"How I Met Your Father" is in the same state. HIMYM was a hit, but it's first handful of episodes are pretty uneven, although it hits stride a little early, with "Okay Awesome" (S01E05); HIMYF didn't really nail its characters until episode 8 or 9 of its first season (totally normal for a sitcom, but a near-death-knell for a 10-episde first season).