Yes, I am well aware of all the criticism that the series finale of the long-running CBS sitcom generated after airing Monday night. It seems to be a split right down the middle of who loved it and who loathed it. Me, I personally loved it and reject some of the critics. The main issue that was taken with it: it diverged too much from the heart of the show.
Before getting into the nitty gritty, here is a quick recap of the big moments from the finale. First, surprise surprise, but Barney and Robin get a divorce, though I could argue this is not much of a surprise. Lily and Marshall end up happily married with three children. Ted and The Mother (aka Tracy McConnell) postpone their wedding until after the birth of their kids, years after they meet. Barney has a love child named Ellie, who then becomes the real love of his life. The Mother dies after 10 years with Ted. Six years later, Ted is telling the story of how he met the mother and turns out, according to the kids, it was not about that at all, but about how Ted loves Robin. The series ends its run with Ted going to Robin's and bringing with him THE blue french horn.
Now here is my case for why the finale worked:
First, I am heartbroken about Robin and Barney. Especially how Barney went back to his womanizer ways. But this was how Barney could finally have a baby (and how adorable was his speech to newborn baby Ellie in which he called her the love of his life?). He was meant to be a father, and Robin could never do that and probably would not have, even if it were physically possible for her. And really, after everything, it would have been more surprising for Barney to not have a love child.
Now, to the mother dying. There have been rumors of this being the case. The biggest criticism that this has sparked was how chill Ted's kids seem about it and how ready they can accept their father dating. The simple answer: it has been six years. People move on. It does not mean that Ted did not love the mother, or that she was even a footnote. While we haven't seen too much of her, she was not a footnote. She was the star of the show. Sure, it may have been metaphorically, but she was still the glue that held everything together and her dying does not diminish any impact on her role on the show or on Ted and the kids life.
Finally, the Robin of it all. Truthfully, I was never the biggest Ted-Robin supporter. However, I believe this fits with the heart of the show so perfectly. And how can it not? Ted loved Robin since the pilot. It was what kicked off the entire nine season run. Just because the show is named How I Met Your Mother, does not mean that is where it has to end. The title reflects where the show was leading to. It does not have to indicate where Ted ends up in his life. Ted is allowed to move on. He is allowed to have two great loves in his life. Reality can be like that sometimes. Not everything in life can be tied up in a nice, neat bow with what you think it ought to be. Life is unexpected and strange and beautiful, and is all about the relationships you keep. And that is what the show started as and how the show finished. In the end, it stayed true to it's beliefs.
All in all, the ending was perfection. At least for me. As Ted would always say, it is not about the destination, but how you get there.
