The Premise
Season 8 started about as happily as anyone could imagine: Marshall and Lily had their first baby, Robin was dating the stud named Nick, Barney and Quinn were freshly engaged and Ted has won back Victoria just hours before her wedding. Sadly, all these relationships would end over the few short period of a few episodes (except for Marshall and Lily of course) in what is known to the group as "The Autumn of Breakups".
After the new parents find a solid babysitter in their life in Lily's father, she takes on a job as the Captain's new art consultant, finally honing in on one of her life dreams. Meanwhile Barney and Robin begin to realize what they mean to each other, except it's not that easy. Barney has begun a relationship with Robin's co-worked, Patrice, but after Robin hears of Barney's plans to propose to Patrice, Robin discovers that it was all a facade in order for Robin to realize how she feels about Barney. Oh, and that proposal was for her. She says yes.
After the proposal Marshall's career takes a wild turn. After a victorious court case that Marshall wins for his firm bad publicity forces the firm to lose practically all of its business, resulting in Marshall doing nothing but sit around the office all day. During the time, he applies to be a judge. Lily's job however is rendering great new opportunities. After working for the Captain for a while he discloses his plans to move to Rome for a year and asks Lily to bring her family along and work for him while there. After Marshall explains to her that he'd love to go preparations are made for the Erickson Family to move to Italy; that is until he receives news while on vacation in Minnesota that he has been appointed to be a judge in the state of New York, leaving him confused at the end of the season in what to do and what he should tell Lily.
Ted's life comes clear into focus after dating a crazy girl, Jeanette and realizing that his place as the only single member in the group has made him want to "settle down". After a fight with Lily about whether Barney and Robin should get a DJ or a band for their wedding, Ted runs into Cindy, his future wife's roommate. She mentions that her roommate plays in a band and later we discover that the mother is the bass guitarist.
Right before the wedding Ted realizes that he won't be able to be around Robin and Barney after they are married, making him decide that the day after their wedding he's going to uproot and move to Chicago for a fresh start. However, as everyone heads off to the big wedding, one more person is in route that will change his plans; the mother.
Josh Radnor stars as Ted Mosby, Cobie Smulders (The Avengers) stars as Robin Scherbatsky, Neil Patrick Harris stars as Barney Stinson, Alyson Hannigan stars as Lily Aldrin and Jason Segel (Despicable Me, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) stars as Marshall Eriksen with Cristin Milioti as the Mother.
How I Met Your Mother returns on CBS, Monday September 23rd at 8:00PM EST.
Where I Would Go With the Plot
I can tell you one thing: where I would go with the plot is definitely different from what's actually going to happen. I miss the days of Ted frantically obsessing over a girl, trying to find a way for their relationship to work out. We saw it first with Robin back in season one and then Victoria again later that season. We know how both of those ended. And then there was Stella in season three -- I wasn't a fan of Stella, but that arc showed us who Ted really was -- someone who wouldn't give up and someone who would find a way to prove he was totally worth it. Since Stella it's been more of a one night stand after another, even while he was in relationships. They were just so quick and he never had to work for them.
What I would do is introduce Ted to the mother at the end of the season premiere -- letting the Stinson/Scherbatsky wedding be the episode. The wedding was exceptionally hard for Ted but right afterward he meets to most amazing woman on the train stop and later on the train to Farhampton, the bass guitarist from the wedding band. He falls in love so quickly that he cancels his plans to move to Chicago on a whim. Of course with Lily and Marshall's plans to move to Rome diminished because of his new job, Ted moves back in with them while he looks for a new place to live. The only problem is that the Mother doesn't seem to be very interested in Ted more than an occasional friend.
Throughout the season Ted and the Mother become closer and closer and egged on by Lily and Marshall eventually find that they are perfect for each other. The series would end with Ted proposing to the Mother, helped by his best friend Barney who's already proved that when it comes to proposing he can do it best. Bob Saget closes our the narration talking about their wedding and finally relieves his poor children of listening to his story.
What I Think Will Happen
According to press releases the entire season will be during the 72 hours leading up to the Stinson/Scherbatsky wedding. While I think the wedding is a great way to end the series, I have serious reservations about an entire season (usually 24 episodes) taking place in a very constrained amount of time unless the show is 24.
I have no doubt that the moment when Ted and the Mother meet will be magical. I'm also enthralled by the fact we'll get to meet the Mother through the eyes of the rest of the cast before she and Ted actually meet. It'll be a good chance for us to get to know her, like her and crave the two of them to meet. I have a feeling the finale will be one of the most heart-wrenching to watch since the end of Friends -- bringing happiness and sadness at the same time. I'm just concerned with what will happen in the other 23 episodes.
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