How he finally met the mother (Season 9)

A list of episodes that referenced tonight:

The Pilot (1x1)
No Tomorrow (3x12)
The Naked Man (4x9) (thank you to HIMYM for having me Google "Naked Man" this evening because I couldn't remember who originated the Naked Man)
Three Days of Snow (4x13) (Louis had to have been in the Arizona Tech Marching Band, who went to Puzzles the night Carl let Barney and Ted close up)
Definitions (5x1)
Girls vs. Suits (5x12)
Now We're Even (7x21)
Band or DJ? (8x13)

I can't remember which episode it is from last season where she was in the bar and runs past pregnant Lily and Barney. But does this seem accurate or can anyone else remember others referenced?

Great episode, btw. Also a good explanation of how Ted's wife is still single in her late 20's when she meets Ted.

This was also the 200th episode.

EDITED to add a few more episodes. The only two season missing so far are seasons 2 and 6. Anyone know of any references to episodes from those seasons?

 

Agreed. Really great job of filling in blanks and making the callbacks fit seamlessly. It can be easy to try to shoehorn things in just for the sake of doing it without it making sense but they managed to do it without being overbearing. Even the Naked Man, which was probably the biggest reach of the callbacks, worked. Two very good episodes in a row. And they also made the mother more endearing. Knowing her backstory makes me care much more about her.

 

You guys, The Mother is amazing.

This season is probably my favorite since Season 5 or so.

 

A very good episode, probably the best in a couple of years. Still doesn't redeem the past few seasons, but nicely done.

 

Double Date (5x2) was referenced but not shown (the Shellfish joke). The Barney/Lily hug at the bar with Ted in a dress was a reference to the Mermaid Theory episode from Season 6 (episode 11).

Not sure about Season 2 though. I am not sure that it would have been referenced last night, since the episode skipped two years following the death of The Mother's boyfriend.

 

I've been critical of this season because there have been so many total whiff episodes, and yes, I was anxious to actually get to know this woman Ted spent nine years chasing (well, he at least spent nine years chasing the idea of that woman). There have been some really good bright spots this season mixed in with the chaff, so I've had no problem sticking with it. Last night was an incredible payoff, in terms of the great use of flashbacks, subtle humor and the terrific acting of Cristin Milioti. I haven't said this in a while, but I want to go back and re-watch last night's episode. Probably will later today when I get a chance. It was that good.

 

This was the best episode of the year, and it wasn't close. Great job. I also loved how they gave you a little teaser for what is coming up (Barney is MIA, the fact Lily ran off). I can't wait to see the next episodes.

 

Finally got to watch the entire episode all the way through (Little OOP had me busy up to the point where Mitch shows up last night). One thing they have consistently done well all through the series is the gut punch moments, including the mother finding out about Max. I still would have rather we had more time with the character, and more time with the relationship, but what they have given us of those aspects this season, they have done very well.

 

I was a little bummed to learn MacLaren's is a chain bar.

 

Was it? I thought the other one was McLaren's?

 

I thought the mom said something about being at the one on the westside or something. I took that to mean same name different locations.

 

Something snuck past and then my wife mentioned it afterward.
She's at a bar on her birthday, gets the call that her true love has died. Then she goes back to her apartment to grieve and eventually opens the present that had the ukelele in it. But the apartment was already littered with used tissue. How did that happen?