[s5e18] Say Cheese • Fresh & Safe

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.

The primary plot revolves around Lily’s birthday celebration. Tensions rise when Ted brings a date named Lori to the intimate dinner, a woman Lily suspects will just be another "random" girl who eventually disappears from their lives. [S5E18] Say Cheese

Lily reveals she has a photo album filled with group shots that are ruined by Ted's fleeting ex-girlfriends. She actively tries to keep Lori out of the "official" group photo to avoid having to use her "skank removal" Photoshop skills later. A fan-favorite running gag starts here, where Barney

Ted argues that these women are part of his journey and his family (the gang) should be more welcoming. He feels Lily is being overly exclusive. She actively tries to keep Lori out of