How I Met Your Mother’s Ending Sucks. (Reddit)

Unequivocally, resolutely, and with the weight of a thousand disappointed sighs echoing across the internet: yes, How I Met Your Mother’s ending sucks. It’s a sentiment shared across countless Reddit threads, forum posts, and angry tweets, and it’s a conclusion born not from mere disagreement, but from a fundamental betrayal of character arcs, established themes, and years of invested emotional capital. The finale, rather than providing a satisfying resolution, opted for shock value and a rushed, emotionally bankrupt narrative that retroactively tarnished the brilliance of the preceding seasons. It was a narrative fumble of epic proportions, a sitcom sin for which redemption seems perpetually out of reach.

The Crime Scene: Why the Finale Failed

The problem isn’t just that things didn’t go the way some viewers wanted. The problem is that the events unfolded in a way that actively undermined the core tenets of the show. We were promised a story about Ted’s epic journey to find his wife, Tracy McConnell (the Mother). Instead, we got a truncated portrait of their brief, beautiful, and tragically short marriage, only to have her unceremoniously killed off so that Ted could end up with Robin.

The Robin Problem: A Regression of Character

For nine seasons, How I Met Your Mother painstakingly detailed the reasons why Ted and Robin weren’t meant to be. Robin, driven by ambition and career aspirations, consistently prioritized her independence over a conventional relationship. Ted, a hopeless romantic yearning for a traditional family life, craved the very things Robin wasn’t willing to offer.

The show, for all its comedic detours, seemed to acknowledge this incompatibility. Ted moved on, growing as a person and ultimately finding happiness with Tracy. Robin, too, matured and pursued her dreams. The finale, however, disregarded this growth, reverting both characters to their season one selves as if the intervening years held no significance. Robin’s career success and Ted’s blissful marriage were merely temporary obstacles to their “true” destiny, a narrative choice that cheapened their individual journeys and their relationship with each other.

The Mother’s Marginalization: A Disrespectful Disservice

Tracy, the titular Mother, was relegated to a supporting role in her own story. After seasons of anticipation, she was given a fleeting, almost perfunctory portrayal. We saw glimpses of her warmth, her wit, and her deep connection with Ted, but never enough to truly grasp the depth of their bond. Her death, while undoubtedly heartbreaking, felt like a plot device designed solely to facilitate Ted and Robin’s reunion. It was a shocking twist delivered with cold indifference, effectively sacrificing a beloved character on the altar of manufactured drama. This is one of the main reasons How I Met Your Mother’s ending sucks.

Rushed Pacing: A Narrative Whiplash

The entire final season, dedicated to Barney and Robin’s wedding, felt like a massive red herring. The decision to cram years of character development and significant life events into a single episode created a sense of narrative whiplash. Barney and Robin’s divorce, Tracy’s illness and death, and Ted’s rekindled feelings for Robin were all crammed into a mere 20 minutes, leaving viewers reeling and emotionally disoriented.

The Betrayal of Barney: From Player to… What, Exactly?

Barney’s arc was arguably the most egregious casualty of the finale’s rushed storytelling. Over the series, he evolved from a womanizing caricature to a complex, albeit flawed, character capable of genuine love and loyalty. His marriage to Robin, while ultimately short-lived, felt like a natural progression of his character development. The finale, however, inexplicably undid this progress, reducing him to a heartbroken, cynical singleton before randomly pivoting to a heartfelt moment when he has a baby with a random woman. This arc, and the show in general, are not on the same level as shows like Seinfeld.

Reddit’s Verdict: The Jury is In

The internet, and particularly Reddit, hasn’t been kind to the How I Met Your Mother finale. Threads dedicated to dissecting its flaws, lamenting its missed potential, and sharing alternative endings abound. The overwhelming consensus is that the finale was a colossal disappointment, a betrayal of the show’s promise, and a disservice to its loyal fanbase. Reddit users often point to the show’s earlier seasons as examples of masterful storytelling, contrasting them with the rushed, contrived, and ultimately unsatisfying conclusion. Many fans have even proposed their own alternative endings, demonstrating the depth of their disappointment and their desire for a more fitting resolution.

The Alternative Ending: A Fan’s Wishlist

While the official ending is irreversible, the internet has offered numerous alternative versions, many of which resonate more deeply with fans. These alternative endings typically focus on:

• A more extended and fulfilling portrayal of Ted and Tracy’s relationship: Showcasing the joys of their marriage, their shared experiences, and the profound impact they had on each other.
• Giving Tracy a more dignified and meaningful send-off: Allowing her death to be a catalyst for Ted’s personal growth rather than a mere plot device.
• Respecting the character arcs of Ted, Robin, and Barney: Avoiding regression and maintaining the integrity of their individual journeys.
• Ending the show with Ted still in love with Tracy: Allowing him to tell the story of her to his children and leave it at that.

These alternative endings, while unofficial, offer a glimpse of what How I Met Your Mother could have been, a testament to the show’s potential and the enduring disappointment of its actual conclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Was the How I Met Your Mother ending always planned?

While creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas have stated that they had the ending in mind from the beginning, the execution clearly suffered from a lack of nuance and a disregard for character development. The fact that they filmed scenes with the kids early on doesn’t excuse a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion.

2. Why did the show spend so much time on Robin if she wasn’t the Mother?

This is a major point of contention. The writers used the Robin storyline as a source of dramatic tension and comedic fodder throughout the series, but the finale’s decision to ultimately reunite Ted and Robin felt like a betrayal of the Mother’s importance. The overemphasis on Robin detracted from the narrative’s central premise.

3. Did Josh Radnor (Ted) and Cobie Smulders (Robin) agree with the ending?

Neither actor has explicitly condemned the ending, but their nuanced comments suggest a degree of understanding for the fans’ disappointment. It’s unlikely they would openly criticize the writers, given their professional relationship.

4. What are some common criticisms of the finale?

The most common criticisms include the rushed pacing, the marginalization of Tracy, the regression of Ted and Robin’s characters, the undoing of Barney’s development, and the overall lack of emotional resonance.

5. Could the show have ended differently without rewriting the entire series?

Absolutely. Even with the existing footage, the writers could have crafted a more satisfying conclusion by focusing on the strength of Ted and Tracy’s relationship and avoiding the unnecessary and unwelcome Ted-Robin reunion.

6. Is there a consensus among fans that the ending was bad?

The overwhelming majority of fans express disappointment with the finale. While some may appreciate the shock value, the general sentiment is one of betrayal and frustration.

7. Does the alternate ending available on the DVD/Blu-ray improve the finale?

The alternate ending is an improvement, but it still doesn’t fully address the core issues. It offers a slightly more extended and emotionally resonant portrayal of Ted and Tracy’s relationship, but it doesn’t fundamentally alter the Ted-Robin resolution.

8. Did the show jump the shark before the finale?

Some argue that the show’s quality declined in the later seasons, particularly after the introduction of Tracy. However, the finale is widely considered to be the point where the show truly jumped the shark, irrevocably damaging its legacy.

9. How has the negative reception of the finale affected the show’s overall reputation?

The negative reception has undoubtedly tarnished the show’s reputation. While How I Met Your Mother is still remembered fondly by many, the finale remains a significant point of contention and a source of ongoing debate.

10. Was there any internal conflict or debate among the writers about the ending?

It’s impossible to know the full extent of the internal discussions, but the final product suggests a lack of consensus or a willingness to compromise on the original vision, even if it meant sacrificing character development and narrative coherence.

11. Is it fair to judge a show solely based on its ending?

While it’s important to consider the entire body of work, the ending plays a crucial role in shaping a viewer’s overall perception of a show. A weak ending can retroactively diminish the impact of even the best seasons.

12. What lessons can other TV shows learn from the How I Met Your Mother finale?

The primary lesson is to prioritize character development, respect established themes, and avoid sacrificing narrative coherence for the sake of shock value. A satisfying ending should be a natural culmination of the story, not a contrived twist designed to subvert expectations at the expense of everything else. It’s better to be predictable and emotionally resonant than to be surprising and ultimately meaningless. In short, don’t make the same mistakes. That is the best advice.