The episode received generally positive reviews, often praised for its use of flashbacks and for having the entire main cast in one room for the majority of the runtime.
is the 18th episode of the fifth season of How I Met Your Mother . It is widely remembered for its central conflict regarding the group's photo tradition and the debut of one of the show's most popular running gags: Barney Stinson’s inability to take a bad photograph. Summary of the Conflict [S5E18] Say Cheese
“Love the episode, especially the side joke about Barney not being able to take a bad picture. But yeah, Ted's an idiot in this episode.” Reddit · r/HIMYM · 1 year ago Summary of the Conflict “Love the episode, especially
Fans on Reddit often debate this episode, with many siding with Lily. They argue that bringing a stranger to an intimate birthday dinner is a major social faux pas, regardless of Ted’s optimism about "the one". Perspective on the Episode Perspective on the Episode Watch this detailed reaction
Watch this detailed reaction and discussion to see why the photography gags and Ted's relationship choices make this a standout episode:
A fan-favorite running gag starts here, where Barney is physically unable to look bad in a photo. Every time a picture is taken, he strikes the exact same "cool" pose. Robin spends the episode trying to capture him in an awkward state (sneezing, eating, etc.), but fails until the very end of the episode's flash-forward.