海角大神

It may have been a long time coming, but the season 8 finale : it revealed the Mother!

Broadway actress Cristin Milioti, who famously played 鈥淕irl鈥� in the stage adaptation of Once, will be filling the role of the series鈥� title character (above). But her reveal came at the end of the episode. Before that, many important things happened to Ted, Marshall, Lilly, Robin and Barney. Well, mostly to Marshall.

How I Met Your Mother is always at its best when it makes an earnest effort to progress the life stories of its characters and, as expected, the season finale聽doesn鈥檛聽disappoint. Ted, who was briefly struggling with his feelings towards Robin, decided that selling his dream house and moving to Chicago would be his best option. After all, Lilly and Marshall are moving to Rome, and Robin 鈥� who he may or may not still have feelings for 鈥� is marrying Barney. Fortunately, there are a few twists to this finale tale that make sure everyone鈥檚 favorite group remains intact.

Marshall, who was away visiting his mother in Minnesota, received an important phone call that will force a change to his and Lilly鈥檚 plans to move to Rome . After previously having submitted himself to become a judge, Marshall received a call to welcome him to the last remaining spot available for a bench seat. Marshall is going to be a judge! That is, unless Lilly nixes the idea. Meanwhile, Barney and Robin hurt, then help, an obnoxious couple鈥檚 relationship 鈥� and that鈥檚 pretty much all that occurs with them; but that鈥檚 not necessarily a bad thing.

Even though Barney and Robin didn鈥檛 receive that much play in this season鈥檚 finale, the many episodes that came before it complimented their story nicely, even though a few felt a bit old and familiar. To present the Mother, the producers made use of the strength that Marshall and Lilly鈥檚 story holds, to help welcome in the long-awaited, eventually-will-be bride of Ted. After Ted鈥檚 emotional conundrum set the stage for some welcomed reflection, Marshall鈥檚 joyous news kicked in before everything felt, again, a bit too old a familiar. And then, as if given her own storyline, a familiar yellow umbrella at a NY train station tips viewers off to the Mother鈥檚 upcoming arrival. And as the episode comes to a close, the Mother steps up to buy her ticket: 鈥淗i. One ticket to Farhampton, please.鈥�

Though the How I Met Your Mother season 8 finale did feel like it ended a bit abruptly given many stories 鈥� and obstacles 鈥� at hand, the journey was fulfilling and the Mother was, finally, revealed. Now, producers will have time over the course of their off-season to help craft a tale for viewers to fall in love with this mysterious woman who Ted will eventually ask to be his wife. And that, it seems, is where the real challenge lies.

Anthony Ocasio blogs at .