Kathleen Anderson

Three stars--so far. I've been trying not to be prejudiced against anything about this series. But five episodes in and I still think that Hilary Duff is the most unlikeable of the cast. I realize that comparisons to HIMYM are inevitable, and no matter how I try not to make those comparisons I still have made some. This cast does not yet have the chemistry that HIMYM had--from the beginning. Frankly, so far I find the men as a group most likeable. Since I did love HIMYM so much (apart from the very tiresome episodes exploiting Barney's sex life), I do hope that this cast will find a strong ensemble and become endearing, too. I intend to keep an open mind about Hilary Duff. I hope that she will be come less stilted, especially as I perceive her as leading the cast. I don't know, maybe it's her posture. she appears to hunch her shoulders the same way I do. I do like how we get to see future mom because we never got to see future dad, only hear him. I also think it was a good move to reuse Marshall and Lily's apartment with a glancing reference to them as "an old married couple". Also, I think, a good contrast not to see mom and dad's kid whereas we saw Ted's kids every week--a good trope for that series. Part of my issue may be that I had very high expectations for HIMYF, and I am learning the hard way that when I have preset expectations it's doubly disappointing when those expectations are not met. I do hope that Hulu continues to make more episodes. Certainly this show deserves a chance.