The third season of How I Met Your Mother introduced Stella, one of Ted's most important romantic relationships, and saw him deal with the aftermath of his breakup with Robin. But perhaps even better than that, fans got to witness what would become a blossoming liaison between Robin and Barney, one that would become increasingly more important, even after it ended the first time around.

Related: How I Met Your Mother: 5 Of Barney's Girlfriends We'd Love To Date (& 5 We Wouldn't)

Overall, season 3 of the show did a great job of uping the stakes for the main characters and introduced a lot of growth for Ted, Robin, Barney, Marshall, and Lily. Hilarious as ever, and perhaps even more than before,  How I Met Your Mother didn't lose its edge with the premiere of a third installment. Let's take a look back at some of the best moments that made up season 3.

No Tomorrow (8.2)

It's St. Patrick's Day and the gang sees itself divided into two factions. Barney and Ted take the night for a spin and go partying, and Ted finds out that reverse karma might actually be a thing.

On the other side of things, Lily, Marshall, and Robin get together at the couple's new house to play board games. When Robin figures out her friends' new house has a huge flaw, Marshall is conflicted about whether or not to tell Lily.

Sandcastles In The Sand (8.3)

After the introduction of Robin Sparkles on the second season of the show, How I Met Your Mother rewarded fans with yet another single from the once-famous pop star, "Sandcastles In The Sand".

This happens after Robin starts dating her teenage crush again, and the group notices how weird she acts around him. The highest point of the episode though comes when Robin and Barney end up sleeping together, thus paving the way for what will be one of the best relationships on the show.

Wait For It (8.3)

"Wait For It" marked the first episode of season three to a Ted that was still trying to deal with the aftermath of his breakup with Robin. But once Robin comes back from her trip with a new boyfriend, he decides it's time to start dating again.

He goes for a girl that's completely outside of his type and ends up with his very own "tramp stamp" - a butterfly tattoo on his back. Meanwhile, Robin and Gael's relationship seems to be on a good track.

The Platinum Rule (8.5)

Once Ted meets Stella, the doctor who will be removing his tattoo, he is instantly attracted to her and is quick to share with his friends his plan to date Stella. The group, however, doesn't agree, and they all give him examples as to why that's a bad idea.

Related: How I Met Your Mother: 5 Reasons Why Robin Should've Ended Up With Barney (& 5 Why Ted Was The Right Choice)

Barney recalls the time when he slept with Wendy, a waitress at their favorite bar, and Marshall and Lilly tell him about their experience with a neighboring couple that didn't end well. Can these stories change Ted's mind? Well, of course not!

Miracles (8.7)

Fast-forward to the end of the season, and Ted's relationship with Stella is in full swing. However, he ends up breaking up with her after Stella invites him for a wedding that won't happen for another six months.

After almost dying in an accident, Ted realizes he wants Stella back, but he didn't realize they had broken up in the first place, so chaos ensues. In the meantime, Barney gets into a horrible accident when he runs to the hospital to see Ted, and their friendship is finally mended.

The Bracket (8.7)

In a hilarious change of pace, Barney realizes that one of his former lovers is ruining his life. Every time he attempts to hit on a woman, a mysterious lady appears and dissuades her from falling for Barney and sleeping with him.

In order to find out who's out to get him, he gathers the gang and throws an NCAA Basketball tournament-style bracket. Everyone participates and the flashbacks are priceless!

Ten Sessions (8.8)

Britney Spears was only one of many guest-stars that were featured on the show, but arguably one of the best. She played the part of Abby, Stella's receptionist, who's very interested in Ted. But Ted, on the other hand, is a lot more interested in her boss. What could this dynamic bring other than hilarious moments?

Slapsgiving (9.0)

On an incredible Thanksgiving episode, Marshall takes it upon himself to taunt Barney with the slap bet, one of the best recurring jokes on the show. But when it starts threatening the success of the holiday, Lily puts her foot down.

Related: How I Met Your Mother: 10 Ways Robin Got Worse & Worse

On another note, Robin and Ted sleep together, bringing back conflicting feelings, and being left without knowing what to do. Oh, and there's also Bob!

How I Met Everyone Else (9.0)

Everyone gets together to meet Ted's new girlfriend, event though older Ted doesn't really remember her name. Because they met on the Internet, Barney explains his "crazy/hot" theory, because...it's Barney.

This story though prompts everyone in the group to recall how they met each other. The best part is that all of the stories seem to be incredibly inconsistent. Who's right after all?

Spoiler Alert (9.1)

"Spoiler Alert" introduces yet another one of Ted's conquests, Cathy. Even though he really likes her, it's clear from the gang's reaction that they don't because she talks way too much. Due to his attraction, Ted has been completely blind to this flaw.

This leads to everyone pointing out each other's horrible flaws, leading to some really funny moments, particularly where Lily and her loud chewing are concerned.

Next: Friends Vs How I Met Your Mother: 5 Ways Ted & Marshall Are The Better Best Friends (& 5 Ways It Is Chandler & Joey)