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View Full Version : Who watches 'How I met your mother'?


Welshie
March 29th, 2011, 03:08 PM
Seeing as this show is based on the high's and lows of relationships of younger professionals, I just wondered how many people here watch it? For me, the show holds a special place in me which may sound cheesy but here's why.

I dont watch TV because I have no interest in my life being ruled by a box in my living room. So anyway I moved to the city I live in in 2007 with a bit of a low self esteem after being forced out of my previous job in London (a place I didnt like) and I met a guy who is now one of my best friends. He introduced me to it and I loved it from the outset, especially the humour. One thing I loved was a womanising character name Barney. Not for his womanising skills but more his confidence and also the fact that he loved wearing suits and classy clothes (Something I like doing but was slowly being beaten out of me because I was told it looked like I was making too much effort). Once I saw this I started wearing the clothes I liked and got much more confident.

Anyway fast forward to late 2009. I liked a girl but upon coming back from a (long) holiday in NZ I saw an episode that was about being on a girls hook, and I realised that I was in that exact situation so bucked up and walked away, something she really didnt like!
I then got closer with a girl I had known for a while and we began dating (henceforth known as the ex). Enough is known about the subsequent events by regulars here to permint brevity in this account, but she basically dumped me over a text message in a very cruel and selfish way after being asked out by a mutual friend whom she liked.

Anyway, during the subsequent months I watched lots and lots of HIMYM, especially when I couldnt sleep. In season 4 the main character has his fiance leave him at the alter and a few episodes after and later in the season are dedicated to how he deals with it and moved on. I watched these so many times because of some of the poignant lines and situations in the episodes, and some were of great comfort to me in understanding the process of a breakup and looking at the positive reasons for why these sometimes seemingly random events happen.

I went on a date last week, my first ever since the breakup and by a massive twist of irony I saw my ex with her new boyfriend walk past. Obviously I felt a little gulp when I saw her but it was brief and I looked away back to my date. However at that moment, as wierd as it sounds, I could see that she was happy with him and meant to be with him, regardless of how incompatible they seemed to be when I was trying to put logic as to why she left me for someone not half. the person I am (By other peoples admission, not mine).

The greatest line in those episodes (S04E06) climaxes with the man planning his encounter/standoff with his ex fiance and in his head he has this big speech planned to shoot her down about how she picked the wrong guy and that she will regret it but there is nothing she can do now apart from start her crappy little life with her new guy which wouldn't be half has happy as the life she could have had with him. However, going back to my seeing my ex walk by the other week his final words in this episode are:

So I got out of the cab ready to explode and say all that. But then, it just all went away. From that moment I wasn't angry anymore but I could see Stella was meant to be with Tony.
Kids, you may think your only choices are to swallow your anger or throw it in someones face, but there is a third option. You can just let it go, only then is it really gone and you can move forward. And that was the perfect ending to a perfect love story, it just wasn't mine.

Mine was still out there, waiting for me.

In the months of grieving I had, I cried so much at this because I could relate to it and I was at the stage where I genuinely did want to move on and this synopsis helped me feel better instantly by just letting it go, realising that she did not deserve any space in my life or head. I watched this episode tonight for the first time in 4 months and actually enjoyed the it and didnt feel any sadness about its relevance to my past. Something that pleased me immensely as its a testement to my growth and development.

Thanks for reading my ramblings, and of course many thanks to all you who have seen me reach this stage :)

OvershareDude
March 29th, 2011, 05:12 PM
(Psst, shouldn't this be in Media Mayhem?)

Welshie
March 29th, 2011, 05:32 PM
Whoops!!!

Mods please move this thread if you deem it necessary.

phasesofthemoon
March 29th, 2011, 05:39 PM
Oh, It's just as good here in general discussion considering what you've shared about it, Welshie. Seems it's more about the ephipany than the actual show. Tis what I'm thinking anyway... :)

I saw the episode you're talking about and it was very insightful and what most of us try to relate to the broken hearted around here.. Once one "gets it" its all downhill from there. The weight is lifted and it's on to bigger, better, shinier things.

It's nice to read about your progress. Kudos.

OvershareDude
March 29th, 2011, 05:46 PM
I will have to admit I didn't read the full thing lol

Yeh k, Phases is right, my bad lol


*edit* I used to watch it, but I haven't seen much of season 4+

Welshie
March 29th, 2011, 05:54 PM
Oh, It's just as good here in general discussion considering what you've shared about it, Welshie. Seems it's more about the ephipany than the actual show. Tis what I'm thinking anyway... :)

I saw the episode you're talking about and it was very insightful and what most of us try to relate to the broken hearted around here.. Once one "gets it" its all downhill from there. The weight is lifted and it's on to bigger, better, shinier things.

It's nice to read about your progress. Kudos.

:)

Thanks in part to you Phases, clearly another HIMYM viewer!

Brifflez
March 29th, 2011, 10:35 PM
I just wondered how many people here watch it?

I do.

foh4k
March 29th, 2011, 11:15 PM
I don't watch it but I've watched The Welshie Show and it's a wonderful show of a Phoenix that rises from the ashes.

Ya little speed racer.

Brifflez
March 30th, 2011, 12:44 AM
Haha, foh you're gorgeous :)

Welshie
March 30th, 2011, 05:24 AM
*edit* I used to watch it, but I haven't seen much of season 4+

You probably got the best of it OSD. Season 5 onwards starts getting a bit sporadic and Season 6 has gone downhill IMO. There are a couple of good episodes, but only 3 or 4 out of 20 so far. I wish they'd wrap it up now as there are too many episodes with little relevance and just to pad things out.

I do.

:) Whats your favourite character or episode?

I don't watch it but I've watched The Welshie Show and it's a wonderful show of a Phoenix that rises from the ashes.

Ya little speed racer.

Wow, thanks Fo4hk!! I'm glad i seem to be an inspiration to some on here. I relaly mean that. Its only fair that those who have helped me through bad times should enjoy my good times too.
P.S. Hitting the track this weekend, can't wwwwaaaaaaaaiiiiit! ;)

Brifflez
March 30th, 2011, 07:50 PM
Good for you Welshie, rip it up and stay safe.

Hmmmm my favourite character would definitely be Marshell!

Fusion Cuisine
March 30th, 2011, 08:03 PM
Really nicely written opening post.

Yeah I've seen all of them to date, some a few times. I dunno, it's kinda gotten to that point now where everyone just seems like a caricature rather than a character. As you say there seems to be a lot of 'padding' where things aren't really going anywhere. I used to be interested in their fates, but now not so much... it's perhaps just got a bit too silly.

But having said that, I'm not entirely keen for them to 'wrap things up' as the show is kinda like a bit of an old friend, and there's very little else currently being produced that I watch.

Brifflez
March 30th, 2011, 08:30 PM
Has anyone noticed how they steal so many plots and joke-arcs from other shows?

I know what you mean about that. I can't stand the...lost her....got her back...lost her...got her back shit. The show gets very repetitious and doesn't really go anywhere, yet I'm not ready to stop watching it because its still funny. Actually its just been depressing lately.

Welshie
March 31st, 2011, 05:39 AM
Thanks Fusion. I agree with your synopsis of it because there also seem to be so many false starts in it. One minute Lily is pregnant, then she isnt. And what is it with Zoey? We saw more of her when she was Ted's nemesis than now when she is his girlfriend!

I concur brifflez, and yes it has gotten depressing lately with death and Barney pining. But still I watch it in the hope each next episode redeems itself :)

yellow.rose
April 5th, 2011, 01:00 PM
I'm sorry I missed being there during your plight and witnessing your rebirth but am happy to hear of it :) We have some awesome users.

I watch HIMYM. Its kind of like this era's "Friends". I remember that episode very well, I thought it was beautiful and very true.

As others have said, I'm not ready to see it go yet as its still funny usually and The Big Bang Theory is the only show I watch regularly so I need something to fill in the daily dose of cheer. I also watch Cougar Town, its not great pretty stupid often but there is an element of friendship, love and loyalty in the group that I like. Lori's my favorite character, she's really very sweet. Ah, and I've begun watching No Ordinary Family. Anyone with even a minimum amount of scientific and mathematical knowledge knows that 99.99% of the show is complete crap (usually the kid slings in together unrelated mathematical theories and names because it sounds smart but in actuality together is meaningless jibberish). But.. its entertaining :) and I like the family and friendship element. Such a relationship addict when it comes to entertainment!

Welshie
April 5th, 2011, 06:18 PM
Thanks Rose, I appreciate it :) However I'm glad I wasnt on the forum in those early days. I really didnt like the whiny person with no self esteem that I had become and would have probably alienated many of you for it was my first breakup and I had a lot of trouble computing it...never thought it could hurt that bad and more than a racing crash...and i've been in a few!

But i'm all good now :)

Brifflez
April 5th, 2011, 08:22 PM
I just realised I didn't answer the favourite episode half of your question...

I really loved the Duck or Rabbit one, and the one where Marshall makes graphs of everything. "This is a pie chart describing my favorite bars. And this is a bar graph describing my favorite pies" Haha!

I've become very into tv in the last handful of years (actually I kind of always was, but I feel like its ok now because I now use it as a legitimate down-time thing, rather than just avoiding homework during highschool haha). I'm quite the collector; I spend most of my money, apart from what I save and bills etc., on food, booze and dvds. I am loving Community! Definitely my new favourite!