Lily and Marshall spent the whole episode worrying about receiving bad news about their fertility checks. Everything turns out okay for the couple as they are both confirmed to be fertile and can continue attempting to have a baby. Marshall waits outside MacLaren's to tell Lily the good news but Marshall and the viewer are blind-sided by the episode title delivering on its threat instead. Lily tells Marshall that his dad has died of a heart attack. The closing scene is hands down one of televisions greatest and saddest death scenes despite it being for a non-regular character who dies off -creen. The performances from Segel and Hannigan are faultless, filled with the kind of raw emotion that makes it seem so real. Marshall's "I'm not ready for this" is heartbreaking for the double meaning of it, as the ever-optimist is shaken by his father's death and also gets his first doubts about fatherhood. Marshall does get to have a tender final time seeing his father with his parents telling him that they will love him no matter what the outcome of the fertility tests are and that there are other options to have children if needs be. The episode is also well known for its use of ordinary objects as a countdown to the bad news, ending with the expired parking meter after the news is told. There is also some good comedy running throughout the episode alongside the tragic drama, including finally discovering Barney's real doppelgänger and Barney meeting him himself while Robin has troubles when she discovers that the lead anchor at her new job is old colleague Sandy Rivers. Trivia Fact: In order to keep the ending a secret Segel and Hannigan were led to believe that the news would be that Lily is pregnant until just before shooting the scene. There was only one take shot. Agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments what your favourite episodes of How I Met Your Mother were.
