How I Met Your Mother, now in its fifth season, offers new exciting twists as Robin and Barney officially hook up while Ted lands a new architectural job at a university and gets closer to meeting "the mother." We're already heading towards the middle of the season but there are still some pretty juicy spoilers lurking around the internet and you can learn more about it after the jump.

Take note, however, that these spoilers are not confirmed by the network and are just rumors or speculations at this point so read at your own risk.

Final warning: How I Met Your Mother season 5 spoilers ahead!!!

Episode 5.7 "The Rough Patch"
Airdate: November 9, 2009

After Barney and Robin hit a rough patch in their relationship, Lily devises the perfect plan to break them up, calling in help from Robin's famous friend, Alan Thicke. In this episode, we also see that Barney has packed on some pounds, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Episode 5.8 "The Playbook"
Airdate" November 16, 2009

Barney tries to get back into the dating scene after breaking up with Robin.

Episode 5.9 "Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap"
Airdate: November 23, 2009

Lily's estranged father, portrayed by comedian Chris Elliott, shows up for Thanksgiving and triggers some of Lily awful childhood memories.  At the same time, Barney freaks out when Marshall bequeaths a "slap bet" slap to Ted and Robin.

Episode 5.10 "The Window"
Airdate: December 7, 2009

JoAnna Garcia, known for her roles on Privileged and Gossip Girl, guest stars as yet another potential love interest for Ted, according to TV Guide. She'll play Ted's college buddy, Maggie, and is described as the perfect girl next door who every guy wants to marry. She's also the kind of girl that's always in a relationship, leaving Ted always waiting for his shot at her. So when Maggie finally breaks up with her long-time boyfriend, Ted rushes to free his romantic calendar but finds that there are already other guys competing for Maggie's attention.

Episode 5.11 "Last Cigarette Ever"
Airdate: TBA

Marshall starts smoking again, prompting Lily, Ted and Barney to succumb to the bad habit as well. At the same time, Robin gets a new co-anchor at her show.

General plot spoilers:

• According to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello, Robin's new co-worker, Don (Benjamin Koldyke), will be sticking around for a bit and it looks like he's going to serve as a serious love interest for Robin. "I don't want to oversell anything," Carter Bays said. "Yes, it's very soon after her and Barney [split up], but it's been a while since there's been a real, serious... We've had characters that Ted has dated many times, but we haven't brought in somebody for Robin. We're seeing where it goes. We're taking it gingerly." This probably means there will be no reconciliation for Barney and Robin in the near future.

•  As reported previously, the 100th episode of How I Met Your Mother will include a climactic musical number headlined by Neil Patrick Harris. But Carter Bays reveals that the whole cast will get a chance to sing as well, including the reluctant Alyson Hannigan. "She didn't want to sing," Carter said of Hannigan, who expressed similar reservations prior to shooting Buffy's musical episode. "But we gave her a little something. She's got a nice, lilting little voice."
  

Also check out other How I Met Your Mother articles:
Episode 5.8 Review: Barney's Playbook
Episode 5.7 Review: The Fat Guy and the Old Lady
Episode 5.5 Review Robin Gets the Best of Both Worlds
Episode 5.4 Review: Double Dates and Music Videosj
Episode 5.3 Review: Almost Everything You Need to Know About Robin Scherbatsky
Episode 5.2 Review: Stripper Lily, Jealous Robin and a Seven-Year Late Ted
Episode 5.1 Review: Barney Defies his Gremlin Rules



-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Spoiler TV, Spoilersfix.com
(Image courtesy of CBS)