Upholding The Bro Code: How How I Met Your Mother Is A Near Perfect Representation Of Friendship

 Some of the content of this show is dated and of it's time, there is some humor that I do not agree with. But there is plenty that I do like, enjoy, and find merit in, this is some of that content.

I have been watching a ton of How I Met Your Mother lately, I never watched it back when it was airing, and have only began watching it on Netflix for the first time, aside from some clips and a song or two. I am enjoying the show, have laughed, and even teared up at some points, the characters are not only fun to watch but also deal with real conflicts of navigating late 20's and early 30's life, in careers, romance, friendship and other ways. Gags both new and running can often leave me rolling but there is one thing both comedic and heartfelt that I wanted to touch on that this show does so incredibly well. Bros just being Bros. Barney, Ted, and Marshall are bros that are not just fun to watch, but also relatable in a positive display friendship. But the way it nails the group dynamic with Lily and Robin as well, shows that sometimes moving on in life doesn't mean you lose who is close to you, things just change.

One moment they could be playing video games, the next they are slapping each other in a slap bet (It's a long but hilarious story). Going out with a group, or going on adventures with just the three of them, being a wingman, or perhaps competing for the fun of it, and sometimes just doing the most dumb things. In other words, what bros do. Reminding me of outings with my friends in college days, shopping playing videogames, making jokes, and just having fun. Sometimes laughing with each other, and sometimes laughing at one another, but all in love. Friends who I am friends with still to this day.

Watching the three bros get up and just sing a song together and the other two join in by the end of an episode, or just hanging out, is so genuine, even when its making me laugh at some of the one liners, or ridiculous scenarios. Yet the emotion behind those moments are so real. As mentioned just going out to eat, to making up a stupid song and joining in. 

Slap bet also comes to mind, because it just brings me back to doing dumb stuff with my friends, especially in college. Making bold wagers over things that didn't matter, with something at the end of it just as ridiculous as the idea of a wager itself. 

The show has a heavy focus on romance but also shows platonic friendships between friends from a longtime perspective, post college perspective, even going from friends to dating and back to friends perspective. The show nails the group dynamic, both in comedy, drama, and just by being down to earth, even if there are episodes where a cast member gets hit by a bus or attacked by a goat. The show can have an adventure between the whole group, or multiple stories going on between them as they are separate from each other.

The song doesn't shy away from conflict either, highlighting falling out, dealing with the loss, or things not being the way they used to. Either realizing that things are bound to change, that some things go but the great memories and feelings behind them stay, or even sometimes making mistakes. It can hurt just as much to see these friendships be tested at times, or see something they love come to end, it makes you reflective, such as no longer having a car with a ton of memories in it, or not going to a restaurant anymore. 

Dealing with hard changes like break ups, or even more challenging break ups among friends and trying to find a way back to normal. Some other time I will tackle how the show handles change, because that is one major theme seen even from the first season on trough the shows life. 

Which makes the moments the conflict is resolved that much greater, in between the laughs there are sweet moments that show these characters view each other as a small family, others around them may come and go, but they will always be there for each other. Moments when they make up after a massive confrontation highlighting how sometimes there are more important things then being right, or holding a grudge. If someone is in the wrong the show makes sure to acknowledge it and address it, even showing consequences of more serious actions at points, but then there are the times whether in past or present the times in which a member of the group will go above and beyond for each other, which is nothing more then a pure expression of platonic love. Moments such as all of them taking a symbolic and physical leap together, or all quitting smoking. 

The show is flawed at points, but at the end of the day, is there really a piece of media that doesn't have something we would want to change. A rough season, a bad episode, a joke that didn't age well. I may not be done with this show, and I know of the dreaded way it comes to a conclusion, but sometimes even if the destination isn't satisfying, the journey there can be. This show is a great representation of friends, both the great days and the ones we want to forget. The smiles, laughs, times we make each other want to yell, the times we make each other want to cry, one thing I love from this show, is how at the end of the day, love can last a life time with the right people and lead to a ton of stories you will tell your children, how it can even be the love that keeps you going until you find the love you want to spend the rest of your life with, and how you bring them in, on the love you already have with your friends.