Loved your take on this! For my part, I thought that HIMYM’s use of magical realism was perfect for a show where 99.9% of it was one person’s storytelling of events that happened long ago. As an adult looking back to cherished memories of epic moments with your friends there’s an element of surrealism and the fog of nostalgia. HIMYM’s narrative amplifies this so that we, too, are caught up in the myth. We all have stories we have told and retold so much that it may no longer be strictly true, but holds so much more meaning because that’s how we choose to remember it. The show just expands on that natural phenomenon. Ted, recounting his favorite memories from decades ago, is an unreliable narrator. We’ll never know to what actually happened but in his retelling we can get to the heart of what each event meant to him and the friends, as well as how he sees everyone from the benefit of hindsight. The use of magical realism (for me) drives home the point that the meaning is more important than the reality of it. I couldn’t get through more than a few episodes of HIMYF so I can’t be an effective judge. But I stopped watching when I realized that four episodes in, I couldn’t remember a single character’s name. They didn’t match the original but also didn’t stand out enough to be their own thing. I know people say don’t compare it to the original, but that assumes that the flaws would disappear if we just stopped comparing. I think the writing is weak even if HIMYM had never existed.
you said it perfectly: himyf is a bland meh. as a die hard fan of himym, i didn't expect they'd capture the magic of the original, but i was hoping for a funny show with a familiar premise and setting. i watched it, but only cause hillary duff is so damn charming. anyway, please keep making video essays, i support
Great video and analysis. You described very well why HIMYM works through its ridiculous and fantastical traits. I sort of gave up on the show after the disappointing finale but now I wanna have a rewatch. Can't wait to see your channel grow.
Have been bingeing your essays and love your channel! I was not ever a super fan of HIMYM, but I am really sick of the reboots. One of my favorite shows ever, Fraiser was a spinoff of Cheers, but I really struggle to think of an actual reboot that has worked well for me. I refuse to watch the new Fraiser reboot because I don’t want my high opinion of the original eleven seasons tarnished. And I think this is what we are getting in large part because studios aren’t willing to put in the resources for an untested story that needs time to find its stride and its audience.
Freaking nailed it! I tried giving this show a chance and had to keep telling myself judge it on its merits but it’s just cringe and no heart like the original. There’s flashes of good but the feeing is that they are trying way to hard at everything
We already know that the father is one of only four men. We can root for Jesse, but seasoned HIMYM viewers know that writers like to throw curve-balls. The voice of the son sometimes sounds like it has a bit of flava to it, but I do not think that Ian is the father. My money's on the guy you'd least expect; Sid. EDIT: Friends = ensemble early GenX comedy largely written by Boomers with a few GenX underlings HIMYM = ensemble late GenX dramedy written by GenXers with Millennial underlings HIMYF = ensemble Millennial dramedy written by late GenXers and Millennials HIMYM is the most hermetic of the three shows, and the most superior.
I stopped watching after episode 4. I mean, just look at how Jesse was having problems with connecting with his sister, yet he had no problem in becoming a *close* friend of a complete stranger?!
HIMYF just isn't creative and outlandish enough. Where are the telepathic conversations? Where is the unreliable narration where Marshall and Lily jump out of the windows? HIMYF is too grounded. It needs the magical realism. It would allow it to lean into the cartoonish aspects of the HIMYM world and it has so much more potential for comedy in this universe. The rabbit vs duck argument (rabbit is good imo, team Marshall) would NEVER happen organically in HIMYF and that's a shame.
Glad you watched it. Love HIMYM. Tried HIMYF and it lost me by the 4th episode. The characters are boring to unlikable. The Aussie dude was way out of his gfs league. Bottom line is writing his Hollywood today is amateur. Everything feels like it was written by tweens.
Loved your take on this! For my part, I thought that HIMYM’s use of magical realism was perfect for a show where 99.9% of it was one person’s storytelling of events that happened long ago. As an adult looking back to cherished memories of epic moments with your friends there’s an element of surrealism and the fog of nostalgia. HIMYM’s narrative amplifies this so that we, too, are caught up in the myth. We all have stories we have told and retold so much that it may no longer be strictly true, but holds so much more meaning because that’s how we choose to remember it. The show just expands on that natural phenomenon. Ted, recounting his favorite memories from decades ago, is an unreliable narrator. We’ll never know to what actually happened but in his retelling we can get to the heart of what each event meant to him and the friends, as well as how he sees everyone from the benefit of hindsight. The use of magical realism (for me) drives home the point that the meaning is more important than the reality of it.
I couldn’t get through more than a few episodes of HIMYF so I can’t be an effective judge. But I stopped watching when I realized that four episodes in, I couldn’t remember a single character’s name. They didn’t match the original but also didn’t stand out enough to be their own thing. I know people say don’t compare it to the original, but that assumes that the flaws would disappear if we just stopped comparing. I think the writing is weak even if HIMYM had never existed.
perfectly expressesd
Your video is so well done, I was not expecting to find out that you only have 130 followers. It is so professional. You deserve more followers.
thank you!!
you said it perfectly: himyf is a bland meh. as a die hard fan of himym, i didn't expect they'd capture the magic of the original, but i was hoping for a funny show with a familiar premise and setting. i watched it, but only cause hillary duff is so damn charming. anyway, please keep making video essays, i support
Great video and analysis. You described very well why HIMYM works through its ridiculous and fantastical traits. I sort of gave up on the show after the disappointing finale but now I wanna have a rewatch. Can't wait to see your channel grow.
thank you !!
Amazing video!!! You should have way more views ur content is great
thank you !
Love this video! Could you do more on HIMYM? Big fan and love your remarks about it.
Your analysis is so sensitive and well-argued! ❤ excited to watch more from you
You are so talented, really cool analysis
Great video and analysis, would love more of these from you!
Have been bingeing your essays and love your channel! I was not ever a super fan of HIMYM, but I am really sick of the reboots. One of my favorite shows ever, Fraiser was a spinoff of Cheers, but I really struggle to think of an actual reboot that has worked well for me. I refuse to watch the new Fraiser reboot because I don’t want my high opinion of the original eleven seasons tarnished. And I think this is what we are getting in large part because studios aren’t willing to put in the resources for an untested story that needs time to find its stride and its audience.
Freaking nailed it! I tried giving this show a chance and had to keep telling myself judge it on its merits but it’s just cringe and no heart like the original. There’s flashes of good but the feeing is that they are trying way to hard at everything
Just beautiful- really timely now. We need more love!
Great content ! Hope you get huge
Subbing immediately so I can watch this account grow you’re brill
omg thank you!!
We already know that the father is one of only four men. We can root for Jesse, but seasoned HIMYM viewers know that writers like to throw curve-balls. The voice of the son sometimes sounds like it has a bit of flava to it, but I do not think that Ian is the father. My money's on the guy you'd least expect; Sid.
EDIT:
Friends = ensemble early GenX comedy largely written by Boomers with a few GenX underlings
HIMYM = ensemble late GenX dramedy written by GenXers with Millennial underlings
HIMYF = ensemble Millennial dramedy written by late GenXers and Millennials
HIMYM is the most hermetic of the three shows, and the most superior.
Very well thought out and written!
I stopped watching after episode 4. I mean, just look at how Jesse was having problems with connecting with his sister, yet he had no problem in becoming a *close* friend of a complete stranger?!
to be fair u can live with someone forever and just not like them
Ah, well. At least it's Diverse. 10/10 good job! Himym didn't need to be and there's Nothing wrong with that.
how i met your father is not a reboot at all by the way and its a very good show and i love it
Great video
HIMYF just isn't creative and outlandish enough. Where are the telepathic conversations? Where is the unreliable narration where Marshall and Lily jump out of the windows? HIMYF is too grounded. It needs the magical realism. It would allow it to lean into the cartoonish aspects of the HIMYM world and it has so much more potential for comedy in this universe.
The rabbit vs duck argument (rabbit is good imo, team Marshall) would NEVER happen organically in HIMYF and that's a shame.
I like show but it’s definitely passive tv
💯💯
Glad you watched it. Love HIMYM. Tried HIMYF and it lost me by the 4th episode. The characters are boring to unlikable. The Aussie dude was way out of his gfs league. Bottom line is writing his Hollywood today is amateur. Everything feels like it was written by tweens.