Critics from The A.V. Club gave it a B+ , while IGN rated it 7.8/10 .
“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 [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. Critics from The A
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 But yeah, Ted's an idiot in this episode
After Marshall kicks Lori out for a cake mishap—she brings a cake with the wrong age and name—Lily realizes through an old photo that she was once the "random" girl in Marshall's life who might not have worked out, leading her to soften her stance. Key Subplots and Gags
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.