Actively watching How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) feels like keeping up with five of one’s best friends—Ted, Marshall, Lily, Robin and Barney. From cringing at Ted’s questionable fashion choices to rooting for Marshall and Lily to reunite, loyal viewers experience the joys and heartaches of the familiar characters. The popular CBS show centers on Ted Mosby, a hopeless romantic, and his story of finding and settling down with the girl of his dreams. Ted narrates the show, describing his life leading up to when he meets his wife—facilitating storytelling in the form of flashbacks. As HIMYM airs its ninth and final season, there is much nostalgia, expectation, and anticipation for a satisfying conclusion to the series.
Since its inception in 2005, HIMYM has pulled viewers in with the intriguing relationship developments of its main characters. This final season is expected to deliver what viewers have been waiting to see since season one: how Ted meets his wife. Viewers will finally meet the eponymous mother.
Loose ends that need closure
1. Will Robin and Barney tie the knot?
Robin and Barney have had a tumultuous relationship and both fear long-term relationships. In prior seasons—despite feelings they each had for the other—the two have dated, broken up, and seen other people. Now with HIMYM in its final season, viewers are asking what will become of Robin and Barney? At the end of Season Eight, Barney is seen struggling to escape his wedding by crawling out a window. This “Will they? Won’t they?” style relationship is reminiscent of Ross and Rachel from Friends or Elliot and J.D. from Scrubs. In both shows, the couples end up together. Will Robin and Barney follow suit or be the first to break the pattern?
2. Will Lily and Marshall move to Italy or stay in NYC?
During the last episodes of Season Eight, Lily was given the opportunity of a lifetime through her job as an art consultant. Lily now has the opportunity to move to Rome for a year. Initially, Lily struggles with whether she should accept the offer and worries about forcing Marshall to move across the world with her. Eventually, Marshall convinces her to take the job. The location of the job seems to be a perfect fit for the couple until Marshall receives a call from the New York State Judiciary Committee offering him a position as a judge. Marshall has yet to share the news about his new job with Lily. With two dream jobs awaiting the pair, and important news yet to be shared with Lily, will the two be ultimately settle in the Big Apple or head to Europe?
3. Will Ted move to Chicago and give up his dream house?
In Season Five, Ted bought a desolate, run-down house in Westchester County, NY, with the intent of remodeling it into his dream house. In Season Eight, the house is revealed on camera and it appears to be the same 2030 house in which Ted is shown telling his children the story of how he met their mother. The major difference is that the house shown in Season Eight lacks some of the decorations shown in the 2030 house. During the last episode of Season Eight, Ted confides in Lily that he plans to move to Chicago and sell the house. Despite Ted’s determined plans to move to the Windy City, will Ted really move away or will he design a Chicago house in the same way?
4. When will Ted finally meet the mother? Also… what’s her name?
Lily was the first of the characters to meet “the mother” (played by Cristin Milioti) in the first episode of Season Nine, when the two women both end up taking the same train to Farhampton. Ted and “the mother” are both in Farhampton; it is only a matter of time before the two meet. The much-anticipated first encounter is yet to occur. How will the producers stage this seminal moment? For years viewers have only known Milioti’s character as “the mother.” What is this mysterious woman’s name?
Tropes ‘HIMYM’ Has Popularized
Long-running sitcoms often have recurring jokes and phrases that the characters reference in multiple episodes throughout the seasons, and HIMYM is no exception. In the show, many of these jokes originate from character Barney Stinson. Some of the jokes were not originally created by the show’s writers but have certainly gained popularity through their frequent use on the show. Although this list is far from exhaustive, below are some of the most famous jokes and references that have jumped from the screen and into the vernacular of many fans and even those who may have never seen HIMYM.
“Legen—wait for it—dary”
This is one of character Barney’s catchphrases. He uses it when he is trying to describe something that he is looking forward to doing. He often demonstrates his excitement for an event when he delivers one of his signature, “It’s going to be legen—wait for it—dary,” lines.
“The Bro Code”
This is a set of rules Barney develops for himself and his male friends to follow that details expected behavior in life and with regards to women. Barney binds the rules of the code into a leather, hardcover book.
“Suit Up”
This is another one of Barney’s mantras throughout the show. He is known for his love of suits and believes that wearing suits sets him apart from other people. Barney uses “Suit Up” as a call to action both in his own life and the lives of his friends.
“Challenge Accepted”
When others describe a task that appears implausible or unrealistic, Barney embraces the endeavor and says, “Challenge Accepted.”
