How Marshall Ruined The Final Season Of How I Met Your Mother

It's no secret that most fans consider the final season of How I Met Your Mother to be the worst in the series. Though not many can put a finger on what exactly went wrong. Some point to Jason Segel's contract dispute with How I Met Your Mother producers, but is that the whole story? Why did one of the central characters of How I Met Your Mother almost jump ship before the shows final season?
#howimetyourmother #jasonsegel #nerdstalgic

[@rafresendenrafresenden.1644]

I think the finale hurt the series way more than anything Marshall ever did

[@ErzaRosenberg]

Agreed. 💯

[@britpretty]

So true. They ruined the show by being unable to let the characters change. Horrible ending.

[@edgarbran9822]

I agree. I didn't even know this was such an issue. I never stopped to think about it that much, especially with how awful the ending was, backtracking seasons of character growth in a matter of minutes.

[@youmnawehesh5769]

Thanks

[@blueblack3591]

agree

[@trinaq]

It made absolutely zero sense why they had the final season take place entirely at Barney and Robin's wedding if they were just needlessly going to split them up in the first few minutes of the finale. Also, Tracy deserved better than to be a vessel for Ted's kids, all so Ted could go back to Robin in the end.

[@gabrielwillians1385]

i hated this decision of having the whole season take place on the wedding weekend, some episodes were so boring because of that. Why not have a normal season and the last four or so about the wedding?

[@maiconsilva4205]

I mean even if they weren't going to split them up by the end, it's such a weird decision

[@F5alconsHouse]

I feel like it would have been more impactfiul if we spent the whole season with them together and then her dying.

[@blueblack3591]

yes who`s idea was this

[@Jay-gq1mo]

​@@F5alconsHouse i feel like at least half the season should've the wedding and the rest should've been the future. I didn't hate the decision to kill her off but that would've helped build an attachment to Tracy plus better set up the growing strain on Barney and Robin's marriage(although I would've liked to see them stay together) but I think this woukd provide a better ending.

[@randomaccountmadeyup]

None of this falls on his shoulders. The whole last season was a mess with or without him. There is no one to blame but the writers.

[@DefeatLust]

Exactly this

[@Dan55888]

Right? What a weird thing to try and pin it on him

[@Random_dud31]

Really? For me, it only sounded like he was explaining why Marshall wasn't around much in the last season. Not why the last season is bad

[@bufordhighwater9872]

It's not blaming the character of Marshall or Jason Segel for how bad the final season was. And you literally just agreed with the video. "With or without him" was the exact problem. When he wasn't there, you either noticed the lack of Marshall or you didn't notice until someone brought him up. When he was on screen, it broke up the flow of main narrative with a lame subplot that poorly ripped off "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles". The misuse of Marshall was the fault of the writers.

[@andalilbitqueer]

not really, the writers didn't even want a season 9, but the network insisted.

[@frankejk]

i genuinely dont understand why they stretched a single weekend for 22 episodes and then they rushed like 10 years of story in the last 2

[@Sim0sama]

This is how works when someone is telling a story 😂

[@vinniequick]

should of been 10

[@GentlyUsedFrog]

@@vinniequick should have*

[@isaaczurich9272]

I was able to forgive a lot of the last season's shortcomings because of how delightful and charming Cristin Milioti was as the titular mother. What REALLY ruined everything was the sudden and jarring right turn in the final five minutes of the finale.

[@isaaczurich9272]

@@BranBal I have watched the alternate ending. It's certainly an improvement upon what was aired, but I wanted more emotional weight from it.

[@Ghost-lt4sf]

Hard agreeee

[@sofiamunozalonzo]

Hard disagree, she was so annoyingly perfect, I hated her. She has been charming and delightful in anything else, were she was more human.

[@randomdude189]

It’s not illegal to have bad opinions but you should feel some shame sharing them so openly lol

[@chinortega3]

@@randomdude189 Issac is speaking facts though

[@alexandrasilva7797]

The problem with the ending of HIMYM was never Marshall or Lily. It's the fact that we spent 9 seasons to know the mother, just to have her on 2 episodes, and see the series ended the way it started. Robin and Ted never match, they would never work out as a relationship. On the other hand, Barney and Robin understood each oher like no one else. And the mother deserved a season dedicated to her, and not just a couple of episodes.

[@Anabozhin]

ted and robin had great relationships for a whole year, remained friends after the split, eobin and barney were toxic, robin couldn't stand barney, and barney inly knew robin he wanted to know, the cool robin, robin wasnt, you are your own daddy, she was fragile and needy underneath her cold mask, she was too young when she first dated ted, to think about family and marriage, if the fertility issue didn't happen, she would've marry ted, barney was the only guy she knew, that wont resent her years after for not having children, thats why she married him, good to know you watched the show

[@mahiyatsafiyullah7103]

​@@AnabozhinI watched the show hell it's one of my favourite sitcoms but that last season was silly. Tracy worked so much better and she incredibly lived up to the hype. You know how good of a character you have to be to be built up for 8 seasons, show up in the end and still be seen as worthy and a great addition. Tracy should have been Endgame not Robin. You know end it on and that kids is how I met your mother.

[@Sim0sama]

@@Anabozhinnobody ever has explained my thoughts better. 🙌🏻 I also feel this sitcom was extremely cruel exactly how life is. No matter how good you’re relationship is in the few first moments. Love isn’t everything. And when you are young and in love, you still don’t have to face the crucial part of relationships (marriage, kids, carrier, money…illness…)so the finale sucks exactly how life sucks. And this is what I love about it. it was realistically cruel and unrealistically fun to watch 😂

[@real1mem3s]

Ted liked Robin but he wanted to get married and have kids. Ted already has kids and Robin has been married before and probably doesn't care about Argentina and all that worthless crap anymore. It's in bad taste because the mom gets killed off for them.

[@Dan55888]

Marshall is like the LAST one I would blame for anything bad in this show (the slap bet was a bit overplayed though) Marshall is literally the only likable one of the group if met in real life. Ted is a picky idiot, Lily is kinky and hot but easily the most judgemental and controlling of the group, Robin is selfish and rude most of the time, Barney is a type of character that only exists in TV land because in real life he would be a sexual predator and an asshole... Marshal is the family man hard worker and funny goofball of the group

[@juanrocollazo]

I felt the same way. I related immensely precisely to the qualities people judge Marshall for. Being really emotional, attached to family, with a deep desire to be a dad, creer focused but also having to compromise for his partner are all things I have lived and related to and made me very attached to thecharacter. Barney might be iconic on screen, but he would be insufferable as a real life friend.

[@chocolatemilkhotel96]

Robin wasn't like that at first. They changed her up :(

[@randomdude189]

Ted sucked. Lily sucked. The softness of the show sucked. The sluttiness of the group sucked

[@MegaKnight2012]

Barney getting away with so much sexual predator acts feels sadly realistic

[@Alex01xD]

Ted is far from a 'picky idiot'. He is a great friend and actually the most relatable character for the average viewer

[@mohemida]

I think the writers did a pretty good job on dealing with his tight schedule. I saw the show multiple times and never complained about Marshall being absent in the final season (there are a lot of things to complain about in that season I'm just saying Marshall wasn't one of them)

[@aliceadebola]

I think so too. The reason he was "explained away" - every big gathering has that one person that for multiple reason can't or can just barely make it. Sure, how he got in this situations was unusual, but just in a sitcom kind of way

[@cynnimini2650]

I agree! Never bothered me much, although I love marshall. The ending is what bothers me (like everyone else)

[@AzzurroProductions]

I think the point is that it still would've all worked better if his character and that vibe and energy would've been in the mix with the others. That doesn't mean it's horrible to watch, but might've been/worked much better with him.

[@AnaPaula-wd6rd]

I binged the series in 2016. I was ironing some clothes while watching the finale. When Ted called Robin I almost threw my iron at the wall. True story.

[@Mugruncher]

I watched the finale at the gym. I would treat myself with new episodes of stuff but I’d have to watch them while jogging. I was so mad I stopped working out and got McDonald’s.

[@tarantinoish]

Very understandable reaction.

[@The_Invisible_Hand]

It would have been projectile-- wait for it... scary!

[@mindmeld12345]

Legendary reaction

[@trinaq]

Having Marshall be separated from the rest of the main group was marginally better than not having him present at all, but it still felt clunky having him show up sporadically, stuck in either a car or airport. Just goes to show that Marshall was the true heart of the group.

[@MrGamerz20]

Clickbait title, Marshall’s absence through most of the season wasn’t the main reason the last season failed. It was the writers.

[@nithilanamudhan6260]

The writers screwed the whole final season with that finale. Such a good series deserved a better ending

[@5.kc.5]

that was always gonna be the ending of the show

[@Xara_K1]

​@@5.kc.5 still sucked

[@britpretty]

@@5.kc.5 And it's a horrible choice. very poor writing. Erased all the character's growth. It always being the plan doesn't make it better: it's the exact thing that shows the problem. They should've let that plan go.

[@5.kc.5]

@@britpretty i understand the hate i just dont feel like they screwed up the ending bcuz that was their ending. they screwed our (or the majority) ending. imo it was rushed but it didn’t ruin everything, bcuz life is like that… you expect something to go one way but most times it just doesn’t. anyway we can go back and forth but it will still be the same way it was 9 years ago. just my pov

[@nithilanamudhan6260]

@@5.kc.5 i get that ted and robin were supposed to end together but here is the thing The last season was purely built on Ted's perfect woman just so she gets killed by the end of the season. They built Barney and Robin to be the best for each other just so they could divorce in a year. Barney also goes back to his womanising ways just when we thought he was going to settle down with his 1 perfect woman It was just a complete waste of a season all things considered

[@Dan55888]

Honestly there was so many things wrong with the last season I completely forgot Marshall was largely left out. He absolutely wasnt the key reason why the show ended so badly. I seriously cannot watch the show anymore knowing how bad they they butchered the end. Makes the whole series seem less serious, I put a lot less faith in it

[@georgeoldsterd8994]

Just watch 8 seasons and a select few episodes and scenes of season 9, skipping all the filler and the terrible ending. That's what I do. Cope? Yes, but it's still better than what we got.

[@jarodchen7667]

Spending almost the entirety of season 9 at Barney and Robin's wedding was a huge mistake. The episodes just dragged on, and it didn't feel like we were getting anywhere. The only thing to make up for it was that we got more Tracy scenes.

[@ouroboros_1355]

I actually really liked the last season... except for the ending of course, the episode Barney disappears has my favorite line in the whole show "whatever you do in life, it's not legendary, unless your friends are there to see it" I love it

[@KingGorilla1]

No word about Segels struggle with alcoholism during the later series? I think this was a huge factor, which shouldn't be excluded in this. I for myself am really happy that he overcame this struggles as far as we know ...

[@lonestarr1490]

This explains why he looks so bad (emaciated and unhealthy) in parts of the final season.

[@KingGorilla1]

@@lonestarr1490 but especially in seasons before, so I think.

[@friendsfans123]

@@lonestarr1490I thought it was just the weight loss

[@misswednesday]

Yeah, what I hated was making him almost bald in their 40s 😅

[@kapten-awesome]

I didn't think of that at all. To me the problem was that they walked back on so many things, barney and Robin(should have stayed married) and ted and Tracy should have had a happy ending and then the Last scen when he goes to robin never happend. HOW HARD COULD IT BE!?

[@vitormelomedeiros]

Yeah, that's the alternate ending they did. The alternate ending is actually very good if you pretend the original ending never happened. It's just very rushed, because it was not actually shot, it was a product of editing. If they went with the beats of the alternate ending, but actually wrote and shot them without it being rushed, it would have been great. And this is what happens in it, three happy couples by the end, how it should have been.

[@TheVIITV]

That’s all a fairytale ending that was never going to happen and misses the entire promise of the show and completely undermines the writing and journey each character went thru. Barney and Robin were trauma bonding and bad for each other the whole time and never were going to end up together. Ted tells you its about the journey not the destination so making entire show about the destination complete my negates that point. It was never about “finding the one”. It was about being yourself and moving forward with confidence regardless of life’s disappointment and finding a way to still be happy and look to the future. They writing always showed that’s what Teds whole problem is, thinking some woman was going to come fix his life when the only one that could fix it was Ted. Finding his self security was the “HOW” in how I met your mother. It wasn’t about the mother or Barney and Robin. It didn’t come full circle until we found out the wife had died, loss of the “perfect partner” would have crushed young Ted. But he grew to be able to move forward. Which again is the entire purpose of the show.

[@kapten-awesome]

@TheVIITV well to me if the series is called "how I met your mother" it should have at least have more then like 4min in total with ted and Tracy together. But to your point ted and Robin didn't match to each other either.

[@TheVIITV]

@@kapten-awesome sorry about the typos. But yea I get what you mean. To me, the title “how I met your mother” isn’t about the mother or the time they spent together. It’s about the “how” he got to her, and “how” he became the man that could be with her. It could be argued that the entire show is more about life without her than it is about life with her. Which to me makes the ending all the more complete.

[@EJY318]

Responsibility for ruining that show falls squarely on the shoulders of whoever came up with that ending.

[@kittycattt93]

I recommend watching "Dispatches From Elsewhere". Jason Segal wrote & created it. Such a good series and I hardly see it get recognition!!

[@Nekosphere]

Was about to comment that before i saw your post. I feel like he used the depression/stress/failure he had and put it all in this show. It was so good and the 4th-wall-breaking ending had me in tears

[@hullstar242]

Yep the show is one of my favorite shows ever. It’s simply magic.

[@britpretty]

If the writers were better at their jobs, they would've let the characters grow and change. The last season is pretty terrible, and the ending is awful. But Marshall's half-absence didn't ruin it: their poor writing/decisions did. They were too married to an ending that no longer made sense. They could've written Marshall out completely, and their bad writing would still be the issue.

[@Natalie-ed7jq]

Right? Im rewatching the show rn with a friend who never watched it. We are on season 7 and when Ted said “I love you” to Robin my friend just screamed “Noooo not again I’m so bored of this”. Robin and Ted being together just doesn’t make sense and no one really wants that but the writers

[@Anabozhin]

@@Natalie-ed7jqyou and your friend arent everyone

[@misterwhyte]

I just finished rewatching the show and even though I guessed something was happening BTS for Marshall to be separated from the group for a few episodes, I still think they pulled it off perfectly. Him being stranded in Minnesota and having to find his way to the wedding on time was a great little subplot, and it added a new dynamic to his relationship with Lily. As others have said, there are many problems in season 9, but Marshal ain't one of them. Still an interesting bit on why he wasn't as present.

[@GoodOldPolly]

Marshall's development issue is an issue that plagues multiple sitcoms. Ross, Joey, Sheldon, among others became a more exaggerated version of themselves. Ross more neurotic, Joey more dumb, Sheldon more antisocial.

[@quintusaquila34]

Yea it happens even to the best of them. The characters start off far more nuanced and complex but by the end of the shows run, they are exaggerated caricatures of their former selves. Marshall wasn't the only one who suffered this in HIMYM, Ted and Robin both to an extent suffered from this as well.

[@majesticmo5048]

Imo I would say Sheldon got much better as TBBT went on. He went from being a robotic selfish ass to being able to settle down and mature, while also understanding friendship better

[@Tdawg93a]

​@majesticmo5048 Sheldon was an ass all the way through, right to the finale. He just got a girlfriend.

[@CatoNumbla]

it is not about development, it is about comedy, really. A sitcom is a tough and specific genre of TV to write. And Ross actually was the one character that got better at the end. Joey- I agree, and in fact, the majority of sitcoms' characters end up like this because, quite simply, sitcoms have to have jokes and comedy all the time. That comedy is always based on the exaggerated traits of the characters, so if the sitcom is a long-running show and ends up having many seasons, all the more subtle, better jokes are already 'spent' during the early seasons. Thus, the more crude ones are all that's left in late seasons, this is why most characters in the long-running sitcoms feel like caricatures near the end of these shows.

[@Zenek143]

I always thought Marshall was fine. Still enjoyed him in the final season

[@rainbowsnail4171]

I didn't even notice this because I binged the season, and the ending is what ruined the entire show so much that I didn't care Marshall was out of it for so much.

[@evilkingstanley]

I've rewatched the show many times now, it's honestly one of my favorite shows ever, and while my initial dislike of the final season has softened over time, it still remains my least favorite season. I think you really hit the nail on the head with Marshall being a parody of himself. It wasn't just Marshall. It was nearly all of the cast, and it honestly started before season 9. It creeps its head up in season 7 and really goes full swing in season 8. I appreciate a lot of the behind the scenes stuff that led to this and really give props to the team for doing the best they could under fairly unique circumstances, but I think we all felt like they really didn't get to do that last season the way they wanted to.

[@seanbaugh3239]

They should have subverted everyone's expectations and had Barney "miraculously" get Robin pregnant with twins who Ted ends up adopting and telling the story of how he met their mother and how she and their father were murdered by a jealous ex lover (Wendy the Waitress). 🤔... 😳... 😃👍 *"NUFF SAID"™️*

[@19godfather93]

Better plot in the KZbin comments section than the garbage that was S9 of HIMYM

[@quintusaquila34]

There is a scene in the comedy This Is The End (2013), in the party scene with all the big celebrity cameos (all playing themselves) and there is a quick bit where Jason Segel is talking to Kevin Hart about his role on HIMYM (though the name of the show isn't explicitly mentioned), and Segel is bemoaning the how stupid the role feels, reenacting a supposed bit from the show about getting caught eating cake meanwhile Kevin Hart laughs. It always stuck with me how genuinely bitter Segel seemed to be about his role as Marshall. Always kinda sad when an actor on the show starts to resent their character, especially when they are a fan favorite.

[@patrickbacher7881]

I just wish Marshall stood up for himself a bit more. That’s all. I think it would have given his character an entirely different dimension. At some point he had sacrificed a lot for Lilly and it always made you think Lilly would have never done that for him. He was the settler.

[@propogandalf]

She gave up her art dreams for him and supported him financially all through law school and when he quit his job.

[@patrickbacher7881]

@@propogandalf No she complained about that. She pretended to be supporting and constantly wanted to go on the LAM. She kept saying she wanted to run and ditch Marshal with her baby. She didn’t give up her art dream at all she abandoned him to go to San Francisco shortly before their wedding leaving Marshall to pick up the pieces …. She finally came back once she had proven to herself that she failed at all of her dreams. Her biggest decision was that she said she would give up the dream in Italy for Marshall to get his one true dream job where he could finally make a difference. I don’t know where she really supported him it isn’t as if she did much besides teach kindergarten which was for her and not for him because she needed money.

[@propogandalf]

@@patrickbacher7881 I don't even know where to start with your response. Too many things to refute and I don't have the energy unfortunately so I'll just say that regardless of how much a kindergarten teacher makes, a student makes $0. Lily supported Marshall all through law school and when he quit his job to find a more fulfilling law job. He could not contribute towards rent, utilities, food, etc. Regardless of how you feel about the character Lily, this is a fact.

[@patrickbacher7881]

@@propogandalf He was living with Ted. Him and Ted were splitting rent. She wasn’t paying for his stuff. The show never began to pretend that was the case. You are making up your own head case for what she might have done and not what she did. She had her own apartment. They had episodes on it. They eventually lived together and no she didn’t pay for much she had massive shopping debt which she gave to Marshall. It is like you didn’t watch the show. He had student loans and I am not sure if he did anything else but as the story was told by Ted he didn’t have much of a reason to specify those details. Nowhere and I mean nowhere does it show Lilly paid for Marshal during law school.

[@patrickbacher7881]

Ted and Marshall rented the apartment together. Lilly had her own apartment but stayed in their apartment most of the time. Then Lilly moves into that apartment with them which it was more or less implied that she didn’t have to pay rent but we can say she split part of the rent but nowhere does it say that she paid for all of Marshalls stuff or gave up anything for him. That is just delusional made up head cannon.

[@gabrielwillians1385]

honestly, the last season of HIMYM is the weakest of the series, and i am not only saying this for the final episode, i am talking about the whole season. It was such a boring decision to make the whole season take place on the wedding, some of the best episodes were the ones on New York and now we have to watch twenty and somenthing episodes on a boring hotel? and yeah, leaving Marshall during most part of the season separated from the group was so weird

[@colesanchez5508]

Jason segal thought having a 9nth season shouldnt have happened. He thought it should have ended on the 8th season. The writers completely ruined the final season with all that mess.

[@barleymepodcast2301]

I still maintain the ideal ending was that Ted awkwardly sits down with the kids of a woman he had a one night stand with because he is unable to love but also needs to be liked by everyone

[@TheMCNanno]

I disagree that it felt disjointed; I knew that sepal didn’t really want to do the season, but the idea that he’s running a bit late (and that we still see him) feels completely natural

[@Mr.StevenKerr]

It is one of the worst endings of all time. Show went on too long to begin with, but man, it sucked.

[@chasehedges6775]

Show went on too long to begin with. That’s why you end at season 1 or season 2 or stop after 3 seasons altogether

[@magnusprime962]

@@chasehedges6775It depends on the needs of the show. Some are able to last more than ten seasons and still be strong, others end after two. It all depends on how the writers make it work.

[@chasehedges6775]

@@magnusprime962 💯. Exactly

[@thealchemist51]

Marshall, not being around was just one of many things that did not make the final season work. Yeah, Marshall was becoming a parity of himself, but most of the characters were doing the same. Basically, I always say that Harry Met your mother died at At the episode, the drunk train when Ted confesses that he still loves Robin. This is basically went every character in the show how to regress in rapidly changed to fit then ending that the creators wanted from season one. Problem is that when you write anything characters will change and evolve over time but the creators wanted the ending. They had written since the beginning, and the only way to do it was just basically to destroy years of character development and make characters regress. We got an extra season we didn’t need and then we got an entire season stuck in a wedding weekend which could’ve been done in probably six episodes. And then an entire seasons worth of episodes crammed into the Finale. So yes, Marshall not being around the last season was a problem, but it was just one of many problems.

[@UncensoredScion]

Par-o-dy, Noun: the state in which a person is turned into a farcical version of themselves Par-i-ty. Noun: the state in which someone is equal with others in the same field of work. Seriously, if you don't know how to spell the word, just don't use it, use simpler words because there is no way you meant for Marshall to be equal with himself with the tone of this video.

[@edgarbran9822]

@@UncensoredScion Weirdly enough, you didn't notice or didn't care for the use of "Harry Met your mother." I think those incorrect words might be because of auto-correct. Also, maybe you could try not to be so rude when correcting someone, since just being a dick normally isn't well received.

[@UncensoredScion]

@@edgarbran9822 So you're telling me a person can't spell and needs to use STT to post comments on KZbin? Seriously how stupid is this new generation that spelling is impossible for them? Did YOU need to put this in a TTS to understand it or can you actually read?

[@patrickbacher7881]

The ending made a lot of sense the whole show was about how life had its ups and downs and the only true thing you can expect is change. You can’t trust your fiancée will show up for your wedding. You will be hurt, backstabbed, and discouraged. Occasionally, something great will happen but really all you can hope for is a few chuckleheads to enjoy the ride with. The best times were when they were all together just doing stupid shit together. A horrible event of the mother dying happened which again was what the show was all about. I wish they spent a few more episodes of her or if she was there in the show a bit more but it was about how they met her not about her stories with the group. At the end Ted missed Robin and she missed him and it was finally their time to be together which the show had hinted at all along. After family and career they can be together. It was their fated time. She would never be a replacement for the real mother to Ted but she was the next person he wanted to spend his life with and the next chapter. All in all a good show with a rushed final season. Ted’s parents hinted at they would have been happier if they hadn’t gotten together when they wanted different things. Ted always wanted kids and Robin always didn’t. It was never a lack of chemistry or love it was just timing which I think Robin said at one point. The bet with Marshall that they’d end up together where he never gave up hope on it because he saw something special there. I mean that wouldn’t have been noteworthy unless the story was gonna do something with it. The entire story itself revolved around Robin. I mean what did everyone expect that at the end he wouldn’t somehow get his moment in the sun with her?

[@ajb7530]

They should have introduced the mother "Tracy" a few seasons before, like in the middle of season 7. So audience can get to know her for a few seasons. Like 7 through 9.

[@MIKELIN8]

Peter was a song-writer in "Leaving Sarah Marshall", not a puppeteer. I know, I watched the movie.

[@tylerhackner9731]

A really bad ending to a good show

[@austinloverin7259]

I actually liked Ted and Robin together because it made sense as to why Ted began the story where he did. What I didn't like was Barney and Robin having so much time put into exploring their relationship, only for them to get divorced. I also hate they cut the scene that makes it clear Ted is over Robin and Tracy and the kids aren't some consolation prize. If they wanted to stick to Robin and Ted being end game and the mother dying, they shouldn't have spent the final season and a half setting up Barney and Robin. Instead, they should have focused on Ted and Robin with Ted choosing Tracy over Robin so we know Tracy was the true love of Ted's life.

[@nealjroberts4050]

The problem with the ninth and ending was essentially pacing. Very little development happened in 95% followed by a lot in the last 5%. If they'd done the wedding in 3 episodes then the next years for the rest showing Robin essentially becoming someone Ted could have married (and v.v), while adding in Tracy's death as a hindsight reveal at the end, then Ted deciding to ask Robin out, then people wouldn't hate it so much.

[@Watcher4187]

It's been years since I watched this show. I don't even remember Marshal in the final season. I remember the negatives for me being: 1. The show went on way too long and started being bad a few seasons before the final with the final being terrible. 2. The ending sucked. 3. Ted and Robin had basically no character development. They never changed, never compromised, and were basically assholes the entire time. After a while I was hoping they would just both end up alone and sad.

[@CrypticCharm]

the writers ruined that final series of How i Met Your Mother, and i still hold to the theory that Ted killed Tracy, after using her to have his children, since Robin couldn't. Ted poisoned her, or exposed her to asbestos, so she died, then waited a while so he could date Robin again, his one true love, according to him that said, Marshell was boring by the end, and Lily i always thought was a sociopath, and Barney was a good guy so Ted who is retelling this story to make himself the hero, made him look bad by comparison. so good video,

[@yoyo9winner]

I don’t think he killed her. I’m pretty sure she had cancer. I think the point of the show is you can meet the perfect person (based on your account) and things can not go your way. Also, that he’s trying to move on from the past and as a single man again and wants his children’s blessings to move on from his deceased wife

[@ashwindesik69420]

You want the theory of, "Ted killed his one true love?" I don't know if this is a joke, but you seem crazy for wanting that.

[@CrypticCharm]

@@ashwindesik69420 i don't think Tracy was his one true love, it always seemed Robin he was holding a torch for, even after they broke up and she married Barney, from the telling of the story, even his own children mentioned that their mum barely featured and Auntie Robin does all the time. Tracy was his wife, and they were happy, but Robin was his "Lost Lenore" in fact the writers did her dirty too, with what they did with Robin and Barney

[@ashwindesik69420]

@@CrypticCharm Yeah I guess you're right, but I still don't think that Ted would ever kill Tracy. He loved her very much. Maybe he would've wanted Robin more, but he definitely wouldn't do anything to harm Tracy.

[@rigobertoalcantar9519]

What’s always been funny to me is once I found this information out i rewatched this is the end and when you pay attention to his lines in the cameo, jason segal is talking about how he’s so tired of the sitcom he’s on (which at that time was HIMYM)

[@manomancan]

I think I more or less disagree with this analysis. The last season was an absolute mess from start to finish. In retrospect, this whole story being about Ted and Robin getting together could have been a fantastic twist if it had been executed well. (Which I think this channel did a proper video on.) But I didn't even think of Jason Segel in the last season. I was focused on my inner thought, repeatedly saying "What the hell is going on!?"

[@crazyverrueckteXD]

how can you execute it so that it doesnt suck? the only way i can think of if robin does end up marrying him and being the mom, ted hurrying back to robin after his wife died prooves he never got over her and thought of her even when married. but yeah tracy deserved better and ted and robin can have eachother, trash belongs together

[@johnb2422]

Well, Ted didn't need to be in love and marry the mother. The mother could have been a surrogate for Robin who couldn't have kids of her own. That was a theory I had for a while.

[@crazyverrueckteXD]

@@johnb2422 problem is that robin did not want kids at all

[@GM_Lemmy]

That final season was a mess... And the finale is downright insulting.

[@michalklinsky5174]

Actually Jason Segel saud himself in an interview, that he really loves Marshall, not at all that he would be growing tired and wanting to get out of the show. It was likely more of a "I need to think ahead, this show's gonna end soon. Cannot do only that..."

[@Blaze4ification]

I mean... ok I didn't know this, and yeah that makes sense... but I think the finale episode is what did it. Even after rewatching this, and entirely other sitcoms like Psych, Friends, That 70s Show, the finale felt like they were leading up to a Ross and Rachael, a Donna and Eric... but the show was called How I Met Your Mother, so fans felt insulted that she is just killed off and Ted moves on to Robin. I suppose this translated to Marshal, and why he didn't want to continue, the creative differences you mentioned, it felt like they were either rushing, slapping stuff together, or both to end up where we do.

[@mf80beats]

LOVE your hot takes! Never stop stirring the pot!

[@AndreLuiz-iw2wg]

I binged HYMYM almost 10 years ago and I still can’t get over that final season. It was one of the biggest disappointments I ever experienced watching a TV show

[@calebayton9073]

Has this channel done a video on the creative difference's mentioned with Topher Grace and Dan Harmon? If not please could you? I live hearing about that stuff

[@TonyAllain]

Re-binge watched the entire series, honestly the final goodbyes made me cry, it's great and honestly better than I remembered it.

[@ShizuruRavenRobin026]

Why have I just started re watching HIMYM this past week

[@cloroxborax]

Because this is your timeline

[@sarveshrastogi9670]

bro you are going to experience something amazing, just stick to the end.

[@Xara_K1]

we are but side characters in your story 🎉

[@ShizuruRavenRobin026]

@@sarveshrastogi9670 I can't remember much of the last season be sides the no questions asked episode and parts of the wedding

[@sarveshrastogi9670]

My favourite are the 4 eposodes which leading to the proposal

[@kassandrayoung3405]

While I do think Jason's absense in the 9th season added to why it's just so bad compared to the rest of the show, I'm glad he chose to develop his career further. Look at Josh Radnor for example, he has such a hard time finding acting jobs because SO many people still see him as Ted Mosby.

[@danieldominguez5863]

I feel like we need one more season to wrap things up...in a better way I mean.

[@Blaze0647]

That raises another problem because Bob Saget has passed. RIP

[@nvrknwsbst17]

The final season was bad because of poor writing, you're lead to believe its all about this great romance between Ted and his wife. Instead you find out that she passed away and this whole story has been Ted asking for permission to get with "aunt Robin." Pathetic.

[@deadweight4887]

Now we need a "How Lili ruined HIMYM from Season 3 onwards"

[@nim2321]

Marshall’s story arc was already mostly concluded when the last season came around. There wasnt much story to tell apart from the judge angle and also contributing to Ted’s story arc with flashbacks. I feel like his contribution in the last season was adequate. He is a goofy, lovable, positive guy, and he portrayed it as such

[@georgeoldsterd8994]

While it's indeed sad that Marshall took a backseat in the final season, this was definitely NOT the season's main problem. It was the writing. The showrunners really wanted Ted to end up with Robin, so they shoehorned a rift between her and Barney just so it would happen. It was such an awful decision, because by that point the show kinda took a life of its own, with how well Barney and Robin worked. And it was also terrible for the Mother character, whom we are kept on our toes about the entire show, only for her to show up in a handful of episodes, and then unceremoniously die off-screen, just so the planned original ending could happen. Top 10 anime betrayals, indeed.

[@vebbi27]

Jason Segel was having creative issues with the producers over the fact that Marshall Eriksen was the only character that did not go through any character development over the span of the show. He simply just remained this goofy loveable guy that only was there to react or tag along on the other characters journeys. That's the creative difference Jason Segel had.

[@_MC529]

Marshall and Ted were aaaaalways annoying. Lily as well when you think about it.

[@MILOPETIT]

At least Marshall's story ended nicely. He's the ONLY CHARACTER WHO HAD THAT LUXURY

[@MILOPETIT]

@justin blow No she had to completely abandon her artistic dreams and it was never even adressed

[@Blaziken36]

Yeah I can’t blame Jason for that last season at all, he was honestly fine. It was the writing that blew that last season, granted unlike most I did enjoy season 9 for the most part up until the finale which is not canon to me.

[@rohankulkarni9213]

"You're forgetting Sarah, Marshall!"

[@FlamasNegras]

i actually liked the subplot of him and Lily being far from each other in the season, since it allowed some new dynamics in the show and since it was the final season, it was somewhat needed. I agree with others. it was mostly the writing and the ending. I still mostly like that final season, even with less Marshal, but yeah, those things weight it down a lot.

[@Matthanna90]

I hated the last season of HIMYM, it was clunky and just did the characters dirty. It was all about Robin and Barney then in 1 episode towards the end they break up. So dumb for what is such a great show and really the predecessor to Friends.

[@nl5828]

marshall was the only one of the main characters (aside from the mother) in himym who was not incredibly selfish and/or manipulative.

[@veightsuper4053]

They did a good job though! I’ve binged HIMYM twice through and never noticed he was in the last season less/weird separate scenarios.

[@smashenYT]

Bro are you insane? Most cant put a finger on it??? HOW THEY HANDLED THE ACTUAL MOTHER?! Made me unsub I swear.

[@5.kc.5]

😢

[@tylerlane2191]

The problem with the ending is that it was written at the start of the show. Had the show only last three, four, even five seasons, it would’ve been a perfect ending. Barney and Robin dating was never part of the plan from the beginning, the writers have even admitted that. The mother being a series regular in the final season wasn’t either. CBS ordered a ninth season and, by that point, they’d already written themselves into a corner and had to figure out how to make it work. I do think Himym should be viewed as a cautionary tale for writers to not get too ahead of themselves. Give your characters and your story room to breathe and evolve and shift. But I don’t hate them for going with the original ending they’d intended. Does it seem disjointed because of where the series ended up? Absolutely. But it was also the entire point of the story. The story literally has no meaning or weight to it if Ted doesn’t end up with Robin at the end.

[@ankyfire]

"do you know what happened in this bar?", "no, what?", "all kinds of stuff". Writing like this killed that show, nlt Jason Segel.

[@nick.100]

The show "How I Met Your Mother" initially had the potential to tell a great story, but its prolonged run and subsequent sequel became nothing more than a money grab that ultimately muddied the legacy of the original. By striving for longevity, the show missed the opportunity to deliver a concise and meaningful narrative, diluting important story arcs and leaving many viewers unsatisfied. The sequel further exacerbated this perception, tarnishing the beloved legacy of the original show and reinforcing the notion that it was driven more by financial motivations than artistic merit.

[@Izzy-Maurer]

I never noticed that he was particularly absent - I really liked the plot with Daphne, and I think Marshall's plot in the final season did a lot to resolve him as a character (he learned he was going to become a father for the second time and immediately realised he'd made a selfish decision and reversed it). "No Questions Asked" is one of my favourite episodes, and so much of the season is scenes that aren't strictly in the 'present day' of the wedding weekend that saying he was mostly in those isn't saying much.

[@Tasha9315]

But if Marshall is selfish for wanting to advance his career at the cost of Lily's thaen isn't Lily also selfish for wnating to advance her career at the cost of Marshall's?

[@sebastianventura4964]

the character can be overtly emotional as he looks at the grave of his dad, you could not have picked a worst shot to say that

[@RobertJohnson-bj5lk]

I’ve never noticed the “Marshmallow” character being the source of anything wrong with season 9. But, forcing us viewers to swallow the sudden surprise switch from Tracy back to Robin in the last 7 1/2 minutes of the entire 9 season series was too much to ask. The creators of HIMYM needed to spend way more time than just 7 1/2 minutes of show time guiding us through that monumental change.

[@txny3128]

I would love to see an episode about The Blacklist. It's finally on the last season and a mini documentary on why they took so long to conclude the main storyline would be interesting. Keep up the good work!

[@LFielding07]

Id watch it. I'm so curious to peel back the curtain about all the later season decisions. It'd be great to understand wtf happened with Elizabeth Keen.

[@txny3128]

@@LFielding07 megan left the show. pretty good actress but honestly the whole keen arcs were so bad it's actually impressive they kinda got away with that

[@LFielding07]

@@txny3128 I'm aware she left the show. I work in video production, so I'm mostly interested in how the production team handled the curveball

[@Bazzabazeman]

I've seen the whole series about 20+ times, and I do not think the finale was that bad. I kinda liked the final season even. I mean, it's not close to Scrubs Final season bad, or HoW i MeT yOuR fAtHeR bad. It's decent

[@brandonhunter6358]

The last season did seem a bit rushed. Not sure if they were running out of ideas or something but it did seem like Ted and Barney were the main characters near the end

[@charlierenwick3682]

What I hate about Marshall is that he and Lily abused the slap bet and became a real dick about it

[@tylerarmstrong4566]

I liked Marshalls separation from the group in the last season, he spent so many seasons as the groups dad they had to fig things out without him. I didn't like how they did Tracy

[@redwolfmedia2281]

Rewatching it now, the final season is great IMO. Much better than just being in the bar for the hundredth time. I like the slow pacing. Idk how the ending will hit this time round. I didn't hate it but I definitely didn't love it.

[@TheStoicNinja]

Im a die hard himym fan but to say Jason ruined the final season its wild. Lets be real, Josh Radnor put all his chips in this show and where is he now? I dont think anyone who actually cares about the actors could agree with this. At the end of the day they need to work, its not like if he decided to work on the show as a priority, then didnt have work anymore and went broke, that the fans would come together and send money to help him. Im glad he and his agents wont a solution that would work for eveyone

[@AntiNihilist]

I didnt notice at all that he was in that season less. But hes always been the most background of all the characters so if anyone had to have less screentime, it's definitely for the best that it was him

[@thecrimsondollta2153]

Aside the usual ignorant comments of the finale (not final season, finale) that have roots on how people barely understand the process that leads to that ending... We have this that explains a bit, it's a 50/50 situation. Jason was clearly growing out of the series and started thinking he wasn't fit for such character, understandable, you can't really expect to have a goof all 9 seasons and to be fair, Marshall's character had his growth and last season he just needed to close it. Jason went on to Star series like dispatches from nowhere, elsewhere? 8 don't remember the exact one,but the jump in depth of characters is clear. So basically, he thought of himself to be greater than the role he had on a sitcom and that's ok

[@debuthunter5389]

The only thing I can really think of... (to justify it) is... That this is a retelling of the whole thing by Ted. Once it got to the part about meeting Tracy, there was a fair bit to describe, about how he actually came to meet her, and she met everyone else, but at the same time, because it was all about letting the kids know how he feels now, he was also kinda stalling from getting the point, getting to the end of it...

[@Ma1ne2]

What you guys talking about, the last season was amazing, the sharp turn in the last 5min was harsh but looking back on it a couple of years later, the last episodes are the most honest you could have gotten. This is exactly what happens in life, friends part ways, life moves on. I don't think choosing to kill Tracy and make Ted join Robin was the right call, but it did fit well into the story with all the buildup and focus on Robin over the seasons. I know the last season wasn't exactly how we wanted it to turn out, but it was well written, entertaining and refreshing. It had some of the many best moments of himym.

[@Lanesullivan1984]

How it really should have ended: Older Ted: “and that kids, is how I met your grandma” The scene cuts to Marshall, Lily, Barney, Robin, Ted, and Tracy all on the porch. Visibly older. The grand kids are playing in the yard. David Henrie playing the son yells to Ted. Ted’s Son: Dad, we have all heard that 80 hour story a million times!” Ted: “well it’s not like anyone died at the end…” Zoom out on the six of them enjoying each other’s company on the porch.

[@hicat808]

I think a lot of people were mad about Ted & Robin, but I liked it. It's real, and in a way you were still rooting for them eventually. They had to live their young lives the way they wanted to, then they brought it back around. What I didn't like was the WAY this was delivered, like delivering bad news abruptly. I think if they ended it with the alternate ending of Tracy and Ted meeting, it's still have gone badly since it was squished into like 15 mins. I know they wanted to do a BIG FINISH ENDING, but it feels harsh to have had the rug pulled out from under us so quickly.

[@mikeg5025]

I always figured the cameo scene in This Is the End was a shot at HIMYM. With Segel delivering the really corny punchline to Kevin Hart of, “It’s my birthday”

[@rudymarroquin397]

Marshal was my favorite from the beginning to end, I only disliked the finale

[@RadElNew]

I feel like you can make a mini-series on how each character had a hand in HIMYM going downhill 😅

[@ca1txcat]

Nah, it was the writers, 100%

[@ligglyhart]

im one of the few that thought the ending was perfect. the show is about robin, always had been. the way he tells it, with all the details about their relationship from start to finish, is exactly what the kids know it is: an attempt to prepare them so he can finally seek robin back. if he didnt do that, the show wouldn't been pointless and robin's wedding would've been concerning imo. they were always close and looking out for each other the only issue was the kids, and that's life, a very real and a highly believable love story. barney's was also perfect.

[@chasehedges6775]

I hate shows that go downhill after a while. Riverdale being a prime example

[@jjbugzy360]

Riverdale went downhill since it was greenlit

[@vitormelomedeiros]

I actually really liked Season 9, all in all. There were just two main problems with the finale, imho: it was poorly written, and besides that, it was way too rushed. The first problem applies to the normal ending, and the second applies to both the normal and alternate endings. The alternate ending is pretty good, it's just way too rushed too. I liked that the season was mostly the wedding, it was full of fun moments. But the finale could not have been just 40 minutes long. It needed to be a three-parter, of things that happened _after_ the wedding. More details on the very beginning of Ted and Tracy's relationship, how she was integrated in the group, and then Last Forever pt. 3 could be a longer version of the alternate ending and I'd be fine with that. Sidenote, if anyone would like to see more of the great Cristin Milioti who played Tracy, I can recommend her show she did last year for Peacock, The Resort. It's really great!

[@shubhankar2604]

0:17 DID YOU JUST SAY MARSHALL IS " tED's bESt fRIeND ??????? "

[@Dave-sk9mn]

MARSHALL ruined the end? Marshall did? Not the - y'know - game breaking double neckbreaking insanity that is 'Oh Ted always REALLY loved Robin'? How much did you get slapped as a kid to hate Marshall this much?

[@brandonyungen6207]

@nerdstalgic can you please make a Joe dirt episode?! It’s such an amazing classic and SO many people love it and it’s easily David spades best movie. I promise you it will get the views and if it doesn’t I solemnly swear here and now I will watch the video 10000000 times just to keep ur stats up just pleaseeeee do a joe dirt episode I’m begging!

[@tpgorman15]

I don’t blame Marshall, I blame the writers for not pivoting when it became evident they struck gold with Cristin Milioti as Tracy. If they would have waited for Jason Segel to start shooting the final season it probably works out best in multiple ways. First you don’t need to shoehorn him into the plot via some convoluted side story with a largely forgettable character you never hear about again. Secondly, it would delay the start date of the season premier until the winter, which allows the season to air uninterrupted until the finale in May or June, which in turn provides more cohesion to the story and keeps more viewers interested. It also helps them develop a better season 9 plot, one that hopefully keeps Tracy alive, as well as Barney and Robin married. It is just so unbelievable Marshall wouldn’t be present for the majority of that weekend, when you consider the familial nature of the gang.

[@SilvX610]

I feel that starring in a sitcom can be a curse at times. Most of the times, if the sitcom is successful, the actors will take credit for nothing else but that show they starred in. Look at the main cast of Friends and HIMYM, they will always be remembered for those roles and get very little recognition for other projects. It takes away from their hard work

[@BaHTRieD]

It's a real shame that Jason segel didn't feel like doing a 9th season anymore. He was almost my favorite character in the earlier seasons. But well, from season 7-8 he was also a bit neglected. So I can understand it.

[@sanjaydhirwan791]

I like how people have disregarded the video and can all agree how marshal was mostly relatable, he had the best arcs in the series, right from his family to love life with lily, to kids and his career

[@Spainog]

I actually liked the Tracy character so much that I enjoyed the season