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Season5Cover

Season 5 of How I Met Your Mother aired from September 21, 2009 to May 24, 2010 on CBS and contained 24 episodes from Definitions to Doppelgangers.

Synopsis[]

Himym5

Ted begins work as an architecture professor. On his first day he accidentally teaches an economics class, where the mother is present (but unseen). Barney and Robin begin a secret, casual relationship that lasts through the summer. Lily insists they define the relationship, eventually locking them in Robin's bedroom until they admit they're boyfriend and girlfriend. Ted tries to teach Barney how to be a good boyfriend. The pressure to be a perfect couple leads Barney and Robin to fight regularly and eventually break up, deciding they work better as friends. Barney goes back to his womanizing ways, using the playbook to sleep around. Marshall uses his fourth slap on Barney. The gang are revealed to be frequent smokers, and all agree to quit for good. Ted goes on a date with a graduate student named Cindy (Rachel Bilson), who is revealed as the roommate of his future wife. Ted is humiliated when Stella's husband - the man she left Ted at the altar for - writes the screenplay for a smash hit film named The Wedding Bride, which is about Ted's relationship with Stella, portraying Ted as a sleazy villain. When his mother gets married for the second time, Ted spontaneously purchases his future family home in a fit of paranoia about how "far behind" he is in life.

Don Frank (Benjamin Koldyke) is Robin's new co-anchor on her morning news show, Come On, Get Up New York!. His slack attitude toward delivering the news no one watches initially aggravates Robin, but Don improves when he sees how important journalism is to her. They begin dating and Robin moves in with him, which sparks jealousy from Barney (and briefly, Ted). When the gang notices Barney's continued womanizing is deeply upsetting Robin, Barney apologises and arranges for her to have a "super" date with Don. Robin is later offered an anchor job with news channel WNKW, based in Chicago. Torn on whether to move or stay, Robin rejects the offer in the name of love, but is devastated when Don reveals he was offered the same job and took it. They break up and Robin moves back in with Ted. Robin and Ted almost kiss but stop just in time.

Marshall is ready to start a family but Lily is ambivalent. After several inconclusive discussions, they decide they will start trying when they find the fifth doppelganger - Barney's. They believe they've found his when they spot a cab driver who looks identical. However Marshall discovers it is actually the real Barney orchestrating a "play" to pick up women. Marshall initially does not tell Lily about the mistake, fearing she won't want to begin trying. But she eventually finds out and Marshall agrees they simply aren't ready yet. A few months later, Lily believes she has spotted Barney's doppelganger, however he looks nothing like Barney. Marshall tells the group to allow Lily to believe because it means she's ready to start trying.

Cast[]

Main Cast

In order of character appearances

Recurring Cast

In order of character appearances

Episode List: 2009 - 2010[]

Image Title Writer(s) Director(s) Airdate #
Himym-definitions Definitions
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
September 21, 2009
5x01
The gang uncover Barney and Robin's recent romance and Lily forces them to "define the relationship". Ted must decide what kind of professor he is going to be.
Double date Double Date
Matt Kuhn
Pamela Fryman
September 28, 2009
5x02
Ted has a blind date, and discovers its the same date he was on seven years ago. They retrace their steps from their first date to see where they went wrong. Meanwhile, Marshall and Barney go to a strip club and find a stripper who looks exactly like Lily.
Robin101 Robin 101
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
October 5, 2009
5x03
Robin thinks Barney is cheating on her, but instead he's been taking "Robin 101" classes from Ted. Meanwhile, Marshall tries to give away his barrel, but is upset that no one seems to want it.
Himym-sexless The Sexless Innkeeper
Kourtney Kang
Pamela Fryman
October 12, 2009
5x04
Barney tells Ted he's been used after a girl stays over but doesn't have sex with Ted. Barney and Robin suffer through an awkward "couple's night" with Marshall and Lily.
Himym-duel-citizenship Duel Citizenship
Chuck Tatham
Pamela Fryman
October 19, 2009
5x05
Robin faces deportation so Barney decides to help her become an American citizen. Ted and Marshall go a road trip to relive their college days but Marshall invites Lily along.
Bagpipes - barney and robin Bagpipes
Robia Rashid
Pamela Fryman
November 2, 2009
5x06
Lily and Marshall have relationship problems, while Ted tries to determine if Barney and Robin's relationship is really going as well as it appears.
Rough patch The Rough Patch
Chris Harris
Pamela Fryman
November 9, 2009
5x07
Robin and Barney's relationship is tearing them apart so Ted and Marshall get Lily to help break them up.
The playbook The Playbook
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
November 16, 2009
5x08
Barney dusts off his playbook filled with strategies on how to pick up women and Lily seeks to put a stop to it. Ted and Marshall insist Robin is about to fall in love.
Slapsgiving 2 - mickey slaps Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap
Jamie Rhonheimer
Pamela Fryman
November 23, 2009
5x09
Thanksgiving 2009: After being granted the 'fourth slap' from Marshall, Ted and Robin Argue over who deserves it most. Meanwhile, Lily struggles to forgive her distant father after he arrives unexpectedly.
5x10 The Window
Joe Kelly
Pamela Fryman
December 7, 2009
5x10
Ted finds out a girl he likes is finally single. The gang must keep her single long enough to seal the deal. Barney tries to pick up a girl wearing overalls and Marshall deals with a letter from himself.
Last cigarette - Marshalls system Last Cigarette Ever
Theresa Mulligan Rosenthal
Pamela Fryman
December 14, 2009
5x11
Marshall restarts smoking to relate with his boss. The rest of the gang join him and then try to stop. Robin has to deal with an unprofessional co-anchor, Don.
Girls v suits Girls Versus Suits
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
January 11, 2010
5x12
Barney must abandon suits to sleep with a hot bartender who hates men in suits. Ted gets closer than ever to meeting The Mother.
Jenkins Jenkins
Greg Malins
Neil Patrick Harris
January 18, 2010
5x13
Lily doesn't react the way Marshall would expect when she is introduced to a female coworker. Ted's students use Robin's morning show as a drinking game.
Perfect week Perfect Week
Craig Gerard
Matthew Zinman
Pamela Fryman
February 1, 2010
5x14
Barney tries to land the perfect week: seven women in seven days. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang are all having a terrible week.
Rabbit or duck Rabbit or Duck
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
February 8, 2010
5x15
Robin can’t decide if she likes Don. Barney gets a “magical” cell phone that doesn’t stop ringing. Ted asks Marshall and Lily to set him up for Valentine’s Day.
Hooked - tiffany indifferent Hooked
Kourtney Kang
Pamela Fryman
March 1, 2010
5x16
When a beautiful young woman "hooks" Ted (keeping Ted in reserve as backup while she pursues her own dream boyfriend), the gang discusses their own experiences both as the one who "hooks" and the one on the hook. Guest starring Carrie Underwood as "Tiffany".
Of course - bang bang Of Course
Matt Kuhn
Pamela Fryman
March 8, 2010
5x17
Barney tries to sleep with a woman who wrote a book on how to avoid men like Barney. The gang learns that Robin is still taking her break up with Barney hard. Robin deals with her newly realized feelings for Don.
Say cheese Say Cheese
Robia Rashid
Pamela Fryman
March 22, 2010
5x18
Marshall has planned an intimate party for Lily's 32nd birthday. But things get awkward when Ted shows up with a date. Meanwhile, Robin tries to get a bad picture of Barney.
Zoo or False Zoo or False
Stephen Lloyd
Pamela Fryman
April 12, 2010
5x19
Marshall comes up with a number of different outrageous and embarrassing stories to explain how he was mugged in Central Park, but which of his stories is the truth?
HomeWreckers Home Wreckers
Chris Harris
Pamela Fryman
April 19, 2010
5x20
Ted reacts to his mother's second marriage by buying a house. Barney makes fun of Robin for crying at the wedding.
Twin beds Twin Beds
Theresa Mulligan Rosenthal
Pamela Fryman
May 3, 2010
5x21
Don and Robin plan to move in together, prompting Ted and Barney to realize neither is over Robin yet. Marshall and Lily realize they enjoy sleeping in separate beds.
Robots v wrestlers Robots Versus Wrestlers
Jamie Rhonheimer
Rob Greenberg
May 10, 2010
5x22
While Barney, Lily and Marshall watch a Robots vs. Wrestlers event, Ted attends a sophisticated kind of party. Robin continues avoiding the group to build a better relationship with Don.
The wedding bride The Wedding Bride
Stephen Lloyd
Pamela Fryman
May 17, 2010
5x23
Tony's movie, The Wedding Bride, is released. It turns out to be based entirely around the wedding between Ted and Stella and Tony's involvement. However, in the movie, Ted is a villian and Tony is a hero. The gang all see the movie and reflect upon it.
Dopplegangers - barney street performer2 Doppelgangers
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
May 24, 2010
5x24
Marshall and Lily spot Barney's doppelganger, fulfilling the requirements they set to start trying to have a baby. Robin is offered a better job in Chicago, and is in a dilemma about what to do.


Notes and Trivia[]

  • This is the only season where Ted did not have a girlfriend that lasted for more than one episode.

External Links[]

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