The 2005 sitcom
How I Met Your Mother
ran for nine seasons and received a total of 91 prime time television awards nominations in its time. This fan favorite followed a friend group living in New York City, focusing on Ted Mosby and his long and complicated search for the love of his life. It was narrated by future Ted, explaining to his kids the long and twisted path of how he met their mother. With quippy writing paired with the entertaining performances of actors like Neil Patrick Harris, this show was compared to a modern day
Friends
, barring the fact that the gang meets up at a bar instead of a coffee shop.
The new Hulu spinoff of this beloved classic,
How I Met Your Father
, premiered on Jan. 18, promising new episodes each Tuesday. The premiere was met with anticipation and anxiety by fans, wondering if the new show could live up to the original. The new, female version of Ted Mosby, Sophie, is played by Hillary Duff.
Even with a famous star such as Duff in the cast, online reviews paint a slightly dismal picture, with approval ratings of the new show reaching about 67%, while the original averaged at about 93%. Although following the general premise of a young twenty-something in New York City trying to find love, the new show strays from the original in general set up and characters. Sophie lives with one roommate instead of two, while Ted lived with his fun engaged/married best friends for most of the series. Similarly, half of the group meets in the first episode, whereas everyone but Robin was already friends in the original show. Although differences in characters are to be expected, some of the most beloved dynamics are lost with the creation of these new characters, as well as the newness of their friendships.
I think the public ratings are a bit harsh, but I must agree that so far, this show has not lived up to its predecessor. Hillary Duff, although charming, lacks some of Ted’s whimsical aura. However, my main complaint is with the character of Charlie, played by John Ainslee. He is an eccentric British ex-millionaire who follows Sophie’s roommate back to America without a penny to his name. Although sometimes funny, his overall character relies on his inability to do common things due to his past life of luxury. Charlie’s horror with the subway, as well as the plotline of him selling a golden spoon necklace to pay for rent is a bit tiresome. The jokes about Charlie run dry quickly, and it is only the show’s third episode. Charlie’s humor is cheap, especially compared to the more well thought out characters and humor in the original show.
Despite its flaws, the reboot did not disappoint me as much as I thought it would. Chris Lowell as Jesse and Hillary Duff as Sophie have entertaining chemistry and on-screen presences. Most of the jokes still land, despite the occasional cheesiness that is expected when watching a sitcom. It was especially entertaining to find that the characters live in Ted’s old apartment, and have kept the infamous swords that were featured in the first show. But the question remains: is this show decent, or does it simply bring up the nostalgic emotions of the first show? I think that
How I Met Your Father
is a bit sloppier, and misses some of that charm of old friend dynamics that
How I Met Your Mother
captured so well. However, I think that sequels and reboots are often held to enormous standards, and despite its kinks, the former is still a feel-good and enjoyable show. Of course, we will have to wait until the end of the season to pass a conclusive verdict. Tune in to the next episodes, which will air Tuesdays on Hulu.
