How I Met Your Mother: Every Season Finale Ranked Worst To Best

9. Last Forever (Season 9)

This was the big one; over two hundred episodes of flashbacks, foreshadowing and heartbreak had all led to this moment, which promised to explain how Ted and The Mother met for the first time.

So what went wrong? Well, basically, everything. The fast-paced, time-jumping structure rushed the last chapter of Ted's journey more than fans were ready for, major character developments were mentioned and then brushed aside, and to add insult to injury Tracy herself was killed off out the blue.

From the jarringly quick execution to the reveal that Ted had been telling his kids this long and winding story just so he could get their blessing to go after Robin again, the one-hour finale was both frustrating and almost completely disrespected everything the show had once stood for.

Sure, it's not entirely meritless - Barney has a kid and finally settles down, and it does a decent job of exploring the complexities of growing up and losing touch with friends - but all told Last Forever was an aggravating misfire, only really saved by the alternate ending the producers released to clean up their mess.