Robin admits not inviting Don because some of the gang's important events are not ideal to bring new friends.
He wrote that the main premise needed to be explored further, that the B stories were underdeveloped, and that the episode left him dissatisfied.
[3] Vlada Gelman of the Los Angeles Times enjoyed seeing an episode where the whole group was together in the same room, nicely tied together with flashbacks and flashforwards.
Gelman suggests Lily just needs to learn to use the "skank removal tool" in Photoshop.
[4] Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger wrote: "I have to say, though, that the Marshall-with-his-eyes-closed running gag was funnier before the episode started calling attention to it".