With Victoria in Germany, Ted faces the pitfalls of long-distance relationships. Marshall has a hard time fitting in at Barney's company.
This episode provides examples of:
- Accidental Innuendo: In-Universe. Marshall tells Lily he wants to give her the "whole package." He means he wants to give her all the best in life, but it devolves into the two of them discussing how big his package is. After Lily storms off, the girl sitting behind Marshall at the bar gives him a big, flirty smile.
- Animal Motif: It's in the title. Basically, Marshall discussed how gorillas have to conform to earn their group's respect and acceptance.
- Arc Words: "What do you do? (Ready?) Go!"
- Becoming the Mask: Marshall fakes being a jerk to fit in with his new jerk coworkers. But it starts to bleed into his personality and how he acts towards Lily.
- Call-Back: Blauman and Bilson's favorite activity is to give two options (usually something sexual) and ask what you would do. Always ending with "(Ready?) Go!" At the end of the episode Ted is waiting for Victoria's call and Robin calls and invites him over. Future!Ted's narration ends with "What do you do? Go.", and the episode ends without telling us what Ted decided.
- Cliffhanger: The episode ends with Robin delivering a Wham Line and Future!Ted giving a Call-Back to the episode's Arc Words.
- Expy: Dr. Aurelia Burnholdtz-Vasquez for Dr. Jane Goodall.
- Foreshadowing: As it happens, Future!Ted mentioning that the ending scene was happening at 2:00 AM becomes a lot more significant in the next episode.
- Four-Temperament Ensemble: The "AltruCel boys"; Barney is sanguine, Marshall is melancholic, Blauman is choleric and Bilson is phlegmatic.
- Irony: Bitterly lampshaded by Robin in her and Ted's conversation about his relationship with Victoria.Ted: It's funny that not so long ago, I was coming to Marshall and Lily for advice on how to impress you.Robin: That is funny.Ted: Now, it's ironic! The girl I used to like is helping me impress the girl I now like.Robin: The irony is clear, Ted.
- Jerkass: Both Blauman and Bilson are presented as meat-headed jerks in Marshall's first day at work, who often tease him for being lovey-dovey with his wife, made sexist jokes on regular basis and responded "Steak sauce" to anything.
- Karaoke Bonding Scene: Marshall and Lily make up by singing "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" at karaoke after Marshall falls in with a bad crowd at work.
- MegaCorp: The company Barney works for is implied to be involved in big oil, gun manufacturing, and cigarettes. But they would prefer people focus publicly on their division that makes tennis balls.
- Newspaper Dating: Ted tries to fake when he sent Victoria's care package this way.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: The naturalist who wrote the book and turned him on to eco-activism is clearly based on Jane Goodall.
- Running Gag: The first time someone asks Barney what he does for a living. "Heh. Please."
- Those Two Guys: Blauman and Bilson.
- Truth in Television: The stress of Ted and Victoria's Long-Distance Relationship is portrayed very realistically.
- Unrequited Love Switcheroo: Robin is clearly crawling out of her skin every time Ted starts talking about Victoria.
- Wham Line: Behold, how the episode ends:Future!Ted: It turns out some things are worth preserving. But here's the real question. It's 2:00 AM Your friends are still out singing karaoke, but you're home early, because you're expecting a call from your girlfriend in Germany who was supposed to call four hours ago. (Ted's phone rings) And then the phone rings. (Ted picks up the phone)Robin: Hello? Hi, Ted, it's Robin. Um, listen, I know it's late, but do you want to come over?Future!Ted: What do you do? Go.
- What, Exactly, Is His Job?: This episode started the long-running mystery that lasted for nine seasons surrounding Barney's job, with Marshall the first one to ask this.Barney: Please.
