How he finally met the mother (Season 9)

Hannigan said on Twitter last night they cut 18 minutes from the episode to make it fit. That's disastrous plotting when we spent so many pointless episodes early on doing nothing.

Again, it was the pacing that ruined the execution, not necessarily the concept.

 

Did the episode turn out to be standard length? Sure seemed to me like there were tons of commercial breaks, and long ones.

 

Grantland's Todd Van Der Werff brought the hammer.

 

I agree about having the mom dying being a decent concept, but having him wind up with Robin completely ruins it.

I'm not sure how it got out there, but it seemed like the mom dying was the worst-kept secret out there. I know it's tough to keep secrets in this day and age, but in the last month, I've read at least five stories where it's either implied that she dies or in the case of Entertainment Weekly, where they basically told you she dies.

 

Some interesting points on Twitter: If you bailed on this show after Season 2 or 3, but checked in last night, this ending works way better than if you slogged through 9 seasons.

 

Unrelated: Grantland's really hitting the AV Club well a lot, huh? That's Hyden and van der Werff now, at least, and I think Emily Yoshida did some AV Club work as well.

 

Can we change this thread title to How he finally killed the mother

 

I agree with the other few posts that two of the worst things about the finale were the divorce and the glossing over the death. Virtually worse than having Ted end up with Robin.

I almost feel like having Barney and Robin get divorced after less than 20 minutes of show, after it's been rammed down our throats how they've both changed (or haven't) but are good for each other, and then spend an entire freaking season at their wedding weekend and then, poof, it's over, is disrespectful to the audience. And really, with no reason why. Because her job made it tough on him? Give me a break. Real world.

The death was ridiculous. So one quick scene saying and then she got sick and we're in the hospital and wham it's over? Is that because we all predicted it all along? Is it because they sort of eluded to it a few weeks ago? Is it because of the 45 days thing? That did enough emotional service to it? Sure the kids knew she'd been gone for six years but we didn't. Another disrespect the audience moment.

I also hated that they didn't have Ted and the mother get married right away. Made no sense on any level. And they didn't explain that either.

I don't mind the divorce, death or even the ending up with Robin in theory. It's how it was all patched together. Last night could have made for a great full final season.

 

I propose "How the mother was a lot like the numbers in Lost: a meaningless plot device the writers want you to think was important until they decided it wasn't."
Maybe that's why they hired the guy who played Hurley to play the Blitz.

 

Hope this is the premise of How I Met Your Father:

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/dear_prudence/2014/04/dear_prudence_my_twin_brother_had_a_one_night_stand_gave_her_my_name_and.html

 

Coming on the heels of a show that had a 9-year-run, I'm guessing they were all but guaranteed a full first season pickup, but I'll be surprised if the spinoff lasts more than two seasons.