So we were sitting around speculating, and I think I totally know how the series will end. If this has already been predicted by someone, and it probably has been, seeing as this is the internets, I apologize.

1- The biological mother is out of the picture as of the time Older Ted is telling the story. Probably death. She's just some woman we haven't met yet. We'll meet her at the end, find out she's gone/dead, sad moment full of pathos for the show.
2- The kids will be all like, "what the fuck, dad? Why did we have to hear all of that other stuff?"
3- "Well, kids, I told you it was all the story of How I Met Your Mother. I meant it. I'm going to marry your Aunt Robin. Your new stepmother."
4- "WHAT!?"

It makes perfect sense, although it saddens me. I don't want this ending. But it ties everything back to episode one, and means the show didn't waste years and years on a relationship we all thought could go nowhere. It's a sharp twist. It gives the title a double meaning; biological mother AND step mother. And, most importantly, it gives Older Ted a compelling reason for telling this story in the first place: helping the kids with the transition to a new mother.

Keep in mind that we know they shot something with the kid actors to save for the last episode.

Please, give my Barney/Robin loving heart reason to think this is all way off base.

I also hope you're wrong about this. Barney and Robin 4eva

I've been thinking of mostly the same thing... but not so much that he ends up marrying Robin at the end. I've thought for a long time now that the "mother" is not his current wife and that he's with or will end up with Robin.

But I agree that I hope that's not how the whole "mother" issue is resolved. And the more and more they build up Robin/Barney, the more and more I'm hopeful that Ted/Robin won't end up together. I mean they are stretching the Barney/Robin thing out nice and well for it to just be a bump in the road.

Hey, Friends dragged out Joey and Rachel, but we all knew she'd just be going back to doofy Ross.

Yes that's how I think it's going to happen, I'd been thinking about that recently too only you fleshed it out better than I would have. They had an episode with a scene set in the future at a college reunion and Lily and Marshall were there together but Ted was alone, which implied to me the mother of the kids is probably dead and I can totally see it ending with him saying he's going to marry Aunt Robin. It would tie the whole series up in a way that felt complete.

The Barney/Robin thing is ridiculous and I certainly hope it doesn't last long and they only milk it for laughs. It's like Kramer and Elaine getting together, just no.

Wrong! It's adorable. I almost don't want them to get together because Barney pining after her is so cute.

Actually, the very end of that episode, all three of them are sitting down in some hall at the reunion and "eating a sandwich" and starts laughing and asks "where's my wife?"

That's probably one of Mother's strongest episode... the one with the crazy scale ("the vicky mendoza diagonal, lol).

Yet another repeat tonight. What is with CBS?

I did not spend a month watching the entire series and catching up only to come across one of the series' weakest epsiodes followed by 3 weeks of repeats.

I checked IMDB and apparently Season 4 has a 26-episode order. Does anyone know if this is true?
If it is, then we will get non-stop new episodes till the end of the season.

"The Stinsons" airs March 2 (next Monday). This was the episode that was supposed to air February 9 but got pushed back because of Obama.

Last nights episode was the first time I've watched since the Britney episode, and I forgot how much I love this show. I'm glad the ratings went up and we no longer have to guess whether it gets renewed or not. Now its time to play catch up, I can't wait.

LAst night's episode was one of the funniest this season and for the whole series.

^^I know, the interventions were a riot.

Haha I liked last night's episode. It felt a little more sitcomy than HIMYM usually does but I was entertained. No character on TV would hire people to play his fake family besides Barney.

I liked Pretentious Theatrical Ted making up that story on the fly when he was caught making out with Barney's "wife." Also, Robin bonding with the child actor and Lily faking the phone call to Marshall's mom.

Dug Frances Conroy as Barney's mom ("They used to pass me around like a bong").

Via Michael Ausiello, the shows title will be addressed in the last 4 episodes of this season:
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/03/him ... usive.html

I think it's gonna be some huge twist...

Does he ever actually refer himself as the kids' dad in his narration? Maybe they are not his kids... so he's just simply telling the tale of how he met their mother... who may be robin or maybe another character they're about to introduce!

Great episode tonight. Classic structure, with the entire gang in McLaren's and the only outside bits being the various flashbacks.

I was not at all surprised that Ted, who we all know was pretentious in college, dated someone even more pretentious than him. I loved Lily and Marshall discussing Karen with such disgust every single time, especially Lily ("Dirty lingerer").

Barney falling out of the booth laughing at Marshall forgetting his pants was hilarious. I also loved Robin sleepwalking/talking ("Hey Ted, Hey Lily, don't worry, I won't tell Marshall") and eating ribs on the kitchen floor.

I wonder how long Laura Prepon is going to stick around.

Lily was HILARIOUS tonight. Loved her, actually the whole cast was pretty spot on. Great episode.

good episode

Something I didn't catch: Lily's ex-boyfriend from high school (Scooter) was Ted and Karen's waiter in the scene she dismissed their wine list. Heh.

I've come to the conclusion that HIMYM has the best ensemble cast on TV right now.

Scooter is also NPH's bf in real life.

Ha! I love it

Oh yeah. Totally forgot about that. Though, I remembered he was in the season 2 finale (wedding).

Completely hilarious and wonderful. That was a classic episode.

I thought it was the weakest episode of the season. Maybe it's because I loved The Stinsons much much better.

Hilarious episode. I agree with Libs that HIMYM has the best ensemble cast on TV right now.