Just in case anyone hasn't yet caught up on the last episode (which was only a couple of days ago, not a full week), because it's speculation based on very specific things in the episode. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered, but it feels... uncouth to non-spoilerfont it at less than a week after. Probably just old-fashioned force of habit.

JZ, that theory has been mine ever since the episode where Ted told the kids that if he could go back in time he would have met the mother several months earlier. And, I don't really see it as a betrayal to the fans if the Mother is dead, for just the reason you mention. The fact that the Mother had a fiancee that she obviously loved very much, who died, and could eventually move on and fall in love with Ted, seems to be setting up the idea that Ted his telling the kids how much he loved the Mother before he tells them that he is marrying Robin. Barney already mentioned earlier in the season that he would be on his third wife at some point in the future (I don't remember the exact year he gave), but I don't think it was a throw away line.

Thanks, JZ, I got that that theory was in play especially after this last ep. I just am not familiar with Shadowlands.

eta In googling to find out about it, I learned there is a laser tag chain called Shadowlands in the MD/VA area. ha!

Raising Hope has been cancelled.

Raising Hope has been cancelled.

Oh no! One of the only sitcoms I consistently love. Sadface.

I haven't really loved this season as much, since Greg Garcia left, but I am going to miss it.

Yeah, it might actually be time for it to end, but I am still a little sad about it. It's a sweet little show and has been very funny.

I'm very sad. The Christmas episode and Bar Mitzvah episode were both outstanding.

I don't mean it's getting worse, just all the characters seem more or less content, so it seems like a good place to close the book.

I just caught up on HIMYM, and after those scenes I honestly can't believe any other theory than that the mother is doomed. I don't see any other way to interpret those lines in the future-scenes; the writing has been too good on the show this season, especially in the bits about the mother, for those to be some sort of trick or lead nowhere.

I don't know about the "about to marry Robin" part of it, though I would be fine with that (except it would make me a little sad for Barney and Robin to be divorced) but the dying mother seemed rather obvious. My wife didn't catch it right away, so maybe I'm reading more into it than was there, but it's the only thing that made sense to me.

Just the thought of it is making me cry little tears sitting here in my easy chair, but I would not think it was a bad way for the series to end at all. Just a sad way. Not very sitcom-like, but the best sitcoms hit their emotional sads with all their strength, and this has, through much of its run, been one of the best.