Babies and Blue French Horns: Why the Finale of How I Met Your Mother Worked

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I loved the finale of How I Met Your Mother.

By now, you’ve heard that the alternate ending has leaked online, and it seems like a lot of fans prefer it. But to me, that alternate ending simply wouldn’t have worked. I think the writers should have left it be. Anyway, isn’t the mark of a great finale that fans either love or hate it?

Admittedly, the finale wasn’t perfect. I wish we could have seen more interaction between Ted and Tracy, especially since they had the kind of cute and quirky relationship we hoped Ted would finally have. And Tracy’s death truly did deserve more attention. As much as the final seasons of How I Met Your Mother were drawn out with some silly plots, I can’t understand why we weren’t instead able to focus more on this part of the story.

But the fact that this series was so drawn out is exactly why the finale—the original finale—was so perfect. I think the alternate ending—the one where the show literally ends with Ted meeting the mother, could have been charming. But only if the show had been much shorter. But after watching Ted’s journey—and everyone else’s—for nearly a decade, that ending would have been far too anti-climactic. The writers *had* to do something unexpected, and I think it was brilliant.

After nine years, the audience simply deserved more than what amounts to a recap of the series. Instead, what the kids picked up on all along is what we really knew too—the story was never about how Ted met their mother. It was about his relationship with his best friends and most importantly, with Robin.

The alternate ending also leaves out two moments that made the finale so perfect. First of all, did you really think Barney and Robin would stay married? I absolutely buy the fact that these two fell in love and were perfect for each other… for a little while. But neither of their personalities made me believe they could stay together.

What is actually much more believable, is that Barney would father a child from a random fling—and that the baby, would be the love of his life. I get emotional every time I think about the scene where Barney meets his baby girl for the first time. This is the moment that changes Barney’s life, and it’s perfectly fitting.

Robin, on the other hand, always needed to travel and follow her career. It had to happen, and she couldn’t have anyone holding her back. The problem for Robin and Ted was never that they didn’t love each other, it was that the timing was never right. So the finale offered the deal solution to their love story. Ted found a perfect companion to start a family with, and we saw glimpses of their relationship through the years. But still, the story comes full circle from the pilot episode and ends exactly how it should. With Ted, yet again, stealing the blue French horn for Robin.

What do you think? Is the alternate ending better, or was the original finale exactly what it should have been? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoHUs8J7x94