Oh, it’s going to be legen — wait for it — dary: All nine seasons of How I Met Your Mother are now available on Netflix in the US. If you were a fan of the sitcom when it originally ran, from 2005 to 2014, and you want to fire up a rewatch, or if you’re new to the series and want to learn what “suit up” means, or figure out why your friends are giving their high-fives specific names, or finally would like to know why people salute you when you say you have “major news,” well, the time is now! 

If you’re looking to do a little prep work before you dive into all 208 episodes, have no fear — below, find a guide to all the How I Met Your Mother basics. We’re talking about all the whos, whats, and wheres — basically everything except for how they meet the mother. For that intel, you’re going to have to watch.

Everett Collection

What happens in How I Met Your Mother?

Created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, How I Met Your Mother is your typical “group of friends in their 20s and 30s hanging out” kind of show — but with a twist. The New York City-set series is framed by our main character, Ted Mosby, telling his teenage son and daughter how he met their mother 25 years ago. (Ted is played in the present by Josh Radnor and voiced in 2030 by Bob Saget.) So, not only do we get to watch the mystery of who the mother is and how she arrives in Ted’s life unfold, but HIMYM is also free to play around within its format — jumping around in time, messing with memories, and making lots of commentary about the way things were. 

While those elements set How I Met Your Mother apart from other shows in this genre, what really keeps you coming back for more is the chemistry and camaraderie between our five friends, Ted, Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), Lily (Alyson Hannigan), Robin (Cobie Smulders), and Marshall (Jason Segel). The show has a lot of laughs, yes, but it has a lot of heart, too. 

Everett Collection

Who stars in How I Met Your Mother?

• Josh Radnor (Happythankyoumoreplease, Fleishman Is in Trouble) as Ted Mosby, a hopeless romantic and the “I” from How I Met Your Mother
• Neil Patrick Harris (A Series of Unfortunate Events) as Barney Stinson, a womanizer with a secretly good heart and a deep love for well-made suits 
• Alyson Hannigan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, American Pie) as Lily Aldrin, a kindergarten teacher who marries Marshall, her college sweetheart
• Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Shrinking) as lawyer and devoted Minnesotan Marshall Eriksen, Lily’s husband
• Cobie Smulders (The Avengers, Stumptown) as news reporter and former Canadian teen pop star Robin Scherbatsky
• Bob Saget (Full House, Fuller House) as Ted-the-narrator in 2030 (voice only)

Katy Perry (right) guest starring as Honey in How I Met Your Mother.

Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images

Were there any notable guest stars on How I Met Your Mother?

Its nine seasons were basically a parade of notable guest stars. From terrible bosses played by Martin Short (Marshall’s) and Bryan Cranston (Ted’s) to memorable family members including Chris Elliot (Lily’s father), John Lithgow (Barney’s estranged father), Frances Conroy (Barney’s mother), and Wayne Brady (Barney’s brother). There are, of course, a lot of notable celebs who played significant others or one-off dates, including: Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Katie Holmes, Carrie Underwood, Enrique Iglesias, Sarah Chalke, and Rachel Bilson. And Alan Thicke, Robin Sparkles’ buddy from up north, was known to pop by from time to time. 

Michael Yarish/CBS via Getty Images

Who is Robin Sparkles?

You really have to ask?! She’s only one of the greatest early ’90s teen pop idols from Canada. An icon! A legend! Okay, fine, Robin Sparkles is the name Robin used during her brief stint on the Canadian charts — a secret the group discovers in Season 2. Her one-hit wonder “Let’s Go to the Mall!” and its accompanying video are a treat for the ears and the eyes. Don’t sleep on her artsy follow-up flop, “Sandcastles in the Sand,” complete with a black-and-white video featuring James Van Der Beek as Robin’s first boyfriend. And who could forget her short-lived educational TV series with her ex-best friend Jessica Glitter (Nicole Scherzinger) and its famous “Two Beavers Are Better Than One” anthem. Is Robin Sparkles real? Only in our hearts.

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images

Is MacLaren’s Pub a real bar?

If only! The gang’s home base certainly does feel real, doesn’t it?

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images

What are some essential How I Met Your Mother episodes to watch?

If you’re not ready to tackle all 208 episodes of How I Met Your Mother, here are the episodes that you shouldn’t miss:

“Pilot”

And this, kids, is where it all began. Meet the gang at MacLaren’s for the first time, see Lily and Marshall get engaged, and watch Ted and Robin’s first date (which is foundational for HIMYM lore), and then buckle up for a very long, but highly entertaining story.

“Slap Bet”

So much iconic HIMYM in one episode. It’s both the origin of Barney and Marshall’s epic “slap bet” and the reveal of Robin’s biggest secret: She once had a brief career as a Canadian teen pop star named Robin Sparkles. 

“Slapsgiving”

How many jokes can one show get out of a slap bet, you ask? So many. While Lily tries to throw the gang’s first adult Thanksgiving, Ted and Robin figure out if it’s possible to be friends after breaking up, and Marshall torments Barney with a countdown to the third out of five slaps he’s allowed to dole out. It’s Jason Segel and Neil Patrick Harris at the top of their game. Happy Slapsgiving, indeed!

“The Leap”

This one’s for the Barney and Robin ‘shippers — it’s the episode where they finally admit they’re in love with each other.

“Last Words”

The gang faces some of its heaviest emotional territory yet when Marshall’s beloved father suddenly dies and the rest of the group finds ways to be supportive as he tries to remember the last words his father ever said to him. There are a lot of laughs, but prepare yourself for the tears. There will be tears.

“How Your Mother Met Me”

In a fun spin on things, we run through the entire series but from the mother’s perspective. It kicks off on the same day as the pilot, and we revisit a host of major HIMYM moments, including all of the times Ted unknowingly crossed paths with his future wife. Cristin Milioti (Black Mirror) shines and it reminds us how much fun the series can have with its format.

“Last Forever: Part One” and “Last Forever: Part Two”

It’s the big finale! The one where you find out how we met the mother! Come on, you gotta watch that one!

When will How I Met Your Mother be on Netflix?

You’re in luck — all nine seasons are streaming right now.

Find Your Next Netflix Obsession on TudumWhatever you love to stream, we’ve got tips on the latest releases, true crime, book adaptations, stand-up comedy, award-winning films and more.