How I Met Your Mother is one of the most eccentric sitcoms of the 2010s and is a definitive staple of American sitcoms. The show balances romance, comedy, despair, joy, and more all with a unique spin. Following Ted Mosby and his perilous pursuit for ‘The One’ throughout New York City, it takes us on an eight-year journey alongside his four other close friends as they experience the whims within a young, unchained life.

HIMYM’s best trait is its ability to appeal to a variety of audiences and tell one story in a thousand different ways. Including facets of romcoms, sitcoms, dramas, and other genres, every episode leaves you guessing what could possibly be next.

To give an example, one of the most famous episodes in the show is Time Travelers. The episode primarily fixates on Ted Mosby and one of his best friends, Barney Stinson. Barney attempts to convince Ted to attend ‘Robots vs. Wrestlers,’ much to the displeasure of Ted. The two enter a series of interactions with their future selves, all explaining the consequences of attending the fighting event and how it completely changed the trajectory of their lives. The audience is led to believe that this episode is purely comedic with no despairful edge, given the content. However, Barney delivers a short monologue that explains that the entire thing is a figment of lonely Ted’s imagination and that he wasn’t even with Barney to begin with. Then, the man utters six words that are ingrained into the minds of any How I Met Your Mother Fan. “Look around Ted… you’re all alone.” He states bleakly, watching the color drain from the protagonist’s face. Every joke, every bit, and every comment was simply a facade masking one of the greatest and most upsetting realizations in sitcom history.

This type of unpredictability is consistent throughout the show. In Season Four, many live watchers were under the impression that Ted’s long-term girlfriend, Stella, would become his wife, thus ending the show. The two became engaged, and their marriage ceremony was slated to take place on Shutter Island. However, one problem arose. Robin, a former girlfriend of Ted, had become one of his closest friends. It was only right that she would attend his wedding in Ted’s mind, but Stella adamantly disagreed. She highlighted how bringing people you’ve been involved with to events with the purpose of moving on or starting a new chapter, like a wedding, simply brings up unresolved issues and tension. Ted attempts to gain the system by inviting Tony, the ex-husband of Stella, hoping that it may even the odds and ensure that things are not lopsided. This brutally fails, as Stella ditches Ted at the altar, leaving only a sloppy note that leaves Ted in shellshock in what was supposed to be the best day of his life. The audience witnesses him crumble as the foundation of his relationship shatters, a betrayal that could have never been predicted. This is How I Met Your Mother’s ace up their sleeve, and it’s done better than any show before or after it.

However, the tonal range of the show should not be doubted. How I Met Your Mother prides itself in its variety of running jokes, most famously its ‘slap bet,’ episodes. The show attempts to fully involve the audience in the lives of the protagonists, making us feel as if we really are members of the friend group who can recall annoying people, humorous situations, and other encounters that real friends would really laugh about. Most shows in the late 90s fell into the “Seinfeld trap” of trying to write about nothing, but the most quality shows shouldn’t stay stagnant. How I Met Your Mother hinges upon the viewer knowing the show, knowing the characters, and truly loving it. It doesn’t just hinge upon it, it rewards it too.

Unfortunately, the show does have one massive crux. The writing can be inconsistent at times, and it’s clear that the writers had predecided outcomes they wanted for the show’s finale that interfered with the actual plot they had developed. Ted and Robin were always going to be endgame, but trying to sandwich Barney and Robin’s marriage in between that didn’t feel valuable or as heartbreaking as it should’ve when they inevitably divorced. It made the viewers feel disappointed, like they’d been cheated out of the real ending just so Ted and Robin could get back together. It almost felt like we knew the characters well enough that when the writers purposefully sabotaged their relationship, it felt fake. Still, the show accomplished its goal, and makes The Mother (Tracy O’Connell) lovable in the short amount of time she’s shown. Her character is highly valued amongst fans, and truly was the One for Ted.

In closing, How I Met Your Mother is one of the best sitcoms and serves as a pillar for comedy. The show is known for its unpredictable twists and multifaceted writing, something that cannot be recreated, and is etched into the culture of American media forever.