The Fight (How I Met Your Mother)

"The Fight" is the 13th episode of the sixth season of the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on January 17, 2011. The episode centers around Marshall and Lily's attempts to appear more mature to their friends, Robin and Barney, now that they are expecting their first child.

The premise of the episode involves Marshall and Lily hosting a cocktail party to showcase their supposed newfound sophistication. Barney and Robin, however, remain unimpressed and openly mock their efforts, leading to a passive-aggressive escalating argument. The "fight" of the title refers to this series of increasingly cutting remarks and attempts to one-up each other in displays of maturity, rather than a physical altercation.

The episode explores themes of adulthood, maturity, and the shifting dynamics within friendships as people's lives change. It examines the societal pressures and expectations placed on couples as they enter parenthood. The humor derives from the contrast between Marshall and Lily's aspirations of being sophisticated and their underlying immaturity, as well as Barney and Robin's cynical perspective on the concept of "growing up." The B-plot of the episode typically involves Ted Mosby's romantic endeavors or observations, but is less central to the main conflict.