When Emma sat down to watch the premiere of How I Met Your Father on Hulu in January 2022, she was filled with nostalgia. Like many fans of the original How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM), Emma had spent countless hours following the antics of Ted, Robin, Barney, Lily, and Marshall in their search for love and friendship in New York City. The show’s humour, quirky storytelling, and dramatic love triangle have captivated millions worldwide. So, when Hulu announced the release of How I Met Your Father, a spin-off that promised to capture the same charm while introducing a new generation of characters, Emma was excited for a fresh yet familiar journey.
But by the time the second season concluded in 2023, that initial excitement had faded. Rumours about low ratings, lacklustre reviews, and behind-the-scenes difficulties began circulating. Then, the inevitable news hit: How I Met Your Father cancelled. For Emma and other die-hard fans, the cancellation raised an important question: How did a show with so much potential—and the star power of Hilary Duff—fail to make its mark?
In this article, we’ll explore why How I Met Your Father was cancelled, dissect the stats behind its performance, and examine what this means for the future of spin-offs in the streaming era.
The History and Hype: Why Did Fans Have High Hopes?
The Legacy of How I Met Your Mother
When How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) first aired in 2005, it quickly developed a loyal following. The unique storytelling format—where future Ted narrates how he met their mother to his children—and the chemistry between the cast made it one of CBS’s most successful sitcoms. It ran for nine seasons, airing its finale in 2014. Despite a controversial ending that polarized fans, HIMYM left a significant mark on pop culture.
When Hulu announced How I Met Your Father, the series had been off the air for nearly a decade, but the nostalgia for HIMYM was still alive. The new show’s premise would be similar: Sophie (played by Hilary Duff) narrates to her son in the year 2050 the events that led her to meet his father. With Duff leading the ensemble cast and creators Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger (known for This Is Us) at the helm, fans and critics alike had high expectations for the series.
However, more than the excitement was needed to carry the show to success.
The Stats: How Did How I Met Your Father Perform?
Ratings and Viewership: A Mixed Bag
While Hulu does not release detailed viewership numbers for its original shows, third-party services such as Nielsen provide some insight into how the show performed. According to Nielsen, How I Met Your Father did decently in its early days, with the premiere episode ranking among the top 10 most-streamed shows in its debut week. However, as the first season progressed, its ranking consistently slipped, and by the time the second season rolled around, the show had fallen off the radar for many viewers.
Rotten Tomatoes provides another look at how the critics and audiences received the show’s first season of How I Met Your Father. The show earned a 49% critic rating on the Tomatometer, indicating mixed to negative reviews from critics. Audience scores were slightly better, sitting at 58%, reflecting the divide between hardcore fans of HIMYM and those who felt the spin-off didn’t capture the same magic.
Metacritic also echoed this sentiment, scoring 51/100 for the first season, indicating “mixed or average reviews.” While some praised Hilary Duff’s performance and the series’ attempt to update HIMYM’s humour for a more modern audience, many were critical of the writing, pacing, and forced references to the original show.
Social Media Buzz and Engagement
In the age of social media, a show’s success can often be measured by its buzz on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. How I Met Your Father garnered significant attention early on, particularly when clips from the show—especially those featuring Duff and the occasional cameo from former HIMYM stars—were shared online.
However, according to data from Social Blade, the show’s social media engagement began to taper off after the first few weeks of Season 1. While there was some renewed interest during the launch of Season 2, it has yet to reach the viral status that often accompanies successful streaming shows today. In contrast, other Hulu shows like The Handmaid’s Tale and Only Murders in the Building have consistently trended across social media, suggesting that How I Met Your Father struggled to capture the same level of engagement.
Why Did How I Met Your Father Get Canceled?
- Failure to Capture the Original’s Charm
One of the biggest criticisms of How I Met Your Father was its failure to capture the spirit of the original series. HIMYM was known for its clever narrative structure, well-developed characters, and balance between humour and emotion. Many viewers and critics felt that it leaned too heavily on nostalgia without developing its identity.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, one of the original HIMYM creators, Carter Bays, mentioned that spin-offs often struggle because they are compared to their predecessors: “You’re always fighting the ghost of the original show. No matter how good the new cast is or how fresh the storylines are, it’s hard to live up to something that was a cultural phenomenon.”
- Weak Writing and Character Development
While Hilary Duff delivered a solid performance as Sophie, many viewers criticized the show’s supporting characters for lacking depth. Unlike HIMYM’s ensemble, which featured distinct personalities and complex relationships, the characters in How I Met Your Father often felt underdeveloped and one-dimensional. This lack of character depth made it easier for viewers to invest in their stories emotionally.
Additionally, the show’s writing was often cited as a major weakness. Critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes pointed out that many of the jokes felt outdated or uninspired, relying too much on references to dating apps and social media culture and forced nods to HIMYM rather than building original humour.
- Competition in the Streaming Space
The television landscape has changed dramatically since HIMYM’s debut in 2005. Streaming platforms now compete for viewers’ attention, and How I Met Your Father entered an oversaturated market full of high-quality sitcoms, dramas, and limited series. Shows like Ted Lasso, Schitt’s Creek, and Only Murders in the Building have redefined what makes a modern sitcom successful, often blending heartfelt moments with sharp, timely humour.
How I Met Your Father struggled to stand out in this crowded environment. According to a report from Parrot Analytics, which tracks audience demand for TV shows, How I Met Your Father ranked lower than its competitors in audience interest, even during its premiere weeks.
- Declining Viewer Interest and Ratings
As mentioned, the show’s ratings and viewership stats steadily declined from Season 1 to Season 2. By the time Season 2 ended in July 2023, it was clear that the show needed to capture a consistent, growing audience.
TVLine said Hulu decided not to renew the show for a third season after reviewing the performance metrics, including ratings, social media engagement, and critical reception. The declining viewership numbers and rising production costs likely contributed to Hulu’s decision to cancel the series.
Lessons Learned: The Challenges of Rebooting a Legacy Series
The cancellation of How I Met Your Father reminds us of the challenges of rebooting or spinning off beloved shows. While nostalgia can help attract an initial audience, long-term success depends on creating a fresh and compelling story that stands on its own.
Moreover, the rise of streaming services means that audiences have more options than ever, and shows need to work harder to keep viewers engaged. The success of Ted Lasso and The Office highlights that today’s audience craves emotional depth, humour with heart, and unique characters that leave a lasting impact. Unfortunately, How I Met Your Father struggled to tick all these boxes.
What’s Next for Fans of the Franchise?
While How I Met Your Father may have been cancelled, fans of the HIMYM universe can take solace in the fact that the original series remains a favourite among sitcom lovers. Additionally, with the ever-changing landscape of streaming platforms, it’s always possible that the How I Met Your Father universe could see a reboot or continuation in the future, perhaps with a new creative team or approach.
For now, fans can rewatch HIMYM on streaming platforms or delve into other hit shows that capture similar themes of friendship, love, and the unpredictable journey of life.
