“How I Met Your Father” is back, and no, we still don’t know who the father is. But the season two premiere, which Hulu released on Jan. 24, promised something even bigger: a major cameo from a member of the original “How I Met Your Mother” cast. It’s not surprising, since the season one finale featured Cobie Smulders as Robin Scherbatsky giving advice to Sophie (Hilary Duff) about her relationship with Jesse (Christopher Lowell). But in the season two premiere, viewers get a look at the original’s most legendary cast member: Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson. Barney returns for a good chunk of episode 11, the midseason finale, and he and Sophie have an emotional heart-to-heart about something they share in their pasts. Barney, like Robin, ultimately inspires Sophie to take a major step forward in her life, though we don’t know how it’ll turn out just yet.
The rest of the first half of “HIMYF” season two involves some other major cameos, including pop star Meghan Trainor as Sophie’s neighbor, actor Mark Consuelos as Valentina’s (Francia Raisa) father, and “Sex and the City” star John Corbett as a chef who dates Sophie for a few episodes. There’s also a cameo from a minor “HIMYM” star who die-hard fans will definitely remember. Ahead, we’re breaking down Harris’s return to the series, plus all the other cameos that have happened so far.
