Neil Patrick Harris is a multifaceted American artist, excelling as an actor, magician, and singer. He achieved widespread recognition through his notable roles in television series such as How I Met Your Mother and Doogie Howser, M.D. Harris has further solidified his reputation through captivating Broadway performances and engaging hosting duties, where his talent and charisma shine brightly.
While we’re immersed in Sophie’s (Hilary Duff) adventures and romantic escapades in How I Met Your Father, the mid-season finale brought a nostalgic moment as Neil Patrick Harris once again donned the legendary suit of Barney Stinson. Harris reprised his role, having portrayed Stinson throughout the entirety of the nine-season run of How I Met Your Mother.
Neil Patrick Harris Explains The Major Character Shift
In his latest appearance, Barney Stinson exhibits a markedly different outlook from his character in the original show. This shift is not only a reflection of the changing times since How I Met Your Mother aired but also a testament to the character’s personal growth and evolution. In a conversation with Variety, Neil Patrick Harris delved into the experience of stepping back into the shoes of Barney:
Harris told Variety:
“He’s having these conversations about a daughter seeking out a better relationship with her father as a new father of a daughter and sitting talking to female who’s as attractive as Hilary Duff, it’s innate Barney fodder. He wants to say authentic things because he feels authentic things, but he’s saying it to someone that he would normally want to say something crass to! That’s who he is. It was intrinsic and well written.”
Barney Stinson made his debut in the pilot of the original series as a character seemingly indifferent to the feelings of his romantic partners, favoring elaborate schemes to seduce women. Clearly, many aspects of this character have not aged gracefully, and the creators of How I Met Your Father are fully aware of this fact.
Over the course of the series, Barney’s character undergoes a transformation as he develops deep feelings for Robin (Cobie Smulders). This pivotal moment prompted him to introspect and work on improving himself. His commitment to being a loyal and respectful partner marked a significant step in Barney’s personal growth and readiness for the future.
Hillary Duff Was Nervous To Work With Neil Patrick Harris
Director Pamela Fryman recalls that it was enjoyable to witness the collaboration between Harris and Hillary Duff, who had not previously shared the screen together. She mentioned that there was a palpable sense of nervousness from Hilary Duff when she was about to meet Neil Patrick Harris and act alongside him. During a rainy downtime, they had the chance to chat and bond, which she described as quite enchanting.
Fryman told Variety:
“She was so nervous to meet Neil, so nervous to act with Neil. She was shaking. We had a bit of downtime because it was raining hard, so they got to talk and spend some time with each other. It was it was pretty magical.”
Certainly, the possibility remains open for Harris to revisit the role of Barney in the future if he chooses to do so. How I Met Your Father is available for streaming on Hulu.
Source: Variety
