How I Met Your Mother

The latest episode to date of "How I Met Your Mother" aired on January 17. It was about the funeral of Marshall's father and what the last words were from father to son. The episode got the other cast members thinking what could be the last words they would hear from their respective fathers.

The episode, like many before it starts off with a simple premise but then gets dragged out toward the end. Marhsall thinks he has heard the last words he will ever hear from his father until he remembers one at-the-time insignificant conversation. Or he looks at his cell phone and sees there is a voice mail. There is always another "twist" until the episode ends with what the final words are and what everyone remembers them to be.

Another example of this gimmick is an episode where Ted intends to go to his usual spot for coffee in the morning but a series of events lead him to a different spot one morning and he finally meets his wife and future father of his children.

To me, this method shows a lack of creativity. People are simply looking to fill space and trying to create cliffhangers by extending a situation. It tries to be dramatic but, in my opinion, is like a student trying to give an oral report off-the-cuff because they ran out of ideas or didn't do their homework.

"How I Met Your Mother" is a great television show. The characters have their own quirks and endearing qualities and it is not hard to imagine a group like this hanging out at the local bar, with or without Barney Stinson. I hope the show will stick to the rituals and traditions of the gang before the inevitable climax of who Ted Mosby's wife is and how he met her. Dragging subject matter out and prolonging situations adds very little to the show.