Ep 2. The Scorpion and the Toad

Ted's life takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with Victoria, a charming baker at a wedding cake tasting he attends with Marshall and Lily. Despite hitting it off immediately, Ted's hesitance to jump into another serious relationship following his breakup with Robin causes him to hesitate when Victoria proposes they spend the night together.

Meanwhile, Barney tries to teach Marshall how to pick up women at the bar, using a story about a scorpion and a toad to illustrate his point about trusting one's instincts in matters of attraction. However, his advice backfires when Marshall takes it too literally and follows his own instincts to disastrous results.

As the night progresses, Ted finds himself increasingly drawn to Victoria, sparking a debate with his friends about the merits of jumping into a new relationship so soon after his last one ended. Ultimately, he decides to take a chance on Victoria and spends the night with her, only to wake up the next morning to an unexpected development that threatens to upend their connection.

With the clock ticking down on their relationship before Victoria leaves town for a new job, Ted must decide whether to keep pursuing a connection that could be fleeting or cut his losses before history repeats itself. Meanwhile, Barney realizes the error of his ways and tries to salvage his friendship with Marshall before it's too late.