Cristin Milioti, star of The Penguin, opened up about the passionate response to the How I Met Your Mother series finale, reflecting on how she felt about the fan reaction during a recent episode of the Armchair Expert podcast. Speaking with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, Milioti discussed joining the show as Tracy, the “mother,” having never seen the series before, and revealed her surprise at the intensity of viewers’ emotions—a revelation that continues to intrigue fans more than a decade after the finale aired.
Milioti reflects on joining the iconic sitcom without prior exposure
Milioti explained that she landed the high-profile role in seasons 8 and 9 without any prior knowledge of the CBS sitcom. In her own words,
“I’m glad that I hadn’t. I don’t think I understood,”
—Cristin Milioti, Actress. Padman interjected to stress “the weight of the mother!” which Milioti affirmed, pointing out that her appearance on the show amounted to just a handful of episodes:
“I’m in it for like six episodes.”
—Cristin Milioti, Actress.
How I Met Your Mother is known for blending comedy and mystery, with Josh Radnor’s character Ted Mosby narrating to his children the long story of meeting their mother. The show kept viewers guessing about the mother’s identity, finally revealing her as Milioti’s Tracy in the final season—an outcome that left many fans angered, especially those who preferred Robin, portrayed by Cobie Smulders since the pilot, as Ted’s ultimate partner.
Fan reaction divides viewers and creators
Padman pointed out the intensity of fan reactions to Milioti, saying,
“I’m glad you didn’t know, because that is stressful. Because I bet, I mean, you’ll tell us – people had strong reactions to that,”
—Monica Padman, Podcast Co-host.
Milioti confirmed that she had distanced herself from online discussions:
“You know, I am pretty good about staying very far away from the internet. It’s not a good place for a human brain to be. I also was pretty good at sheltering myself from that. But I definitely didn’t understand the weight… It’s a very famously contested finale.”
—Cristin Milioti, Actress.
The ending of How I Met Your Mother remains one of television’s most controversial conclusions, particularly for a sitcom—a genre that often delivers clear resolutions for romantic storylines. Fans heavily invested in Ted and Robin’s relationship were surprised when Ted ultimately rekindled a romance with Robin in the last moments of the series.
Finding renewed appreciation and humor in hindsight
Despite ongoing debate, the finale has gained new supporters upon rewatch, with some viewers picking up subtle hints that Tracy was always meant to be Ted’s partner. On the show’s 10th anniversary, Entertainment Weekly suggested that combining the pilot and the finale creates a
“romcom worthy of the big screen.”
—Entertainment Weekly.
Looking back 11 years after the finale, Milioti has developed a sense of humor about her memorable entrance into the show. She joked about fans’ impression that she burst onto the scene, saying,
“I burst through the wall like the Kool-Aid man and I go, ‘Oh yeah!’ And then the show ends.”
—Cristin Milioti, Actress.
Milioti’s reflections on the Armchair Expert podcast add new context to one of TV’s most polarizing endings, offering insight into her experience and how the role continues to spark conversations among fans and the show’s devoted audience.
