Right from the start there is a different feel to this episode than to the entirety of the rather disappointing fifth season. The characters don't come across as a joke and are treated respectfully instead, as are all of their respective issues. Every member of the main cast has a few funny lines here, but also at least one grave moment. And some new themes are laid out that might shape this new season.
Most notably, for Ted this actually seems to be the overall theme of the series, how he meets the mother of his kids, which is finally spotlighted again. In a flash-forward, which is nicely interwoven with the present events of the episode, we learn more about the day and event when said theme comes to its conclusion. In addition to that, Cindy returns. We already know the Mother is her roommate, so this encounter between her and Ted will certainly be of some significance. And it comes with a surprise twist.
The other theme of this episode that could also be a theme of the whole season is fathers. Marshall is looking forward to becoming a father himself, as he and Lily have decided to try to get a baby. Lily however takes an issue with the involvement of Marshall's father in the whole matter. And Barney has his own opinion on fathers, as he does not know who his father is. In his moment of gravity, he admits that this actually bothers him.
Meanwhile, Robin is trying to get over the breakup with Don, in a fashion not dissimilar to Marshall's suffering early in season 2, when Lily temporarily left him. Her role in this season is not yet clear, but the fact that she takes a breakup this hard proves that she has indeed evolved as a character, as Ted indicated in the finale of the last season.
A season opener fit to raise our hopes for a new direction in the series that rather resembles season 1-4 than season 5.
Most notably, for Ted this actually seems to be the overall theme of the series, how he meets the mother of his kids, which is finally spotlighted again. In a flash-forward, which is nicely interwoven with the present events of the episode, we learn more about the day and event when said theme comes to its conclusion. In addition to that, Cindy returns. We already know the Mother is her roommate, so this encounter between her and Ted will certainly be of some significance. And it comes with a surprise twist.
The other theme of this episode that could also be a theme of the whole season is fathers. Marshall is looking forward to becoming a father himself, as he and Lily have decided to try to get a baby. Lily however takes an issue with the involvement of Marshall's father in the whole matter. And Barney has his own opinion on fathers, as he does not know who his father is. In his moment of gravity, he admits that this actually bothers him.
Meanwhile, Robin is trying to get over the breakup with Don, in a fashion not dissimilar to Marshall's suffering early in season 2, when Lily temporarily left him. Her role in this season is not yet clear, but the fact that she takes a breakup this hard proves that she has indeed evolved as a character, as Ted indicated in the finale of the last season.
A season opener fit to raise our hopes for a new direction in the series that rather resembles season 1-4 than season 5.