Ep 4. Little Boys

In How I Met Your Mother season 3 episode 4, titled "Little Boys," the gang is reunited after summer break, and Marshall is in a dilemma. He’s trying to decide whether he wants to take a job with a corporate law firm or fulfill his dream of working for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

In typical HIMYM fashion, the episode opens with one of Ted’s long-winded stories about a time when he went to the urinal with a guy who he thought was hitting on him, only to find out he was just admiring his tie. Barney sees this as an opportunity to help Marshall make his decision by telling him a story about his experience with a forest ranger.

Meanwhile, Robin is having a hard time dealing with the fact that she’s no longer on air at Metro News One. She’s not used to not being in demand, so when a coworker invites her to a party, she decides to use it as an opportunity to network and find a new job.

Lily, on the other hand, is still adjusting to being a kindergarten teacher. She brought home some paperwork to grade, which has her questioning whether or not she’s cut out for the job.

As the night goes on, Marshall becomes increasingly uncertain about which job to take. He turns to Ted for advice, who tells him that he needs to make a pros and cons list. Marshall tries to do this but finds it too difficult and ends up tossing the list in the air.

Barney then suggests that Marshall should let fate decide for him. They proceed to take a dartboard with a corporate firm logo on one side and the NRDC logo on the other and throw darts to see which one Marshall will choose. To add some drama, they blindfold him first.

When the dart hits the NRDC side, Marshall feels relieved and decides to take the job. However, it’s not as simple as that, and he ends up changing his mind again after talking to his favorite law professor.

The episode concludes with Marshall deciding that he’s going to take the job with the corporate law firm but continue to volunteer with the NRDC. Robin, on the other hand, learns that the coworker who invited her to the party was only trying to hit on her, not offer her a job. But she ends up getting a new opportunity anyway when she meets someone who sees her potential.

Overall, "Little Boys" is a great episode of HIMYM, filled with hilarious moments and some touching scenes. It’s a great example of how the show can tackle serious issues, such as career choices, without losing its signature sense of humor.