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The Best Episodes Written By Carter Bays

Every TV Episode Written by Carter Bays Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    undefined Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.6/10(60 votes)

    S1:E1

    After a slew of let-down Tinder dates, Sophie meets the seemingly perfect guy. Meanwhile, her roommate, Valentina, returns home from London Fashion Week with a sexy souvenir. An Uber-related phone mishap leads them to an eclectic new group of friends.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  2. undefined Season 6 Episode 10 - Blitzgiving
    8.4/10(39 votes)

    S6:E10

    When Ted leaves the bar early to prepare a Thanksgiving feast for his friends, the gang winds up partying all night with The Blitz, an old friend from college who has bad luck. As a result Ted is forced to spend Thanksgiving with Zoey.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  3. undefined Season 8 Episode 12 - The Final Page (2)
    8.3/10(44 votes)

    S8:E12

    Christmas approaches and Ted wrestles with whether to tell Robin about Barney's intentions involving Patrice, while Marshall and Lily get an early Yule gift, a night away from Marvin, but a case of separation anxiety strikes and threatens to ruin the evening.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  4. undefined Season 1 Episode 10 - The Pineapple Incident
    8.3/10(55 votes)

    S1:E10

    After being forced into knocking back 5 shots so he will stop thinking, Ted goes on a partying rampage. The next morning, he wakes up with a woman -- and a pineapple. The gang tries to piece together the night and figure out who the woman is in his bed.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  5. undefined Season 5 Episode 8 - The Playbook
    8.2/10(42 votes)

    S5:E8

    After his relationship with Robin ends, Barney dusts off his "playbook" to help him back into the dating scene

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  6. undefined Season 4 Episode 1 - Do I Know You?
    8.2/10(39 votes)

    S4:E1

    Ted and Stella get engaged, but Ted soon learns that he doesn't know anything about her. Meanwhile, Barney confesses to Lily that he's in love with Robin.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  7. undefined Season 1 Episode 22 - Come On
    8.1/10(52 votes)

    S1:E22

    Ted tries to keep Robin from going on a camping trip so that she can spend time with him. Barney enlists the help of an old flame to perform a rain dance. At the same time Marshall finds out about Lily's interview for the fellowship in San Francisco.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  8. undefined Season 9 Episode 16 - How Your Mother Met Me
    8.1/10(56 votes)

    S9:E16

    The mother reveals how she met Ted and what she has been doing over the past eight years.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  9. undefined Season 2 Episode 22 - Something Blue
    8.1/10(40 votes)

    S2:E22

    It's still Marshall and Lily's big wedding day but now we're at the reception. Robin tries to tell a story but keeps getting interrupted. Barney tries his hardest to figure out Ted and Robin's secret.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  10. undefined Season 4 Episode 24 - The Leap
    8.0/10(38 votes)

    S4:E24

    Ted is trying to keep his architecture firm afloat by doing an all-nighter, but Marshall tries to lure him to the roof for a surprise 31st birthday party, on the fourth season finale.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  11. undefined Season 4 Episode 2 - The Best Burger in New York
    8.0/10(36 votes)

    S4:E2

    Marshall claims that he had the best hamburger in the world during his first week in New York City, but he forgot where the burger joint is located. The gang then hits the streets of Manhattan to help him find it.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  12. undefined Season 5 Episode 12 - Girls vs. Suits
    8.0/10(39 votes)

    S5:E12

    When Barney debates giving up wearing suits in order to land a hot bartender, his conflicted feelings lead to an amazingly awesome musical number. Meanwhile, Ted gets one step closer to meeting the future mother of his kids.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  13. undefined Season 3 Episode 20 - Miracles
    7.9/10(39 votes)

    S3:E20

    Ted is in a car accident that prompts Marshall to talk about miracles. Everyone flashbacks to prior moments in their lives.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  14. undefined Season 1 Episode 18 - Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M.
    7.9/10(50 votes)

    S1:E18

    Robin, who is very lonely, asks Ted to come over to her apartment after 2 A.M., but he isn't sure if he wants to go as he has a phone call on the way over with his friends, and with Victoria on his mind

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  15. undefined Season 4 Episode 15 - The Stinsons
    7.9/10(38 votes)

    S4:E15

    The gang thinks that Barney must have a secret girlfriend after noticing his bizarre behavior.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  16. undefined Season 5 Episode 24 - Doppelgangers
    7.9/10(38 votes)

    S5:E24

    Marshall and Lily make a secret pact to start trying to have a baby if they ever finally see Barney's doppelganger. Meanwhile, Robin finally gets an offer for her dream job.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  17. undefined Season 6 Episode 14 - Last Words
    7.9/10(37 votes)

    S6:E14

    While on a trip to Minnesota, Ted and Barney try anything to make Marshall laugh. Marshall runs into an old nemesis from high school.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  18. undefined Season 3 Episode 13 - Ten Sessions
    7.9/10(42 votes)

    S3:E13

    Ted pursues a woman named Stella, but only gets attention from her receptionist Abby.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  19. undefined Season 1 Episode 21 - Milk
    7.9/10(50 votes)

    S1:E21

    When a matchmaking company calls Ted claiming they have found his soul mate, he is forced to postpone his date when Lily asks for his help.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  20. undefined Season 9 Episode 22 - The End of the Aisle
    7.9/10(42 votes)

    S9:E22

    With only a half an hour left before the wedding, Robin and Barney panic; Lily and Marshall rewrite their wedding vows.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  21. undefined Season 5 Episode 1 - Definitions
    7.8/10(39 votes)

    S5:E1

    After sharing a kiss at the beginning of the summer, Robin and Barney are unsure how to handle their mutual attraction. After some consideration they tell the gang they have decided to remain just friends, but secretly continue seeing each other. They are able to get away with their secret romance for a couple months, but are discovered when Ted, Marshall and Lily walk in on them together. They explain to the gang that they are happy with their casual relationship, and didn't want to complicate it by defining it. This is unacceptable to Lily, who pressures them to label their situation, and ultimately locks them in Robin's room to force them to address it. Meanwhile, Ted is anxious about his first days as a professor at Columbia, which is made worse when he shows up at the wrong class and starts his lecture.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  22. undefined Season 6 Episode 24 - Challenge Accepted
    7.8/10(38 votes)

    S6:E24

    Robin and Barney bond when they intervene in Ted's relationship, and Marshall and Lily watch a ticking clock as he fears that he soon will be the victim of food poisoning.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  23. undefined Season 6 Episode 8 - Natural History
    7.8/10(36 votes)

    S6:E8

    When the gang goes to a black tie event at the Natural History Museum, Ted gets introduced to Zoey's husband, The Captain.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  24. undefined Season 3 Episode 11 - The Platinum Rule
    7.8/10(43 votes)

    S3:E11

    Ted's upcoming date with his doctor leads the gang to give him their own examples of why dating someone you already see regularly is a bad idea.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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  25. undefined Season 4 Episode 8 - Woooo!
    7.8/10(36 votes)

    S4:E8

    A birthday party for one of Lily's co-workers leads to Robin connecting with a group of single partiers known as the "Woo Girls". Ted presents a plan for Goliath National Bank's new HQ.

    Director:N/A
    Writer:Carter Bays

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Carter Bays Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode written by Carter Bays. It scored 8.6/10 based on 60 votes. It was directed by N/A. It aired on 1/18/2022 and is rated 0.2 points higher than their second-best episode, "Blitzgiving".