[djsFlames]

Sooo. Just finished. I actually thought I was just watching part one of two (was going to watch just half tonight and break before watching the end), but it happened to be both parts in one segment.. I guess I was so sucked in and didn't even notice. #####..!

The onions were in high volume, and few finales have done that to me.

I really wanted to see some of the last moments with Ted and the Mother to give a proper sendoff if the cancer/sickness storyline was going to turn out to be true, and then have them show Ted and Robin re-connecting again in a few scenes before that final scene. It would have made it just that bit better and hit all the feels. But really, the mother should have dominated a couple more scenes just to give some gratification to fans for waiting so long for her arrival, and all that she was amped up to be.. but instead, much of her and Ted's relationship is left off screen, even through the finale (I guess that wasn't the point to the story...but still)

I have been re-watching the early seasons though and just lately have realized again how much chemistry Ted and Robin had in comparison to the shoehorned Barney/Robin relationship. Even when he claims time and time again that he should move on or needed to move on, including their scene where she gets cold feet, you just get the sense that they needed to end up together. It's never stated in the narration, but you saw it every time they had their moments without the other cast. It actually works, because as we know Ted wanted kids and Robin didn't. Robin wanted to live abroad and Ted didn't. They worked together so well, yet they had their differences that they weren't going to budge on. There was a time for them but it just wasn't then - 2030 Ted doesn't state this because their reconnecting as a couple doesn't happen until after that point in time. Ted meeting the mother and her going on to report internationally allowed them both to get what they wanted, so that they were able to cross those differences/needs off, which then allowed them to get together in the end. It's actually quite fitting when you think about it. Plus, this ending.. It's a real life kind of ending. Those that got into the show to see some kind of fairytale, heart warming finish didn't realize how much real life #### the show put viewers through all along the way, to the point where you have to reflect and ask, should we really be surprised that the ending didn't turn out a completely and entirely different way? Because the writers kept to a real, relatable story even to the end, while showing us that good moments DID happen, and he did meet the perfect woman who had his children, only to eventually reconnect two characters that had the most obvious on screen chemistry of any throughout the entire show (Marshall and Lily aside). While it may seem sudden crammed into a single episode, it is 6 years after, and he has just received the blessing of his children. Just as the Mother's storyline showed with the passing of her ex, eventually you just have to move on and live. And as explained above, Ted and Robin absolutely work as a couple further down the road, when they've already set out and accomplished much of their dreams. It's clever, it works, and best of all, it's realistic. And keeps to the spirit of the show, and that makes me appreciate it more.

So yeah, I enjoyed it, though perhaps I would've given certain things more attention in the finale to help it unfold in a more respectful way to the mother.

You kind of figure out the ending not half way through the episode, it's actually hard to believe I didn't see it coming much earlier. I guess I was just wanting to be surprised. Definitely enjoyed this episode and the treatment of Barney, as I (nor just about anyone else) bought him being tied down by any girl. The daughter idea definitely works better.

If it were up to me, I would've spread the events of tonight out over the past 2-3 episodes, getting away from the wedding and leading up to tonight, and spent the finale basically sending off the mother and bringing back Robin into the fold. Cause damn, that was really rushed!