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Season 9 of How I Met Your Mother aired during the 2013-2014 television season. It's the final season of the series. How I Met Your Mother was renewed for a ninth and final season on December 22nd, 2012, with an official announcement made by CBS on January 30th, 2013. [1][2][3]

The final season premiered on September 23, 2013 with two back-to-back episodes; The Locket and Coming Back. The series finale aired on March 31, 2014, also with two back-to-back episodes that were part 1 and part 2 of the same episode.[4]

Synopsis[]

The entire season takes place in the full three days leading up to, and including, the wedding - Friday, Saturday and the wedding takes place at night on Sunday. The first episode begins at 11am on Friday - 55 hours before the wedding. Ted and Lily are driving to Farhampton, Marshall is boarding a flight, and Robin and Barney are being driven to Farhampton by Ranjit. Ted aggravates Lily too much, so she decides to take a train to Farhampton instead. The Mother is also on the train and comforts Lily, who is stressed about not seeing Marvin for a week. Marshall's mom posts a Facebook status revealing Marshall's new judgeship, just as Marshall is boarding his flight. Marshall and another passenger, Daphne, are kicked off the plane after Marshall refuses to turn his phone off as he desperately tries to instruct his mother to delete the post. Lily realizes Ted may have been deliberately annoying her so she'd leave and he could give the locket to Robin. She races to the Farhampton inn and tackles Ted before the gift is revealed to be a photo of the gang (the picture from the main credits). In a flashback, Ted reveals he gave the locket to Stella when they were dating, and he went to Los Angeles to look for it in her storage unit.

Lily learns about Marshall missing his flight, and possibly the wedding. She pays the bartender at The Farhampton Inn $100 to replace her glass of alcohol every time she finishes one. Robin worries Barney will get cold feet about their wedding once he learns his brother James is getting divorced, but Barney is surprisingly calm. Marshall has to drive back to New York with Daphne, the passenger he got kicked off the flight with. A future scene shows Ted and The Mother revisiting The Farhampton Inn one year after they met.

Lily discovers a list of all the things that Ted wants to do before moving to Chicago, and discovers he's been avoiding Barney after the moment he shared with Robin in Something Old. After a lecture from Lily, Ted decides to have one last drink with Barney. Barney angrily reveals he had arrived to the carousel shortly after Ted to help Robin dig up the locket, and left when he saw Ted holding hands with her. He replaces Ted for William Zabka as his Best Man. Marshall skypes with them and tells them to recreate the Robin scenario, with the two of them holding hands. Ted admits to Barney he does have feelings for Robin, but he would never do anything to get in the middle of them. Barney eventually relents and forgives him over a poker game, which irritates William Zabka.

When James makes negative remarks about Barney getting married during the poker game, Robin bets her wedding ring for James', and wins his ring. James tells on Robin to his mom, and Robin proceeds to win Loretta's blouse over a poker game. Barney tries to smooth things over, but becomes angry at his brother and mother, saying he only needs Robin now. After Barney introduces Ted to several single ladies attending the wedding, Ted gets stuck with Cassie, who is miserable because everything has gone wrong in her life. When the church minster learns how Robin and Barney got together, he has a heart attack and dies. Daphne finds out Marshall already took the judgeship without telling Lily anything and, after trying to coach Marshall on the correct way to inform her, texts Lily about it. After trying desperately to get the message deleted, Marshall realises how far he is going to hide things from his wife. Lily finds out and is furious.

Robin and Loretta's conflict escalates to a fight over who makes better scrambled eggs. When Robin obviously cannot make them, Loretta asks how she will make them for their kids one day. When Robin tearfully walks away, Barney tells Loretta that Robin can't have kids. In a flashback from the year before, Robin informed Barney of this during a night out and he comforted her with a hug. Loretta asks if Barney is bothered by not having kids and Barney explains he is marrying Robin, not the idea of a future family. Robin finds out her mother won't be attending the wedding due to her fear of flying, as Loretta comes to call off the feud. She embraces Robin and tells her to only call her "Mom" from now on. The next morning, Ted takes a depressed Cassie to the Farhampton lighthouse to cheer her up. He tries to make conversation but she gives nothing. She makes him carry her up to the lighthouse on his back after rolling her ankle. After she half-heartedly asks "So what now? We fall in love or something?", Ted vomits. Later while talking to Lily, Ted is depressed, thinking he has visited too many beautiful places with the wrong girl. Two years later, Ted brings The Mother back to the lighthouse, and they admire the beauty of the view. Ted then proposes to her and she tearfully accepts. While trying to cheer Robin up, the gang tells a story revealing The Mother actually inspired Barney to write "The Robin", by telling him if he really wants to win the girl, he has to go all out. Ted is planning on working for Hammond Druthers when he moves to Chicago.

Pastor Sam Gibbs - James' dad - arrives, agreeing to officiate Barney and Robin's wedding. Sam also reveals he is dating Loretta again. James drops an expensive bottle of scotch. William Zabka tries to sabotage Ted's position as best man. Daphne teaches Marshall how to stand up for himself. After they part ways, the bus Marshall takes breaks down five miles from the Inn, so he decides he can walk it. Barney conducts an elaborate prank on Robin, revealing their rehearsal dinner is on an ice rink and has a Canadian theme. Marshall hitches a ride from The Mother, who drives past him as he is walking to the Inn.

The lead singer from The Mother's band, Superfreakonomics, Darren, is trying to kick her out. Darren then causes a fight between Lily and Robin. He then tells Barney that Ted plans to move to Chicago. Robin has Lily try to beat her anger out on Marshpillow, just as Marshall arrives at the Inn. They are so happy to see each other, they 'pause' their impending fight. The gang has a drink together, but Darren bumps into Ted, causing him drop another expensive bottle of scotch. Ted punches Darren in the face, and, furious, Darren tells The Mother she can have her band back and quits. The Mother orders a drink for the person who punched Darren, making this the first drink she ever bought for Ted. Marshall uses one of the last two slaps he has on Barney.

Marshall tries to bang Lily to sleep so they won't fight about their jobs but the fight begins anyway. Marshall brings up Lily leaving him for San Francisco in the first season and Lily storms out. She calls the Captain and has a car pick her up. Barney enters a new territory of drunk where he will tell the truth about anything - revealing his real job and that Robin comes from wealth. In a flashforward, Ted and The Mother's kids' names are revealed as Penny and Luke.

The series 200th episode tracks The Mother's life from 2005 until present. The night Marshall and Lily got engaged in 2005 was the same night as her 21st birthday. She is waiting in a different MacLaren's bar on the other side of town for her boyfriend, Max, to arrive so they can celebrate. She receives a phonecall notifying her that he has died. She arrives home from his funeral to find his last birthday gift for her was a ukulele. After years of mourning, her roommate encourages her to start going out again, and they attend the St Patrick's Day party Ted and Barney also attended. At the party, she meets Mitch (The Naked Man) who she offers to give a musical instrument she no longer uses to. When she takes him home, he tries The Naked Man on her and she is horrified. They end up having a sweet conversation about what The Mother wants to do with her life. She wants to end poverty, so Mitch tells her every decision from this point on in her life should be in pursuit of her dream. This inspires her to go to college, where she meets Cindy, and sees Ted for the first time, accidentally teaching her economics class. Darren joins her band and takes over. One night she meets Louis, and they begin dating. The Mother eventually realises they're not in love. After being hired as Barney and Robin's wedding band, and the previous events involving Darren play out, The Mother makes her way to her boyfriend's beach house in Farhampton, where he surprise proposes to her. She is shocked and asks him for a moment alone. She walks out onto the porch and asks Max in Heaven if it's okay that she moves on. A gust of wind blows through and she takes it as a sign. She rejects Louis's proposal and stays at the Farhampton Inn. The front desk clerk gives her the keys to Robin's mother's room. Out on the deck, The Mother plays the ukulele Max gave her while singing La Vie En Rose. Ted, on the deck next door, listens to her sing as Future Ted explains he heard her sing it many times but that was always his favorite. Present Ted goes back inside to tell Barney about the woman he heard singing, only to find Barney has disappeared.

Ted and Robin search for Barney, and Ted comes clean about why he and Victoria really broke up and that he's moving to Chicago. Victoria is revealed to have the locket. She sends it to Ted but Jeanette intercepted it and tells Ted that he is acting too crazy, even by her standards. She throws it into a river. Ted finally lets go of his feelings for Robin, but not before finding out that she did in fact want him to kiss her after their very first date. Lily returns to Marshall and agrees to stay in New York with him.

Ted and Robin find Barney passed out. The gang tries to put together his hangover elixir, only to find it is a placebo drink he used to make his friends feel better. In the future, after her book launch party, The Mother is extremely hungover and Ted uses the same hangover elixir to help her before their kids come racing into the bedroom. Robin's father is angry when Barney misses the wedding photos due to being passed out. The gang lies and tells him they did Weekend At Barney's with him instead. Barney has Ted try to help him pick the right suit for the wedding, while Lily tries to trigger Robin's "Holy crap, it's my wedding day!" moment, but everything fails. Ted eventually convinces Barney of the right suit, and Barney mentions forgetting a cornflower blue tie, that would've been perfect for it. Robin later agrees which makes Barney twitch. Robin's mother unexpectedly shows up hours before the wedding starts and they tearfully embrace. This ends up being Robin's "Holy crap, it's my wedding day!" moment. This story is told by Ted in 2024, on a vacation at the Inn with The Mother. He tries to find a story he hasn't told her yet, and they think this might be one but it turns out she had heard her. The Mother is concerned Ted lives in his stories too much. When she remarks that any mother would be at their daughter's wedding, Ted becomes emotional and she comforts him by asking him to tell another story.

Marshall tries to figure out where Lily went the night of their disagreement. He traces her movements to the Captain's house. After an elaborate "detective" sequence from Ted, the gang is convinced they've discovered Lily is smoking again, and has buried a cigarette in a pot plan in The Captain's bathroom. As Ted goes to pull out the cigarette, he instead pulls out a pregnancy test. Marshall realizes why Lily relented on going to Italy and rushes back to the Inn. Marshall tells Lily they are going to Italy because she made his dreams of being a dad come true, so now it's time for her dream to come true.

Still euphoric over her mother's sudden appearance, Robin asks how she was able to make it despite a fear of flying. Genevieve says she somehow got over the fear despite panicking on board and accidentally opening the exit door, resulting in her being restrained to her seat by duct tape. Genevieve asks Robin about Barney and unknowingly draws many negative comparisons to Robin Sr. Robin is concerned she's about to "marry her father" but when Barney greets her with a hug, Genevieve is impressed and remarks that Robin Sr would never do that. Robin is relieved.

Gary Blauman arrives at the wedding and freaks out Robin as he was not on the guest list. The gang debates on whether to have him stay or go as they all hold differing opinions of him. Ultimately, he decides to leave but quickly returns. A sequence shows what happened to various secondary characters in their futures, including that James eventually repaired his marriage. In a flash-forward, Ted and The Mother go on their first date in New York. They plan to have dinner but The Mother sees Louis and wants to avoid him. She and Ted instead walk around the block several times as Ted tells the Gary Blauman story. At the end of the story, outside the Mother's apartment, they share their first kiss and decide to keep the date going.

With thirty minutes before the wedding, Barney and Robin both begin to panic about getting married. Marshall and Lily try to calm Barney, while Ted talks to Robin. Barney cannot get his vows right and Robin is still thinking about the locket. Ted leaves her room and takes out the locket. He had jumped off the bridge to retrieve it when Jeanette threw it over. He gives it to Barney, to give to Robin. Robin is initially overjoyed but catches Ted in a lie covering for Barney. She is upset and panics about whether she is marrying the right person. Ted cannot convince her to come around and she escapes, running away from the wedding until she accidentally crashes into The Mother, setting up the band. The Mother notices the bride is running away but confuses Robin when she has no advice. The Mother tells her to close her eyes and take three deep breaths. When Robin opens her eyes, Barney is there. Barney throws down his vows and promises Robin one thing - he will always be honest with her. They kiss and head to the church. Marshall uses his final slap on Barney when he makes one last delirious panic attempt to leave the wedding. Barney's much hinted at "ring bear" turns out to be exactly that - an adorable baby bear carrying their rings on its back. Robin and Barney exchange vows and are happily married.

At the wedding reception, Barney notices The Mother is the same person who told him to "go get the girl" and shows her that he married Robin. Ted is talking to Lily about leaving when he notices The Mother for the first time. He shares a tearful goodbye with the gang and a legendary high five with Barney before heading to Farhampton Station to wait for the train. Bernice, a woman sitting next to him, wants to know if he just came from a wedding and Ted begins to retell the story. He mentions the beautiful bass player he saw. The lady points out the woman is standing right near them, holding her guitar and yellow umbrella. Bernice realizes it's her and urges him to introduce himself to her, but Ted says he is leaving for Chicago soon. A scene 24 hours later shows Ted back at MacLaren's much to Marshall and Lily's astonishment. They ask why didn't he move, and Ted tells them he met someone. They are skeptical until they realize it's the bass player from the wedding, who they already love. In a 2015 scene, The Mother happily informs Ted she is pregnant with their first child. In May 2016, the gang meets up at Ted and The Mother's house, after considerable time apart. Barney and Robin reveal they got divorced when Robin's career became too stressful for them to remain together. They are still good friends but the group is devastated. Barney figures out Lily is pregnant again. In October 2016, the Apartment has become too small for Marshall and Lily's growing family so they throw one final Halloween/Goodbye The Apartment party before moving. Robin shows up but leaves when she sees Ted and The Mother happily celebrating. She tells Lily that the gang can't work anymore because everything has changed.

In 2018, Ted, Barney, and Lily meet at MacLaren's. Barney is hyperactive because the gang is together again. Marshall announces he's going to be a Judge. In 2019, Ted, The Mother, Marshall, and Lily are watching Robots vs. Wrestlers, Ted and The Mother still are not married yet. Barney shows up and brags about his Perfect Month (sleeping with a different woman every day for a month). He finds out the woman he slept with on the final day is pregnant. In 2020, as they wait in the hospital for Barney's child to be born, Ted tells Marshall and Lily he ran into Robin when he was showing Penny GNB's skyscraper he created. Barney holds his child and realizes he just found the love of his life. Later that year, Ted and The Mother finally get married. The gang meets at MacLaren's before the ceremony to celebrate. Marshall pays Lily for the bet, because Ted didn't end up with Robin. Robin shows up because The Mother convinced her to. Robin shares a warm hug with Barney. The gang take pictures together at their seats and tell some younger patrons about their time spent at the bar. Ted and The Mother get married, while Future Ted narrates the lessons he learned about love and life, revealing The Mother became ill in 2024 and passed away. In the present, Ted plucks up the courage to approach The Mother at Farhampton Station. She recognizes him as the best man, and the accidental economics professor, to his embarrassment. Ted asks if she was Cindy's ex-roommate. Ted recognizes the yellow umbrella and is confused when she says it belongs to her. The Mother points out her initials are on it: "TM", for Tracy McConnell. She and Ted share a moment of understanding, then continue getting to know each other. Future (now Present) Ted sits at his desk of his future home and says "That, kids, is how I met your mother". His children are not convinced the story was entirely about their mom. They tell him there was so much information about Robin that they believe he still harbours feelings for her. They encourage him to call her and invite her over, giving their blessing and wanting him to move on, saying they've seen the looks he and Robin share whenever they meet up. He goes to call but then decides to go to her apartment. He steals the blue french horn for her again and calls up to her. Robin opens her apartment window and smiles down at him.

Cast[]

Main Cast

In order of character appearances

Recurring Cast

In order of character appearances

Episode List: 2013 - 2014[]

Image Title Writer(s) Director(s) Airdate #
103504 D0875b The Locket
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
September 23, 2013
9x01
On their way to Long Island for their wedding weekend, Robin and Barney come across a startling family discovery. Meanwhile, Marshall sees something online that changes the course of his entire journey back east, and Lily confronts Ted about letting go of Robin.
103523 D0087 Coming Back
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
September 23, 2013
9x02
Robin hears from James that he will soon divorce. She urges him not to reveal this to his brother Barney due to her worry that Barney might cancel the wedding. Marshall tries to get to New York in time for the wedding but faces many obstacles. Lily and Ted deal with the time "alone" at a romantic hotel.
Last Time in New York (1) Last Time in New York
Craig Gerard
Matthew Zinman
Pamela Fryman
September 30, 2013
9x03
When Lily discovers Ted’s list of things he wants to do in New York before he moves for Chicago, she becomes frustrated that she is the only person who knows about his plans. Meanwhile, Robin and Barney realize they have very little time together before their relatives arrive for their wedding.
103584 D0310b The Broken Code
Matthew Kuhn
Pamela Fryman
October 7, 2013
9x04
While Barney works through his anger at Ted after finding out he still has feelings for Robin, Marshall Skypes in to act as a judge and help settle their dispute. Meanwhile, Lily realizes she is Robin’s only girlfriend.
The Poker Game (8) The Poker Game
Dan Gregor
Doug Mand
Pamela Fryman
October 14, 2013
9x05
When Barney is forced to pick sides in a fight between Robin and his mother, Lily coaches him on how not to ruin his relationship. Meanwhile, Ted and Marshall get into a dispute over wedding gifts and thank-you notes.
Knight Vision Knight Vision
Chris Harris
Pamela Fryman
October 21, 2013
9x06
When Ted finds himself with three prospects to be his date for the wedding weekend, he chooses poorly. Meanwhile, Barney and Robin have a confrontation with their minister, and Marshall learns more about his driving companion, Daphne.
No Questions Asked No Questions Asked
Stephen Lloyd
Pamela Fryman
October 28, 2013
9x07
When Daphne sends a troubling text message to Lily, Marshall enlists the gang’s help to remove the message while enforcing the “No Questions Asked” rule.
Ted and Mother at the Lighthouse (1) The Lighthouse
Rachel Axler
Pamela Fryman
November 4, 2013
9x08
When Robin and Loretta's conflict escalates, Barney is caught in the middle. Meanwhile, Marshall and Daphne deal with a stowaway on their road trip, and Ted and Cassie try to enjoy a trip to a lighthouse.
Platonish Platonish
George Sloan
Pamela Fryman
November 11, 2013
9x09
In a flashback episode, Marshall and Lily ponder the future of Ted and Robin, while Ted is out with Marshall gets a call from an old "friend". Meanwhile, Barney accepts a series of challenges to pick up girls from Lily and Robin.
Mom and Dad (2) Mom and Dad
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
November 18, 2013
9x10
When Barney’s father arrives at the hotel, Barney devises a plan that makes Robin very nervous. Meanwhile, Ted is convinced someone framed him by messing up a wedding-related duty.
Bedtime Stories Bedtime Stories
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
November 25, 2013
9x11
Marshall tries to get Marvin to sleep by reciting three rhyming bedtime tales about his friends as they wind down their epic cross-country journey.
The Rehearsal Dinner (15) The Rehearsal Dinner
Chuck Tatham
Pamela Fryman
December 2, 2013
9x12
Barney becomes fixated on having his rehearsal dinner at a laser tag arena, much to Robin’s dismay. Meanwhile, Ted doesn’t come through on a promise, which aggravates Lily.
Bass Player Wanted Bass Player Wanted
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
December 16, 2013
9x13
The gang encounters a guy at the wedding who intentionally stirs up trouble among them, and Marshall finally arrives at the Farhampton Inn.
Slapsgiving 3 Slappointment Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment in Slapmarra
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
January 13, 2014
9x14
In an attempt to deliver a devastating penultimate slap to Barney, Marshall explains how he mastered the Slap of A Million Exploding Suns.
Unpause (5) Unpause
Chris Harris
Pamela Fryman
January 20, 2014
9x15
When Barney drinks too much, Ted and Robin take advantage of him and get him to reveal secrets he’s been hiding for years. Meanwhile, Marshall does everything he can to avoid fighting with Lily.
9x16-5 How Your Mother Met Me
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
January 27, 2014
9x16
On the 200th episode, it is revealed how The Mother met Ted and what she’s been up to for the past eight years.
Sunrise6 Sunrise
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
February 03, 2014
9x17
While out looking for an inebriated Barney on the day of the wedding, Robin and Ted reminisce about past relationships. Meanwhile, Marshall and Lily finally resolve their issues and Barney befriends two young guys eager to meet women.
HIMYM-9x18 a Rally
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
February 24, 2014
9x18
When Barney suffers from the world’s worst hangover the morning of his wedding, the gang tries to figure out the far-fetched ingredients to concoct the Stinson Hangover Fixer Elixir.
Vesuvius Vesuvius
Barbara Adler
Pamela Fryman
March 3, 2014
9x19
On the morning of the wedding, Lily and Robin have a fight and Barney freaks out about which suit to wear. Meanwhile, the gang watches a movie Ted has forbidden them to see.
Daisy Daisy
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
March 10, 2014
9x20
Marshall enlists Ted and Barney to help him figure out where Lily went when she left in the middle of their fight. Meanwhile, Robin's mother recollects the bad traits in her ex-husband, which are very similar to Barney's traits.
Gary01 Gary Blauman
Kourtney Kang
Pamela Fryman
March 17, 2014
9x21
When Gary Blauman shows up at the wedding, it sends the gang into a frenzy as they each recall an encounter with him.
Teota5 The End of the Aisle
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
March 24, 2014
9x22
With only a half-hour to go, both Barney and Robin have panic attacks about their upcoming nuptials. Meanwhile, Marshall and Lily rewrite their old wedding vows.
Finalever Last Forever - Part One
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
March 31, 2014
9x23
Ted finally finishes telling his kids the story of how he met their mother.
Future Ted Last Forever - Part Two
Carter Bays
Craig Thomas
Pamela Fryman
March 31, 2014
9x24
Ted finally finishes telling his kids the story of how he met their mother.


Notes and Trivia[]

  • This is the only season in which the number of regulars has increased, with the addition of Cristin Milioti who is playing The Mother/Tracy McConnell. Despite her regular status, she is absent for large stretches of the season, featuring heavily only in the first and last episodes, and in How Your Mother Met Me.[5]
  • This is the only season not to end in May despite having 24 episodes.
  • This is the only season to not follow the "real-time" format employed in previous seasons and other shows, as most of the main plot and the "present time" of the season takes place over a span of three days in 2013.
    • Based on commentaries available on the DVDs of Seasons 8 and 9 by producers Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, part of the reason for Season 9's peculiar format may have stemmed from production issues encountered in Season 8.  In particular, key elements of the plot were established before producers were certain that the show would run for another season.  They wanted the moment when Ted met the Mother to the be one of the last scenes in the entire series but because they established in Season 6 when the meeting would take place sometime in the Season 8 universe, a 'traditional' format would not be feasible to show that.  
    • Consequently, the season does not feature the usual holiday-themed episodes that coincide with holidays that take place during a season's run.
    • The season features a large number of fresh flashbacks to help fill the time.
    • There are a large number of flash forwards covering significant events in Ted and Tracy's relationship.
    • Marshall was physically away from the rest of the Gang for more than half the season only reuniting with them at the end of Bass Player Wanted
  • This and the first season are the only seasons to have each episode directed by Pamela Fryman.
  • The final episode met a largely negative reception for its two twists: the divorce of Robin and Barney and the death of The Mother. An alternative ending was released on DVD that hints the mother was still alive but doesn't address the status of Robin and Barney's relationship.

References[]

External Links[]

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