At the end of the day this show isn’t about the mother. Despite the title and many fans’ seething hatred of the finale, How I Met Your Mother is about the journey not the destination. The heart of the show is the titular friend group of 5 navigating the adventure of their 20s and 30s together. —-Spoilers —- On some levels, I understand criticism of the ending. It did suck we only got the charismatic Cristin Milioti as lovely Tracy for one season. Within the last episode itself, the death did feel kind of shoehorned in, but within the season it was really beautifully and tragically built up to and foreshadowed. The other main criticism that “Ted and Robin shouldn’t have ended up together” and “Breaking up Robin and Barney made no sense” are things I disagree with. Lots of fans complain about how an entire season was spent building up to one wedding only for them to divorce, but ironically episode after episode outlines why their marriage isn’t going to end up working out. Yes, it’s still totally a bummer, but, once again, How I Met Your Mother isn’t about endings really— it’s about the journey. I’m actually kind of neutral about Ted and Robin ending up together to be honest, so I won’t argue much about that. HOWEVER, did start to see their chemistry again at the end of S8 and during some of S9. One criticism I do agree with is the “Barney regressed as a character”. I think him going back to being a player would’ve been fine, but to severity in which he regressed felt disappointing and unrealistic. Him and his daughter did end up being cute though. -—Spoilers done—- To close, I’m going to repeat myself one more time. I love I love How I Met Your Mother because of central friend group. I love How I Met Your Mother because of the how much and how differently they all love each other. I love How I Met Your Mother because the reoccurring bits. I love How I Met Your Mother because of the apartment. I love How I Met Your Mother because of McClarens. I love How I Met Your Mother because of how it can do both comedic and sincere moments so well. I love How I Met Your Mother because of sentimental it can get. As I sit here writing this, with my 18th birthday one day behind me and a ankle sprained from a stupid bit taken a smidge too far, I love How I Met Your Mother because of how it romanticizes being in young and stupid with your friends.