In most sitcoms, early episodes involve twenty-somethings who haven't yet figured their lives out - and How I Met Your Mother subverts that, with the entire series being narrated from the perspective of the old, settled, adult main character talking to his kids. Of course, fans still get the usual roller-coaster of romances and career choices from the gang, but one thing is known from the start: Ted Moseby meets the love of his life and has children.
But what else do those twenty-something characters want at the start of the show that comes true by the end? Whether it's romance, job goals, or something more, there are plenty that fans can piece together in season one, and see come true for our beloved McClarens gang.
Robin: To Be A Famous News Anchor
From the start, Robin wants to be a journalist - and she goes through a lot to get there. From stints on morning shows so early that the only people watching are drunk students still out partying, to a Japanese news show that doubles as a game show, to her short-lived stint as a 'coin flip bimbo', Robin has definitely put in her time in the trenches. But in the end, it's confirmed that she manages to travel the world as a famous reporter - and she definitely deserves it.
Lily: To Work In Art
Lily may not get exactly what she wanted, because she originally wanted to work as a painter, and become a famous artist. She even abandoned Marshall and her engagement in the first season because she needed to go to an art program in San Francisco. Well, she may not have become the next big name in art as an artist, but she did manage to a) run a lucrative side-business selling her paintings to vet offices, because dogs love them, and b) create a new career as an art buyer for The Captain.
Marshall: To Marry Lily
In the first season, Marshall proposed to Lily, and of course, she accepted... until that aforementioned abandonment. For a while, it seemed that this really would be the end for Marshmallow and Lilypad, but thankfully, the two made up after a time apart. In the end, they are married and have kids, and are happier than ever.
Barney: To Work With His Bros
Barney doesn't seem to want much, in the first season - he already has an obscene amount of money, good looks, charm, friends, a job he seems to appreciate, and lots of meaningless sex. However, there are a couple of things that he mentions as goals, and one thing is to work with his friends, as fans see when he tries to get Marshall a job with him.
Later on, he is actually able to work with Ted and Marshall at the same time; Marshall as a corporate lawyer, and Ted as the architect designing the new company headquarters.
Ted: To Have His Own Architecture Firm
This is a bittersweet entry, as Ted's dream of being an architect, changing the Manhattan skyline, and having his own company do come true... and then fall by the wayside. Ted does manage to go from being an employee to running the show, but in the end, he decides that it's not right for him. Instead, he becomes a university professor, and ends up much happier than he was when he was living what he thought was his dream.
Marshall: To Be An Environmental Lawyer
Marshall had a different dream, and in the early days of the show, he was still in law school. He was determined to change the world and be an environmental lawyer, but he started out taking a corporate job, even though he felt guilty about it. However, he did eventually manage to quit his soul-crushing, highly paid job and start working for the kinds of causes that mattered to him.
Barney: To Sleep With Robin
In other shows, this would be a 'goal' too small to mention, but when it comes to Barney and How I Met Your Mother, it's actually a pretty important one. At the start of the series, Barney just wants another meaningless fling with Robin because she's gorgeous, but by the end, they actually fall in love and get married.
It may not last forever, but not only did Barney get what he thought he wanted, he got what he needed - a real relationship, emotional maturity, and the ability to commit.
Lily: To Have Kids
Lily may not be one hundred percent sure of everything she wants in season one, but she does want kids - even as a Kindergarten teacher who has to deal with a classroom full of kids every day! And by the end, she has several children (although not all of them play a big part in the show, like her first child does). In fact, almost everyone on the show ends up a parent, even Barney (who assumed he would never want kids). Of the five main friends, only Robin doesn't end up with children.
Marshall: To Become A Judge
Marshall's final big goal was to become a Supreme Court Judge, and in the final flash-forwards, it is shown that he achieves this goal. It's amazing to see him go from law student to the highest court, but it's also not surprising. Marshall spends most of the show working harder on his career goals than anyone (even Robin), and fans can't help but applaud his final success.
Ted: To Meet 'The One'
And of course, the most obvious season one dream of anyone on the series is Ted's desire to meet the one and settle down. Of course, everyone knows that he achieves this from the very start, because it's baked right into the title! It's still worth considering though, especially because he goes through so much to get there - and because, although she's not the mother of his children, Ted starts the show wanting to end up with Robin, and (much as some fans hated it), that's where he ends up.