Unlike the original series, the lead protagonist is a woman in the reboot, which seems like a small detail on the surface but makes all the difference in the way dating and relationships are portrayed on screen. Most of the women Ted dated on "How I Met Your Mother" were interchangeable save for the colour of their hair and whatever superficial moniker he happened to associate them with forever. But because the storylines in "How I Met Your Father" are told with a strong emphasis on Sophie's perspective as a woman, this means less stigma against women being perceived as "overly sexual" and fewer women characters that could be easily swapped out with sexy lamps (Ted's endless dates).
For all nine seasons of build-up it took to reveal Ted's wife, Tracy, aka the titular mother, Cristin Milioti only appeared in eight episodes. It was like taking a seemingly endless road trip with "500 Miles" playing on repeat and being robbed of the last sip of Tantrum as you finally start to see exit signs. Naturally, I watched the entire series at least two more times to cope.
"The fact that "How I Met Your Father" eliminates the idea that there has to be a womanizing character on a show about dating is highly refreshing."
The times when Lily and Robin were the focus of a storyline were some of my favourites because they shed a light on their careers, worries, and experiences as women trying to make it on their own. But for every heartwarming breakthrough Robin had about herself, there was always a scene where Barney made a gross attempt to seduce a woman — who was either rightly offended or mindlessly enticed by his charm — to spoil the magic.
Don't get me wrong — Barney has some of the funniest lines on the show and his character development throughout the series is impressive. But the fact that "How I Met Your Father" eliminates the idea that there has to be a womanizing character on a show about dating is highly refreshing. Sure, Charlie is billed as the hot English guy who has no problem flirting with women, but it's not his entire personality. In fact, he's the one who suggests to Valentina that they take their relationship more seriously. In other words, they present him as a real person with feelings and desires beyond sex, something the original could've stood to do more of with Barney.