10 Jaw-Dropping Reasons HIMYM Should Have Ended Sooner!

Summary

Despite its popularity, "How I Met Your Mother's" final season was met with mixed reviews, as critics noted a decline in the show's quality as it stayed on the air longer.

The extensive coverage of Barney and Robin's wedding in season 9 was disappointing, especially considering their eventual divorce in the finale, which made it feel like a waste.

The final season of "How I Met Your Mother" failed to properly integrate the mother character until the last few episodes, despite the show being centered around Ted's quest to meet her. The pacing and storytelling left viewers with more inquiries than resolutions.

How I Met Your Mother, a sitcom that aired for 9 seasons until 2014, faced mixed reviews for its final season. Although many loyal fans remained dedicated, critics pointed out a decline in the show's quality as it continued on. While enjoying the company of the How I Met Your Mother characters was always a delight, it can be argued that the show overstayed its welcome.

The sitcom received praise for its humor and relatable characters. However, the final season of How I Met Your Mother is widely regarded as being of lesser quality compared to earlier seasons. With the show's success, there was pressure to please all fanbases, resulting in questionable changes to both the characters and their storylines. Despite being one of the decade's finest comedy TV shows, there are valid reasons why How I Met Your Mother should have concluded before season 9.

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9 The Show Went Downhill When Marshall And Lily Moved

During season 7, while Lily was expecting their first son, Lily's grandparents generously offered their spacious suburban home to her and Marshall. This decision led to a geographical separation from their usual city stomping grounds and symbolized the end of their carefree twenties. Although they eventually returned to their apartment after Ted moved out, Lily's father Mickey accidentally burned down the house in season 8. Despite coming back to the city, the couple's choice to move was a pivotal moment in their lives, causing the show to deviate from its original structure of five friends hanging out in a bar.

8 There Was No Reason To Spend So Much Time On Barney And Robin

Season 9 of How I Met Your Mother primarily revolved around Barney and Robin's wedding, which ultimately ended in divorce by the finale. Despite Barney's elaborate efforts to make Robin believe he no longer had feelings for her, it was implied that their relationship would endure. However, throughout the season, both the bride and groom encountered numerous signs from "the universe" discouraging them from getting married. This repetitive narrative device was a disappointment, given the significant attention devoted to their relationship. Moreover, it was frustrating to see Robin's involvement in an uncertain romantic dynamic with Ted, only for her to end up as the unique and independent character she had strived to be since season 1. If the writers had planned this outcome for Robin well in advance, it feels like a wasted opportunity to have invested so much time in her relationship with Barney.

7 How I Met Your Mother's Final Season Isn't Even About The Mother

Despite Tracy's frequent appearances in season 9, her character is not properly incorporated into the storyline until the final few episodes. Given that Ted has spent countless hours (and nearly a decade for audiences) recounting how he and Tracy met to his children, it would have been logical for season 9 to focus more on their love story. However, their first conversation only occurs as Ted is about to leave Barney and Robin's wedding. While Tracy does appear frequently throughout the season, her interactions with other characters are primarily showcased, rather than making her an integral part of the main storyline.

6 Ted's Disastrous Relationships Were Focused On Too Much

Throughout How I Met Your Mother's nine seasons, Ted embarked on various romantic endeavors. While some were short-lived, such as his fling with Honey (played by Katy Perry), others played out over multiple seasons. Characters like Zoey (Jennifer Morrison) and Stella (Sarah Chalke) had their own complex relationships with Ted. It's disappointing that so much time was dedicated to Ted's quest for "The One," especially when his meeting with Tracy is only explored briefly before her untimely demise in a few episodes.

5 How I Met Your Mother Season 9 Was Badly Paced

The story structure of How I Met Your Mother underwent a significant shift in its ninth season. Unlike the previous eight seasons, which followed a story-of-the-week format, season 9 took a different approach. It devoted a remarkable 22 episodes to Barney and Robin's wedding, while the final two episodes delved into the future of the gang. While the initial 22 episodes covered only a few days, the two-part finale spanned the lives of the characters over a span of 7 years. However, despite these ambitious storytelling choices, season 9 of How I Met Your Mother struggled with pacing issues. Additionally, the recurrent use of flashbacks within the season left audiences with more questions than answers.

4 Ted And Robin's On-Off Relationship Was Overplayed

Throughout the series How I Met Your Mother, the relationship between Ted and Robin was a central focus. Ted seemed to struggle with letting go of the possibility of reuniting with her. However, in season 9, when Robin was getting ready to marry Barney, the writers chose to revisit Ted's feelings for her, yet again. This repetitive storyline became tiring and disappointing, ultimately highlighting that Ted's character had not evolved since the first season.

Even though Ted's decision to move to Chicago because he can't be with Robin feels uncomfortable, given that he had spent years pursuing other women in her presence, the writers missed several opportunities to further develop Tracy's character. The prospect of Ted and Robin appearing at seemingly inappropriate times, especially considering that Robin was never going to be the mother, makes the relationship feel extremely contrived.

3 Season 9 Saw Little Interaction Between The Main Cast

Season 9 of How I Met Your Mother faced challenges with the main characters due to scheduling conflicts and the individual success of the cast members outside the show. Consequently, there were significant portions of the season where the main characters did not appear together in scenes. For instance, Marshall only reunites with the rest of the gang at the wedding in episode 13, titled "Bass Player Wanted". Prior to that, he was featured either on his own or alongside guest stars. The dynamic and on-screen chemistry between the main characters was a major draw for How I Met Your Mother, and it was what kept audiences engaged week after week. Unfortunately, season 9 struggled to replicate the atmosphere that had been successfully established in earlier seasons.

2 Ted's Search For The One Became Boring

Ted's relentless complaints about not finding his true love were a recurring theme throughout the entirety of the show's nine seasons. However, as How I Met Your Mother neared its conclusion, his journey lost some of its initial allure. Ted often displayed insensitivity towards the women in his life, causing pain to those close to him, as he was consumed by the illusion of finding "The One."

It appeared that Ted found more excitement in the pursuit of love rather than in the actual outcome. Despite frequently proclaiming Robin as his soulmate, he even went so far as to contemplate relocating to Chicago after her wedding to heal his heartbreak. Yet, when he unexpectedly encounters Tracy just as he is preparing to leave, Ted swiftly disregards Robin and impulsively abandons his plans without a second thought.

1 The Gang's Future Was Rushed And Wasn't Thought Through

The two-part finale of How I Met Your Mother season 9 centered on the 7 years following Barney and Robin's wedding. In just two episodes, the writers packed in numerous significant details about the gang's lives, resulting in a rushed feel. Additionally, there were several instances where the characters' actions seemed out of sync with their established personalities, such as Lily and Marshall continuing to reside in their small apartment despite expecting their third child.

Although Marshall had not achieved the career success he desired, he was still a lawyer and should have had the financial means to relocate his family to a larger space. The primary concern, however, revolved around Tracy's death and its impact on the storyline. In the final moments of the show, Ted reconnecting with Robin felt contrived, considering that the reasons for their incompatibility had been established since the pilot episode.