Last Forever

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The episode is structured in two parts. Part 1 begins in May 2013 at Barney and Robin's wedding reception, where Ted discusses his move to Chicago. Barney recognizes the bass player as the woman who advised him to pursue Robin, but Ted declines to introduce himself. After saying goodbye, Ted heads to Farhampton train station, where an elderly lady spots the Mother nearby, but Ted decides not to approach her. The next night, Ted surprises Marshall and Lily at MacLaren's, revealing he met the bass player and they hit it off. In 2015, Ted is engaged, and the Mother arrives revealing she is pregnant. By May 2016, Barney and Robin announce their divorce. In October 2016, Robin leaves a Halloween party, upsetting Lily. Part 2 covers 2018-2020: Barney learns one of his one-night stands is pregnant with his daughter Ellie, and he commits to fatherhood. In 2020, Ted re-proposes to the Mother. In 2013, Ted finally introduces himself to the bass player under her yellow umbrella; she reveals her name is Tracy McConnell. In 2030, Ted's children Luke and Penny realize his story is more about his feelings for Aunt Robin than meeting their mother, who died six years earlier. They give their blessing for him to pursue Robin. Ted visits her with the blue French horn, and they share a meaningful smile. An alternate ending on the DVD shows Barney and Robin nodding and smiling at Ted and the Mother's wedding, implying they later get back together.

In Their Own Story

In 2030, Luke and Penny, Ted's children, realize his story is more about his feelings for Aunt Robin than meeting their mother, who died six years earlier. They give their blessing for him to pursue Robin. Ted visits her with the blue French horn from their first date, and they share a meaningful smile. The episode's final scene shows Ted and Robin reconnecting, bringing the series full circle.

Reader's Guide

The episode is divided into two parts. Part 1 covers May 2013 to October 2016, showing the immediate aftermath of Barney and Robin's wedding, Ted meeting the Mother, their engagement and pregnancy, and Barney and Robin's divorce. Part 2 covers 2018 to 2030, showing Barney becoming a father, Ted and the Mother's wedding, and the revelation of the Mother's death. The episode concludes with Ted's children giving him permission to pursue Robin. An alternate ending on the DVD shows Barney and Robin getting back together.

Did You Know?

• The scene involving Ted's future children (Lyndsy Fonseca and David Henrie) was secretly shot in 2006 during the production of the second season, so the teenage characters would not age.
• Approximately 18 minutes of the original episode had to be cut to fit the broadcast time, including a montage showing Tracy's funeral.
• Everything but the Girl's acoustic cover of the Tom Waits song 'Downtown Train' was used in the scene where Ted and The Mother meet at the Farhampton train station.
• The episode was watched by 13.13 million viewers, making it the most-watched episode of the season and the series, beating the season 1 episode 'The Pineapple Incident' which had 12.27 million viewers.
• An alternate ending was included in the ninth season's home media release, which changes the fates of Tracy, Robin and Barney and uses a voiceover by Bob Saget rather than Josh Radnor.