It showed potential in the first season, but then they started abusing the already omnipresent flashback in season 2 and ever since then they've just kept making it more and more absurd.
I do still dig HIMYM, but I agree it's not quite what it used to be. Though the past couple have been a little better, I think season 5 was the least good.
I don't mind the flashback comedy device, ha the only thing I often find weak is when they use it to introduce a very odd new quirk to one of the characters that the episode will focus on. Especially Barney, and it often doesn't seem to fit in at all with what's come prior.
Like, three episodes from now it'll be like "Barney can't read! FLASHBACK".
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