‘How I Met Your Mother’: Flashback romances

(Published Aug. 10, PDI-Entertainment. This is a tweaked and expanded version of an entry that I wrote and posted here some months back.)

By Oliver M. Pulumbarit

Contributor

“How I Met Your Mother” isn’t “Friends,” but the dynamic is a little similar: a number of disparate pals get into romantic or career milestones (or mishaps), and themes of the week often get explored well in each episode. It’s not a retooled “Friends” for a younger generation, but a large part of it is about getting by with a little help from one’s friends.

Unlike characters from the long-gone sitcom, however, the gang in “How I Met…” is bored with coffee places. Characters like romantic Ted (Josh Radnor), lothario Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), longtime lovers Lily and Marshall (Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segel), and practical Robin (Cobie Smulders) regularly hang out in a bar.

Ted, Barney and Robin explore the dating scene, while Lily and Marshall experience the ups and downs of staying together.

Plenty of opportunities are creatively tapped, expounding on the five endearing characters. Flashbacks help define and redefine them; the show’s title refers to future Ted’s long, unending recollection of events leading to his momentous meeting with the mother of his kids. This older Ted’s narration (voiced by Bob Saget) is a device that helps hold together storytelling jumps, and often shares wisdom as the folly-filled stories unfold. And these tales are often touching, insightful, and yes, funny.

The writing continues to improve, and the main characters are people you’ll understand well and root for. Created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays, “How I Met Your Mother” inventively expounds on chosen topics. Memorably discussed are matters such as the “Bro Code” (Barney’s made-up rules for guy friends, prohibiting one from dating a friend’s ex), and “revertigo” (reversion to old behavior when around certain friends).

Guest stars are used wisely; there have been appearances by Britney Spears (as a ditzy secretary), James Van Der Beek (as a struggling musician), Enrique Iglesias (as a hippie masseur), Mandy Moore (as a tattooed bad girl), and Will Forte (as a Barney wannabe).

As for the titular “Mother” character, she has yet to make a real appearance; the shows’ creators are probably saving the big reveal for its final season. In the meantime, Ted and company’s connected tales are about the pursuit of happiness and contentment, and the lessons learned along the way.

“How I Met Your Mother” airs on Star World every Monday at 7 p.m. Season three recently concluded on ETC.