How I Met Your Mother season 9 explained

Season Number:9
Bgcolour:
  1. FFCC00
Image Upright:1.15
Num Episodes:24
Network:CBS
Prev Season:Season 8
Episode List:List of How I Met Your Mother episodes

The ninth and final season of How I Met Your Mother, an American sitcom created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, premiered on CBS on September 23, 2013,[1] with two episodes, and concluded on March 31, 2014. The show was renewed for the final season on December 21, 2012, after cast member Jason Segel changed his decision to leave the show after Season 8.[2] [3] Cristin Milioti, who was revealed as "The Mother" in the Season 8 finale,[4] was promoted to a series regular, the only time How I Met Your Mother added a new regular cast member.[5] Season 9 consists of 24 episodes, each running approximately 22 minutes in length.

Taking place immediately after where the previous season left off, Season 9 covers the events of a single weekend that leads up to Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin's (Cobie Smulders) wedding.[6] During the course of the weekend, "The Mother" (Milioti) is separately introduced to Robin, Barney, Lily (Alyson Hannigan), and Marshall (Jason Segel), before finally meeting Ted (Josh Radnor). The season also features frequent flashbacks and flashforwards in order to fully integrate The Mother's character with the rest of the cast.[7] Thomas said in an interview that Season 9 is like "the Wild West – anything can happen".[6]

In February 2013, Bays and Thomas teased that Season 9 is "going to be a new way to tell the story".[8] The initial reaction to the new storytelling structure of Season 9 was mixed. Ethan Anderton from Screen Rant was concerned about how "24 episodes of television are going to be crafted from just three days of time",[9] and Alan Sepinwall of HitFix was exasperated that after eight seasons, "They are really going to stretch Robin and Barney's wedding weekend out over the entire final season",[10] though he expressed more optimism after the San Diego Comic-Con panel for the final season.[11]

Casting

The ninth season features a cast of six actors who receive star billing. Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, and Alyson Hannigan all reprise their roles in this season. Cristin Milioti, who was revealed as The Mother in the Season 8 finale, has been promoted to series regular, a first for the series.[5]

How I Met Your Mother was initially scheduled to run for eight seasons after CBS ordered a seventh and eighth season in 2011. The show gained a resurgence in ratings during season seven, and CBS began discussing the possibility of ordering a ninth season.[12] By 2012, Deadline Hollywood reported that CBS, 20th Century Fox, and all regular cast members except Segel wanted to continue with a ninth season. Segel had initially wanted to focus on his film career, leaving the fate of a ninth season uncertain.[13] Co-creator Carter Bays observed that the negotiations were stressful, with a lot of "white-knuckled, nail-biting going on", but claimed that he was "confident that everything would work out". Craig Thomas noted the flexibility of the show's filming schedule, saying: "We've always done everything humanly possible to allow [the actors] to do other things." Segel ultimately decided to sign on for the final season, and Season 9 was announced on December 21, 2012. Thomas and Bays were relieved that a deal had been reached for another season, fearing that having to wrap up the show in Season 8 would have "felt rushed" and been "disappointing".[14]

Bays and Thomas were first introduced to Milioti as a possibility for playing The Mother through casting director Marisa Ross. Narrowing down the candidates to three actresses early on allowed the casting department to avoid a publicized casting call for The Mother. Milioti was flown into Los Angeles to do an on-camera "chemistry test" with Radnor as part of her audition. Harris, who is a Broadway fan and had recognized her in the makeup trailer, gave Milioti a hug and exclaimed "You're The Mother!" before she was actually cast.[15] Milioti was chosen partly because her musical history and time on Broadway, including her performance in Once, would have allowed her to play the role of The Mother, a musician, more convincingly.[16] Bays and Thomas wanted to avoid casting someone who was well-known, fearing that the audiences' preconceptions of a famous actress might spill into her performance in the role.[17] Milioti's casting was well received by critics, many of whom lauded the show for resisting the urge to cast a familiar face and instead opting for a relative unknown.[18] Bill Kuchman from TV.com observed that, because "Milioti is a blank canvas to many of us", she has the "freedom to create a How I Met Your Mother character that's free of the burden of being compared to her past work".[19]

When asked at Comic-Con about guest stars, Bays revealed that, "If there's someone we loved over the course of the series, there's a good chance they're coming back [for the final season]."[20] Returning guest stars include Wayne Brady and John Lithgow as Barney's brother and father, respectively, and Ellen D. Williams as Robin's co-worker Patrice.

Also reprising their roles as Ted's teenage daughter and son in "The Year 2030" are Lyndsy Fonseca and David Henrie. For the bulk of the series' run, stock footage of a younger Fonseca and Henrie from the series' first season have been used, the better to reflect the kids not aging while hearing their father tell his story. The kids' scenes included one key moment filmed before production on Season 2 began; that scene, according to Bays and Thomas, served as the climax to Ted's story of how he and the kids' mother met. The climax was filmed on a set closed to everyone except Bays, Thomas, a camera operator, and Fonseca and Henrie, who signed non-disclosure agreements. Fonseca states she had forgotten the details of the scene in the years since its filming, while Henrie states, "I do remember. I think I remember. We'll see."[21] [22]

Main cast

Recurring cast and guest stars

Release

Promotion

How I Met Your Mothers cast and crew hosted a panel at the 2013 Comic-Con for the first time in the show's history to promote Season 9. The panel released a teaser trailer featuring Ted's children as adults, still listening to Ted tell his story eight years from when he first began. Angry at having spent years listening, they insist Ted finish his story so they can leave.[23] The panel answered questions from fans as well as releasing select plot spoilers planned for the season.[20]

Bays was enthusiastic about the trajectory of the season, saying that "we've never been in a place where it's July and we've plotted out the entire season, but we have this year because there's so much exciting stuff".[24]

Distribution

Season 9 premiered on CBS on September 23, 2013, with two 22-minute episodes, and contained 24 episodes.[25]

Reception

The ninth season of How I Met Your Mother received mostly positive reviews from critics, gaining a better reception than the previous season. The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gave an 80% approval rating for the season with an average rating of 7.3/10, based on 10 reviews.[26] At the end of the season, Max Nicholson of IGN gave the season a negative review, writing: "Many How I Met Your Mother fans felt betrayed after watching the series finale – and understandably so after Season 9 spent 22 of its 24 episodes building towards a wedding that was basically meaningless. In retrospect, almost any other arc would have made a better foundation for Season 9, including the series finale. In the end, unbalanced storytelling, lack of focus and unfunny detours led to the show's eventual downfall".[27] Adam Vitcavage of Paste Magazine gave the season a lukewarm review, saying: "Nothing was over-the-top funny, but it was a perfect combination of laughter and sweet moments that really do make up for all of the lackluster episodes in the past few seasons."[28]

Episodes

See also: List of How I Met Your Mother episodes.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CBS fall 2013 premiere dates: 'NCIS,' 'How I Met Your Mother' and more return in September. Zap2it. Porter. Rick. June 17, 2013. August 19, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130812234758/https://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2013/06/cbs-fall-2013-premiere-dates-ncis-how-i-met-your-mother-and-more-return-in-september.html. August 12, 2013. mdy-all.
  2. Web site: Report: How I Met Your Mother Renewed for 9th Season After Jason Segel's 11th-Hour Reversal. Matt. Mitovich. tvline.com. December 21, 2012. December 22, 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121224112215/https://tvline.com/2012/12/21/how-i-met-your-mother-renewed-season-9/. December 24, 2012. mdy-all.
  3. Web site: Report: 'How I Met Your Mother' Renewed for 9th (and Final) Season. Ethan. Anderton. screenrant.com. December 26, 2012. January 7, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130116171048/https://screenrant.com/how-i-met-your-mother-final-season-9-renewed/. January 16, 2013. mdy-all.
  4. Web site: 'How I Met Your Mother' Promotes Cristin Milioti to Series Regular. BuddyTV. Kubicek. John. May 17, 2013. August 22, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130730063838/https://www.buddytv.com/articles/how-i-met-your-mother/how-i-met-your-mother-promotes-50181.aspx. July 30, 2013. mdy-all.
  5. Web site: Exclusive: How I Met Your Mother Makes Cristin 'Mom' Milioti a Full-Fledged Series Regular. TV Line. Ausiello. Michael. May 17, 2013. August 13, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130809094737/https://tvline.com/2013/05/17/how-i-met-your-mother-season-9-spoilers-cristin-milioti-series-regular/. August 9, 2013. mdy-all.
  6. Web site: 'How I Met Your Mother' Season 9 spoilers from Comic-Con: Series finale plans and Cristin Milioti as the mother. Zap2It. Berkshire. Geoff. July 21, 2013. August 13, 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130819045330/https://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2013/07/how-i-met-your-mother-season-9-spoilers-from-comic-con-series-finale-plans-and-cristin-milioti-as-th.html. August 19, 2013. mdy-all.
  7. Web site: How I Met Your Mother Season 9 Plans: The Final Season Will Take Place Over One Weekend. IGN. Goldman. May 14, 2013. April 17, 2020. October 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201019115833/https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/14/how-i-met-your-mother-season-9-plans-the-final-season-will-take-place-over-one-weekend. live.
  8. Web site: How I Met Your Mother's Final Season Taking a New Storytelling Approach. Vulture. Dionne. Zac. February 5, 2013. August 13, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130804081541/https://www.vulture.com/2013/02/himym-final-season-secret.html. August 4, 2013. mdy-all.
  9. Web site: 'How I Met Your Mother' Season 9 Details: Meeting the Mom & Single Weekend Story. Screen Rant. Anderton. Ethan. August 13, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130812094118/httsp://screenrant.com/how-i-met-your-mother-season-9-wedding-details/. August 12, 2013. mdy-all.
  10. News: After 'How I Met Your Mother' finale, what comes next?. HitFix. Sepinwall. Alan. May 14, 2013. August 13, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130826224759/https://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/after-how-i-met-your-mother-finale-what-comes-next#yyq5haaAkAVCvXBo.99. August 26, 2013. mdy-all.
  11. News: Comic-Con 2013: 'How I Met Your Mother' panel live-blog. HitFix. Sepinwall. Alan. July 20, 2013. August 21, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130824173917/https://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/comic-con-2013-how-i-met-your-mother-panel-live-blog/2. August 24, 2013. mdy-all.
  12. Web site: How I Met Your Mother Looks to Season 8... and Beyond?. IGN. Goldman. Eric. January 15, 2012. August 13, 2013. October 9, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131009055035/https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/01/16/how-i-met-your-mother-looks-to-season-8-and-beyond. live.
  13. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: 'How I Met Your Mother' To Return For Season 9; Cast Deals Closed Today After Jason Segel Turnaround; Show Was Given Up For Dead Until 11th Hour. Deadline Hollywood. Finke. Nikki. December 21, 2013. August 13, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130814145345/https://www.deadline.com/2012/12/exclusive-how-i-met-your-mother-to-return-for-season-9-cast-deals-closed-today-after-jason-segel-turnaround-show-was-given-up-for-dead-until-11th-hour/. August 14, 2013. mdy-all.
  14. How I Met Your Mother Bosses Have Big Plans for Final Year. TV Guide. Schneider. Michael. February 4, 2013. August 13, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130704082902/https://www.tvguide.com/news/how-met-mother-bosses-1060327.aspx. July 4, 2013. mdy-all.
  15. Web site: 'How I Met Your Mother' Mother Revealed: Meet Cristin Milioti. Fallon. Kevin. The Daily Beast. May 14, 2013. August 13, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130811122645/https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/14/how-i-met-your-mother-mother-revealed-meet-cristin-milioti.html. August 11, 2013. mdy-all.
  16. 'How I Met Your Mother': How Cristin Milioti got the mother of all roles. Entertainment Weekly. May 14, 2013. Stransky. Tanner. August 12, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130813155537/https://insidetv.ew.com/2013/05/14/how-i-met-your-mother-casting-cristin-milioti/. August 13, 2013. mdy-all.
  17. News: 'HIMYM' Mother Revealed In Season Finale: Who Is The Mother Beneath The Yellow Umbrella? (VIDEO). Huffington Post. Prudom. Laura. May 13, 2013. August 13, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130831101159/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/13/himym-mother-revealed-who-is-the-mother_n_3269435.html. August 31, 2013. mdy-all.
  18. News: Season finale review: 'How I Met Your Mother' – 'Something New': I've just seen a face. Sepinwall. Alan. HitFix. May 13, 2013. August 13, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130730065546/https://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/season-finale-review-how-i-met-your-mother-something-new-ive-just-seen-a-face. July 30, 2013. mdy-all.
  19. Web site: How I Met Your Mother Season 8 Finale Review: Kids, Here's How WE Met The Mother. Kuchman. Bill. TV.com. May 14, 2013. August 13, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130814074933/https://www.tv.com/news/how-i-met-your-mother-season-8-finale-review-kids-heres-how-we-met-the-mother-136850410109/. August 14, 2013. mdy-all.
  20. Web site: How I Met Your Mother Comic-Con Panel Recap. Cinema Blend. West. Kelly. July 20, 2013. August 13, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130815013150/https://www.cinemablend.com/television/How-I-Met-Your-Mother-Comic-Con-Panel-Recap-57652.html. August 15, 2013. mdy-all.
  21. Web site: Farewell, How I Met Your Mother: Ted's 'Daughter' and 'Son' Spill 7 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets. TV Line. Gelman. Vlada. September 29, 2013. October 1, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20131001044912/https://tvline.com/2013/09/29/how-i-met-your-mother-lyndsy-fonseca-david-henrie-series-finale/. October 1, 2013. mdy-all.
  22. Web site: Climatic End To 'HIMYM' Shot Eight Years Ago. https://web.archive.org/web/20140202183808/https://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/73351/climatic-end-to-himym-shot-eight-years-ago?ref=search. February 2, 2014. AP/TVNewsCheck. January 16, 2014.
  23. Web site: Comic-Con: 'How I Met Your Mother' Holds Ted's Kids Hostage. The Hollywood Reporter. July 20, 2013. August 7, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130723113341/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/comic-con-how-i-met-589540. July 23, 2013. mdy-all.
  24. Catching Up With How I Met Your Mother's Co-Creator Carter Bays. Paste Magazine. Amatangelo. Amy. September 27, 2013. September 29, 2013. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927193215/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/09/how-i-met-your-mother.html. September 27, 2013. mdy-all.
  25. Web site: How I Met Your Mother Season 9 Spoilers: 24-Episode Ending Begins, NPH Tweet Goes Viral. International Business Times. October 1, 2013. October 4, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215810/https://au.ibtimes.com/articles/488303/20130710/met-mother-season-9-end-final.htm#.UktTCnVDtIM. live.
  26. Web site: How I Met Your Mother: Season 9 (2013–2014). Flixster, Rotten Tomatoes. March 4, 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140304053817/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/how-i-met-your-mother/. March 4, 2014. mdy-all.
  27. Web site: Nicholson. Max. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER: SEASON 9 REVIEW: THE BIG FAT MISDIRECT.. IGN. April 3, 2014. IGN Entertainment Inc. 6 June 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140606215827/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/04/03/how-i-met-your-mother-season-9-review. June 6, 2014. mdy-all.
  28. Web site: Vitcavage. Adam. How I Met Your Mother Review: "The Locket/Coming Back/Last Time in New York" (Episodes 9.01–9.03). pastemagazine.com. October 2013. Paste Media Group. June 6, 2014. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140606222549/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2013/10/how-i-met-your-mother-review-the-locketcoming-back.html. June 6, 2014. mdy-all.

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