Ted and Barney take control of the bar for the night.