How I Met Your Mother: Could this be the Mother of all seasons?

WARNING: SOME PEOPLE MAY CONSIDER THIS POST TO BE A TAD SPOILER-Y
There are no major spoilers, but some people like going into a season knowing nothing of what’s to come. If you are one of those people, don’t read the post. Just know this: It should be better than last season.

I didn’t love How I Met Your Mother last season. And show producers Craig Thomas and Carter Bays knew it.

OK, they did not know that I personally disliked season five. But they do know that we, the general viewing public, disliked it. They said so during the recent Television Critics Association press tour. (Incidentally, if anyone wants to fund my attendance for Comic-Con and the TCA press tour next year…call me.) You can check out the Chicago Tribune’s Maureen Ryan’s article here, but these are the highlights:

  • They don’t want anyone to describe HIMYM as “sitcommy” during season six.
  • Season five was a (failed?) experiment. They chose not to go with an overall season story arc. While it ended up producing some great stand-alone episodes like “Girls vs. Suits” and “Doppelgangers”, they realized the season felt “rudderless”.
  • The season premiere (Sept. 20) will shake up the “mother” idea. We’ll also see all the characters’ lives change dramatically, and Rachel Bilson (love her!) will once again guest star as the mom’s roommate.
  • “Ted will be absolutely un-douchey this year.”(Thank. God.)
  • Barney will search for his real father (Not Bob Barker), Marshall and Lily will try for a baby, we’ll see some more “Robin Sparkles” and dive deeper into Ted’s professional life.
On the note of Ted’s professional life: Basically, he’ll get the opportunity of a lifetime to design a Goliath National Bank building, but it will mean tearing down an old, beautiful building. A new, significant role will the a woman who opposes this. Could she be the mother? Producers told EW’s Michael Ausuiello “There’s going to be a new woman in Ted’s life that is very complicated and intriguing,” and “It’s going to be a big arc, a huge arc for this season. It’s going to be a little bit less date-of-the-week for Ted, which is what season 5 was. Last season we kind of just had fun with Ted. This year, we’re back to the fact that Ted is the “I” in How I Met Your Mother. There’s going to be a huge push of forward momentum for Ted on that search and that journey. We’re going to meet the biggest female character we’ve maybe ever added to the show in Ted’s life and it’s very complicated and intriguing at first. I can’t say a lot more than that.”

Personally, I’m hoping we meet the mother this season. After investing so much time in this show, I’d like to get to know the character of the mother a little before the series ends. To only meet her in the series finale would be cruel. What do you think?

Mackay Bridge and ramps closed this weekend, Barrington construction in Downtown core

weekend escapery, part 3