Sean Oldak

I am often asked what I think are the greatest television series of all time. It is very difficult to answer this question because I know that many people have never seen the shows I would mention to them. For this reason I am reluctant to answer. Below I have compiled a list of four of the greatest TV shows of all time that the vast majority of people have never seen in an effort to spread their greatness and significance. Each of the series I have mentioned below contribute to or have contributed to television in their own right. I have expressed my opinion and given a brief overview of the series without divulging any spoilers.

How I Met Your Mother has been teasing its audience with (not) finding out who “the mother” is for 7 seasons. The season 8 premiere was no exception. The episode begins with Ted sitting at a train station in Farhampton in his tuxedo (presumably from Robyn and Barney’s wedding) reading a book. We get no explanation for why he is at this train station or where he is going. A lady sits next to him and says, “You look like you just came from a wedding.” This prompts Ted to tell the story of how he got there. The episode flashes back to Robyn talking to Ted on her wedding day. She says, “I can’t go through with this wedding.” This then begins another flashback. This flashback picks up exactly where the flashback from the season 7 finale ended.

The first major story of the flashback is the Barney/Quinn relationship. Since we all know that Barney and Quinn do not actually end up getting married, it is hard to watch them together. I personally love Quinn, so it is hard to watch. The major plot point for this storyline on the premiere episode was Quinn finding out that Barney and Robyn have a history. She finds out after Marshall and Lilly, who are delirious since they have not slept very much because they have to take care of their newborn daughter, tell her. This interaction between delirious Marshall and Lilly and Barney and Quinn were the strongest comedic points of the episode. Jason Segel will never not be the greatest part of How I Met Your Mother.