How I Met Your Mother: Perfect Pilot vs Disappointing Finale

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The first episode of How I Met Your Mother hints at a bittersweet truth about how the series ends. Despite many other shows focusing on close friendships and great romances, How I Met Your Mother remains a beloved favorite for many viewers. The show’s enduring appeal lies in the group’s unique humor, shared traditions, and the genuine fun they have together.

It’s tempting to nitpick when rewatching a favorite show, and the first season of How I Met Your Mother definitely has some issues. The pilot episode is actually quite strong, but even that early success hints at a problem that becomes apparent later in the series.

How I Met Your Mother Gave Us A Perfect Pilot And An Upsetting Finale

The first episode of How I Met Your Mother is excellent, but the series finale doesn’t live up to expectations, creating a stark difference between the beginning and the end of the show.

In the first episode, Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) is immediately likable and engaging. We’re quickly drawn into the clever way the story is told – Ted recounting his greatest love story to his children. The episode feels complete and satisfying, with a strong start and a fulfilling conclusion.

Following the charming story of Ted and Robin’s first date – and Ted’s somewhat questionable decision to take a blue French horn from a restaurant – it’s a surprising twist when he refers to Robin as “Aunt Robin,” immediately confirming she isn’t the mother of his children.

Revealing this information early on was a good move, avoiding unnecessary suspense. And because we’re still curious about this mysterious person, How I Met Your Mother continues to be engaging and keep us wanting to know more.

Compared to the excellent first episode, the final episode of How I Met Your Mother disappointed many viewers by unexpectedly killing off Tracy McConnell, ‘The Mother.’ This felt like a shocking twist that didn’t add to the story. A less dramatic approach, where Ted simply explained he and Tracy had separated but continued to co-parent their children, would have been more satisfying.

Ted and Robin could have rekindled their relationship, which would have nicely connected the finale back to the show’s beginning. Instead, the series started with optimism but ended on a down note, and that was disappointing.

How I Met Your Mother Changed A Lot Between The Pilot And The Finale

Looking back at the first and last episodes of How I Met Your Mother, it’s striking how much the show – and the characters – change over time. The biggest transformation is arguably that of Barney Stinson, played by Neil Patrick Harris.

It was a surprise to many viewers who started watching the show in season one to see Barney and Robin get married, considering he always claimed he’d never fall in love. While it doesn’t erase the issues with Barney’s past behavior, it does show significant growth for his character.

The final season of the series changes how the story is told. Season 9 is unique because it focuses on the two days leading up to a major event, with each episode picking up a few hours after the previous one.

This change of pace adds to the excitement and emotional impact of this important time for the group of friends. While How I Met Your Mother is still a popular show from the 2000s, it’s obvious that the beginning and the end have very different feels.

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2025-11-02 00:41