FRIENDS had truly set a golden standard in the comedy sitcom genre when it premiered in 1994 and continued to rule television screens until 2004. In those 10 years, no other show managed to reach the level of popularity that it had. Even after its conclusion, the viewers were confident that no other show could shake its position as the best sitcom out there.
However, things started to change as soon as How I Met Your Mother premiered in 2005. While it brought a similar concept of a group of friends hanging out together, there were some major elements that made HIMYM a better show than FRIENDS for some fans.
Fans on Reddit Feel That HIMYM Is a Better Show Than FRIENDS
FRIENDS will always be a beloved classic, but over the years, several shows have tried to recreate the same magic that the hit NBC sitcom had. But only a few have managed to etch their own names in the hearts of the audience. Ultimately, it often comes down to fan loyalty and how much they enjoy the characters and the hilarious jokes.
For some Reddit users, How I Met Your Mother did everything right and was a perfect sitcom for many reasons. They took to the social media platform to detail why they believe that HIMYM is better than FRIENDS.
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The major point of debate between the two shows was how the Josh Radnor-starring series connected to the audience on a more emotional level. HIMYM was able to bring forth more emotional and heart-wrenching moments and had a more unique way of narrating its story. This kept the audience more engaged and commanded their full attention.
One user even compared two main characters from the shows: Joey and Barney. While Matt LeBlanc‘s character was mostly there as comedic relief, Barney, played by Neil Patrick Harris, had both a comedic and serious side, adding more depth to the overall story arc.
Another user noted how HIMYM avoided forced humor. In FRIENDS, even serious moments, like Monica and Chandler’s struggles with having kids, were met with loud audience reactions. In contrast, HIMYM kept the audience quieter during emotional scenes, making those moments even more impactful.
While the later seasons of HIMYM were a point of contention among viewers, the show is still praised for how it handled storytelling. Perhaps this is why some users prefer HIMYM over FRIENDS.
The Reason Why Alyson Hannigan Has Not Watched How I Met Your Father
Alyson Hannigan, who played the super sweet Lily Aldrin on How I Met Your Mother, has not watched its sequel, How I Met Your Father. The reason is that watching the show would be too much of an emotional weight for her to bear. In an interview with People, the actress revealed that her co-star from the original show, Cobie Smulders, had filmed an episode of the sequel.
Further, she said that when Smulders showed her a couple of pictures from the set, “it kind of made my heart hurt.” This entire experience was overly nostalgic for her. How I Met Your Father featured Kim Cattrall narrating the show with Hilary Duff leading the cast. While the sequel mirrored the original format of the show, it did not reveal the identity of the father.
However, even this connection with the original was not enough to keep it going, and the sequel lasted only two seasons. She also reflected on her time on the original show and how filming the final season was quite emotional, not only for her but for the entire cast. She noted that she’ll always appreciate the moments she shared on the set of the legendary sitcom.
You can watch How I Met Your Mother on Hulu and FRIENDS on Max.
