How I Met Your Mother is not just a show; it’s a cultural phenomenon. The sitcom debuted in 2005 and went on until 2014, with a total of nine seasons. In these, the audience was left guessing who, among several of Ted Mosby’s (Josh Radnor) ex-girlfriends, was the mother of Luke and Penny.
In the series finale, Tracy McConnell (Cristin Milioti) is revealed to be the mother of Mosby’s children. But on the other hand, the show’s creators also had Ted’s ex-flame Victoria as the backup mother.
Ted Mosby’s Ex-Girlfriend Victoria Nearly Played The Mother on HIMYM
The famous sitcom had several storylines, but the plot of Ted and Tracy falling in love is a fan favorite. But it would be difficult for the fans to hear that another actress could have taken over the role apart from Cristin Milioti. In a 2014 interview with Deadline, the co-creator of How I Met Your Mother, Carter Bays, revealed that there was an alternate ending planned for the show.
Further, in this, Ashley Williams, who played Victoria, could have ended up being the mother of Mosby’s (Josh Radnor) children, Luke and Penny. He added:
Ted meeting Victoria – happened at the end of Episode 12…It would have been Victoria, probably.
Ashley Williams’ Victoria made her first appearance in Episode 12 of Season 1, titled The Wedding. A baker by profession, she crossed paths with Ted Mosby at a friend’s wedding. Soon after, the duo began dating, even maintaining a long-distance relationship when Victoria had to relocate to Germany for her cooking fellowship.
But given Ted’s unresolved feelings for Robin, she breaks up with him. The duo rekindled their romance again in season 7 when they meet at the Architect’s Ball. But once again, due to his lingering feelings for Robin, this marks their second and final breakup.
The makers had played with the premise of making Victoria the mother of Ted’s kids. The initial episodes also hinted at this, but creators, Craig Thomas and Bays, revealed that this might have been possible if the show had been canceled before the eighth season (via Screen Rant). Further, given Ted and Victoria’s history, this would have made sense for the audience as well.
Fans Had Mixed Feelings About Ashley Williams’ Character, Victoria
Fans of How I Met Your Mother would agree that Victoria’s character went through a huge transformation from season 1 to season 7. While some liked her better in the latter season, others had mixed opinions. Pointing out the star difference between her persona on Reddit, a user asked why her character couldn’t show the same level of maturity in the initial seasons. To answer this and express their sentiments, several users commented under the said Reddit post.
Comment
byu/Rocky-Raconteur from discussion
inHIMYM
Comment
byu/Rocky-Raconteur from discussion
inHIMYM
One user pointed out that he liked her in season 1 and found her more annoying in season 2. But he also understood the creator’s reasoning behind it, as they wanted the audience to fall out of love with Victoria to properly accept Tracy towards the end.
Comment
byu/Rocky-Raconteur from discussion
inHIMYM
Comment
byu/Rocky-Raconteur from discussion
inHIMYM
Comment
byu/Rocky-Raconteur from discussion
inHIMYM
For others, she was a better version of herself in season 7. But whatever the comments, they cannot alter the fact that if Victoria had been the mother, the story arc of How I Met Your Mother would have been completely different.
This would have completely changed the details that Ted shared with his children, as Tracy and Victoria look nothing alike. But even so, the sitcom still remains one of the most beloved in the television genre.
You can stream all seasons of How I Met Your Mother on Hulu.
