Top 10 How I Met Your Mother Episodes

Script written by Nick Spake

Top 10 How I Met Your Mother Episodes

Challenge accepted! Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 episodes of “How I Met Your Mother.”

For this list, we’re taking a look at the funniest, most touching, and quotable episodes of this wonderful sitcom.

#10: “The Best Burger in New York”

New York has no shortage of world-class burgers, but Marshall manages to find the crème de la crème on one of his first trips through the city. Unfortunately, he forgets where the joint is located and now all other burgers taste inferior. Determined to see what the fuss is all about, the gang sets out on an epic quest across the city, with Regis Philbin even tagging along in one of the show’s funniest cameos. The journey is full of false leads, apparent dead ends and the story of how Marshall got a job with Goliath National Bank, but that only makes it more satisfying when Marshall is finally reunited with his beloved burger.

#9: “The Final Page”

While season eight of “How I Met Your Mother” is mostly dragged-out and uneventful, this hour-long episode is comprised of laughs, heart, and revelations. “The Final Page” sees Ted unveil his the GNB building, although he still can’t impress his old architecture professor. The episode’s real highlight, however, is Robin realizing her true feelings for Barney upon learning he’s proposing to her nemesis, Patrice. That proposal is merely a ruse so Barney can declare his love for Robin, though, amounting to one of the show’s most romantic moments and best twist endings.

#8: “Spoiler Alert”

As tight as a group of friends might be, every person has a quirk that gets on everyone’s nerves, whether it’s chewing loudly, overdosing on catchphrases, or constantly correcting others. You might not notice these habits at first. Once your eyes are opened, however, that person may be “spoiled” forever. Ted and his gang share such an unbreakable friendship that they ultimately overlook each other’s annoying idiosyncrasies in the wake of Marshall officially becoming a lawyer. The same sadly can’t be said about Ted’s latest girl, Cathy, and her deaf fiancé.

#7: “How Your Mother Met Me”

After eight years of buildup, the show finally introduced us the mother. Audiences instantly fell in love with Cristin Milioti’s lovable performance, but this episode fully fleshes her character out. The story follows the mother over the course of nine years as she deals with romance, death, and life. The episode incorporates numerous “How I MetYour Mother” callbacks that range from hilarious to moving as Ted and the mother almost cross paths frequently. If you didn’t believe these two were destined for each other already, the mother’s rendition of La Vie en Rose will convince you.

#6: “The Naked Man”

“How I Met Your Mother” offered us plenty of insightful romance advice over the years, although it’s yet to be confirmed if the Naked Man actually works two out of three times. If you’re looking for a doomed first date to turn into a one-night stand, though, the odds just might be in your favor. Just bear in mind that getting thrown out on the street nude is a possibility. Barney learns that the hard way in this episode’s hysterical conclusion, but he’s still unwilling to compromise his fashion principles, meaning he’d rather go streaking than wear a cheap suit.

#5: “Showdown”

In addition to the mother’s identity, the identity of Barney’s father proved to be one of the show’s greatest mysteries for several seasons. While the rest of the gang preps for Marshall and Lily’s impending nuptials, this episode plays up Barney’s daddy issues as he appears on “The Price Is Right” and prepares to meet his alleged biological father, Bob Barker. The setup of course makes leeway for inspired humor, but it also digs deeper into Barney as a character. Whether Bob Barker is truly his father or Barney is in severe denial, the episode makes you want to give him a big hug.

#4: “Pilot”

“How I Met Your Mother” is all about strong buildup and unexpected payoff. Its pitch perfect pilot takes us by surprise several times as Ted falls for a striking woman. It’s like a great romantic comedy condensed to thirty minutes. Then just when the audience thinks that they have the show figured out, the woman in question is revealed to be Aunt Robin. While the road to the mother would be a long, long story, this first episode hooked us in with its enjoyable characters, unique premise, and fun twists.

#3: “The Pineapple Incident”

This classic episode was the most-watched one of the series until the finale, and it finds Ted waking up after a night of drinking with an unknown woman in his bed, his ankle sprained, and, most peculiarly of all, a pineapple on his nightstand. The mysteries just keep piling on as Barney is discovered in the bathtub. The episode has one terrific payoff after another as Ted attempts to piece together the previous evening through the recollections of others. In the end, everything has an explanation – except for that delicious pineapple’s origins. If you really want to know, however, a deleted scene from season nine reveals all.

#2: “The Playbook”

Barney Stinson is one of the most uproarious sitcom characters ever. Part of what makes him so funny is that he’s so unpredictable and enigmatic, much like a magician. We rarely know when he’s being sincere and when he’s playing somebody. Barney keeps us on our toes more than ever in this episode where he introduces us to The Playbook, a book full of plans to get women into bed. While every play amounts to splendid comedy, The Scuba Diver just might be Barney’s best scam yet, with an outcome so brilliant and well constructed that we won’t spoil it here.

Before we suit up for our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- “Subway Wars”
- “Swarley”
- “Girls Versus Suits”
- “Murtaugh”
- “Ten Sessions”
- “How I Met Everyone Else”

#1: “Slap Bet”

The finest half-hour of “How I Met Your Mother” introduces several unforgettable storylines that would turn into running gags, such as the slap bet. The defining moment, though, has got to be the revelation that Robin Scherbatsky was once a Canadian teen pop sensation named Robin Sparkles. While Robin Sparkles would appear again in several other episodes like “P.S. I Love You,” nothing can top her initial hit of “Let’s Go To the Mall.” This is one of those episodes we can watch over and over again without ever tiring of it.

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