How I Met Your Mother: Season 9 (2013 - 2014)

SEASON:

Season 9
How I Met Your Mother

Critics Consensus

How I Met Your Mother ends not with a bang, not with a whimper, but with an uneven final season that captures the show's best and worst tendencies.

75%

TOMATOMETER

Critic Ratings: 20

72%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1069
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Episodes

1
The Locket
Air date: Sep 23, 2013
2
Last Time in New York
Air date: Sep 30, 2013
3
Last Time in New York (Episode 3)
Air date: Sep 30, 2013
4
The Broken Code
Air date: Oct 7, 2013
5
The Poker Game
Air date: Oct 14, 2013
6
Knight Vision
Air date: Oct 21, 2013
7
No Questions Asked
Air date: Oct 28, 2013
8
The Lighthouse
Air date: Nov 4, 2013
9
Platonish
Air date: Nov 11, 2013
10
Mom and Dad
Air date: Nov 18, 2013
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How I Met Your Mother: Season 9 Photos

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Tv Season Info

The popular sitcom's ninth and final series transpires almost entirely during the wedding weekend of Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin (Cobie Smulders). The series moves to Long Island as the happy couple and married friends Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Allyson Hannigan) and the ever-unlucky at love Ted (Josh Radnor) prep for the big event. The two-day gathering is rife with plenty of familial shenanigans and escapades as the soon-to-be-marrieds deal with problems that include Robin's disagreement with Barney's mother and brother, and Robin and Barney's holy row with the minister who is to officiate the ceremony. On the day of the nuptials, she and the gang contend with a massively hungover groom-to-be and try to concoct one of his---wait for it---legendary Stinson Hangover Fixer Elixirs. The highlight of the series is the addition of the young woman (Cristin Milioti, who was introduced in the Series 8 finale) who would become Ted's bride and the mother of his son and daughter. In the series finale, Ted tells his children the conclusion to the tale of how he and their mother finally became a couple, and the episode also offers details of what the future held for Barney, Robin, Marshall and Lily.
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Network:
    CBS
  • Premiere Date:
    Sep 23, 2013

Cast

Josh Radnor
as Ted
Jason Segel
as Marshall
Alyson Hannigan
as Lily
Neil Patrick Harris
as Barney
Cobie Smulders
as Robin
Cristin Milioti
as The Mother
Bob Saget
Wayne Brady
as James
Robert Belushi
as Linus
Sherri Shepherd
as Daphne
Marshall Manesh
as Ranjit
Roger Bart
as Curtis
Lyndsy Fonseca
as Daughter
David Henrie
as Son
Frances Conroy
as Loretta
Lou Cutell
as Uncle Mort
Anna Camp
as Cassie
Joe Nieves
as Carl
Marjorie Lovett
as Aunt Muriel
William Zabka
as Himself
Andrew Rannells
as Darren
Tim Gunn
as Himself
Judith Drake
as Bernice
Ben Vereen
as Sam Gibbs
Suzie Plakson
as Judy
Joie Magidow
as Elderly Relative
Chris Elliott
as Mickey
Rachel Bilson
as Cindy
Saudia Rashed
as Nurse
Jonathan Craig Williams
as Cop
Cristine Rose
as Virginia
Jason Boggs
as Packers Fan
Courtney Hope Turner
as Girl
Spencer Ralston
as Marvin
Chris Kattan
as Ned Moseby
Bryan Cranston
as Hammond Druthers
Sarah Chalke
as Stella
Sherry Stringfield
as Daphne
John Lithgow
as Jerry
Lin-Manuel Miranda
as Gus
Brooke Lynn Howard
as Sexy Girl No. 1
Ramon Hilario
as Crusty Old Guy
Cynthia Murell
as Gorgeous Woman
Justene Alpert
as Sexy Girl No. 2
Napoleon Ryan
as Claude
Alexandria Skaltsounis
as Erin
David Mattey
as Animal Trainer
Ahna O'Reilly
as Kelly
Taran Killam
as Gary Blauman
Emily C. Chang
as Steph
Michael Edwin
as Eddie
James Van Der Beek
as Simon
Ashley Williams
as Victoria
Cate Scott Campbell
as Lisa
Ray Wise
as Robin Sr.
Jon Heder
as Narshall
Emily Y. Chang
as Steph
Patrick Kang
as 22-Year-Old Guy
Kerrigan Milker
as Girl
Edward Herrmann
as Rev. Lowell
Emily Chang
as Steph
Di Koob
as Lauren
Kenzo Lee
as Young Man
Abby Elliott
as Jeanette
Mariangela Pagan
as Mother
Lucy Hale
as Katie
David Grammer
as Old Sailor Guy
Christine Donlon
as Toby
India de Beaufort
as Sophia
Stephen Grove Malloy
as Budi
Harry Groener
as Clint
Stephanie Lynn
as Meredith
Mark Derwin
as Greg
Michael Rider
as Knight Templar
Sharline Liu
as Photographer
Angela Sprinkle
as Madeleine
Meagan Tandy
Ellen D. Williams
as Patrice
Matt Boren
as Stuart
Bill Fagerbakke
as Marvin Sr.
Barbara Nathanson
as Grandma
Melissa Tang
as Amanda
Virginia Williams
as Claudia
Sarah Karges
as Elaine
Joe O'Connor
as Cassie's Dad
Nick Kocher
as Kyle
Katie Silverman
as Little Girl
Brian McElhaney
as Justin
Jeff Grace (II)
as Delivery Guy
Dexter Cross
as Little Boy
Sheldon Coolman
as Shop Owner
Joshua Hoover
as Wesley
Adam Paul
as Mitch
Rob Gleeson
as Waiter
Kevin Fabian
as Maitre d'
Lou Ferrigno Jr.
as Louis
Katie Norman
as Tribe Leader
Matt Walsh
as Capt. Deardruff
Rudy Villagrana
as Gate Agent
Skyler Vallo
as Grace
Kyla-Drew Simmons
as Shondra
Alex Scott
as Young Woman
Benjamin Byron Davis
as Burly Guy
Alex Staggs
as Operator
Wayne Temple
as Security Guard
Tre Moye
as Bellhop
Bruno Amato
as Cop
Michael James Bell
as Flight Attendant
Alexandra Siegel
as Shelly
Elizabeth Pan
as Spa Attendant
Amaris Davidson
as Julie
Sawyer Adiram
as Young Ted
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News & Interviews for How I Met Your Mother: Season 9

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Critic Reviews for How I Met Your Mother Season 9

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (7)

For some, [the] surprise was a disappointment. But disappointment is expecting that a life has only one love story, that happily ever after only happens once, that surprises, good and bad, happen along the way.

Mar 27, 2018 | Full Review…
Liz Shannon Miller
Top Critic

The ultimate takeaway from the final season is that series creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas were at once too good and not good enough to tell the story they ultimately wanted to tell.

Apr 2, 2014 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…
Emily VanDerWerff
Top Critic

I wish I was as thrilled by the ending as the beginning, but I'm grateful that so many episodes stand up to multiple, multiple viewings.

Mar 27, 2018 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Phoebe Reilly
Top Critic

This isn't a perfect ending... But a straightforward, fairytale ending for Ted and Tracy wouldn't have served viewers, and it would have been beyond boring.

Mar 27, 2018 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…
Katie Atkinson
Top Critic

All told, the finale, like the series itself, was fine, if not, alas, legendary. But hey, unlike some of the shows that have come and gone while Ted searched for his dream girl, it certainly beat a slap to the face.

Mar 27, 2018 | Full Review…
Brian Lowry
Top Critic

This finale seems to completely sour the show's legacy - something that is not more important than ever.

Mar 27, 2018 | Full Review…
Brian Moylan
Top Critic

"Last Forever" brought up the idea of true love versus soul mates, and a bit about fate, but if I wanted to watch a series about how your soulmate might not be the love of your life, I'd have watched Dawson's Creek, a series which did it much better.

Mar 27, 2018 | Full Review…
Kaitlin Thomas

The result of [the writers'] plan was among the more maddening things I've seen in the finale of a show I at one point loved.

Mar 27, 2018 | Full Review…
Alan Sepinwall

'Last Forever' was actually a really great finale episode overall.

Mar 27, 2018 | Full Review…
Tom Eames

Fortunately for HIMYM, the time-turning precedent for the season only strengthens such a radical episode's premise.

Mar 27, 2018 | Full Review…
Kevin Fitzpatrick

Lest you think How I Met Your Mother was going to skip over the good parts of Ted and The Mother's relationship, Monday night's episode delivered another milestone in their romance.

Mar 27, 2018 | Full Review…
Vlada Gelman

In spite of a couple of lovely moments, the "HIMYM" finale was a terrible miscalculation.

Apr 3, 2014 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Rich Heldenfels
View All Critic Reviews (20)

Audience Reviews for How I Met Your Mother: Season 9

  • Feb 11, 2020
    This season was a disservice to the fans who spent hours to years of finding out who the mother was, and the character development all those years. All those years of developing each character only to undo them at the very end? Not cool.
    Sushi S
  • Feb 03, 2020
    La mejor serie de todos los tiempos ¡La amo!
    Andy A
  • Jan 02, 2020
    very disappointing. this could be an instant classic like F.R.I.E.N.D.S but it just lost it chance. the cramped up all the important things in the last episode. they goes against everything they stands for at the beginning about destiny and all. it will makes you hate the character and look at the other seasons differently, and for the last scene of the show in this season i just want to say Boooooo!
    Stefani S
  • Dec 22, 2019
    essa crítica vale pela série inteira, a construção dos personagens é de longe o ponto mais forte da série, a jornada e tudo que ela representa, a direção, a comédia, os personagens tudo se torna marcante e apesar de eu não ser o maior fã do final eu precisei dar a nota máxima por tudo que a série representa em geral, my favorite <3
    Assis J
  • Oct 19, 2019
    The shows worst season, it's not bad but it's too dramatic for a show like this plus it have the worst finale episode of a show ever made !!!
    Amir E
  • Oct 09, 2019
    Until the final episode of Game of Thrones, this was easily the worst series finale in the history of the universe.
    Brett W
  • Aug 29, 2019
    Worth every second completely, it feels like being part of the group
    Pedro V
  • Aug 27, 2019
    Carter Bays/Craig Thomas: 'I bet you can't ruin 9 seasons of television in 40 minutes' Barney: 'Challenge accepted!'
    Danny S
  • Jul 04, 2019
    Unfortunately, How I Met Your Mother's ending was its downfall. How I Met Your Mother was a sitcom that brings you places, and it keeps things fresh. Even when Ted's going through the same motions with Robin or with another girl, not only does it continue to be entertaining; it keeps you invested. How I Met Your Mother benefits from a kind of story technique that no other TV or film I can think of uses in the same way: it's all a flashback. Occasionally we see a flash-forward in a sense, but from the first moment until the end we're watching Ted tell his kids a story. This can be used for comedy (Robin's old man boyfriend from Season 3 Episode 9, or Ted's girlfriend "Blah Blah" from Season 3 Episode 5), but more importantly it can be used to drive the plot. From the title alone, we're given the ending before the show has even started. We know Ted is going to find the mother of his kids; his "one true love"; his destiny, as he sees it himself. This gives the audience a unique relationship with the characters they're watching. It's dramatic irony at its finest. No matter the person Ted is dating, we know it's not who he's going to end up with. No matter what ups or downs the show presents in Ted's life, we know how it's going to end. In season 9, Ted announces he's moving away from New York to Chicago. Despite this, we're frequently watching as he gets closer to meeting his future wife. Despite the conflict we see from Ted's supposed departure, we know it just won't happen. Throughout the show, all nine seasons, How I Met Your Mother accounts for this. Tension is built with the other characters - we know where Ted will end up, however the future of Marshall, Barney, Lily and Robin are all undecided. This is another unique take on a common technique such as dramatic irony, as we're only knowledgeable on Ted's future. The problem is, in the space of the final two episodes, How I Met Your Mother throws everything out of the window. Ultimately, the ending could be called a lot of things. Realistic. Maybe even heartwarming in a strange roundabout way. However, the way I see it, the ending ruins the rest of the show. They took nine seasons to get to where they wanted to bring us to - however, there were some core themes and emotions that drove the show. An important theme was love and its meaning. Throughout the whole show, we see that, while Ted is certainly infatuated with her, Robin is just not the girl for him. It never works out for them and you begin to think, towards the end, Ted realizes that Robin isn't "the one". Hell, he admits it. Multiple times. He doesn't run away with her from her wedding. He doesn't pull some crazy stunt. Marshall pays Lily for their bet, signaling that it's finally set in stone that they're not going to get together. And yet, at the end of the entire show, we find out that this story is being told after Ted's wife is dead. The woman the show has been leading us towards this whole time - the love of his life, the mother of his kids, the woman he wished to grow old with. It's terribly unfortunate, it's bleak and it's downright tragic, until the final shot we're left with is Ted pursuing Robin yet again. It's framed to be cyclical - the final shot directly mirrors the shot from the first couple episodes where Ted waits outside of Robin's apartment in the rain. However, this "finale" ruins the entire idea the show was built upon. One of the fundamentals from the get-go you understand from watching "How I Met Your Mother" is that Robin is not the girl Ted will end up with. She's just not. She's "Aunt Robin". So to show Ted pursuing her yet again, after everything that has happened, not just throughout the seasons but his life with his wife and his kids, it's like painting a beautiful painting only to suddenly decide to cover it in white paint. All of that work, all of that build up, all of the established work is just thrown out of the window and you're brought back to the drawing board. I have to say that I would've been happier had I not seen the final two episodes of the show. An entire season is spent within Robin and Barney's wedding, and despite the ups and the downs, seeing them commit to each other was beautiful. Robin, who was poised to never get married and Barney, whose main distinguishing feature was that he was a single man who hits on women, finally committing to each other shows that people grow up, people change. There were many heartfelt speeches about love (mostly from Ted) and they all made you really believe in these characters and their love. Then, in the space of two episodes, Barney and Robin get divorced, Robin ostracizes herself from the gang and misses important events, Barney has sex with 31 women in 31 days and Ted's wife dies and he goes back to pursue Robin again, a woman with whom it is drilled into our heads that they are not meant to be together, they aren't meant to end up with each other. The only happy ending comes from Marshall and Lily, as Marshall becomes a supreme court justice and they're expecting their third kid. I get it that the show is meant to be cyclical - it starts the same way it ends for the characters. However, this makes the entire journey totally devoid of meaning. It's a lot of things, you could even call it realistic. Maybe it's wrong to expect a perfect happy ending from a simple love story. However, in my opinion, the emotional investment I felt in the characters was lost when they were given this inability to change. The hope you're made to feel for their futures is lost when you're given the harsh reality that Barney will always be single and Ted will always chase after a girl he is not meant to be with. What would I rate How I Met Your Mother? From Season 1 Episode 1 to Season 9 Episode 22 - 4.5 stars out of 5. No sitcom is without its flaws, whether from the genre itself or its own personal flaws. However, How I Met Your Mother delivers romantic, heartfelt moments and hilarious moments together to deliver a journey for the characters. By Season 9 Episode 22, you really feel as though the characters have grown. They've found their happy ending - and you're happy for them. The journey is long, however How I Met Your Mother does not fail to entertain. Even though it takes a while to meet her, the journey leading up to meeting her gives that final meeting importance and it carries more weight than many sitcoms can ever give to any important moment. For the entire show - 3 stars out of 5. All of that said, the final two episodes ruin almost all of the above. The show isn't entirely destroyed, of course, and I would still recommend watching it - it brought me a lot of entertainment. However, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend it the way I wish I could because the ending takes away a big part of what made the journey wonderful.
    Levi L
  • Jun 19, 2019
    Liked it. Still would be better if he didn't go to Robin that last time.
    Tahmid B
See all Audience reviews

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