Eight years after the final wrap-up of the beloved sitcom How I Met Your Mother comes its spinoff starring Hilary Duff in the lead. Titled How I Met Your Father, the sitcom seems, mostly, like a gender switch from the original series with the main lead Sophie narrating the story of how she met the father to her son.
While the plot distinctly seems to have a similar setting and tone to the original, certain distinctive traits connect it to the previous without making it seem the same. Despite the controversial ending of How I Met Your Mother, the show was still popular, although it may not have aged that well. How I Met Your Father ropes in a similar framework yet has its own flair, and only time will tell if the story is just a mirror image of the original or not.
Reasons It Is Better Than HIMYM
Addressing Gender Roles Significantly
There are many similarities between Ted and Sophie, and while it may seem like a minor change that the titular role is a heterosexual woman, it addresses the significant alteration in the variety of the characters that Sophie ends dating. A common factor seen in Ted's life was the characteristics of most of the women he dates.
Over the series progression, Ted had significantly lasting relations with certain women, while the rest he dated seemed like replicas of each other. Similarly, the women portrayed with Barney's plotline seemed shallow and superficial. However, unlike the original, How I Met Your Father emphasizes making the narrative a women's perspective while having Sophie's potential partners not plainly skin deep. Comparatively, the characters had deeper personalities that are quite refreshing to see in comparison to the original.
Diversity In Characters
Over the years, many would say that HIMYM has not aged well. Certain issues that did not seem problematic might seem a bit controversial in the present situations. For a storyline to last long and be relatable to a vast population, it is necessary to have diversity in the characters.
How I Met Your Father executes this idea perfectly in comparison. From characters like Ellen, an openly lesbian woman, to having characters of different ethnicities like Sid, the sitcom frees itself from the commonly seen relationship tropes. A few weeks in and How I Met Your Father has introduced many queer characters into the plot, which is definitely a success for fans all across.
The Change Of Narrator
In How I Met Your Mother, the story voiced by Bob Saget, the 'older' Ted Mosby narrates the entire story to his two kids shown sitting on the couch and listening to it. While the entire narration was stretched for nine long seasons, How I Met Your Father makes a massive change with this framework.
The narration of the show's plot is by older Sophie, portrayed by Kim Cattrall, while the identity of her son is kept hidden. Up to a certain extent, this significant change seems a better fit for the plotline considering the child's identity might have given away the father's identity.
Relatability To Current Generation
A lot has changed since the premiere of How I Met Your Mother back in 2005. The world of dating and romance has changed tremendously. The entirety of both the shows has a similar base, with both shows focusing on the bizarre group of friends and the main lead's questionable romance life.
However, to adapt to the current generation and dating trends, How I Met Your Father goes all out in being relatable to the present audiences. How I Met Your Mother did show the evolution in various dating scenarios, yet the reliability to the current generation is missing in the original.
Avoiding The Controversial Ending
The beloved sitcom ended on a controversial note back in 2014. The introduction of the 'Mother' in the last season only to have her killed off by the end did not sit well among many fans. The entire storyline was to bring Ted and Robin together in the end, and Ted narrating the story to his kids was to ask for their permission.
With How I Met Your Father still in the series beginning, fans hope the story does not get ahead of itself like the original. However, the story's pilot did seem to hint that the father is someone known, unlike the previous, as the son's identity seems hidden for a purpose. Despite How I Met Your Father starting with a strong plotline, only as the series progresses can it honestly be compared with the original.
Reasons It Is Not Better Than HIMYM
Continuous Running Gags
Over its long course of nine seasons, HIMYM has plenty of "inside" jokes that follow throughout the series as iconic scenes and catchphrases. From Barney's 'challenge accepted,' to the episode with the pineapple, to the 'bro-code,' these continuous iconic moments keep the audience hooked; even years later, these gag reels still are hilarious.
For HIMYF to gain similar popularity, it is necessary that the show comes up with its own collection of iconic and funny moments and not just repeat similar ideas. Since the drop of the first few episodes, fans are expectant for the show to move ahead with similar iconic catchphrases and comedic reels for some of the funniest main characters.
The Close-Knit Group Of Friends
The essence of HIMYM is in the relation between the dysfunctional group of friends. The show begins with an already close group of friends welcoming a new member into their pack. With Robin being the last one to join the group, the relationship among the characters seemed all-natural onscreen until the very end, despite the problems they faced through the series.
However, on HIMYF, the relationship between the characters seems forced and tense. While Sophie and Valentina, as well as Jesse and Sid, are roommates, the others are introduced to them as the episode progresses. As the show is still at the beginning of its story, the relationships among the characters do not seem to be placid. Hopefully, the group's chemistry grows over the series' course.
Hidden Hints Of The Mother
How I Met Your Mother ended on a controversial note, leaving the fans upset about the 'mother' not having much screen time. However, the show did leave small hidden clues about the impending future of the mother's identity. The yellow umbrella, the St.Patrick's Day coincidental meeting, and Ted's accidental meeting with the roommate are all hidden in plain sight. These small Easter eggs were one of the best moments that the show gave to the fans.
HIMYF has a lot to work on, considering the series is a standalone sequel of the original. HIMYF may be off to a strong start, but for it to have a steady pace, the show would have to drop some clues as to what the fans should expect.
Character Development
The best part of HIMYM was the character growth. While many would argue that the plot fails as the seasons proceed individually, each character does have development in the best arcs in the show.
Barney's finishing arc shows him as a father, Marshall finally becomes a judge, and while she has not found much luck in love, Robin reaches new heights in her career. Every character had some flaws, to begin with, but over the seasons' course, the characters become more mature and understanding while there is depth added to each individual. HIMYF characters have a lot to dwell on as the series progresses. The characters are yet to show any deep personal arcs or massive development in their personality. While the season might have just started, HIMYF definitely has a lot to work on.
Original And A Unique Concept
How I Met Your Mother had a unique story-telling concept for a sitcom. Having one of the titular characters narrate the story to his future kids was a concept not introduced before. From the funny breaks to Ted forgetting the character's name, there is a sense of relatability to the character's persona.
With How I Met Your Father, on the other hand, the sitcom is a spinoff, so the expectant originality is missing as it follows exceedingly close to the original with scattering changes in the format. Despite the show's theme being a unique idea, the narration seems slightly repetitive, especially after the original's premise.