How I Met Your Father is one step closer to answering the big question: Who is the titular father?

The eventful two-part Season 2 finale of Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger’s How I Met Your Mother sequel series premiered on Hulu July 11, and in addition to a long-awaited makeup, a long-awaited breakup, and a mid-hurricane make-out session, we’re pretty sure How I Met Your Father eliminated one major contender as the father of Sophie’s son.

With any luck, we haven’t seen the last of Sophie (Hilary Duff), Valentina (Francia Raisa), Jesse (Chris Lowell), Sid (Suraj Sharma), Ellen (Tien Tran), and Charlie’s (Tom Ainsley) friendships and love stories evolve on our screens. But is How I Met Your Father Season 3 officially coming to Hulu?

Wondering if How I Met Your Father was renewed or canceled? And what a potential Season 3 could look like? Here’s everything we know about the future of the How I Met Your Mother sequel series.

As of How I Met Your Father’s Season 2 finale date (July 11) the series had yet to be renewed or canceled by Hulu. Decider reached out to a rep for the series and will update this piece when we hear back, but just because there aren’t any updates yet doesn’t mean fans should lose hope. 

How I Met Your Father was renewed for a second season halfway through Season 1, which was a good sign. And while Season 1 was 10 episodes, Season 2’s supersized 20-episode order was also encouraging for the series. The show’s hit predecessor, How I Met Your Mother, lasted nine seasons. And while it’s uncommon for shows to last that long in the age of streaming, it’s clear that How I Met Your Father still has material for additional episodes, because, well, we still don’t know the identity of the titular father!

It seems unthinkable for Hulu to cancel a series with such a charming cast and a unique nostalgia factor before its core question has been answered, but we’ve been burned too many times this year by unexpectedly canceled shows in 2023, so How I Met Your Father fans should keep their fingers crossed just to be safe.

Season 1 of How I Met Your Father premiered in January 2022 and wrapped up in March 2022, while Season 2 ran from January 2023 to July 2023, with a short hiatus in the middle of the extended 20-episode run.

If How I Met Your Father was following its typical release schedule it’s possible we could see new episodes in January 2024. But as is the case with a number of other series, the WGA strike (and a potential SAG strike) may delay the return of new episodes. While we await more updates, let’s consider what a Season 3 might look like.

If you’re looking for a detailed recap of How I Met Your Father’s Season 2 finale, check out our ending explained article, which dives deep into Season 2, Episode 20, “Okay Fine, It’s A Hurricane.” But if you’re ready to think ahead, here’s what a potential Season 3 could look like.

Season 2 ended with four major relationship developments: Sophie and Jesse got back together and shared an iconic kiss mid-hurricane that none of us should ever try at home. Sid and Hannah almost definitely broke up, called off their engagement, or at the very least are taking a break after Hannah kissed another guy and Sid had a short-lived emotional affair with another girl. And we caught Val kissing DREW in the supply closet of Pemberton’s. Before you get too worried about their relationship — which adult Sophie (Kim Cattrall) described as “a disaster” — just know that before the episode ends, we receive photographic evidence that Valentina and Charlie reunite at some point and eventually have a child named Alex. AWW!

A potential Season 3 of How I Met Your Father would continue following the friend group’s friendship, daily dramas, and pursuits of love. We’d ideally see Jesse and Sophie give their relationship another (more successful) shot, Sid recover from his Season 2 finale heartbreak, Val and Drew do, uh, whatever it is they’re about to do, and Val and Charlie eventually find their way back to each other. Oh, and in addition to more How I Met Your Mother cameos (duh!) we’d hopefully see some more personal Ellen and Charlie storylines as well! Ellen and Charlie rule!

The unanswered question of who fathered Sophie’s son will obviously remain a major mystery in need of solving in Season 3, but if ratings are solid and Hulu thinks How I Met Your Father has the staying power (or even half the staying power) of How I Met Your Mother, that storyline will likely be drawn out longer.

The first two seasons of How I Met Your Father are currently streaming on Hulu.