There are many tragic episodes in How I Met Your Mother and I believe this one takes the cake due to its hidden meanings and ties to the finale. Thank you for 2,000 subscribers! To those of you new around here, please like and subscribe for more content like this! Song Used: • Vermillion (By Me) ruclips.net/video/JSlM_CcR-wQ/видео.html Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:52 - The Time Travelers 07:46 - Why It Is So Tragic
That and the "Countdown" episode (I call it that because I don't realize it until I see a random number about half-way in), where they show the countdown throughout the show with "0" being the taxi right before Lily tells Marshall his dad died.
I was just casually enjoying the video and this scene hit and I burst into tears in 0.5 seconds. Having two kids of my own, I really hope my wife and I are healthy enough to be there together to witness our kid's marriages.
My entire issue with the end is the divorce, the mother dying was always built up but it felt like the divorce happened just so Robin is single again, which i personally hated. Not everyone who has a spouse die falls in love again or falls back into old love, and i feel like having ted just happy with his kids and memory of his wife is bittersweet enough to get the ending the realism it needed without splitting uo the couple that the better part of 5 seasons built up
Yeah that's the sentiment that everyone shares regarding the ending. Had Barney and Robin just stayed together the ending would have been really good. It just seemed way too contrived for there to be a divorce and for the mother to die only to allow Ted and Robin to end up back together. Also, I feel like it would have made it just a little bit better had for the last scene been everyone on the front porch like Lilly wanted.
Honestly I don't hate that they got divorced, I think they were able to fit in a really good arch for Barney becoming a dad and learning, and robin realizing she was a little selfish and had regrets in the last two episodes. I don't think ted and her should have got together, but that is the only thing I would have chances, just the last like 5 minutes of the episode
I never cared about Barney's and Robin's wedding.. they were so forced together.. Robin wanted Barney, coz she couldn't have him and Barney manipulated her.. how does that relationship last?
I can agree it's a weird ending. It is human, though, to go back to some form of comfort so I can get why it's the ending. Not everyone learns and grows. I do see it as some form of regression. It doesn't take away from the series as a whole.
It is also semi hopeful as ted reiterates "all that is just 45 days away" so while sad he is optimistically a little over a month away from the wait being over! Very sad episode though the "look around ted... you're all alone" and then it pans out to an empty bar, that gets me everytime
From this video, I'm no longer think Ted love Robin anymore. He did let her go. This episode is still the time he tell stories to his kids, which is exactly still the time when his kids tells him to get back with Robin. He is still in grief, its not a love. It's an escape. Which is what Robin deserve.
I had to explain to someone that if your spouse is alive, you don't cry out to start the relationship earlier, you make the most of your time now. If you're asking for an extra 45 days, it's because they're gone.
just rewatched the episode where barney tries to hang out with his father "if you were gonna be some boring suburban dad why couldn't you be that for me" I always forget about that arc but it really hits every time I watch the show...
And then he give the basketball hoop to Ted, and Barney telling him that his kids needs a basketball hoop, and my favorite part is when Barney hold his newborn daughter and decided to change his life for her
If only they hadn't spent the entire last season for a wedding, then immediately do a 180 and have them divorce. The idea of Barney and Robin getting married and then divorcing isn't an inherently bad idea, just don't spend a season building it up. What they should've done is have their wedding be a three or even four part episode, there's a lot of season 9 that you could cut. Then spend season 9 on Ted and Tracy's relationship, wedding, her disease, hell you could even possibly justify why Ted went back to Robin
I’m torn on what is the saddest episode. It’s either this or Marshall’s dad’s funeral. In that one, the alienation he feels being dissatisfied with the last conversation he had with his father. If you’ve been there, that never goes away. Last words will always be last words. Granted, they put a happy twist in the voicemail and give the space for happiness and laughter for “rent crocodile Dundee 3”. Unfortunately the truth is for those who have experienced it, it doesn’t resolve that quickly, and oftentimes you are simply left unhappy and bitter that there was no “appropriate” goodbye
How I met your mother was one of the last shows my late husband and I were watching together before he passed away, at a similarage to Tracy. He passed around the time where Robin and Barney had gotten engaged and were planning the wedding. I remember seeing this episode for the first time and it just seemed like a silly episode that was barely memorable compared to others. I also didn't hate the ending, but damn did it hit hard considering my personal loss and our connection to the show. I remember the first time rewtching this episode and totally losing it when it clicked what they were doing. It instantly went from being pretty average to one of the biggest stand out episodes. Even as tragic as it was, it has become one of my faves. Great video, thanks!
I'm with you, I never had a problem with the Mother dying. In fact, given the groundwork they laid, I would feel like they denied themselves an earned ending. The problem I have is that the Ted/Robin ending flows out of an initial plan that they had for the show from the beginning. They failed to realize that they outgrew that ending by growing the characters. Ted's story for me is that the pursuit of love is a worthy pursuit despite the cost. I didn't want Ted to end up with Robin. I wanted him to accept that the cost was worth it and pursue again.
16 дней назад+7
well, thanks for make me cry, that line "What mother would miss her daughter's wedding" is hearth breaking
Good opinion, the Mom being dead was genius of the writers. The whole last season sadly was a big dumpster fire, with the marriage taking most of it and then ending next episode
As much as i was sad that the mom was dead, it was never the issue i had with the ending, it was the complete reversal of barneys character and the force reconnection of Ted and Robin
The ending never bothered me either. It was the ending I knew was planned from episode 1. And it is life. People do divorce. People do die. And life does go on. And the blessed ones enjoy it all along the way.
First time I saw this episode I remember thinking "damn, so Ted is alone cause he's too busy living in the past" then when the series ended and I rewatched it, it morphed into pretty much what you said. It gets so much more heartbreaking because out of all the things he could do, all he wanted was 45 extra days with Tracy. Between that little speech, and Lily telling Marshall that his dad died, those two scenes get me every. Damn. Time. Also, I agree with you, Tracy dying didn't ruin the end for me, life happens and unfortunately we don't get to live forever. What irked me was him ending up Robin solely for the sake of "oh it's Ted and Robin"....cause that worked so well the first 5 times Great analysis. Appreciate your due diligence in the dive of this episode
Which episode always got me the most was "change of heart" how barney stood in front of that dinner and walked away.... to this day can't hear the song that plays during or remember that scene without choking up
How I met your mother brings out emotions which I didn't know I could feel. I'm not an overly emotional guy, in fact I'm not emotional at all. But this series, this serieeees. it just exposes a part of me that feels ig
Frankly I wouldn't have minded Tracy dying at the end if they didn't have Ted go right back to Robin with the blue French horn. I personally think she should've stayed with Barney and allowed Ted to just live a happy life with his kids.
For me one of the most tragic episodes is when time "stopped" for Barney when he thought he could finally get back with Robin. They both agreed to show up at McLaren's if they both agree to leave their current partners and be together. Barney did his part but Robin showed up with her bf at that time Kevin (played by Kal Penn). The few seconds where time stopped for Barney as he wiped his eyes really made me view Barney in a completely different light.
Yay! My favorite episode! I love the tonal whiplash from humorous to sad (and back to humorous, if you count the pre-credits bit). It really embodies everything I love about the show. If I've got someone who can't handle it, I'll tell them my fav episode is "Three Days of Snow". Way more lighthearted, funny, with a pinch of emotional.
I agree with you about Tracy's death and Robin and Ted's get together. I don't even necessarily hate that Robin and Barney divorce (fav ship but I do get it) but the execution definitely was bad. 2 seasons of build up to divorce 5 minutes into the finale? That said, it might be some of my bias. I never liked Ted and Robin as a couple. Too many things in the beginning that gave legitimate reasons not to route for them. Robin wanted vastly different things and was up front about it. Ted always had this fantasy of Robin that never seemed to match with who she actually was. And later on, it felt like Robin clung to the idea of Ted to cope with divorce.
The best is Marshall. His arc doesn’t envolve the following: he didn’t leave lily, he didn’t hook up robin. He never really dated anyone when lily left. It’s not Barney, unless you really think Daniel isn’t the karate kid.
The problem is, if Ted didn’t go through with the letting go of Robin, then Tracy was just Ted settling. But, Ted let go of Robin so many times and kept going back, that it was inevitable he would go back. And, because it was all dumped in the last episode, it felt like Tracy was a throwaway character and that Ted was settling until he could get Robin back. Maybe it would’ve been a better ending if ROBIN came over with the blue French Horn.
I felt it was an ok ending. But not a bad ending. Like even i predicted the ending. One of the biggest complain is that the wife died and robin was the end game. And i am here like “did u guys forget about the all the seasons? His storytelling was literally how simp/obsessed he is for robin” people would say “then why even bother with the mom?” My reply is he is just telling the whole story to his kids to hype robin up to them so they will be ok with him chasing robin again.
I wish we got a sequel series, Meet the Mosbys, so we could spend more time with Tracy. I was never disappointed with the ending with Robin, but I do feel a few things were rushed at the end. But we have what we have and I love it for what it is: perfectly imperfect.
"If you said goodbye to me tonight There would still be music left to write What else could I do I'm so inspired by you That hasn't happened for the longest time"
The show instead should have ended with ted at this point, his kids telling him it's ok to start dating again then we see him at some restaurant with a new girl his age not some grand gesture to get back with robin a normal date.
in my heart the true ending is the whole gang having dinner together- robin and barney are still together, even if he has his kid robin looks past it and he doesnt try to get her involved in anything she doesnt want to, but maybe she does cuz she loves barney and loves how he loves his kid- lily and marshall are there with their kids, and ted and his kids are there, and then it pans away and zooms into a framed picture of tracy and fades to black. Like they finished the thing, they showed how he met their mother, its over, nothing more making him get back with robin was honestly PURE LAZINESS on the show runners parts just because they wanted to keep the prerecorded ending they had when the kids were still teens, instead of figuring out something new to do with the same actors despite the age change- like it could have been just another jump in time to show how after all these years ykno the gangs still together, all their kids are grown but everyone makes the time to have a dinner now and again- they couldve even time jumped farther to show some grandkids and i guess tracy wanted ted to move on, but thats not ted. it makes perfect sense that after finding the love of his life, that perfect romance, he doesnt need to find another. he got what he wanted, he was satisifed, and sure the happy ending never truly exists, but that doesnt mean he cant have a happy ending without tracy in it, or even that doesnt mean that their whole story even with her death cant still have been a happy ending. like he can have a happy ending with raising his kids, he can focus on his buildings and other hobbies, hell he should move on to statues and make one of tracy and also i understand that they wrote in barneys baby to give him his redemption arc back since they made him regress after the divorce, but i still loved that part of his story and i believe it could still have worked with him and robin being married. like i forget so idk if im wrong but barney still wanted kids didnt he? and he just didnt care that much cuz he loved robin so much, but then with this past fling baby he couldve gotten that and still had robin and robin wouldnt have had to deal with it- or even better, what if shes willing to try something just because she loves barney so much, he was wiling to give up kids for her so she is willing to try kids for him. but noooooooooooo they just HAD to use their prerecorded footage instead of doing any problem solving
When I watch this episode with my mom she predicted that the mother Tracy was sick and dying. And I thought there's no way they do that. They've built her up they've made her the perfect partner for Ted something that he really needs. But then the last season happened. And I loved the last season, it was so much fun. It was the buildup and the reveal that the mother was dead. And he went to go be with Robin, and Barney and Robin broke up and that just killed me inside. I love the show but I hate that ending.
Making her dead for 6 years was definitely a result of not knowing how long the show would go for. And is one of the biggest problems. You can tell they probably only expected 5 seasons max at the time which would’ve given them like 15+ years together As it is them only being together for a decade feels anticlimactic. For all intents and purposes purposes the show lasted as long as their relationship did which is kinda crazy
I'm one of the people who didnt hate the ending because Ted ending up with Robin makes a lot of sense in terms of "moving on" This is how I see it: Ted's entire journey was about finding "The one" and he did, after Tracy dies he cannot move on and that's what triggers the whole premise of the series, he looking back, as both you and Tracy said, he's someone who dwells too much in the past, living in his stories, but the best compromise he made is that he wont be able to love anyone as much as he loved Tracy, the kids saying he still has the hots for aun Robin is just kids trying to rationalize the reason behind his stories, they cannot understand yet how much trauma he's dealing with, but for some reason we took it as a true fact. Ted's not still in love with Robin, but he's still grieving and needs help, he feels alone despite having his kids since as much as I'm sure he loves them, he won't be able to connect with them the same way you do with a partner, he probably still struggles with his situation and Robin is someone he knows he can rely on, he already has a connection and he used to be in love with her, she also seems to be alone and is unable to have kids and now that they're older, most of the doors that Ted wanted to open during the relationship does not matter, they can keep each other company and love each other in a different way, he doesn't have to look for something he KNOWS he won't find, they'll both complement each other. It's the healthiest outcome Ted could've gotten if he was not going to be able to move on from Tracy dying.
I saw “The Time Travellers” and immediately knew that the mother he is telling the story about is dead, I was very surprised when my mates argued with me. I’m also unconventional because I like the OG ending, it had been seeded throughout the entire series and I feel it’s a bit rude to the writers to abuse them for it. Let’s be honest, those who hate the original ending hate it because it’s highlighted they are idiots who didn’t see it coming (Also, yes this is my favourite episode)
I remember watching HIMYM with my two older siblings, years before the finale. I predicted it. 100%, called the ending exactly. My sister agreed and my brother was naysaying "No way! They wouldn't do that!" LOL
Nah, Tracy dying is definitely not why the ending sucked. The ending sucked because the writers forced Ted and Robin back together for no reason. They don’t work together and it’s a stupid ending. Barney was better than Ted for Robin, and the ending felt not only like a cop out, but it felt like a “screw you” to the fans that had dedicated so much time watching the show. I loved the show at first, but I hate, hate, hate the ending so much. It left a sour taste in my mouth I haven’t bothered watching it since. The definition of insanity is to like repeat the same mistakes over and over, and never learn from them. Like running your head into a wall over and over again, and just keep doing it. And that’s what Robin and Ted felt like.
I think I would have been okay with the actual ending if there was at least one more season to flesh things out. Because we didn’t get that, we got an episode that felt everything was rushed. Perhaps it would have been better if they didn’t focus on Barney and Robins wedding for the least season and introduced the mother (to Ted directly) closer to the beginning in a three part event only to then flesh out the ending after they met.
I never thought of making an ending where she dies but Ted never goes for Robin. I like that one a lot and it doesn't even require changing the last season to make it work
i like the ending of the series >>; I choose to take a different view of Ted ending back up with Robin. I dont really think it undoes the progress he made in letting go of her. He still had to do that to move on and ultimately end up with Traci, even if it wasn't forever and Robin still needed to go off and have her successful career. When he let go of her on that beach, that was a different them that still had their own paths to follow, it doesn't mean those feelings were just suddenly gone, that's not how love works. by the time the ending rolls around, they're ready to be with each other, and its clear that Robin has been a big part of their kids lives since Traci passed away, and even before that, as eluded to when Future Ted mentions about how she went on to appear in his kids drawings when they were growing up. As i said, i dont think the ending necessarily undoes them letting go of each other on that beach, Ted wasn't right for Robin in that moment, Traci was. Robin and Barney weren't even right for each other and their relationship needed to reach its natural conclusion in order for them to move on from each other and for Robin to go off and finish maturing and figure out what she wanted/needed in a relationship. I dont necessarily agree with the writing for the son and daughter in the ending though, how they picked up on this "subtext" that he was really asking for their permission to ask Aunt Robin out. That was a huge reach and lazily or hastily (or both) written. I think if they went back and made some adjustments to some things, it would have come across a lot better
Yeah, the first time I saw this episode again after the finale, it hit hard. Didn't really hate the finale though, after all the entire series is revealed to be Ted telling the series to his kids, how he met their mother, years later after it happened and her death, we even get some subtle foreshadowing here and there about her ultimate fate. It's not like she passes and he's at Robin's door before they even get herburied, even if it's not told the greatest it's still obvious there's a significant gap in time between then. Plus, yeah, it didn't work out for Ted and Robin before, over the multiple tries they'd had, but this is still a roughly a decade and a half past any of that with many significant moments in their lives that we only get a slight taste of that would have fundamentally changed who they were. Maybe they still wouldn't work, or maybe they would, the ending doesn't even say one way or another, it was just two old friends and admitted formerly on an off romantic interests who were giving it another go because they didn't want to be lonely anymore. Plus, if you've ever seen the deleted scenes from the finale, they really help. It also doesn't hurt that near the end of the second to last season I made a bet with a friend that Ted and Robin would end up together despite everything that was happening, and the reaction I got when I was proven right will always give me a chuckle.
If you rewatch the series a second time after the ending everything in the show makes sense. The whole series wasn't about how he met his wife and the mother of his children but it was more about how him letting go of his grief and that is what the first episode hinted at. He started the series saying to his children have I ever told you about how you met your mother demonstrates him trying to realease his emotions and finally getting over the death of his wife why else would he tell his kids this story if his wife was still alive. Knowing that looking at the ending of the show it makes perdect sense. Remember he is telling this story to his children. The last episode was like a slide show of all the good moments and that is what he wants his kids to remember. People say that the ending of him getting back with robin tuins the show but it actually makes the show better because of how he kids reacted to the end of the story of how he met the mother Them agree to him going after robin doesn't ruin the past it puts thhat scene in a different perspective it shows that the kids are allowing thier father let go of the grief that he had for the past six years so when he shows up and asks robin out shows that he is not past his grief it is him trying to move on and that is why it went back to his realationship with robin beacause it is showing his new chapter in his life trying to find his second soulmate
@@a.personofficial Agreed, the ending while I didn't like it could have been better if they spent more time after the wedding and stuff instead of trying to end everything in an episode or 2 (iirc). Like make the wedding part a few episodes and then use that remaining to time undoing it rather than making it a rush job. And maybe add more of Tracy interacting with the gang and with Ted.
Having Barny and Robin get divorced was solely so Ted could end up with Robin and not have a bitter sweet ending. Keep the bitter end. Have the friends come in, hug him and tell him that they'll make sure he's never alone. Kids do the same. It's a more powerful poignant ending without repeating something from the 1st season.
I have the opinion that Ted and Robin first break up and Marshall and Lilly getting back togheter so kickly on s2 have stucked the writters on the same arcles from the start of the serie on final seasons. In Season 1/2 you found peak of the charaters on humor terms, and this releashionships had more to be explored until having to end/restart
things fans get wrong about ted 1.he never stopped wanting robin he just accepted her decision and moved on 2.he loved his wife until she died and would always feel that way but he's not built to be alone especially if a good option presents itself 3.barney and robin where a miracle to ever get together and had no chance of lasting barney liked being the center of attention and robin loved her job conflict was going to happen
Holy jesus they did a SCRUBS covertly... the subtext she'd be taken from him was there all along :O But I'm ok with him ending up with Robin. As someone who finally found his significant other later in life, I floundered in life for so long. Hell, I WAS Ted metaphorically speaking, I even had my own "Barney" trying to get me hooked up all the time (Thanks Dee!) But I finally learnt that life lesson, that you'll never be truly happy in life, until you're 100% happy in yourself.
I am so glad someone else agrees that the wife dying had NOTHING to do with the shitty ending. Had they just ended it there it would have been beautifully tragic and poignent. It was everything after that ruined it.
I really didnt hate the ending I figured the mom died so I wasn't surprised it ended up just being about Ted gettting another chance with Robin was really shocked so many people disliked the ending
S9 did all the work for how Robin and Barney fit together and how Ted overcomes his need for Robin, only for the 2 final episodes to forgrt about it and bring Ted back to her. The idea isnt bad, but they executed it horribly. Barney and Robin breakup barely makes sense. Barney going back to his old ways and being scolded for it is a spit in the face. Ted going back to Robin after letting her go like a baloon contradicts his entire arc in season 9 (and thats not even counting the previous ones).
Honestly, the ending would be okay for me if it was framed as a tragedy. Getting back with your ex when you're grieving a past relationship isn't a happy ending, it's Ben Afflec minus the income. 💀
But honestly this episode is also so sad because i feel like its just not true really. I mean if the whole thing is just to get his kids to aprove of dating Robin then the "i will love you forever" is kinda not true because this man loves Robin sooo idk
I don’t normally like tv programs with laughing tracks but I actually enjoyed How I Met Your Mother and only other series I can watch with laughing tracks is Two And A Half Men
I think Robin is my favourite character because Ted, Marshal & Lilly are sociopaths. Barney is his own thing & I respect that even though I don’t respect his opinions on women. Robin seems more sane to me. I like Ted ending up with Robin, what I don’t like is that they hurt Barney to get there
Flu AF right now so doing my best with the bees nest this stirred up... Tautology- a statement that by nature of its syntax is necessarily true. "X will happen, or it will not." You follow? Good? Great. Coat Girl is the first glaring problem with how he is seeing his relationship tautologies, and he has many at any given time from specific to general. It is not "You will get bored with me or I will get bored with you and we will break up." It is at its MOST general "One of these things is necessarily true, you do not know which. 1) You already know who you will be in your next relationship with. 2 You do not yet know who you will be in your next relationship with. 3) You will not be in another new relationship." We know from hindsight that he did not yet know the person he would be in his next relationship with. We did not know that Coat Girl would not be her before eventually being the hinted Mother. We knew nothing other than that one day he would meet the mother of his children. He knew even less than that. But he was projecting "When has it ever gone any other way?" In this moment, he cannot conceive a future where this woman he wants to talk to IS the Mother, and definitely not that the love of his life will die far before he is ready- arguments about when/IF anyone is actually ready are outside this purview. He cannot even imagine that "This is the one", only "This is the next heartbreak." Which is why I'm ok with the ending- both Robin and Ted tried their absolute best and they both failed. But Ted was finally ready to decide "I'm ready to risk being hurt again." We really don't even get much from the ending. They MIGHT decide all over again that it doesn't work. They might decide that they are sticking with it no matter what because they're not willing to fail again. Maybe their fires have cooled enough to just let things be what they are and not freak out like they did when they had their whole future ahead of them. We don't know, and in the moment they don't know- the first time in the series that we really don't have any idea what will happen next other than the broadest possible predictions that must necessarily be true but we cannot yet know any details of.
What is the problem with the ending? Barney was a dick, is a dick and will always be a dick. That divorce was written in stone before they even got married. There is nothing surprising at all about it not working out.
I will always defend the ending. No, it didn't undo anything. It has always been about Ted and Robin. Even if Ted finds the perfect woman in Tracy, even if Robin tries to make it work with Barney, and even if Ted is able to let go of Robin for all those years he was with his wife, It was always about the bond he and Robin shared, and this bond could be reforged in the end. Ted moving forward after his wife's death was giving him and Robin another go when both of them had already achieved their dreams. Now they can be together. They can make each other happy at a time when they both need it the most. The truth is, if you think this show botched the ending, then you watched HimyM for 9 years/seasons and still didn't get the show.
You can defend it however you want, but the way they got to Robin and Ted ending up together was poorly done. At least make HER go get the blue horn, so it would be more than just a reference to season 1, it would be Robin accepting that now its her time to follow destiny, instead of waiting for the milionth time for Ted to go get her.
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There are many tragic episodes in How I Met Your Mother and I believe this one takes the cake due to its hidden meanings and ties to the finale.
Thank you for 2,000 subscribers! To those of you new around here, please like and subscribe for more content like this!
Song Used:
• Vermillion (By Me)
ruclips.net/video/JSlM_CcR-wQ/видео.html
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:52 - The Time Travelers
07:46 - Why It Is So Tragic
"What mother would miss her daughter's wedding" and then Ted slowly breaking into pieces gets me every time
Every single god damn time
I cried. Including in my first watch because I had predicted it years earlier.
Agreed that moment is heartbreaking
That and the "Countdown" episode (I call it that because I don't realize it until I see a random number about half-way in), where they show the countdown throughout the show with "0" being the taxi right before Lily tells Marshall his dad died.
I was just casually enjoying the video and this scene hit and I burst into tears in 0.5 seconds. Having two kids of my own, I really hope my wife and I are healthy enough to be there together to witness our kid's marriages.
My entire issue with the end is the divorce, the mother dying was always built up but it felt like the divorce happened just so Robin is single again, which i personally hated. Not everyone who has a spouse die falls in love again or falls back into old love, and i feel like having ted just happy with his kids and memory of his wife is bittersweet enough to get the ending the realism it needed without splitting uo the couple that the better part of 5 seasons built up
Yeah that's the sentiment that everyone shares regarding the ending. Had Barney and Robin just stayed together the ending would have been really good. It just seemed way too contrived for there to be a divorce and for the mother to die only to allow Ted and Robin to end up back together. Also, I feel like it would have made it just a little bit better had for the last scene been everyone on the front porch like Lilly wanted.
Honestly I don't hate that they got divorced, I think they were able to fit in a really good arch for Barney becoming a dad and learning, and robin realizing she was a little selfish and had regrets in the last two episodes. I don't think ted and her should have got together, but that is the only thing I would have chances, just the last like 5 minutes of the episode
I never cared about Barney's and Robin's wedding.. they were so forced together.. Robin wanted Barney, coz she couldn't have him and Barney manipulated her.. how does that relationship last?
I can agree it's a weird ending. It is human, though, to go back to some form of comfort so I can get why it's the ending.
Not everyone learns and grows. I do see it as some form of regression.
It doesn't take away from the series as a whole.
I just hate the fact that we spent more than a season with the whole wedding only for it to mean nothing in the last episode.
It is also semi hopeful as ted reiterates "all that is just 45 days away" so while sad he is optimistically a little over a month away from the wait being over! Very sad episode though the "look around ted... you're all alone" and then it pans out to an empty bar, that gets me everytime
'I'm always going to love you to the end of my days and beyond'. At the end of your days though, I'm going back to Robin. This show, man...
From this video, I'm no longer think Ted love Robin anymore. He did let her go.
This episode is still the time he tell stories to his kids, which is exactly still the time when his kids tells him to get back with Robin.
He is still in grief, its not a love. It's an escape. Which is what Robin deserve.
The first time I saw this episode... when he said, "I want those extra forty-five days" I gasped and whispered, "Oh my god! She's dead."
I had to explain to someone that if your spouse is alive, you don't cry out to start the relationship earlier, you make the most of your time now. If you're asking for an extra 45 days, it's because they're gone.
Same.
just rewatched the episode where barney tries to hang out with his father "if you were gonna be some boring suburban dad why couldn't you be that for me" I always forget about that arc but it really hits every time I watch the show...
And then he give the basketball hoop to Ted, and Barney telling him that his kids needs a basketball hoop, and my favorite part is when Barney hold his newborn daughter and decided to change his life for her
If only they hadn't spent the entire last season for a wedding, then immediately do a 180 and have them divorce. The idea of Barney and Robin getting married and then divorcing isn't an inherently bad idea, just don't spend a season building it up. What they should've done is have their wedding be a three or even four part episode, there's a lot of season 9 that you could cut. Then spend season 9 on Ted and Tracy's relationship, wedding, her disease, hell you could even possibly justify why Ted went back to Robin
I’m torn on what is the saddest episode. It’s either this or Marshall’s dad’s funeral.
In that one, the alienation he feels being dissatisfied with the last conversation he had with his father. If you’ve been there, that never goes away. Last words will always be last words.
Granted, they put a happy twist in the voicemail and give the space for happiness and laughter for “rent crocodile Dundee 3”. Unfortunately the truth is for those who have experienced it, it doesn’t resolve that quickly, and oftentimes you are simply left unhappy and bitter that there was no “appropriate” goodbye
How I met your mother was one of the last shows my late husband and I were watching together before he passed away, at a similarage to Tracy. He passed around the time where Robin and Barney had gotten engaged and were planning the wedding.
I remember seeing this episode for the first time and it just seemed like a silly episode that was barely memorable compared to others.
I also didn't hate the ending, but damn did it hit hard considering my personal loss and our connection to the show.
I remember the first time rewtching this episode and totally losing it when it clicked what they were doing.
It instantly went from being pretty average to one of the biggest stand out episodes. Even as tragic as it was, it has become one of my faves.
Great video, thanks!
I'm with you, I never had a problem with the Mother dying. In fact, given the groundwork they laid, I would feel like they denied themselves an earned ending.
The problem I have is that the Ted/Robin ending flows out of an initial plan that they had for the show from the beginning. They failed to realize that they outgrew that ending by growing the characters. Ted's story for me is that the pursuit of love is a worthy pursuit despite the cost. I didn't want Ted to end up with Robin. I wanted him to accept that the cost was worth it and pursue again.
well, thanks for make me cry, that line "What mother would miss her daughter's wedding" is hearth breaking
Good opinion, the Mom being dead was genius of the writers. The whole last season sadly was a big dumpster fire, with the marriage taking most of it and then ending next episode
I think having a couple of episodes with the mom being a character interacting with Ted and the gang would make the finale much better
I don’t like it for the fact that they use it to get red back together with robin. That will always be this show’s biggest sin.
As much as i was sad that the mom was dead, it was never the issue i had with the ending, it was the complete reversal of barneys character and the force reconnection of Ted and Robin
The ending is just a reflection of how real life happens sometimes. I loved it.
The ending never bothered me either. It was the ending I knew was planned from episode 1. And it is life. People do divorce. People do die. And life does go on. And the blessed ones enjoy it all along the way.
First time I saw this episode I remember thinking "damn, so Ted is alone cause he's too busy living in the past" then when the series ended and I rewatched it, it morphed into pretty much what you said. It gets so much more heartbreaking because out of all the things he could do, all he wanted was 45 extra days with Tracy. Between that little speech, and Lily telling Marshall that his dad died, those two scenes get me every. Damn. Time.
Also, I agree with you, Tracy dying didn't ruin the end for me, life happens and unfortunately we don't get to live forever. What irked me was him ending up Robin solely for the sake of "oh it's Ted and Robin"....cause that worked so well the first 5 times
Great analysis. Appreciate your due diligence in the dive of this episode
Which episode always got me the most was "change of heart" how barney stood in front of that dinner and walked away.... to this day can't hear the song that plays during or remember that scene without choking up
I love watching videos like this, glad I found your channel. Keep it up!
How I met your mother brings out emotions which I didn't know I could feel. I'm not an overly emotional guy, in fact I'm not emotional at all. But this series, this serieeees. it just exposes a part of me that feels ig
This also happened to me. My first fiancé died. And my 2nd one left me. In the end my old neighbor and lifelong love became my neighbor again.
I'm sorry that happened to you, man. You've had some rotten luck
Frankly I wouldn't have minded Tracy dying at the end if they didn't have Ted go right back to Robin with the blue French horn. I personally think she should've stayed with Barney and allowed Ted to just live a happy life with his kids.
Great video. Now i have to go rewatch the whole series all over again for the tenth time!
Love the choice of tv series you have covered. Keep up the good work!
Solid insight, this is really well considered and structured. Got my sub, looking forward to more content.
Fine, I’ll rewatch himym 😭
For me one of the most tragic episodes is when time "stopped" for Barney when he thought he could finally get back with Robin. They both agreed to show up at McLaren's if they both agree to leave their current partners and be together. Barney did his part but Robin showed up with her bf at that time Kevin (played by Kal Penn). The few seconds where time stopped for Barney as he wiped his eyes really made me view Barney in a completely different light.
Yay! My favorite episode! I love the tonal whiplash from humorous to sad (and back to humorous, if you count the pre-credits bit). It really embodies everything I love about the show. If I've got someone who can't handle it, I'll tell them my fav episode is "Three Days of Snow". Way more lighthearted, funny, with a pinch of emotional.
Marshmallow is the best character, faithful, loyal, respectful,responsible,loving, caring,always willing to put himself last before his friends.
rewatching this every so often and whenever i get to this episode me and my siblings always feel for ted in this one
This video brought me to tears as I realized that I’m like this episode’s Ted, but just without the happy ending.
I agree with you about Tracy's death and Robin and Ted's get together. I don't even necessarily hate that Robin and Barney divorce (fav ship but I do get it) but the execution definitely was bad. 2 seasons of build up to divorce 5 minutes into the finale?
That said, it might be some of my bias. I never liked Ted and Robin as a couple. Too many things in the beginning that gave legitimate reasons not to route for them. Robin wanted vastly different things and was up front about it. Ted always had this fantasy of Robin that never seemed to match with who she actually was. And later on, it felt like Robin clung to the idea of Ted to cope with divorce.
The best is Marshall. His arc doesn’t envolve the following: he didn’t leave lily, he didn’t hook up robin. He never really dated anyone when lily left. It’s not Barney, unless you really think Daniel isn’t the karate kid.
The problem is, if Ted didn’t go through with the letting go of Robin, then Tracy was just Ted settling. But, Ted let go of Robin so many times and kept going back, that it was inevitable he would go back. And, because it was all dumped in the last episode, it felt like Tracy was a throwaway character and that Ted was settling until he could get Robin back.
Maybe it would’ve been a better ending if ROBIN came over with the blue French Horn.
First viewing: that sweet
Second viewing: that is the most gut wrenching ting ever
I, no joking, thought it was a great ending. It felt unapologeticly real compared to almost all other sitcoms
My man
I felt it was an ok ending. But not a bad ending. Like even i predicted the ending. One of the biggest complain is that the wife died and robin was the end game. And i am here like “did u guys forget about the all the seasons? His storytelling was literally how simp/obsessed he is for robin”
people would say “then why even bother with the mom?” My reply is he is just telling the whole story to his kids to hype robin up to them so they will be ok with him chasing robin again.
Ur zuckerberging me? How come i missed that 🤣🤣. It brings back the memories of the shenanigans of HIMYM.
Awesome video! You blew my mind.
I wish we got a sequel series, Meet the Mosbys, so we could spend more time with Tracy.
I was never disappointed with the ending with Robin, but I do feel a few things were rushed at the end. But we have what we have and I love it for what it is: perfectly imperfect.
"If you said goodbye to me tonight
There would still be music left to write
What else could I do
I'm so inspired by you
That hasn't happened for the longest time"
Would the final have been better if the whole epilogue of the show where Ted and Robin meet back up happened when they were both elderly age?
The show instead should have ended with ted at this point, his kids telling him it's ok to start dating again then we see him at some restaurant with a new girl his age not some grand gesture to get back with robin a normal date.
Buddy you’ve got me here questioning my life’s choices atm
i love rewatching episodes to spot when the actors are barely struggling to keep a straight face xD
6:52 Dude, that Editing made me tear up...
in my heart the true ending is the whole gang having dinner together- robin and barney are still together, even if he has his kid robin looks past it and he doesnt try to get her involved in anything she doesnt want to, but maybe she does cuz she loves barney and loves how he loves his kid- lily and marshall are there with their kids, and ted and his kids are there, and then it pans away and zooms into a framed picture of tracy and fades to black. Like they finished the thing, they showed how he met their mother, its over, nothing more
making him get back with robin was honestly PURE LAZINESS on the show runners parts just because they wanted to keep the prerecorded ending they had when the kids were still teens, instead of figuring out something new to do with the same actors despite the age change- like it could have been just another jump in time to show how after all these years ykno the gangs still together, all their kids are grown but everyone makes the time to have a dinner now and again- they couldve even time jumped farther to show some grandkids
and i guess tracy wanted ted to move on, but thats not ted. it makes perfect sense that after finding the love of his life, that perfect romance, he doesnt need to find another. he got what he wanted, he was satisifed, and sure the happy ending never truly exists, but that doesnt mean he cant have a happy ending without tracy in it, or even that doesnt mean that their whole story even with her death cant still have been a happy ending. like he can have a happy ending with raising his kids, he can focus on his buildings and other hobbies, hell he should move on to statues and make one of tracy
and also i understand that they wrote in barneys baby to give him his redemption arc back since they made him regress after the divorce, but i still loved that part of his story and i believe it could still have worked with him and robin being married. like i forget so idk if im wrong but barney still wanted kids didnt he? and he just didnt care that much cuz he loved robin so much, but then with this past fling baby he couldve gotten that and still had robin and robin wouldnt have had to deal with it- or even better, what if shes willing to try something just because she loves barney so much, he was wiling to give up kids for her so she is willing to try kids for him.
but noooooooooooo they just HAD to use their prerecorded footage instead of doing any problem solving
Loved this video can’t wait to see more
When I watch this episode with my mom she predicted that the mother Tracy was sick and dying. And I thought there's no way they do that. They've built her up they've made her the perfect partner for Ted something that he really needs. But then the last season happened. And I loved the last season, it was so much fun. It was the buildup and the reveal that the mother was dead. And he went to go be with Robin, and Barney and Robin broke up and that just killed me inside. I love the show but I hate that ending.
Makes me cry every single time.
Making her dead for 6 years was definitely a result of not knowing how long the show would go for. And is one of the biggest problems. You can tell they probably only expected 5 seasons max at the time which would’ve given them like 15+ years together
As it is them only being together for a decade feels anticlimactic. For all intents and purposes purposes the show lasted as long as their relationship did which is kinda crazy
I'm one of the people who didnt hate the ending because Ted ending up with Robin makes a lot of sense in terms of "moving on"
This is how I see it: Ted's entire journey was about finding "The one" and he did, after Tracy dies he cannot move on and that's what triggers the whole premise of the series, he looking back, as both you and Tracy said, he's someone who dwells too much in the past, living in his stories, but the best compromise he made is that he wont be able to love anyone as much as he loved Tracy, the kids saying he still has the hots for aun Robin is just kids trying to rationalize the reason behind his stories, they cannot understand yet how much trauma he's dealing with, but for some reason we took it as a true fact.
Ted's not still in love with Robin, but he's still grieving and needs help, he feels alone despite having his kids since as much as I'm sure he loves them, he won't be able to connect with them the same way you do with a partner, he probably still struggles with his situation and Robin is someone he knows he can rely on, he already has a connection and he used to be in love with her, she also seems to be alone and is unable to have kids and now that they're older, most of the doors that Ted wanted to open during the relationship does not matter, they can keep each other company and love each other in a different way, he doesn't have to look for something he KNOWS he won't find, they'll both complement each other.
It's the healthiest outcome Ted could've gotten if he was not going to be able to move on from Tracy dying.
Loving the content 😍
I saw “The Time Travellers” and immediately knew that the mother he is telling the story about is dead, I was very surprised when my mates argued with me.
I’m also unconventional because I like the OG ending, it had been seeded throughout the entire series and I feel it’s a bit rude to the writers to abuse them for it.
Let’s be honest, those who hate the original ending hate it because it’s highlighted they are idiots who didn’t see it coming
(Also, yes this is my favourite episode)
I remember watching HIMYM with my two older siblings, years before the finale. I predicted it. 100%, called the ending exactly. My sister agreed and my brother was naysaying "No way! They wouldn't do that!" LOL
I argue this this saddest piece of media that’s been televised sure there’s sadder movies sadder Netflix shows but this was on TV
great now i remember how much i miss julian smith
Nah, Tracy dying is definitely not why the ending sucked. The ending sucked because the writers forced Ted and Robin back together for no reason. They don’t work together and it’s a stupid ending. Barney was better than Ted for Robin, and the ending felt not only like a cop out, but it felt like a “screw you” to the fans that had dedicated so much time watching the show. I loved the show at first, but I hate, hate, hate the ending so much. It left a sour taste in my mouth I haven’t bothered watching it since. The definition of insanity is to like repeat the same mistakes over and over, and never learn from them. Like running your head into a wall over and over again, and just keep doing it. And that’s what Robin and Ted felt like.
I think I would have been okay with the actual ending if there was at least one more season to flesh things out. Because we didn’t get that, we got an episode that felt everything was rushed.
Perhaps it would have been better if they didn’t focus on Barney and Robins wedding for the least season and introduced the mother (to Ted directly) closer to the beginning in a three part event only to then flesh out the ending after they met.
I re watch this episode the most it hit me hard before I met my wife.
The after season 4 was hit and miss for me but this is definitely one of my favourite late episodes :D
I never thought of making an ending where she dies but Ted never goes for Robin. I like that one a lot and it doesn't even require changing the last season to make it work
After watching your take on this episode, I would really like to hear your analysis for S09E16
i like the ending of the series >>;
I choose to take a different view of Ted ending back up with Robin. I dont really think it undoes the progress he made in letting go of her. He still had to do that to move on and ultimately end up with Traci, even if it wasn't forever and Robin still needed to go off and have her successful career. When he let go of her on that beach, that was a different them that still had their own paths to follow, it doesn't mean those feelings were just suddenly gone, that's not how love works.
by the time the ending rolls around, they're ready to be with each other, and its clear that Robin has been a big part of their kids lives since Traci passed away, and even before that, as eluded to when Future Ted mentions about how she went on to appear in his kids drawings when they were growing up.
As i said, i dont think the ending necessarily undoes them letting go of each other on that beach, Ted wasn't right for Robin in that moment, Traci was. Robin and Barney weren't even right for each other and their relationship needed to reach its natural conclusion in order for them to move on from each other and for Robin to go off and finish maturing and figure out what she wanted/needed in a relationship.
I dont necessarily agree with the writing for the son and daughter in the ending though, how they picked up on this "subtext" that he was really asking for their permission to ask Aunt Robin out. That was a huge reach and lazily or hastily (or both) written. I think if they went back and made some adjustments to some things, it would have come across a lot better
Yeah, the first time I saw this episode again after the finale, it hit hard.
Didn't really hate the finale though, after all the entire series is revealed to be Ted telling the series to his kids, how he met their mother, years later after it happened and her death, we even get some subtle foreshadowing here and there about her ultimate fate. It's not like she passes and he's at Robin's door before they even get herburied, even if it's not told the greatest it's still obvious there's a significant gap in time between then. Plus, yeah, it didn't work out for Ted and Robin before, over the multiple tries they'd had, but this is still a roughly a decade and a half past any of that with many significant moments in their lives that we only get a slight taste of that would have fundamentally changed who they were. Maybe they still wouldn't work, or maybe they would, the ending doesn't even say one way or another, it was just two old friends and admitted formerly on an off romantic interests who were giving it another go because they didn't want to be lonely anymore. Plus, if you've ever seen the deleted scenes from the finale, they really help.
It also doesn't hurt that near the end of the second to last season I made a bet with a friend that Ted and Robin would end up together despite everything that was happening, and the reaction I got when I was proven right will always give me a chuckle.
Hot take: the show was never about how Ted met Tracy. And the ending was perfect for the show as whole.
If you rewatch the series a second time after the ending everything in the show makes sense. The whole series wasn't about how he met his wife and the mother of his children but it was more about how him letting go of his grief and that is what the first episode hinted at. He started the series saying to his children have I ever told you about how you met your mother demonstrates him trying to realease his emotions and finally getting over the death of his wife why else would he tell his kids this story if his wife was still alive. Knowing that looking at the ending of the show it makes perdect sense. Remember he is telling this story to his children. The last episode was like a slide show of all the good moments and that is what he wants his kids to remember. People say that the ending of him getting back with robin tuins the show but it actually makes the show better because of how he kids reacted to the end of the story of how he met the mother Them agree to him going after robin doesn't ruin the past it puts thhat scene in a different perspective it shows that the kids are allowing thier father let go of the grief that he had for the past six years so when he shows up and asks robin out shows that he is not past his grief it is him trying to move on and that is why it went back to his realationship with robin beacause it is showing his new chapter in his life trying to find his second soulmate
The coldest of takes: I liked the ending of HIMYM.
Even years later, it all makes sense to me.
Its not about the what. Its about the how.
@@a.personofficial Agreed, the ending while I didn't like it could have been better if they spent more time after the wedding and stuff instead of trying to end everything in an episode or 2 (iirc). Like make the wedding part a few episodes and then use that remaining to time undoing it rather than making it a rush job. And maybe add more of Tracy interacting with the gang and with Ted.
Having Barny and Robin get divorced was solely so Ted could end up with Robin and not have a bitter sweet ending. Keep the bitter end. Have the friends come in, hug him and tell him that they'll make sure he's never alone. Kids do the same. It's a more powerful poignant ending without repeating something from the 1st season.
I have the opinion that Ted and Robin first break up and Marshall and Lilly getting back togheter so kickly on s2 have stucked the writters on the same arcles from the start of the serie on final seasons. In Season 1/2 you found peak of the charaters on humor terms, and this releashionships had more to be explored until having to end/restart
things fans get wrong about ted 1.he never stopped wanting robin he just accepted her decision and moved on 2.he loved his wife until she died and would always feel that way but he's not built to be alone especially if a good option presents itself 3.barney and robin where a miracle to ever get together and had no chance of lasting barney liked being the center of attention and robin loved her job conflict was going to happen
Imagine if this was the last episode
Holy jesus they did a SCRUBS covertly... the subtext she'd be taken from him was there all along :O But I'm ok with him ending up with Robin. As someone who finally found his significant other later in life, I floundered in life for so long. Hell, I WAS Ted metaphorically speaking, I even had my own "Barney" trying to get me hooked up all the time (Thanks Dee!) But I finally learnt that life lesson, that you'll never be truly happy in life, until you're 100% happy in yourself.
‼‼The IT Crowd mentioned ‼‼
I am so glad someone else agrees that the wife dying had NOTHING to do with the shitty ending. Had they just ended it there it would have been beautifully tragic and poignent. It was everything after that ruined it.
i love the ending.
5:20 why does the girl on the right look like the blonde from Scary Movie 4 and Mom, Anna Faris?
Ted ending up with robin is good actually
I really didnt hate the ending I figured the mom died so I wasn't surprised it ended up just being about Ted gettting another chance with Robin was really shocked so many people disliked the ending
S9 did all the work for how Robin and Barney fit together and how Ted overcomes his need for Robin, only for the 2 final episodes to forgrt about it and bring Ted back to her. The idea isnt bad, but they executed it horribly. Barney and Robin breakup barely makes sense. Barney going back to his old ways and being scolded for it is a spit in the face. Ted going back to Robin after letting her go like a baloon contradicts his entire arc in season 9 (and thats not even counting the previous ones).
Honestly, the ending would be okay for me if it was framed as a tragedy. Getting back with your ex when you're grieving a past relationship isn't a happy ending, it's Ben Afflec minus the income. 💀
this was a beautiful stand alone episode tbh
But honestly this episode is also so sad because i feel like its just not true really. I mean if the whole thing is just to get his kids to aprove of dating Robin then the "i will love you forever" is kinda not true because this man loves Robin sooo idk
8:59 I hate you 😂👌
10:59 don't overthink. Maybe, you should overdrink.
I don’t normally like tv programs with laughing tracks but I actually enjoyed How I Met Your Mother and only other series I can watch with laughing tracks is Two And A Half Men
They couldn't just leave him as a widower playingwith his grandkids, huh 😅
i just wanted barney and robin to be together, they were literally perfect
I think Robin is my favourite character because Ted, Marshal & Lilly are sociopaths. Barney is his own thing & I respect that even though I don’t respect his opinions on women. Robin seems more sane to me. I like Ted ending up with Robin, what I don’t like is that they hurt Barney to get there
A fucking Phoenix Nights ref 😂
Cleaning gotham underrways sute takes a long time for the time tracy shows up its almost end of a season
Canonically Tracy Mosby died last year.
Julian Smith? ...
"I made this for you..."
I have not rewatched this show 😅🤣😂 Friends I have probably like 4 times
Barney is the GOAT of this show!
I actually liked the ending to How I Met Your Mother
Robin was being so pety in this episode. This seems to mean more to him
The mother dying wasn’t the problem the ending was just bad for everything else
the mother was a plot device to get robin and ted back together which sucked but i wanted ted and robin to end up together but no that way at all
Ted just got lucky.
The ending actually is perfect. People just suck at media literacy.
Flu AF right now so doing my best with the bees nest this stirred up...
Tautology- a statement that by nature of its syntax is necessarily true. "X will happen, or it will not." You follow? Good? Great.
Coat Girl is the first glaring problem with how he is seeing his relationship tautologies, and he has many at any given time from specific to general. It is not "You will get bored with me or I will get bored with you and we will break up." It is at its MOST general "One of these things is necessarily true, you do not know which. 1) You already know who you will be in your next relationship with. 2 You do not yet know who you will be in your next relationship with. 3) You will not be in another new relationship."
We know from hindsight that he did not yet know the person he would be in his next relationship with. We did not know that Coat Girl would not be her before eventually being the hinted Mother. We knew nothing other than that one day he would meet the mother of his children. He knew even less than that.
But he was projecting "When has it ever gone any other way?" In this moment, he cannot conceive a future where this woman he wants to talk to IS the Mother, and definitely not that the love of his life will die far before he is ready- arguments about when/IF anyone is actually ready are outside this purview. He cannot even imagine that "This is the one", only "This is the next heartbreak."
Which is why I'm ok with the ending- both Robin and Ted tried their absolute best and they both failed. But Ted was finally ready to decide "I'm ready to risk being hurt again."
We really don't even get much from the ending. They MIGHT decide all over again that it doesn't work. They might decide that they are sticking with it no matter what because they're not willing to fail again. Maybe their fires have cooled enough to just let things be what they are and not freak out like they did when they had their whole future ahead of them. We don't know, and in the moment they don't know- the first time in the series that we really don't have any idea what will happen next other than the broadest possible predictions that must necessarily be true but we cannot yet know any details of.
What is the problem with the ending? Barney was a dick, is a dick and will always be a dick. That divorce was written in stone before they even got married.
There is nothing surprising at all about it not working out.
I will always defend the ending. No, it didn't undo anything. It has always been about Ted and Robin. Even if Ted finds the perfect woman in Tracy, even if Robin tries to make it work with Barney, and even if Ted is able to let go of Robin for all those years he was with his wife, It was always about the bond he and Robin shared, and this bond could be reforged in the end. Ted moving forward after his wife's death was giving him and Robin another go when both of them had already achieved their dreams. Now they can be together. They can make each other happy at a time when they both need it the most.
The truth is, if you think this show botched the ending, then you watched HimyM for 9 years/seasons and still didn't get the show.
You can defend it however you want, but the way they got to Robin and Ted ending up together was poorly done. At least make HER go get the blue horn, so it would be more than just a reference to season 1, it would be Robin accepting that now its her time to follow destiny, instead of waiting for the milionth time for Ted to go get her.
Condescending last sentence. They botched the ending