How I Met Your Mother: The Best Episode From Every Season

5. Season 5: The Playbook

Season 5 of How I Met Your Mother introduces viewers to a character they never thought they'd see: Barney the boyfriend. For the first seven episodes of the season, Barney dates Robin. While their relationship is something special, the best episode of the season comes just after the two break up.

In The Playbook, post relationship Barney reveals the titular book he's written, filled with plays to pick up women. Lily is so offended by this that she declares war on Barney, stealing the book from him. However, this turns out to be a part of Barney's play, The Scuba Diver, which he uses to pick up a woman named Claire at MacLaren's.

The Playbook stands out due to its humour, introduction of The Playbook, and reintroduction of single Barney. After a significant amount of time in a relationship, viewers get to see Barney hilariously revert to the womanizer we all know and for some reason love. Because of its great comedy, The Playbook defeats other standout Season 5 episodes, such as Last Cigarette Ever, Girls vs. Suits, Perfect Week, Say Cheese, and The Wedding Bride, claiming first prize for the season.