How I Met Your Mother.

Illustration and Story by Patrick Mills

     This past week I finished my two-month long journey of watching my new number-one sitcom 'How I Met Your Mother'.  The show starts with the introduction of the protagonist Ted Mosby, a man who is such a hopeless romantic that you can help feel bad for the guy living in New York City. 

     The show starts with Ted sharing an apartment with his two college friends, and self declared soulmates Lily Aldrin and Marshall Eriksen.  They often go down to the bar underneath their apartment 'MacLaren's Pub' and hangout with their friend Barney Stinson who's a witty and goofy guy that can't help but do a one-night-stand after another.  

     One day while Ted is sitting with his friends at the bar he notices this gorgeous girl named Robin who's a Canadian living in America on a work visa wanting to become a successful television journalist.  Barney uses his iconic wingman line, "Hey, have you met Ted?" in which they begin conversing and decide to go on a date.  They hit it off and Ted proceeds to take her back to her apartment.  As Ted leaves her to go home for the night he turns around and grabs Robin by the hands and says the one thing someone should never do, say "I love you" on the first date.

     Robin is shocked and very discomforted as his desire for a serious commitment clashes with her preference of a casual relationship.  So Robin dismisses his statement and says that she does not want marriage.  Ted leaves, but being who he is he returns to the restaurant and steals the blue french horn from the wall Robin adores and rushes to return to her apartment.  Ted Stands outside of her window in the rain, Robin noticing states, "You stole the blue french horn for me."  "I would have stolen you a whole orchestra," Ted responds, and they run to each other meeting in the middle of the hall proceeding to have a romantic kiss.  But this large romantic gesture would not keep their relationship together for long.

     That all took place in the course of the first episode and caused Ted to go down a road of lost love and desire for marriage over the next nine-years the nine seasons of the show takes place in.  This show has been a catalyst for self-reflection and changes in my perspective on relationships.  With this I implore all who wish to have a good laugh and go down the road of what it means to be 'destined to be together' to watch this sitcom.