Rebound Bro

Infobox Television episode
Title = Rebound Bro
Series = How I Met Your Mother
Season = 3
Episode = 18
Guests = Sarah Chalke (Stella), Will Forte (Randy)
Writer = Jamie Rhonheimer
Director = Pamela Fryman
Airdate = May 5, 2008
Production = 3ALH18
Episode list =List of How I Met Your Mother episodes
Prev = The Goat
Next = Everything Must Go

Rebound Bro is the 18th episode of the third season of the CBS television show How I Met Your Mother.

Plot Summary

Ted decides that it is time for his and Stella's relationship to take the next step. However Stella is strangely reluctant, and Stella (Sarah Chalke) tells Ted a secret: she has not had sex for five years. Ted shares this with Marshall and Lily, as he does everything, and when Stella comes over on the night that she was meant to go out with Ted and they reveal that they know her secret, Stella is upset that Ted betrayed her trust and breaks up with him on the night they were finally meant to "do it." She tells him that there is a reason not to sleep with every guy, and this is his. Even after Ted counters by saying that perhaps she is looking for the reason in every guy, Stella still leaves.

Meanwhile, Barney tries to find a "Rebound Bro" to whom he can be a wingman to help him get lucky. He misses Ted and unwilling to admit this, puts applications up on his blog. Receiving few responses except for an enthusiastic proposal from his colleague Randy (Will Forte), Barney resorts to calling up old friends and previous wingmen. After many unsuccessful attempts (one already has a wingman, one is married and has settled down, etc.) he decides to be the "Bro" to Randy and give him a chance. Unfortunately, he discovers that Randy hasn't had sex in thirteen years and Barney is repeatedly unsuccessful at getting him together with a woman, since Randy is uncomfortable with talking to women, and gets nosebleeds whenever he gets an erection. Barney is unsuccessful until he enlists Robin's help to make Randy comfortable with small-talk with women, telling Robin that he may have a sex tape with her to convince her to come and help Randy. Barney then discovers that Randy was a police officer and even though Randy was fired for his incompetence, Barney knows being in the 'force' impresses women and quickly finds a woman who takes Randy home with her. Barney seems happy until Robin comments that this must not bring the same pleasure that getting Ted lucky would have brought him. Barney then tearfully remarks "You had to mention Ted, didn't you?", leaving no doubt that Barney misses Ted's friendship.

Later Stella comes to Ted's house and admits that she broke up with Ted because she was afraid it was getting too serious and she was finding a reason not to get too close to him. Ted and Stella's relationship goes even further than expected as Ted meets Stella's daughter and gets to know her. Later, Stella tells Ted that her sister (who was previously meant to take care of Stella's daughter while Stella and Ted had sex) is still in town and can take care of Stella's daughter. Stella and Ted rush to a motel where they finally consummate their relationship, and when Ted jokingly picks up the phone to tell Marshall and Lily about it after the deed is done, Stella equally lightheartedly pushes him off the bed, indicating that she is alright with him telling Marshall and Lily the details about their relationship.

External links

* " [http://www.tv.com/how-i-met-your-mother/the-goat/episode/1197446/summary.html Rebound Bro] " at TV.com
* " [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1206869/ Rebound Bro] " at the Internet Movie Database