A year after theFriendsfinale, a new show about a group of pals hit the small screen, and thoughHow I Met Your Motherwas often compared to its sitcom predecessor, the show’s best episodes prove it is completely different. First airing in 2005,How I Met Your Motheris a sitcom that centered onhopeless romantic Ted Mosbyand his group of friends in New York City. The main premise of the show, however, lies in its name. For nine seasons,Ted painstakingly tells the story of how he met his children’s mother.
At first glance, the similarities betweenFriendsandHow I Met Your Motherare obvious. Both shows follow a group of adults making their way in New York City. Each has their own distinct personality, and of course, their own issues. From dating to work, these “friends” appear on TV every week to make audiences laugh. Their familiar sets, from Monica’s apartment to MacLaren’s pub, evoke a sense of comfort. However,it would be unfair to callHIMYMaFriendsrip-off, especially after looking at the sitcom’s very best and highest-rated episodes.
How I Met Your Mother’s Best Episodes Show How Different It Was From Friends
How I Met Your Mother Found Its Own Quirky Identity
After looking atHow I Met Your Mother’shighest-rated episodes, it’s clear that the show distinguishes itself fromFriendsin a few key ways.How I Met Your Mother’shighest-rated episode is season 9, episode 16, “How Your Mother Met Me.“In this episode, audiences finally get to knowHIMYM’s"mother"whom the show hid for nine whole seasons. This is a major question that viewers wonder about for the duration of the show, and thoughFriendshas ongoing plots like the romance between Ross and Rachel,How I Met Your Motherhinges on the mystery of the mother.
In many ways,HIMYM’sbits allow audiences to feel like they have an inside joke with the show, which makes the watching experience that much more enjoyable.
Furthermore,How I Met Your Motherfinds its own voice through its bits and long-running gags.Many ofHIMYM’smost beloved episodes are those focusing on a very specific joke, including Robin’s secret identity as Robin Sparkles or Barney’s playbook. WhileFriendscertainly has memorable jokes,HIMYM’soffer a completely different ambiance.HIMYMis completely wacky, even bordering on strange, but the show believes in itself so much that it never feels corny. In many ways,HIMYM’sbits allow audiences to feel like they have an inside joke with the show, which makes the watching experience that much more enjoyable.
How I Met Your Mother Was Inspired By Friends But Still Found Its Own Identity
How HIMYM Diverged From Friends
Undoubtedly,How I Met Your Motheris inspired by the success ofFriends.The set-ups are too similar to separate the series completely. However, the wayHIMYMsets itself apart is admirable and important to note. Over the course of its nine seasons,HIMYMfinds a rhythm that is distinctly different fromFriends.Each character feels like their own individual, and every plotline builds on the world of the show. The result is two shows that may share similar qualities, but leave audiences feeling completely different. Suddenly, the commonalities are not so obvious.
Every “Friend” in Friends
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How I Met Your Motherdiverges fromFriendsin a lot of ways. For one thing,Friendsis very muchan ensemble show, whereasHIMYMcenters on Ted more than any other character. On top of that, the friend group archetypes are quite different. None of theFriendscharacters have a direct parallel toHIMYM’scharacters. They all stand on their own. Finally,HIMYMgets a bit deeper thanFriendsdoes. Though much of the show is silly bits and good times, there are episodes that take on serious problems that get to the core of being a human.
How I Met Your Mother’s Storylines Were Often Deeper Than Friends’
HIMYM’s Serious Storylines Made It Better
One huge difference betweenFriendsandHow I Met Your Motheris that the latter often includes storylines that are much deeper and more serious than the former. Notably,Friendsisn’t all fun and games, as each of the characters goes through missteps and losses. However,How I Met Your Motheroften takes this one step further. The show allows its characters to grow and change (Barney is a great example) and go through intense emotions such as grief.This adds an extra layer of reality toHIMYMthat, arguably,Friendsnever really had.
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In many ways,How I Met Your Mother’ssadder plotlines make the show that much better. It is one thing to be able to make audiences laugh, but to make them feel a whole range of emotions is much more impressive.Audiences can watchHIMYMand feel as if the characters on-screen are real peoplethat they can relate to. Their lives are just as flawed and dynamic as the viewers are. Thus,How I Met Your Motherdoes away with the corniness of TV sitcoms and brings a level of reality that makes it a satisfying watch.
How I Met Your Mother Successfully Broke Free Of Its Friends Replacement Label
How I Met Your Mother Isn’t Perfect
Ultimately,How I Met Your Motherhas definitely broken free of itsFriendscomparisons. It now stands on its own as a lovable and memorable sitcom from the early 2000s. Though it shares commonalities withFriends,the two shows are completely separate in the minds of audiences. In some ways, this is for better and for worse.Friendsremains one of the most iconic sitcoms of all times, whereasHow I Met Your Mothercould be considered an underrated gem. Furthermore,How I Met Your Motherdefinitely has its own flaws, just likeFriendsdoes.
These days,How I Met Your Mothercan be remembered for a number of things, good or bad. Audiences may remember the hilarious gags and lovable characters. On the other hand, they may remember the controversialHow I Met Your Motherfinale, which left many viewers incredibly disappointed. Either way, the show remains its own entity, apart fromFriends,and that is a good thing.How I Met Your Motherdeserves to be remembered for its individuality and its success.
How I Met Your Mother
Cast
How I Met Your Mother is a television series that follows a father telling his children about his past. Released in 2005, it explores his experiences and adventures with four close friends, leading up to meeting their mother, as depicted through a series of flashbacks.
