The How I Met Your Mother Blog

How I Met Your Mother Season 4 debuts in just a couple weeks. Based on the buzz surrounding the show at the close of last year brought on by high profile guest stars like Britney Spears and Sarah Chalke, I think that HIMYM is sitting on the bubble, and not the one where it might get cancelled, like it usually is. I think it’s set to pop this year in a big way. Season 4 will be the break-out season where HIMYM goes from underground critical darling to mainstream success. I already hear the change in the air—so many people have told me they’re getting into the show and catching up on the first seasons. That’s great news.

I know that some people, however, won’t have time or just don’t want to watch three seasons of a show. Being that How I Met Your Mother is considerably more serialized than your average sitcom, I thought it’d be nice to offer some background for those just joining the ranks of How I Met Your Mother fans.

Legendary reader Kevin helped me out with this project. What follows are his brief summaries of seasons 1-3. Think of this as a cheat-sheet, a read-along, or a “previously on How I Met Your Mother”. There’s even a handy truncated playlist of episodes for those of us who want just the gist.

I now turn it over to Kevin.

Craig Thomas and Carter Bays had a vision that the sitcom could be something more if you just added a little heart, and they brought that vision to life in the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother.

Season One

The story of How I Met Your Mother is the life of Ted Mosby, and it is told through the eyes of an older Ted. In the pilot episode, Ted and his friend Barney are out at their favorite hangout, McLaren’s Pub, when Barney uses his signature line, “Have you met Ted?” to introduce Ted to Robin. Meanwhile, Ted’s best friend, Marshall, is proposing to his long-time girlfriend, Lily. (Lily Aldrin + Marshall Ericksen = LAME, their affectionate couple name used by fans) Ted spends most of the season trying to win over Robin. However, when Robin begins to have feelings, Ted starts dating Victoria, whom he met at a friend’s wedding. Ted begins to think Victoria could be the one, but things become difficult when Victoria decides to take a fellowship in Germany. Things become further complicated when Ted learns that Robin likes him, and his old feelings begin to arise. Unfortunately, Ted manages to screw things up with both girls in one night, and he finds himself single once again. He spends the rest of the season trying to make things up to Robin, and the magic finally happens in the final episode of the season. However, just as Ted and Robin’s romance is beginning, Marshall and Lily’s relationship is hanging on by a thread. A huge fight ends with Lily running off to San Francisco, and leaving her ring in New York.

Season Two

Just as the overarching theme of season one was Ted winning over Robin, season two becomes the story of Ted with Robin. Marshall was left devastated by Lily leaving him, but he his finally able to dust himself off and start dating again. Lily eventually returns to New York, realizing what a huge mistake she has made, only to find that Marshall doesn’t want to get back together. Lily goes to such lengths as to interrupt one of Marshall’s dates. Eventually, Marshall realizes how much he has missed Lily, and it results in a big kiss out on the steps in front of their apartment. Things become serious between Robin and Ted when they decide to move in together, but things don’t work out as planned. The season culminates in Marshall and Lily’s wedding, which is a joyous and emotional occasion. Nevertheless, the mood changes when it is revealed that Ted and Robin have broken up.

Season Three

The overarching theme to season three was single Ted. In the pilot episode Ted says, “I’m done being single. I’m not good at it.” and he kind of proved it throughout this season. Ted had a sort of glass-shattering moment after the St. Patrick’s Day episode, “No Tomorrow,” when he realizes what kind of roads the single life is leading him down. After falling in love with his dermatologist, Stella, played by Sarah Chalke (Elliot from Scrubs), he finally convinces her to go out with him by pulling off a two-minute lunch date. This was such a great moment because that was the Ted we had grown to love; the guy who over does everything and has a soft spot for romance. In the season finale, Ted closes the episode by proposing to Stella.

How I Met Your Mother, Condensed

Want to catch up? Seasons 1 and 2 DVDs are available now (check the sidebar), and the season 3 DVD is set to be released on October 7th. Would you like to recap the show, but don’t have a lot of time? I have put together 13 episodes (approximately 4 hrs. 46 min.) that hit all the most important parts of the ongoing story. You may miss some of the fun parts in between, but you will be more than ready for the premiere of season 4 Monday, September 22nd at 8:30/7:30c on CBS.

Season 1
1. Pilot
13. Drumroll, Please
18. Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M.
22. Come On!

Season 2
1. Where were we?
7. Swarley
18. Moving Day
21. Something Borrowed
22. Something Blue

Season 3
1. Wait for it
12. No Tomorrow
13. Ten Sessions
20. Miracles

Thanks Kevin! If you liked this, check out Kevin’s very own blog where he talks about things like the How I Met Mother DVD as well as other shows you may like.

UPDATE: Reader Picelli reminds us to check out the two-minute version that was released last year as a primer for season’s one and two:

Talk about a Get Psyched Mix. If that doesn’t leave you smiling and begging for more How I Met Your Mother then I don’t think there’s hope for you. Thanks Picelli!

Send this page to any friends you know just getting into the show. Or the ones who are still refusing to get on board. It will get them caught up and let them see that this gem they just discovered has been shining for a lot of us all along.

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