How I Met Your Mother Pilot Revisited

We're going to play a little game we like to call, Haaaaaave You Met Ted? And Robin? And Barney? And Marshall and Lily?

How I Met Your Mother premiered on Monday, Sept. 19, 2005, and whether or not you agree with how the CBS comedy ended, one thing remains undisputed: The pilot was, in a word, legendary.

We're taking a look back at the episode that hooked millions to see how it holds up all these years later. (It's currently streaming on Hulu.) From Ted and Robin's meet-cute to Marshall and Lily's flawed olive theory, the following is the perfect stroll down memory lane for a show that was awesome... at least 83 percent of the time.

So skim through our collection of must-see moments, then drop a comment with your fondest memories from Episode 1.

Here, in this graceful screen grab of Josh Radnor, Barney appears to have eyes on Robin before Ted gets a good look at her. If we're to believe that the Barnacle saw Scherbatsky first, was he in fact the ultimate bro? He could've called dibs, but he didn't.

"And there she was."

No further caption required.

We saw plenty of Metro News 1 during Robin's stint on the local news network, but we'd pay to see footage of the fabled "Monkey Plays a Ukuele" segment referenced here.

Robin would later claim that she hadn't made any friends since she landed in New York, which begs the question: Who were these ladies? And how fast did Robin ditch 'em after earning a permanent seat at the gang's iconic booth?

Hey, look! Our first "Smurf penis" sighting! Who would've thought that Blue French Horn would prove so important in the grand scheme of things?

Ted goes on to fill Robin in on Marshall and Lily's Olive theory: "He hates olives, she loves them," he explains. "In a weird way, that's what makes them such a great couple. Perfect balance." Of course, this would prove to be an invalid theory. As we'd soon learn, Marshall only pretended to hate olives when he and Lily first started going out.

Also, why was the friend group seated at a table when their booth was wide open?

Just like Carl the Bartender, Ranjit was there from the very beginning, always there to say "Hello!" (Also, here's one hour of Ranjit saying "Hello!" You're welcome.)

A series-defining moment: Ted steals Robin the Blue French Horn!

But he's not a closer, that one!

Really not a closer, that one!

Looking back, this was probably the moment Luke and Penny realized why they were hearing the "incredible story" of how Dad met... Aunt Robin.

It just took us a little while longer. (Salt, meet wound!)

When Future Ted tells his kids that he's sat them down to share "the incredible story of... how I met your mother," they seem like they'd rather be anywhere else. I mean, just look at their posture! Luke wants to know if he and his big sister are "being punished for something," while Penny has the nerve to ask "Is this going to take a while?" (Um, yeah it's going to "take a while"! Have some respect! Your mother's dead!)

Come to think of it, this is some of the only proof we have of Ted Mosby architecting.

First Barney sighting! His hair game did not match his suit-and-tie game in Season 1.

The gang couldn't remember fellow barkeep Mark (R.I.P., Mark) if they tried, but there's no forgetting Carl the Bartender. He's been at MacLaren's Pub since Day 1. (Just don't ask us for his last name.)

In a flashback, Barney tells a goateed Ted that he shouldn't even think about getting married until he's at least 30. Three seasons later, a 30-year-old proposes Ted proposes to Stella.

Marshall is a lot of things — a future New York Supreme Court judge, a dedicated partner to Lily, a firm believer in the Loch Ness Monster — but he is not a chef. (Remember when he tried making pancakes?) Lily was clearly feigning excitement when her fiance-to-be said he was preparing a romantic dinner for two. It's probably why she took over in the kitchen.

"Hey, loser! How is not playing laser tag? Because playing laser tag is awesome!"

We don't talk enough about the fact that Barney was a gigantic dork. 

Or how Marshall feared Lily's reaction when Barney kissed him. (The gay panic has not aged well.)

Ted never did anything crazy before he "took the leap" that night and returned to Robin's apartment. Sound familiar?