The Ending To HIMYM Wasn't Actually Bad And Let Me Explain Why

How I Met Your Mother came up on this week's episode of Pardon My Take and it turns out Max and Memes are huge fans of the show, just as I am as well. I feel like I was put on this Earth to discuss HIMYM, it's probably the thing I do best. And whenever HIMYM is discussed, the polarizing ending is always the topic of discussion. I've read and analyzed everything there is to say about the ending and this is my opinion on it- it's not bad. Not only is it not bad, it's actually quite good. And just note- I am talking about the ENDING, not the final season. That is very important to note. Let me explain:

I think the ending, with Ted going over to Robin's with the blue french horn, is wonderful. I think when people hate the "finale" they aren't talking about the Ted/Robin part, but the final season as a whole. The pacing, the episodes themselves, Marshall's storyline, etc...The final season itself just isn't great television, which made the finale a disappointment to so many. 

If the final season didn't revolve around the Barney/Robin wedding only for them to divorce 12 seconds later, I think people would have an easier time digesting the Ted storyline. Having the entire season take place at the Inn while hardly featuring the Mother was a mistake. So if you compartmentalize the two different things- the final season as a whole wasn't great, but the Ted/Robin ending is realistic and fits the show perfectly. 

We have to remember the central theme of the show was always one thing- Timing. Fate, and timing, I suppose. Tracy and Ted met at the right time and fell in love. Ted and Robin could never work when they were young because Ted wanted marriage and kids while Robin wanted to focus on her career and become a world-renowned journalist. They both got what they wanted and then reconnected when the timing finally worked for both of them. 

Tracy gave Ted the life he always dreamt of. Robin got the life she always dreamt of. But timing was never their strong-suit. I think that's hyper-realistic. A lot of us have found the right person at the wrong time. It doesn't mean the next person, or the person you marry, isn't also the right person. It's all about timing. 

But back to the final season as a whole, it's truly just a bummer how it ended up that way. Marshall being out to lunch sucked. The rhyming episode sucked. But the episode that focused on Tracy was one of the best. I wish they did something like a 12 episode final season- 6 that focused on Tracy's journey and integration to Ted's life, and 6 with the gang. More Tracy, less "thank you Linus". 

HIMYM is my number 1 comfort show and I think it's as close to a perfect sitcom as possible, minus the final season. But the good parts of the final season put a great bow on it, as long as you can forget about the filler episodes that bog it down.

If you haven't watch it, I highly recommend it. There's so many jokes that stack up on each other, and it's such an easy and fun watch at the end of the day. I'm glad HIMYM is gaining popularity this long after it aired, and finally getting a lot of the love it deserves. 

PS: The "Ted Mosby is the WORST" people are short-sighted and lazy. He's a complex character, not the worst. Way, WAYYYY more people are like Ted than Barney, but for sitcoms, people would rather see characters like Barney. That does not make Ted "the worst" though.