See, I am not a sissy for stories and I do not get stuck up with stories so as to keep commenting about it. Oh wait. Who am I kidding? But, the very reason I am writing this post is because of the kind of pummeling that the HIMYM series is getting for its ending. I agree that season 7, 8 and 9 were bad in general(There were some good episodes) but the finale was outstanding.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
Now, let's get into the brass tacks. Why is the finale getting such a bad reception?
1) The mother dies. Why did they kill her off?
2) Ted gets back with Robin. Damn, is that why they killed her off? Those nitwits.
3) Barney goes back to being himself. The hell. What about all that character development?
4) Barney and Robin divorce themselves. Well, fuck you. The whole season was about their marriage.
Now, let's dig up a bit. What was HIMYM really about? I mean I understand that it was a story about five friends who spent a lot of time at the McLaren's Pub and probably could have been any of us out there. But really, what was it about?
I always thought HIMYM was about How I Moved On and Still Cherished What I Had. Don't believe me? Just go through all the season finales from season 1 to 6. Season 1 ends with Marshall trying to move on with his life after the breakup with Lily. Season 2 ends with Ted trying to move on. Season 4 ends with the Jump(One of my fav episodes). Ted had a really bad year, got left at the altar but inspite of that, he looks back and sees that it wasn't that bad. Those events would lead onto him meeting Tracy(It's indeed very nice to use the name). He doesn't get hung up, instead he moves on. Season 5 is about Robin growing up and maturing and Ted pointing that out. In this particular episode, they almost end up accidentally getting back together. But, again Ted points out that it was for the better that they didn't because otherwise he wouldn't have met Tracy. Season 6. Remember Barney's line, "New is always better."
There's one other thing I would like to point out. The last episode covered around 16 years. A bit rushed.(The only bad thing about the finale according to me) Most fans failed to comprehend the timeline and what it did to these characters, their emotions and their bonds. But, the subtle transformations were really cool.
With all these in mind, let me try to explain what I think the creators had in mind.
4) Barney and Robin divorce themselves. Well, fuck you. The whole season was about their marriage.
Okay. We can all agree to one thing. Both Barney and Robin were unique, not the typical-people-next-door. Perhaps, that why they hit it off in the first place. And Barney's explanation was perfect.
"Guys, it's okay. This isn't a failed marriage. It's a very successful marriage that happened to last only three years."
They had their share of fun before they realised they weren't the perfect match they once thought they were and so they moved on. And, they did it without getting messed up about it. This brings us to something else.
3) Barney goes back to being himself. The hell. What about all that character development?
See, Barney changed because he was in a relationship and once he was out of it, he went back to who he was. Robin made him something else and when that went down the drain, it's kind of natural that he became the Barney we used to know.(Well, seriously speaking, I would prefer the playboy version any day) Maybe, he was letting of some steam and trying to move on with his life. And Lily understood it. She let him goof around after some initial arguments. Of course, the baby changed everything. A bit sudden and dramatic but hell, not everything can be written perfectly.
2) Ted gets back with Robin. Damn, is that why they killed her off? Those nitwits.
1) The mother dies. Why did they kill her off?
Dramatic as a plot device, I agree but not too uncommon in reality.
Sometimes bad things happen. It just does. It's not a fairy tale life out there. Ted had a whirlwind romance with Tracey. He proposed to her and married her after seven years. In between that, they had two beautiful kids. He probably had a relationship that most of us mortals dream about and then it happened. She died. He must have been heartbroken. And he must have slowly come to accept it, together with his kids. He must have met Robin a lot in between. She might have been a bulwark of support for him. And things must have changed gradually over the next six years. See, Ted never forgot what he had with Tracey but he knew one thing. It's pointless to not move on forward, however hard it is. And, moving on doesn't mean that you destroy the happy times you once had or that you defile your memories. What he had with Tracey will never vanish because of what he might have with Robin.
This reminded me of something that I was discussing with my batchmates when we got together in Bangalore over a couple of bottles and some other stuff ;). Somebody wanted to define happiness and some one else remarked that happiness is making the best out of what you have. In the words of Russel Peter, "You take it and go." That's precisely what Ted did.
And come to think of it, the writers ended it with Ted trying to date Robin for one more time but then they never really tell us what happens. Does it end badly? We do not know. But, we do know that no matter what, once in a while, they'll always come back to McLaren's for a swig of that beer. A bunch of people sticking together through life's ups and downs. Being there for each other, for their big moments as Lily said. And probably you don't need much more than that to push on ahead.
PS : Oh, and I loved it when Marshall passed the money to Lily when Ted announced his marriage to Tracey. (Remember the bet?).
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
Now, let's get into the brass tacks. Why is the finale getting such a bad reception?
1) The mother dies. Why did they kill her off?
2) Ted gets back with Robin. Damn, is that why they killed her off? Those nitwits.
3) Barney goes back to being himself. The hell. What about all that character development?
4) Barney and Robin divorce themselves. Well, fuck you. The whole season was about their marriage.
Now, let's dig up a bit. What was HIMYM really about? I mean I understand that it was a story about five friends who spent a lot of time at the McLaren's Pub and probably could have been any of us out there. But really, what was it about?
I always thought HIMYM was about How I Moved On and Still Cherished What I Had. Don't believe me? Just go through all the season finales from season 1 to 6. Season 1 ends with Marshall trying to move on with his life after the breakup with Lily. Season 2 ends with Ted trying to move on. Season 4 ends with the Jump(One of my fav episodes). Ted had a really bad year, got left at the altar but inspite of that, he looks back and sees that it wasn't that bad. Those events would lead onto him meeting Tracy(It's indeed very nice to use the name). He doesn't get hung up, instead he moves on. Season 5 is about Robin growing up and maturing and Ted pointing that out. In this particular episode, they almost end up accidentally getting back together. But, again Ted points out that it was for the better that they didn't because otherwise he wouldn't have met Tracy. Season 6. Remember Barney's line, "New is always better."
There's one other thing I would like to point out. The last episode covered around 16 years. A bit rushed.(The only bad thing about the finale according to me) Most fans failed to comprehend the timeline and what it did to these characters, their emotions and their bonds. But, the subtle transformations were really cool.
With all these in mind, let me try to explain what I think the creators had in mind.
4) Barney and Robin divorce themselves. Well, fuck you. The whole season was about their marriage.
Okay. We can all agree to one thing. Both Barney and Robin were unique, not the typical-people-next-door. Perhaps, that why they hit it off in the first place. And Barney's explanation was perfect.
"Guys, it's okay. This isn't a failed marriage. It's a very successful marriage that happened to last only three years."
They had their share of fun before they realised they weren't the perfect match they once thought they were and so they moved on. And, they did it without getting messed up about it. This brings us to something else.
3) Barney goes back to being himself. The hell. What about all that character development?
See, Barney changed because he was in a relationship and once he was out of it, he went back to who he was. Robin made him something else and when that went down the drain, it's kind of natural that he became the Barney we used to know.(Well, seriously speaking, I would prefer the playboy version any day) Maybe, he was letting of some steam and trying to move on with his life. And Lily understood it. She let him goof around after some initial arguments. Of course, the baby changed everything. A bit sudden and dramatic but hell, not everything can be written perfectly.
2) Ted gets back with Robin. Damn, is that why they killed her off? Those nitwits.
I guess everyone has a bone to pick up with this one particular aspect. We all fell in love with Cristin Milioti and let's face it, how Tracy met Ted was nothing less than legendary. And then well, all the ruckus happened and Ted suddenly tries to get back with Robin after she dies. Suddenly? No. If you look back, it was always hinted. Most of us wanted Ted to get back with her till Cristin Milioti happened. Remember the whole conversation Ted had with Robin about what happens if they are still single when they are 40. And remember, how hard it was for Ted to let go of Robin in the last season. And in the very last episode, we are also shown Robin's frustration. But, it's still difficult to accept how quickly Ted went behind Robin, isn't it?
1) The mother dies. Why did they kill her off?
Dramatic as a plot device, I agree but not too uncommon in reality.
Sometimes bad things happen. It just does. It's not a fairy tale life out there. Ted had a whirlwind romance with Tracey. He proposed to her and married her after seven years. In between that, they had two beautiful kids. He probably had a relationship that most of us mortals dream about and then it happened. She died. He must have been heartbroken. And he must have slowly come to accept it, together with his kids. He must have met Robin a lot in between. She might have been a bulwark of support for him. And things must have changed gradually over the next six years. See, Ted never forgot what he had with Tracey but he knew one thing. It's pointless to not move on forward, however hard it is. And, moving on doesn't mean that you destroy the happy times you once had or that you defile your memories. What he had with Tracey will never vanish because of what he might have with Robin.
This reminded me of something that I was discussing with my batchmates when we got together in Bangalore over a couple of bottles and some other stuff ;). Somebody wanted to define happiness and some one else remarked that happiness is making the best out of what you have. In the words of Russel Peter, "You take it and go." That's precisely what Ted did.
And come to think of it, the writers ended it with Ted trying to date Robin for one more time but then they never really tell us what happens. Does it end badly? We do not know. But, we do know that no matter what, once in a while, they'll always come back to McLaren's for a swig of that beer. A bunch of people sticking together through life's ups and downs. Being there for each other, for their big moments as Lily said. And probably you don't need much more than that to push on ahead.
PS : Oh, and I loved it when Marshall passed the money to Lily when Ted announced his marriage to Tracey. (Remember the bet?).
