15 Best How I Met Your Mother Episodes

Running between 2005 and 2014 for nine epic and winding seasons, How I Met Your Mother captured the hearts of audiences worldwide thanks to its great characters, inventive narrative approach and moving, relatable storylines.

Like all long shows, it began to lose steam in its final moments, and the finale is still regarded as one of the worst ever put to the screen. But as Ted says: "Even if you know how something's going to end, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the ride."

And what a ride it is. Funny, clever, heartbreaking and bursting with some well-place twists and turns, it's a sitcom that has more heart than many other shows in the genre. The emotional journeys of Ted, Barney, Lily, Marshall and Robin are exquisite, heartfelt and endearing, and the themes of friendship, love, fate, and hope are always front and centre and handled brilliantly.

Sure, it has its issues (few shows don't), but even with its ill-advised tendencies it's still a masterful achievement of TV and storytelling.

Whether breaking your heart, causing you to bend double with laughter, or both at once, here are the fifteen greatest episodes of How I Met Your Mother.

"We should buy a bar!"

Three Days of Snow showcases just how good How I Met Your Mother can be when it comes to telling a good story in a unique and fun way. On the one hand, you've got Ted (Josh Radnor) and Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) taking over the bar; and on the other you've got Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) trying to get to each other in a snow storm.

HIMYM has always been about Ted, and how he was before he met his wife, but the show would often deviate from this and focus more on this friends. Whilst watching Ted and Barney realise their dream of owning a bar is somewhat flawed is great fun, this episode belongs to Marshall and Lily, who try to convince themselves their relationship has "matured" passed their previous relationship traditions.

It's a funny, sweet look at one of TV's most lovable and sappy couples, as they decide to keep up with their cute little routines, told in a non-linear and twisting narrative that keeps you guessing right till the end.