"How I Met Your Mother" series finale leaves fans divided
How are you feeling this morning, "How I Met Your Mother" fans?
Fans of the long-running CBS sitcom sat down to watch its final episode on Monday night, and opinions seem to be split on whether it came to a satisfying (perhaps even legen -- wait for it -- dary) conclusion or frustrated with its final twist.
(Warning: Stop reading here if you want to avoid spoilers.)
To recap briefly (read our full one here), Ted finally meets his future wife (and we learn her name -- Tracy McConnell!) after attending Barney and Robin's wedding. They have two children and later marry, but then she gets sick and dies.
He finishes telling their children the story of how he met their mother, who by this point has been gone for six years, and his daughter remarks that it's also a story about how much he loves Robin (who is now divorced) and should ask her out. The finale ends with Ted standing outside Robin's window, holding a blue French horn.
Some fans expressed frustrations that the show made them wait nine seasons to see Ted meet Tracy, only for her to die and him to end up with Robin. Others weren't surprised that those two got together in the end.
"HIMYM" creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas took to Twitter to thank fans for coming along for the ride, as did members of the show's cast.
Thank you to #HIMYM fans everywhere for the amazing loyalty and team spirit. You guys are the absolute bestest. Highest of fives to you all.
— Carter Bays (@CarterBays) March 31, 2014Seriously - no matter what you thought of tonight, THANK YOU...you were with us. We love you.
— Craig Thomas (@HimymCraig) April 1, 2014Been so overwhelmed in the best way by all the HIMYM love. Beyond grateful to have been a part of a show that's meant so much to people.
— Josh Radnor (@JoshRadnor) April 1, 2014To all who helped create #HIMYM, well played. To all who enjoyed watching it, I respectfully request the highest of fives. #thanks
— Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) March 31, 2014Thank you to everyone who worked on HIMYM and to the fans who kept us on the air for the last 9 years!!! What a wonderful ride!
— Cobie Smulders (@CobieSmulders) April 1, 2014Good times, yeah?
— alyson hannigan (@alydenisof) April 1, 2014Why couldn't they just end up happy ever after? That's all we really wanted. Ugh. #MixedFeels #HIMYMFinale
— Alex Miller (@AMiller_UNI) April 1, 2014Disappointed with the ending. We have waited nine years for the mother and we got see her for like 20min!
#HIMYMFinale #letdown
— Rahul Rachuri (@RahulRachuri1) April 1, 2014HIMYM ending was a middle finger to its own show
— Anjek (@Anjek_da) April 1, 2014Just finished watching the How I Met Your Finale.. 9 years of character development destroyed in one 40 min episode. #HIMYM #HIMYMFinale
— Feroze Ali (@feroze17) April 1, 2014The problem with the #HIMYMFinale was that they spent the whole season investing us in Barney & Robin, and split them up 10 minutes later.
— Jessica DeMattia (@jessicabrooke5) April 1, 2014the #HIMYMFinale WAS good because it taught this: not everything ends up as you think it will, no matter what. so yes, it was not bad.
— king husky (@HWiseman) April 1, 2014#HIMYMFinale the best Finale EVER! Carter and Craig, I am in awe.
— Dan Povenmire (@DanPovenmire) April 1, 2014Finally got what #HIMYMFinale was. It was a 9 year set up for April Fool's Day 2014. Well played #HIMYM, well played.
— Dilina (@Dili) April 1, 2014The writers always knew how it would end, but they should have changed the story as they saw the characters grow. #disappointed #himymfinale
— Julie A (@fitnesswife758) April 1, 2014Always kind of figured Ted would end up with Robin #HIMYMFinale
— Jenna Rosenbeck (@jrosenbeck) April 1, 2014HIMYM finale has left me verklempt. That final scene, nine years in the making, was a nice bookend.
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) April 1, 2014Best Episode. Cried & laughed, and even matt cried like a girl. We will miss Marshmellow, illypad, Ted, Robin, Barney, & Tracy #HIMYMFinale
— Carly Susannah (@carlysusannah) April 1, 2014Tell us: Were you pleased with how "How I Met Your Mother" came to an end? Or do you wish the finale had turned out differently? Cast your vote in the poll above and tell us why in the comments.