How I Met Your Mother: 10 Things From Season 1 That Keep Getting Better Over Time

Even though not every fan loves the series finale of How I Met Your Mother, season 1 is still compelling and entertaining. Fans meet Ted Mosby, Marshall Eriksen, Barney Stinson, Lily Aldrin, and Robin Scherbatsky and begin the long journey of finding out who The Mother is.

While fans can check in with any episode of How I Met Your Mother and understand what’s going on, like most sitcoms, there are still a lot of special moments from the first 22 episodes that prove why this show has such a large fanbase. It’s been several years since season 1 aired, but these elements still stand out.

10 The Pilot Episode Sets Up Ted’s Desire To Find Love

When looking back on Ted’s girlfriends on HIMYM, fans don’t like all of them, but they all play an important role in Ted learning more about himself and finding his soulmate.

In the first episode, Ted talks about wanting to find his person, and viewers become invested right away. It’s impossible not to root for this character and want him to get everything that he wants. No matter how many times fans watch this episode, Ted’s belief in love is still relatable and sweet.

9 Ted Stealing The Blue French Horn

Another season 1 storyline that still works perfectly is when Ted takes the blue french horn from Carmichaels restaurant. This comes back full circle when, in the series finale, Ted waits for Robin at her apartment and wants to give it to her again.

This object proves that Ted loves Robin and will do anything for her, and it also shows how far they have come from the moment when they first meet. It’s a nice, quirky part of the show and it would feel like something was missing without it.

8 Marshall And Lily’s Close Relationship

Fans always look back fondly on Marshall and Lily’s romance, and the season 1 episode “Zip, Zip, Zip” has a funny and relatable storyline about their changing relationship.

Lily thinks that she and Marshall have been together for so long that there is nothing fresh, new, and thrilling to experience. In a funny scene, the couple is hiding in the bathroom so Victoria and Ted can be together, and Lily realizes that she hasn’t peed in front of Marshall. This is a memorable, quirky way for the couple to tell each other that they will always have a great, exciting relationship.

7 Ted Searching For The Same Person On Halloween

When Ted and his friends celebrate Halloween in season 1, viewers learn that Ted has been searching for a woman in a pumpkin costume. He’s sure that there could be something between them if he could only find her again.

This storyline is still funny and meaningful, as it proves that Ted is a hopeless romantic who can be very stubborn. Fans know that later on, Ted does meet and begin dating the woman in the costume. Naomi is one of Ted’s best girlfriends and it’s tough for him to confess that it’s not working out as he wants them to have an epic love story.

6 The Hilarious “Matchmaker” Episode

While How I Met Your Mother balances Ted’s friendships with stories about his love life, season 1 in particular shows how tough dating can be. The episode called “Matchmaker” stands out no matter how many times fans watch it.

When Ted is told that he doesn’t have any matches, he’s stunned and confused, and viewers who tried dating apps or hired a matchmaker themselves can relate to the difficulty of finding a connection in a sea of strangers. This episode drives home how much fans want Ted and Robin to finally be together, but they will both suffer a lot first.

5 Victoria And Ted’s Brief Love Story

While fans ship Robin and Ted, there’s something special about his relationship with Victoria, and their season 1 love story is memorable.

Victoria seems like a great match for Ted, and it’s sad when she decides to move to Germany to continue her baking career. Although these characters aren’t together for very long, Ted gains more confidence and realizes that she came into his life for a reason.

4 Marshall’s Warm-Hearted, Funny Family

One of Marshall’s saddest quotes on HIMYM is when he speaks about the tragic death of his dad. Fans learn more about his sweet family in the season 1 Thanksgiving episode “Belly Full of Turkey,” making this death even harder to watch.

Lily has a hard time with Marshall’s family in Minnesota as she feels that she doesn’t fit in. This is one of the best parts of season 1 since so many people feel this way when visiting a partner’s relatives at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or for another celebratory occasion. The sitcom does a great job showing that Lily is doing her best but she feels insecure.

3 Marshall And Lily’s Pressure To Plan The Perfect Wedding

Season 1 also tells the story of Marshall and Lily’s engagement. By the time that the place where they want to get married has an opening in the episode “Best Prom Ever,” they realize that planning a wedding can be chaotic and stressful.

This process is tough even for the strongest couples like Marshall and Lily, and fans appreciate that their relationship has typical ups and downs and that they aren’t presented as totally perfect.

2 The Storytelling Format

There are some beloved scenes in the HIMYM series finale, and although fans are still devastated about The Mother’s death, it’s still compelling watching how Ted finishes telling the story to his kids.

The storytelling format of this sitcom helps set it apart, and it’s always interesting seeing how Ted frames stories about his love life, career, and friendships for his children. Fans get used to the style and tone of the show in season 1 and it works well.

1 Lily Exploring Her Love For Art

At the end of season 1, Lily takes an art fellowship in San Francisco, and this choice is tragic as it makes it seem like her relationship with Marshall is doomed.

But even though this is a sad part of the series, it’s one of the most impactful parts of season 1 of How I Met Your Mother. Lily will have to strike a better balance between her relationship and her own career ambitions and it’s important that she’s starting to work through this here.

About The Author

Aya Tsintziras
(1742 Articles Published)

Aya Tsintziras is a freelance writer who writes about pop culture and TV. She has a Political Science degree from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Journalism from Ryerson University. She loves coffee, reading, working out, and watching TV. She lives in Toronto with her husband.

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