How I Met Your Mother: Review

Never before has hitting on girls, weird names or one catch phrase ever become so popular over such a short period of time. In the September of 2005 How I met your mother more commonly known as HIMYM was first screened at American homes, little would it be known that the popularity it would gain would lead to its comparison to a slightly famous show you may heard of called FRIENDS.

For all those that have wither been living under a rock or never owned a television set HIMYM is a show centered on Ted Mosby. He basically traces back through his twenties and shares the different encounters with his children that ultimately led to the day he met their mother. The other people that are along for this ride are his best friend Marshall his wife Lilly, Ted’s ex girlfriend Robin and what many see as the greatest character to television in over a decade Barney Stinson. Often referred to as the driving force behind the Barney is a self acclaimed playboy that seems to have his life goals boiled down to two things. The establishment of the fact that he is ‘awesome’ and the conquering and mounting of all girls, women and cougars he lays his eyes on. His comedic timing is impeccable and has come up with multiple laws like ‘The Lemon Law’ and the famous ‘Bro Code’. So impactful is the aura of this character that people have been heard to write to Neil Patrick Harris telling them how much in love they are with him and how they wouldn’t think twice before climbing in bed with him , which is ironic because in real life unlike his reel life character Neil Patrick Harris is gay. The show has completed 5 successful seasons and began shooting for the 6th at the beginning of this year.

The show has received multiple Emmy nominations with Neil Patrick Harris being nominated for best supporting actor for three consecutive years, he is yet to win. Research however shows that the reception to the show is higher in countries other than American; its popularity in Canada somehow surprises me (anyone who has watched the show will know why it comes as such a surprise).Yet again an Indian finds its way on to a popular sitcom; I would have mentioned it earlier had he not been cast as a driver. Over its 5 seasons the show has seen guest appearances by stars like Rachel Bilson , Kim Kardashian, Wayne Brady and of course Britney Spears who was nominated for her role on the show. For all it’s worth the show has received considerable criticism with many calling the script poor and while others point fingers at the poor establishment of its female characters. One of the biggest criticisms is that the show is being carried by Neil Patrick Harris and once he decides to drop this so called ‘load’ the show will fall in to an ultimate derailment.

The show itself in many ways resembles FRIENDS. The fact that they spend every other moment at Ted’s apartment or the bar below doesn’t help the argument that they are actuality diverse. On a whole the show is a good package of gags, set ups and even a musical number. Somewhere down the line you manage to feel a connect with the characters, whether it’s Ted who dreams of finding a woman to settle down with or Barney who looks for anything but that type of woman. FRIENDS will always be an epic so in comparison it may not match up but then again nothing ever might. In my personal opinion HIMYM has the ability to form an emotional connect that will keep you tuning in. Here’s hoping Neil Patrick Harris never drops his ‘load’