How I Met Your Father is a spin-off of the hugely popular show How I Met Your Mother, both of which are currently streaming on Hulu. However, it concluded after just two seasons, leaving fans curious about the reasons behind its short run. Let’s take a closer look to see what might have gone wrong.
Reasons How I Met Your Father ended after two seasons
Negative critical reception
Right from the start, HIMYF faced problems with critics, with season one getting a 38% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and the second season falling even lower. Many felt the humor didn’t land as well as it did in the first show, and the chemistry between the gang didn’t seem as tight as the original gang. Some also felt that it relied a little too much on nostalgia instead of trying to create a new story, and it never really developed a unique identity.
While many did praise Hilary Duff’s performance as Sophie, by the time Season 2 aired, many casual viewers had already lost interest, and the show struggled to shake off its reputation as an inferior spin-off.
Declining viewership and lack of viral moments
A major problem for HIMYF was that it failed to generate the kind of viral buzz that streaming platforms rely on. While the original had countless meme-worthy moments, catchphrases like “legendary,” and running gags that kept fans engaged even years after it ended, HIMYF didn’t leave the same cultural impact, which resulted in a steady decline in viewers that was especially apparent during the second season.
Streaming services are often more ruthless than network television when it comes to renewals, and if a show isn’t attracting attention on social media or pulling in strong audiences, they are quick to cut their losses.
Unfortunately, while HIMYF did have a small but devoted fanbase, the numbers just weren’t strong enough. Unlike other Hulu sitcom hits like Only Murders in the Building, HIMYF failed to become a must-watch show.
Behind-the-scenes struggles and a long road to production
The road to getting a HIMYM spin-off on the air was rocky from the start. Back in 2014, a spin-off called How I Met Your Dad was planned with Greta Gerwig in the lead role, but CBS ultimately passed on it. Several years later, another version of the spin-off was developed, but it too failed to get off the ground. It wasn’t until 2022 that How I Met Your Father finally made it to air.
By the time it premiered, the sitcom landscape had changed dramatically, and fans of the original had moved on. HIMYF’s mix of a traditional sitcom structure with a modernized take may have just come at the wrong time.
Is How I Met Your Father worth watching?
Even though How I Met Your Father didn’t become the next How I Met Your Mother and faced a number of issues getting off the ground, it’s packed with funny moments, and the cast does a great job in their roles. It’s definitely worth a watch.
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