How I Met Your Mother: Were the Producers Underestimating the Audience?
A Controversial Look at How I Met Your Mother: Did the Writers Think We Were Stupid?
How I Met Your Mother. A beloved sitcom, right? The numbers don't lie. IMDb boasts an 8.3/10 rating with over 748,000 votes, while Rotten Tomatoes shows an 84% Average Tomatometer and an 85% Average Popcornmeter. Clearly, it's a fan favorite. But I'm here to offer a different perspective. I think this show, in many ways, is deeply flawed and treats its audience like they're… well, not very bright. I believe the producers played games with our minds, and the way they wrote the script and developed the characters is, frankly, unacceptable. Let me explain.
Spoiler Warning: This review discusses key plot points and the ending of How I Met Your Mother, so proceed with caution if you haven't finished the series.
Cheap Laughs: Relying on Sex Jokes
First off, let's talk about the comedy itself. This is a comedy series, supposedly designed to make us laugh. And yes, it is funny at times. But a significant portion of the humor relies on sexuality and sex jokes. How lazy is that? Is that the best the writers could come up with? It’s as if they believed there were no other sources of humor in the entire world. Sure, there were some genuinely funny episodes that weren’t solely focused on sex, but the majority of the jokes and the overarching plotlines were built on the cheapest comedic material imaginable. It's as if the producers and writers thought, "Let's throw in a bunch of sex jokes, and that's all they need to hear to laugh." It feels insulting.
The Mishandling of Robin Scherbatsky
My second major criticism focuses on the treatment of Robin Scherbatsky. Here's a beautiful, ambitious woman trying to forge a career in journalism. Yet, she's primarily defined by her sexual relationships. Let's recap: she dates and sleeps with Ted Mosby, they break up, she sleeps with other guys, then back to sex with Ted, another breakup, this time with his best friend Barney Stinson, another breakup, more dating, casual sex with Barney again, and who knows, maybe even more with Ted. There are even some questionable jokes hinting at something between her and Lily. It's a complete disservice to the character. The producers and writers essentially turned a strong, independent woman into someone who sleeps with almost everyone in her social circle. A woman striving for a career is reduced to a "slut" who sleeps with her friends. Where’s the humor in that? I certainly don't see it.
Ted Mosby: A Character Tortured for Our Entertainment
Now, we come to the most crucial point: Ted Mosby. He’s presented as a sweet, hopelessly romantic guy. He’s the kind of guy who might say "I love you" on a first date. He's a good friend, thoughtful, and genuinely kind. Yet, the producers and writers put him through an unbelievable amount of suffering.
He’s deeply in love with Robin, who repeatedly rejects him. But that wasn't enough torture for the writers. They then have Robin sleep with his best friend, Barney, and eventually get engaged to him. But wait, there’s more! During the wedding preparations, the writers decide to make Robin realize that Ted is actually the one for her, and she’s making a mistake. Because, of course, during the wedding days he will again show how much he loves her. But to add insult to injury, they make Ted the best man! He has to stand by and watch the woman he loves marry his best friend. The level of unnecessary drama is mind-boggling.
I've never seen writers create such an unimaginably cruel scenario. Realizing they'd taken Ted’s love away and left him miserable, they introduce Tracy, “The Mother,” a sweet girl and a good wife, and Ted finally finds happiness. But then, as if realizing they still hadn't messed with our emotions enough, they kill off Tracy! So, after all that, Ted can finally end up with Robin. And guess what? Barney and Robin's marriage lasts barely two years because, surprise, surprise, it was based on sex and fun, not real love. So, in the end, Robin ends up with Ted. It's a blatant attempt to manipulate the audience, to treat them like they're stupid, and to play with the characters in a way that is simply unacceptable. It feels like a slap in the face to anyone who invested time and emotion into the series.
See also: 31 Funniest Movies of All Time: Hilarious Comedies to Make You Laugh
