Subway Wars

{{Long plot|date=December 2015}}

Marshall learns that Woody Allen has been spotted at a restaurant downtown. Robin is interested in seeing him, so the gang debate on the fastest way to get to the restaurant, and quickly decide to race each other there: Ted rides the bus, Lily takes the subway, Robin opts to hail a cab, Marshall decides to run there on foot, and Barney fakes a heart attack to take an ambulance to a hospital right next to the restaurant. His plan backfires, however, when the ambulance takes him to a hospital uptown, and he is forced to contact Ranjit for a ride. Meanwhile, Lily misinterprets the subway conductor's announcement that the subway is undergoing maintenance, and soon after exiting the train, it departs. Marshall is at first enthusiastic and confident that he can outrun everyone, though he soon begins to lose energy while on foot.

Robin hails a cab, stealing it from a woman carrying bags who then angrily leaps on top of the windshield. Robin and the cab driver are freaked out, so Robin abandons the ride and rides along with Barney in Ranjit's car. During the ride, Robin angrily reveals to Barney that she had tried to talk to him about how low she was feeling recently due to her break-up with Don and feeling shunned and forgotten due to her overly-enthusiastic new co-anchor, yet Barney ignored her and tried to use her as a decoy while he eyed up a woman at the bar. Barney apologises to Robin, but she is not interested and leaves the car.

Robin takes the subway, where she sees a poster up for her news show, with her co-anchor's face taking up much more space then hers. Enraged, she rips it down, only to see an older poster behind it with one of her and Don and breaks down crying. Lily spots her and comforts her, though she quickly abandons her and calls Ranjit in favor of the race. Lily has Ranjit pick up Marshall on the way, and the two discuss their concerns: Lily had been feeling dejected after having been unable to conceive a baby with Marshall for two months, and Marshall was feeling the same, believing it to be his fault. They then agree there is really no rush to become parents, and promptly decide to head to Coney Island to have fun.

Ted, Barney, and Robin race for the finish; however, Barney trips, taking Ted down with him and allowing Robin to win the race. Future Ted reveals he knew that Barney had intentionally tripped as he had spotted Robin crying earlier.

"Subway Wars" was written by Chris Harris and directed by Pamela Fryman.{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2010 |title=How I Met Your Mother |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20100921cbs06/ |access-date=September 28, 2024 |website=The Futon Critic}} In an interview with Vulture series co-creator Craig Thomas revealed that he and Carter Bays were interested in shooting the episode on location in New York City, New York. However the episode, like the majority of the series, was shot on a sound stage in Los Angeles, California. Despite this the episode makes various references to the New York City setting.{{Cite web |last=Bahr |first=Lindsey |date=October 12, 2010 |title='How I Met Your Mother': Desperately Seeking Woody Allen |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2010/10/how-i-met-your-mother-desperately-seeking-woody-allen/64387/ |access-date=September 29, 2024 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Adalian |first=Josef |date=July 28, 2010 |title=How I Met Your Mother’s Co-Creator Reveals Plots for Next Season |url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/07/how_i_met_your_other_carter_ba.html |access-date=September 29, 2024 |website=Vulture |language=en |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325091927/https://www.vulture.com/2010/07/how_i_met_your_other_carter_ba.html |url-status=live }} In the same interview Thomas described the premise of the episode as being a mix of The Cannonball Run/The Amazing Race".

The episode features the song "Marshal vs The Machines". An alternate version of the song appeared in the ninth season.{{Cite web |last=Whitney |first=Alyse |date=March 10, 2014 |title=How I Met Your Mother's 10 Most Legendary Recurring Gags |url=https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/how-i-met-your-mother-best-recurring-gags-34313878 |access-date=September 28, 2024 |website=PopSugar |language=en |archive-date=March 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304230509/https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/how-i-met-your-mother-best-recurring-gags-34313878 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2014 |title=How I Met Your Music: Deluxe (Original Television Soundtrack) |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/7Cm29gAkZX5y5fnZattAA2 |access-date=September 27, 2024 |website=Spotify}} The song was later released on the compilation album How I Met Your Music (2012);{{Cite web |date=September 24, 2012 |title=How I Met Your Music (Original Songs from the Hit Series "How I Met Your Mother") |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/0DT7lvmA2v9e1FIVMPfVoy |access-date=September 27, 2024 |website=Spotify |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001452/https://open.spotify.com/album/0DT7lvmA2v9e1FIVMPfVoy |url-status=live }} the album was made available on streaming in 2019.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Charles |date=January 17, 2019 |title=Toutes les chansons de How I met your Mother sont désormais disponibles sur les plateformes de streaming |url=https://www.premiere.fr/Series/News-Series/Toutes-les-chansons-de-How-I-met-your-Mother-sont-desormais-disponibles-sur-les-plateformes-de-streaming |access-date=September 28, 2024 |website=Première |language=FR |archive-date=March 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230323041718/https://www.premiere.fr/Series/News-Series/Toutes-les-chansons-de-How-I-met-your-Mother-sont-desormais-disponibles-sur-les-plateformes-de-streaming |url-status=live }}

"Subway Wars" features series regulars Josh Radnor as Ted Mosby, Jason Segel as Marshall Eriksen, Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson, Alyson Hannigan as Lily Aldrin, and Cobie Smulders as Robin Scherbatsky. Marshall Manesh appears in a recurring role as Ranjit.{{cite web |author=Robert |first=Canning |date=October 12, 2010 |title=How I Met Your Mother: "Subway Wars" Review |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/112/1127307p1.html |accessdate=December 3, 2010 |work=IGN |publisher=News Corporation |archive-date=December 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214070402/http://tv.ign.com/articles/112/1127307p1.html |url-status=live }} The episode featured the running gag of Maury Povich appearing as himself in seemingly random locations.{{Cite web |last=Barshad |first=Amos |date=October 12, 2010 |title=How I Met Your Mother Recap: New York Is Killing Me - TV |url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/10/how_i_met_your_mother_recap_ne.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421000019/https://www.vulture.com/2010/10/how_i_met_your_mother_recap_ne.html |archive-date=April 21, 2024 |access-date=September 28, 2024 |website=Vulture |language=en}}

"Subway Wars" originally aired on October 11, 2010, on CBS.{{Cite web |last=Burns |first=Matt |date=October 12, 2010 |title=Tonight's How I Met Your Mother Was A Big Fat Microsoft Ad And I Loved It |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/10/11/tonights-how-i-met-your-mother-was-a-big-fat-microsoft-ad-and-i-loved-it/ |access-date=September 27, 2024 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US |archive-date=September 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906221850/https://techcrunch.com/2010/10/11/tonights-how-i-met-your-mother-was-a-big-fat-microsoft-ad-and-i-loved-it/ |url-status=live }} During its American broadcast the episode was viewed live by an estimated 8.48 million viewers;{{cite web |last=Gorman |first=Bill |date=October 12, 2010 |title=Monday Finals: Castle, Dancing Adjusted Down; How I Met Your Mother, Two And A Half Men, 90210 Adjusted Up |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/12/monday-finals-castle-dancing-adjusted-down-how-i-met-your-mother-two-and-a-half-men-90210-adjusted-up/67758 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014012609/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/12/monday-finals-castle-dancing-adjusted-down-how-i-met-your-mother-two-and-a-half-men-90210-adjusted-up/67758 |archive-date=October 14, 2010 |access-date=October 12, 2010 |work=TV by the Numbers }} the episode finished sixth of the night overall, just below House and above Two and a Half Men. "Subway Wars" was down 150 thousand viewers from the previous episode.{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=October 5, 2010 |title=Monday Finals: Castle, Lie to Me, 90210 Adjusted Down; House, How I Met Your Mother, Mike & Molly, Adjusted Up |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/05/monday-finals-castle-lie-to-me-90210-adjusted-down-how-i-met-your-mother-mike-molly-adjusted-up/66826 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007061153/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/05/monday-finals-castle-lie-to-me-90210-adjusted-down-how-i-met-your-mother-mike-molly-adjusted-up/66826 |archive-date=October 7, 2010 |access-date=October 5, 2010 |work=TV by the Numbers }} and had around 430 thousand more than the following episode.{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=October 19, 2010 |title=Monday Finals: Castle, Lie to Me Adjusted Down; How I Met Your Mother, DWTS, Two and a Half Men, Mike & Molly Adjusted Up |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/19/monday-finals-castle-adjusted-down-how-i-met-your-mother-dwts-two-and-a-half-men-mike-molly-adjusted-up/68822 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021064756/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/10/19/monday-finals-castle-adjusted-down-how-i-met-your-mother-dwts-two-and-a-half-men-mike-molly-adjusted-up/68822 |archive-date=October 21, 2010 |access-date=October 19, 2010 |work=TV by the Numbers }}

In Australia it was aired by Seven on February 10, 2011 to an audience of 874 thousand viewers and was the 11th highest viewed program of the night. It was released alongside "Unfinished" which it beat in ratings by around 160 thousand viewers.{{cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=February 13, 2011 |title=Seven wins first week of 2011 ratings year |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/02/seven-wins-first-week-of-2011-ratings-year.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216125727/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/02/seven-wins-first-week-of-2011-ratings-year.html |archive-date=February 16, 2011 |access-date=September 27, 2024 |publisher=TV Tonight}}{{cite web|publisher=TV Tonight|first=David|last=Knox|title=Week 7|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/02/week-7-4.html|date=February 7, 2011|access-date=February 11, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210211553/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/02/week-7-4.html|archive-date=February 10, 2011}}

"Subway Wars" was met with positive reviews from critics who praised the episode's premise,{{cite web |author=Robert |first=Canning |date=October 12, 2010 |title=How I Met Your Mother: "Subway Wars" Review |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/112/1127307p1.html |accessdate=December 3, 2010 |work=IGN |publisher=News Corporation |archive-date=December 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214070402/http://tv.ign.com/articles/112/1127307p1.html |url-status=live }} comedy, and overall plot. Povich's inclusion was met with mixed reception.

Donna Bowman of The A.V. Club gave the episode a B+ rating. Bowman praised the chaotic nature of the episode's plot. She additionally praised the episodes humor and the various running gags, though she criticized the degree of which Povich appeared.{{cite web |author=Donna |first=Bowman |date=October 11, 2010 |title=How I Met Your Mother "Subway Wars" |url=https://www.avclub.com/how-i-met-your-mother-subway-wars-1798166170 |access-date=September 26, 2024 |work=The A.V. Club |publisher=The Onion}}

Robert Canning of IGN gave the episode a rating of 9 out of 10.{{cite web |author=Robert |first=Canning |date=October 12, 2010 |title=How I Met Your Mother: "Subway Wars" Review |url=http://tv.ign.com/articles/112/1127307p1.html |accessdate=December 3, 2010 |work=IGN |publisher=News Corporation |archive-date=December 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214070402/http://tv.ign.com/articles/112/1127307p1.html |url-status=live }} DeAnn Welker of Television Without Pity gave the episode a B+ score.{{cite web |author=DeAnn |first=Welker |date=October 13, 2010 |title=How I Met Your Mother: Marshall Versus the Machines |url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/how_i_met_your_mother/subway_wars_1.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529040306/http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/how_i_met_your_mother/subway_wars_1.php |archive-date=May 29, 2011 |accessdate=December 3, 2010 |work=Television Without Pity |publisher=NBC Universal}}

For her work on the episode Pamela Fryman was nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards.{{cite web |title=2011 Primetime Emmy Nominations |url=http://www.emmys.com/sites/emmys.com/files/PressReleaseNoms2011emmys_7.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019171640/http://www.emmys.com/sites/emmys.com/files/PressReleaseNoms2011emmys_7.pdf |archive-date=October 19, 2011 |access-date=September 26, 2024 |publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences}} Though she lost to Michael Spiller for the for Modern Family episode "Halloween".{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2011 |title=Emmy Awards 2011 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/emmy-awards-2011/ |access-date=September 27, 2024 |website=CBS News |language=en-US |archive-date=December 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206024203/https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/emmy-awards-2011/ |url-status=live }}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb episode|1733369|Subway Wars}}

{{How I Met Your Mother episodes|6}}

Category:How I Met Your Mother season 6 episodes

Category:2010 American television episodes