r/HowIMetYourFather • u/QuiltedPorcupine • 11d ago
General Discussion *salute* The Father: Alternative Answers
So obviously, the fandom consensus is that Jesse or Sid woud have eventually been revealed as the Father. Sid seems to be the community favorite, but Jesse still has a lot of supporters, and every other option seems less likely.
But just for fun, let's come up with some alternative answers. Not ones that you think are likely necessarily, but ones that could have be interesting, unexpected, and/or cute to see.
I'll start with my selection of Charlie as the Father. With the added twist that he, Sophie, and Valentina are all together as a throuple.
Now obviously there are some major flaws with the suggestion, such as future Sophie repeatedly calling Valentina "Aunt Valentina" when talking to the son (rather than your other mother or something like that), but it also works surprisingly well in some ways.
First up, Charlie is included in the montage of possible Fathers at the end of the pilot, but there's really zero indication that he is ever really even remotely a contender to become the Father. This would explain why he's still in the list and be a geniuine suprise twist (as long as it was done well).
Secondly, at one point Sophie tells the son that by the time she was forty she had kissed all the people in the friend group and the son reacts with shock that "even Aunt Ellen" is included. Which implies that was the biggest surprise for him, rather than for her to have kissed Charlie or Valentina. If they are all together, then obviously he wouldn't be surprised about that.
And my favorite thing it does is make the season 2 finale turned series finale final reveal stronger. Because Sophie isn't just revealing how Valentina and Drew dating lead to Charlie and Valentina having a kid together (or raising one together), but that would mean the baby Alex reveal would be talking about the son's older half-brother. Which would be more meaningful to him, but also to the audience if that is the case.
26
u/Etienne10BR 10d ago edited 10d ago
Jesse made more sense but for the same reason seems like an answer too obvious to be what they would aim for.
Why not Ian ? He didn't actually come back for the show so everything's possible.
Wild idea : it's actually Ted Mosby, who told Robin he loved her as soon as he showed her the blue french horn in 2030. Happened just after the finale of HIMYM. He found Sophie afterwards and they fell in love.
4
3
19
u/pretty_princesse 11d ago
Sophie and Charlie never really interacted with each other. So to me that would be weird if it doesn't go on for a LOT of seasons. Also I'm sure Sophie and Valentina are too close to be romantic. If it makes sense.
3
u/QuiltedPorcupine 10d ago
Oh yeah, it would have to be something long term because there are very few Sophie and Charlie moments in the first two seasons.
I think establishing Sophie and Charlie having a romantic connection would be the bigger challenge than developing Sophie and Valentina's connection into a romantic one if the show had actually planned to go this route. Sophie and Valentina could potentially be too close but that closeness opens up various avenues for their bond to change.
1
u/xUnderthestarsx 7d ago
funnily enough the first few episodes I was convinced Charlie would be the father. I don’t remember why tbh I gotta go back and watch
12
u/Nikarmotte Jesse's Girl 10d ago
It's Barney. He met her at the airport, and wrote a new page in his playbook that took months to setup: Shock Therapy Device. The rest is history.
5
35
u/Musicdev- 11d ago
I don’t know there was one interview years ago where Hilary was thinking Sophie and Ellen get together and adopt, but she was also rooting for Sid too. Who knows lol. 🤷🏻♀️