How I Met Your Father: Every Season 1 Episode, Ranked According To IMDb

In January, Hulu debuted its new original series, How I Met Your Father. The show follows Sophie (Hilary Duff) as she embarks on a new chapter of her life; her 30s, and the challenges that come with dating in 2022.

While the first season was only 10 episodes, each one was filled with plotlines that pushed the story forward so that the audience could get as much information as possible about the characters and where they were headed. Not all episodes were winners, the pilot episode for example was deemed a bit of an uninteresting failure, but by the season finale critics and fans were hooked.

10 “Pilot” (Season 1, Episode 1) – 6.2

The pilot episode of HIMYF saw the main characters meeting one another for the first time, with the exception of Jesse and Ellen who were siblings, and Valentina and Sophie, longtime roommates.

Even though the series eventually found its rhythm, the pilot episode wasn’t exactly memorable. The plot consisted of Sophie proclaiming that she was on a journey to find love, only to fall hard for her Tinder date, Ian, who was headed to Australia. Meanwhile, Sid proposed to his long-time girlfriend Hannah, but she had to fly back to L.A. soon after. It built the foundation for episodes to come (including possibilities of who the titular father may be), but overall was a little too circumstantial.

9 “Rivka Rebel” (Season 1, Episode 7) – 6.4

HIMYF‘s seventh episode, AKA the one with the pigeons, was unremarkable to say the least. Sophie and Valentina attend a bat mitzvah for an influencer in the making, but it turns out to be harder than a typical photography gig.

The B-plot involves Jesse and Sid being distracted by the pigeons outside of their apartment, and they end up locked on the fire escape after trying to retaliate against them. Ellen and Charlie argue about a Yelp review in the C-plot, furthering their connection as roommates and friends. Overall, the episode set Sophie up for future photography opportunities but separated the group from one another in boring and forgettable environments.

8 “The Good Mom” (Season 1, Episode 5) – 6.6

Fans got an insight into how Sophie was raised by dedicating an entire episode to her mother mid-season. Lori, played by Paget Brewster, shows up in town to introduce her daughter to her new boyfriend, only for it to be revealed that she is cheating on him and sabotages most, if not all, of her relationships.

The episode gave good insight into why Sophie treats love the way she does, and how strong the bond between a mother and daughter can be, despite ups and downs and falling outs. Meanwhile, Charlie gets a job at the bar, and Ellen makes a romantic connection with one of her and Charlie’s neighbors, only to accuse her of pretending to be someone she’s not.

7 “FOMO” (Season 1, Episode 2) – 6.6

The second episode of HIMYF allowed the new group of friends to really get to know each other. When Valentina and Sophie recommend that everyone goes to a new club called “FOMO” to bond with Charlie, Jesse is confused by Sophie’s mixed signals as she flirts with him but texts with Ian.

“FOMO” broke up Valentina and Charlie for the first time, as she felt smothered by his constant presence. They ultimately agreed to stay together, but for him to find his own apartment, despite having no job or prospects. Seeing the gang become friends was fun and entertaining, though it was a huge indicator that the Sophie/Jesse saga was going to be a long and wild ride.

6 “Dirty Thirty” (Season 1, Episode 4) – 6.7

“Dirty Thirty” played into a lot of tired sitcom & rom-com tropes, like Sophie trying to change everything about herself to impress her date, Drew. Eventually the two realize that although they may be at different points of their life (Drew is mature for his age and Sophie is still floundering), they want to continue to date each other.

The fourth episode of HIMYF attempts to give backstory between Ellen and Jesse, who grew up together but were separated when their parents divorced. The storyline feels rushed and incomplete, and like a lot of hurt feelings would remain after years of distance between the two. Additionally, Charlie and Val attempt to make one another jealous, but it only makes them want each other more, adding a good dose of comic relief.

5 “The Fixer” (Season 1, Episode 3) – 7.0

The first standout episode of HIMYF was episode three entitled “The Fixer”. Viewers got to learn more about Sophie’s fix-it personality as she attempts to help Jesse tackle dating in the city. Sophie then explained that her need to fix things for those around her was due to growing up with a mother constantly recovering from heartbreak.

The episode also pairs up the incredibly likable HIMYF character Charlie and Ellen for the first time as an unlikely duo. Their chemistry is great as non-friends becoming roommates, and gives them their own storyline to shine. The long-distance romance between Sid and Hannah is also explored, planting the first seeds of doubt for the soon-to-be-wed couple. Overall, the episode propels the story forward and is funny, making the show worth tuning in for.

4 “The Perfect Shot” (Season 1, Episode 8) – 7.2

“The Perfect Shot” brought the infamous Meredith (Jesse’s ex-almost fiancee) to New York, and gave Sid and Ellen lots of shared screentime to decide how and when to tell Jesse about her arrival. It also featured the first kiss between Jesse and Sophie, something was bound to happen sooner or later and was worth the wait.

The episode isn’t perfect; Sophie chips her tooth multiple times as a plot device to get her as far away from Drew’s school auction as possible, and Val’s storyline with her horrible boss is forgettable and literally never mentioned again. However, episode 8 plants the seeds of a Jesse and Sophie future, filled with lots of chemistry and beautiful photographs.

3 “Stacey” (Season 1, Episode 6) – 7.4

“Stacey” felt like an episode of HIMYM — in the best way possible. The plot revolved around Drew and Sophie going on their first trip together alongside Sid and Hannah, who have both known Drew for a long time. This also means they know of Drew’s ex, Stacey, who Sophie finds out went on the same trip with Sid and Hannah years prior.

“Stacey” saw Sophie dealing with her own insecurities and Drew finally having some flaws. It also furthered Sid and Hannah’s storyline, providing more context to their relationship and hinting at its demise. The episode was a great example of modern-age dating, with Sophie internet stalking Drew’s ex and facing the repercussions.

2 “Jay Street” (Season 1, Episode 9) – 8.0

The penultimate episode of HIMYF‘s first season provided a lot of growth for the characters and proved that the show was worth watching. It also brought back HIMYM fan-favorites, The Captain and his wife Becky, this time in the midst of a heinous divorce.

Charlie and Val shared a touching yet somber moment when she tried to recreate home for him, only to completely freak him out with a comment about their future kids. Meanwhile, Jesse and Sophie’s attempt to go on a date was interrupted by a drawn-out break-up with Drew and the appearance of Meredith. The episode’s biggest flaw was the Sid and Hannah subplot, which by the ninth episode makes the pair seem completely incompatible.

1 “Timing Is Everything” (Season 1, Episode 10) – 8.7

The season finale was far and away the best episode of the series thus far, bringing back and main How I Met Your Mother cast member in Cobie Smulders and setting up lots of questions to be answered when HIMYF returns next year.

“Timing Is Everything” proved to be true in every sense, as Sophie and Jesse failed at starting a relationship, but Ian returned just when she needed him most. Additionally, Charlie and Val went their separate ways after discussing the future, Ellen got lucky in more ways than one, and Sid and Hannah decided to elope to solve all of their problems. The episode made it clear that the show had found its groove and was ready for more.

About The Author

Emily Proctor
(214 Articles Published)

Emily Proctor is an entertainment writer and avid television fan. She recently graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Communication, Media, and Theatre Arts. In addition to writing for Screenrant, Emily frequently publishes personal essays on her Medium profile and personal blog SheWritesTV.com. She is also an aspiring actress and songwriter.

You can follow Emily on Twitter at @emproct for more of her opinions on pop culture, the latest TV and movies, and links to her work.

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