How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)

Genre: TV / Comedy

Starring: Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan

Number of seasons: 9

In 2030, Ted Mosby sits down with his two teenage kids to tell them the story of how he met their mother. Yes, a show with such a thin premise lasts nine seasons. While this is a quite an exercise in stretching things out, the bigger feat here is that the makers of this sitcom managed to create a very entertaining show. Ted’s story is basically an excuse to tell his kids about his life as a young adult with his group of friends in Manhattan.

First off, How I Met Your Mother is well written. The dialogues are often funny, sometimes touching. Also, the characters are easy to get attached to; they are well defined, interesting, and easy to root for or against. And the written material is delivered brilliantly by a talented cast of actors. Some of them I knew before, others were discoveries for me, which is always fun. The highlight of the show for me, acting-wise, is Neil Patrick Harris, in the role of Barney Stinson. To see an openly gay actor play a womanizer so well is something to see. While his character is very flawed and easy to hate, Harris manages to make him loveable.

Over the course of nine seasons, it is a given that some episodes will miss the mark. That being said, many are absolutely legen…(wait for it)…dary. While I felt something weird was in the works with the ending, I was still put off a bit when it came. I feel like the makers of this show tried to get a little too cute and swervy with people. Nonetheless, all things considered, How I Met Your Mother is a very good sitcom that I highly recommend.

  

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