The clues we didn't notice about the ending
What did I miss out on?
If there was anything the writer's of HIMYM did and did best was foreshadow the ending and maintain a very strong story line regardless of the writer's strike, actors not being available, or having to stretch out a season for long run purposes. However there were three constants that they put in the show that should have given the ending away
- Reference to Robin in the present tense, Tracy in the past tense
- Tracy never appears in the present when Ted is telling the story, and the stories Ted tells wouldn't be told if Tracy was around
- The language that is used around Robin and Tracy
- Reference to Barney and Robin in the past tense
The show leaves several clues throughout the show as I'll detail below that show how it built up to this very ending.
Season 1
Pilot: The chemistry between Robin and Ted is there right from the start, when both of them meet each other. Ted goes back up to the house and describes Robin as the perfect girl to the just engaged Lily and Marshall, and Robin meets all 5 of Marshall's check boxes. Marshall says "it's on!", and later Ted makes it clear she isn't the mother, which infers that even though Robin doesn't end up being the mother, the story is of how Robin and Ted end up together
Slutty Pumpkin: Reveals that children are extremely familiar with Robin wearing crazy halloween costumes
Game night: Establishes Marshall is unbeatable at games, his winning streak as revealed later is shown to extend to long-term bets he and Lily create
Milk: Establishes that Ted's favourite book is "Love in the Time of Cholera", a story to which the show has a similar theme
Season 2
Something Blue Ted's narration following their breakup is revealed states that both of them achieved what they wanted out of life, thereby invalidating their reason of breakup
Season 3
Little Boys Revealed that Robin, a woman with an aversion of children is extremely close to and spends a lot of time with Ted's children appearing in many of their drawings. This would be impossible if Tracy were alive as both Robin and Tracy would find it inappropriate
How we met everybody else Ted, Marshall and Lily attend a 20 year reunion, where Ted is wearing a ring. He wears the same one in season 6.
Season 4
The Front Porch Robin creates a marriage pact with Ted, they would marry if they both 40 and single. Foreshadowing them ending up together.
Season 5
Twin Beds Ted's letter to himself following breakup with Robin reveals that their breakup was due to different future goals not incompatibility unlike her and Barney. Barney and Ted make a pact to share Robin where by Robin is Barney's partner till the age of 40 after which Ted can have her.
Robots Versus Wrestlers Narration reveals that all of them did drift apart from each other from time to time but still meet up for Robots vs. Wrestlers. Foreshadowing Robin's brief estrangement from the group and her divorce from Barney
Season 6
False positive Robin asks Ted to be the best man at her wedding if Ted isn't the groom. Ted joking tells her she would be making a mistake. She spends the better part of 17 years regretting the decision of not having married Ted
Garbage island Reveals that Ted got married to somebody else with whom he has two children. He is also wearing a ring
Exploding meatball sub When Barney is carrying out his exploding meatball sub prank he and Robin aren't wearing rings. The first scene from the first episode of their season shows their wedding. However Ted is wearing the same ring from Garbage island
Season 7
The Best Man Robin tells Ted "if you have chemistry, you also need timing. But timing's a bitch". She reaffirms their marriage pact highlighting how they still have an affinity for each other, but still have different goals
The Rebound Bro After Robin and Barney's night together and his breakup with Nora, Barney talks about having a child and not a wife. Goes to an adoption agency and brings a baby out of nowhere that later turns out to be his half-brother's daughter
The Symphony of Illumination Future Ted restresses that Robin achieves her goals, though she never has children while he is telling his children this story.
No Pressure Setting aside the happenings between Robin and Ted, It is established that Marshall is also unbeatable at bets winning two of his bets in the same week. There is a bet between Marshall and Lily about Robin and Ted not ending up together, which Lily bets Marshall. This is reason enough that Ted and Robin will end together in the future. Marshall repeatedly refuses to concede the bet, foreshadowing he and Robin aren't over.
Season 8
Farhampton Reveals Robin tries to run off with Ted from her wedding to Barney
Autumn of Breakups Ted breaks up with Victoria to retain his friendship with Robin. Victoria leaves saying "I really hope you get her someday"
Lobster Crawl Robin sets out on a mission of going after Barney to deal with her residual feelings for him to "get him out of my system"
Time Travellers
- 2033 Ted is married, which wouldn't be possible after 2024 as Tracy would be dead. He is also wearing a ring different from the one was wearing in the above mentioned season 6 episodes. The ring appears to have a blue stone, hinting his new wife is Robin
- Ted's 45 day speech wouldn't make sense if Tracy was alive as he wouldn't want to spend 45 extra days with her
Bad Crazy Robin and Tracy aren't meeting each other that often, but the meetings become more frequent after Tracy's death. Which coincidentally when Robin is spending a lot of time at Ted's place with his two children.
Romeward Bound Barney says Marshall has found the only woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with but can't say the same about Robin. Foreshadowing their relationship wouldn't last long.
Something Old Robin reaches for Ted's hand and looks at him sadly when it is raining at the carousel after he says "maybe we know what we want deep down"
Season 9
Coming Back Robin can't admit to James that her's and Barney's relationship isn't weak
Last Time in New York Robin and Barney are very afraid the magic will fade after they're married
Platonish Ted says that he'll let fate do its work and bring him and Robin back when it does
Mom and Dad Barney shows a disregard for the sanctity of marriage
How your mother met me Entire episode is narrated in past tense. Reveals how Tracy's true love was her late boyfriend Max.
Sunrise Ted learns that "Letting go" means not for ever if you really love somebody or something. Ted lets Robin go, which means he's at peace with her and Barney getting married but isn't letting hopes of them happening in the future
Rally The first part of the scene where Robin and Barney's decision to divorce is shown
Vesuvius Ted gets gloomy on Tracy asking " What mother is going to miss her daughter's wedding?" showing that he knows she wont be there for it. Foreshadowing her death later in the year
Daisy Robin realises that Ted is the only man that is there for her, and she should probably be marrying him
End of the Aisle Robin makes an ill fated attempt at running of with Ted. Future Ted's narration indicates that the path in the future would be very turbulent, foreshadowing their divorce
Last Forever
Culmination of the above:
- Robin and Barney's divorce
- Robin's brief estrangement from the group, as Ted is involved with Tracy
- Barney returns to womanising, ends up having a daughter realising he found somebody to truly love
- Tracy's death
- Robin achieves her goals
- Robin and Ted rekindle their relationship
Summary
Saying the ending wasn't foreshadowed is a travesty, as the episodes especially those in seasons 7,8,9 were very consistent with the ending and the foreshadowing became a lot more frequent as the season's progressed. The pilot sets the tone for the series, as the love story between Ted and Robin and how they end up together. In enjoying Robin and Barney's Chemistry, we did miss the strong narrative that the show was giving us, which is why we're against the finale. The show needs to be watched with a keen eye for detail. There is going to be further elaboration of Robin and Ted, Robin and Barney and Robin's true nature
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