故事围绕着五位主角展开。在大学任职教授的泰德(乔什·拉德诺 Josh Radnor 饰)还在感情路上寻寻觅觅,等待真命天女的到来。这天,巴尼(尼尔·帕特里克·哈里斯 Neil Patrick Harris 饰)告诉他一个消息,巨人国家银行委派他设计一座新的总部大楼。几经 考虑后,泰德答应接受这份工作,因此泰德和巴尼成为了工作伙伴。 另一方面,婚后的马修(杰森·席格尔 Jason Segel 饰)和莉莉(艾丽森·汉妮根 Alyson Hannigan 饰)开始了他们伟大的“造人计划”,然而事情并非一帆风顺。他们的好友罗宾(寇碧·史莫德斯 Cobie Smulders饰)因为与男友分手而情绪低落,她何时可以摆脱失恋阴霾?Ted sees a beautiful woman sitting alone at the bar reading a book. He and Barney argue on who gets the privilege of approaching her. After Ted wins the battle, he may change his mind as he soon finds out that she is a friend of an old girlfriend, Cindy, with who their relationship ended very badly. But Ted also remembers that Cindy's roommate - who Ted only saw the back of - could actually be Ted's soul mate. Will Ted risk approaching this woman while receiving the wrath of Cindy on the chance that that woman is Cindy's roommate? Meanwhile, Robin has had a difficult summer trying to get over Don, and the way she looks shows it. And Lily and Marshall have scheduled tonight as the first night they will try to conceive a child. Marshall has even saved himself for two weeks in preparation. But someone may get between Marshall and Lily getting together this evening: Marvin Sr., who is a little too involved in Marshall's life for Lily's liking.