Is How I Met Your Mother as good as Friends?

djfunnyman · 08/01/15 - 19:44

I know the similarities are regularly discussed. But now HIMYM is finished, do you think it is on the same level as Friends? While I like HIMYM and feel that it modernises the Friends concept, it just doesn't have the same level of humour and character as Friends

cris182 · 08/01/15 - 19:46

Too many of the characters in HIMYM are not likeable, Ted especially is one the least likeable leads in sitcom.

Friends, Yes they were annoying but they were likeable enough, I don't get that with HIMYM

AaronWx · 08/01/15 - 19:48

I would say himym is certainly cleverer than friends. Its a great sitcom in its own right (until the last episode at least).

djfunnyman · 08/01/15 - 19:52

cris182 wrote: »

Too many of the characters in HIMYM are not likeable, Ted especially is one the least likeable leads in sitcom.

Friends, Yes they were annoying but they were likeable enough, I don't get that with HIMYM

Sorry but you've just inspired another thread and poll

LostFool · 08/01/15 - 20:18

I never liked Friends at all. HIMYM, despite its flaws in later seasons, was much more enjoyable.

Hamlet77 · 08/01/15 - 20:48

Why isn't there a neither option, both are not worth the effort

munkyfellover · 08/01/15 - 22:37

I felt like they didn't go deep enough with the characters in HIMYM in comparison, apart from Barney I didn't really get to know them as well.

LM · 09/01/15 - 06:55

No way

I never found any of the characters very likeable, plus it stars the unsufferable Neil Patrick Harris.

dee123 · 09/01/15 - 07:18

Neither is as good as Seinfeld ;-)

circlebro2019 · 09/01/15 - 10:02

yes id say its on par or slightly better, imo it shades it in that it had better storylines, smarter written episodes and brilliant characters.

cris182 · 09/01/15 - 11:37

One more thing, With HIMYM you were waiting all along for the big pay off and when it came it was a joke, Friends just went along and no big pay off was needed

Friends ended fine with out a big finish but that was ok, HIMYM promised more than it delivered

guestofseth · 09/01/15 - 11:53

As good? Maybe. Better? Probably not. It's really hard to say because apart from their basic set up (a group of friends who barely spend any time apart) they were actually quite different and I loved both shows because of that. HIMYM tried to do a lot more with its storytelling and I really appreciated that, and I cared more about Ted/Robin than any couple in Friends. (I unapologetically loved the ending of the series, it even better than I hoped it would be.) Also, despite almost everything else finding him annoying, I love Ted, and I'd probably put him near the top of my list of favourite comedy characters.

I'm not sure the cast worked as well together as Friends' did, even if individually the characters were stronger (except Marshall, who in the second half of the show almost ruined it for me on several occasions, and was far worse than Ross ever was.) Also I think Friends was funnier for longer, HIMYM started to fade around Season 4 (even if it was still able to produce the occasional quality episode after that,) whereas with Friends we got a good six seasons out of it before things started to slip.

circlebro2019 · 09/01/15 - 12:08

the pay off was fine, it certainly wasnt predictable how they got there.

djfunnyman · 09/01/15 - 20:05

guestofseth wrote: »

As good? Maybe. Better? Probably not. It's really hard to say because apart from their basic set up (a group of friends who barely spend any time apart) they were actually quite different and I loved both shows because of that. HIMYM tried to do a lot more with its storytelling and I really appreciated that, and I cared more about Ted/Robin than any couple in Friends. (I unapologetically loved the ending of the series, it even better than I hoped it would be.) Also, despite almost everything else finding him annoying, I love Ted, and I'd probably put him near the top of my list of favourite comedy characters.

I'm not sure the cast worked as well together as Friends' did, even if individually the characters were stronger (except Marshall, who in the second half of the show almost ruined it for me on several occasions, and was far worse than Ross ever was.) Also I think Friends was funnier for longer, HIMYM started to fade around Season 4 (even if it was still able to produce the occasional quality episode after that,) whereas with Friends we got a good six seasons out of it before things started to slip.

What did Marshall do wrong? Marshall is nowhere near as bad as Ross

Out of the male characters in both shows, I would hang out with Joey though he can be a bit dim, Barney even though most would find him too eccentric and Marshall is certainly a nice guy but is bland and very whipped. I'm on the fence about Chandler and would never hang out with Ross or Ted if they were real

As for female characters, I would only consider dating Robin (and even then she has weird traits such as being into guns) and Phoebe pre surrogacy storyline

monkeypuzzler · 09/01/15 - 20:17

I voted yes, but only if the final 5 minutes are ignored. HIMYM was a favourite show of mine, but the amount I hated the ending has soured it all for me.

LostFool · 09/01/15 - 21:09

monkeypuzzler wrote: »

I voted yes, but only if the final 5 minutes are ignored. HIMYM was a favourite show of mine, but the amount I hated the ending has soured it all for me.

The ending was fine by me. The problem I had is that they wasted so much time getting there. They could easily have covered the events of the last two seasons in a handful of episodes.

Tishtoshtess · 19/01/15 - 13:11

I much prefer Friends. Its the one show that, despite me having seen every episode at least half a dozen times, I still find funny. After seeing an episode of HIMYM once, ill not repeat it.

JackKlugman · 20/01/15 - 08:38

I wave watched parts of different episodes of that Mother sitcom thing and it makes me want to drown myself in my toilet. Its bloody awful. Doogie Howser and Willow are not my favourite actors and the script seems to have been lifted from the 1990's

Then again I did used to watch Friends when I was younger and watching it again now its crap too

big dan · 24/01/15 - 12:44

I think Friends is funnier, has more likeable characters and one of my favourite 'meant to be' couples in Ross and Rachel ever. And it makes for great repeat viewing even after all these years.

HIMYM arguably has superior storytelling. When I first started watching as a student I watched three seasons in a single weekend as I was desperate to know how things developed! However I grew to hate Ted and I concur he is probably one of the least likeable protagonists ever. Has some hilarious, genuinely heartwarming and moving moments with the odd sprinkle of drama here and there. But I don't think it lends itself that well to repeat additions. For me once I've seen an episode, I've seen it and not too fussed about seeing it again other than as background noise.

So... I'd probably have to say Friends is the one for me.

Paul1511 · 24/01/15 - 12:52

I love both, but Friends wins out.

[Deleted User] · 31/01/15 - 17:00

HIMYM is far better than Friends. The characters are sharper written and more depth and don't become a parody of themselves , unlike Friends. And they can be unlike able and do bad things yet in Friends they were always forgiven or made a joke of.

[Deleted User] · 31/01/15 - 17:18

I hate How I Met Your Mother. I love Friends.

Pointy · 31/01/15 - 17:31

Friends is quite a few notches above HIMYM. Plus, the endings of each show made sure one will be much more fondly remembered than the other.

Calig · 01/02/15 - 01:55

Not in a million years! I hate the cast of HIMYM.

Pandora. · 01/02/15 - 02:43

I enjoyed HIMYM, but the last episode ruined any chance of a rewatch (what's the point in investing in certain things now?!). Before that it had some brilliant moments though, and I like the unconventional storytelling methods.

Friends is head and shoulders above it.

AliU2maniac · 01/02/15 - 09:19

Friends will still be funny 50yrs from now but HIMYM is instantly forgettable.

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Is How I Met Your Mother as good as Friends?

Is How I Met Your Mother as good as Friends? 156 votes

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