How I Met Your Mother – Season One
Picture:
C+ Sound: B- Extras: C+ Episodes: B-
FINALLY! Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser) returns in all his witty glory to a new, fresh, and
funny sitcom. Sure, N.P.H. is not the
main character but his great sense of comic timing and smugness shine through
each scene. Season One of How I Met Your Mother tells the tale of
a man who searches for the love of his life.
The sitcom is set up in a flashback narrative setting, in which a father
(Ted) tells his teenage children of (obviously) how he met their mother. This particular sitcom infuses sentiment,
sexual implications, physical humor, and an overall great sense of comic
delivery. How I Met Your Mother Season One is a great show with even greater
potential, embodying many of the same elements that made Friends a memorable series, having a great cast with skilled
writers. The main story starts with
Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan of the American Pie series), friends of Ted (Josh Radnor), preparing to
get married; this situation spawns an array of situations filled with heart and
great high jinks.
There is
not a great deal to say about the show seeing as how there is little depth in
the storyline, but the appeal of the show lies in the casting. As stated previously the combination of
Radnor and N.P.H. is classic and they play off of each other very well. From their favorite hangout at the bar to
picking up chicks in the airport, N.P.H. and Radnor are a great comic duo that
couple comedy with soul to make each and every line glow.
The
technical aspects of the 22 half-hour episodes from the DVD set for a budding
show such as this one are sad. The
picture is presented in a 1.33 X 1 Full Screen format which is disappointing
seeing as how the show is filmed in a crisp HD format. The picture remains adequate due to the
original transfer being HD but for some reason the picture transfer is not
quite right having light/dark issues and some blurriness. The sound is presented in a simplistic Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround Sound that for the most part is clear. The extras are adequate but nothing to write
home or tell your kids about. The audio
commentaries are the most amusing part of the extras but this box set also
offers a ‘Video Yearbook’ featurette, as well as a ‘Happy Hour Blooper Reel’
segment which is worth a watch. Overall,
this reviewer can say where the show has great potential and timing the set may
have been rushed in order to catch season two’s premiere.
In the
end, this show goes back to the basics of sitcom comedy fun and does it right
in o’ so many ways. With a talented cast
that has great chemistry (especially the womanizing N.P.H.), as well as a crack
team of writers that understand the balance of heart and comedy this show will
be on for many seasons. How I Met Your Mother: Season One would
make a great gift for any television comedy fan, demonstrating great room for
growth and an overall positive nature.
- Michael P Dougherty II
