‘How I Met Your Mother’ recap: Breaking up is hard to do

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“We’re done here.” I think the word that was missing there as Zoey (Jennifer Morrison) and Ted (Josh Radnor) broke up on this week’s “How I Met Your Mother” was, “finally!” Like Robin (Cobie Smulders), we knew the relationship was doomed, but getting there has been a long, often frustrating journey. Zoey and Ted’s differences shadowed them like a black cloud to the point where you could see very few rays of hope. At this point, I can’t even remember what, besides a love of architecture and the Arcadian -- which they can’t even agree on -- they have in common. Is Zoey even a “Star Wars” fan? I’m pretty sure that’s a prerequisite for Ted’s future wife.

Ted didn’t share any of my qualms about the possible would-be Mrs. Mosby. When Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) accused him of switching sides for a girl and her “magic lady bits,” Ted only argued with him a little before admitting that he was doing it for the girl he’s in love with. “There’s a very good chance Zoey might be the mother of my children,” he said. Negative, Ted, but he didn’t know any better. Ted started to show concern for Barney when he found out Arthur would fire him and Barney if he stood up for the Arcadian. Working at GNB, doing stuff -- “What does Barney do at GNB?” Lily (Alyson Hannigan) asked -- is Barney’s dream job, so Ted paused. I had to wonder if this was all really worth ruining his friendship with Barney. Yes, he’s in love with Zoey, but she’s come between him and his first loves, his friends, in a pretty big away. Is losing them worth keeping her?

Robin presented Ted with three scenarios for how it could all turn out: 1.) He says the Arcadian should not be a landmark, and Zoey breaks up with him. 2.) He says it should be a landmark, and he’s happy until he starts resenting Zoey. 3.) The Captain hires a ninja to assassinate Ted with a dart before he can answer. Any way you cut it, “You and Zoey are going to break up,” Robin explained, so wasn’t it worth saving his friendship with Barney and Barney’s job instead? But it took a visit from Barney dressed as the ghost of the Arcadian architect during a dream to convince Ted that the building had to go.

“New York is never finished,” said the ghost. “She’s a lady only a handful of architects ever get to dance with. Do not miss your turn.” Ted called Zoey to meet him at the building, where he took one last look at the relationship he was trying to save. Then he finally let go at the landmark committee hearing, declaring he did not think the Arcadian should be a landmark. Zoey was not happy and pulled out a tape recorder of Ted’s comments about the amazing lion’s head stonework from “Natural History.” I guess the Captain didn’t erase that tape. First the ninja and now this?

Thankfully, Lily came up with a diabolical plan to get rid of the lion’s head, thereby leaving nothing landmark-worthy. And with that, the fight over the Arcadian and Zoey and Ted’s relationship was over. “Sometimes, things have to fall apart to make way for better things,” Ted told Zoey. Here’s hoping this relationship has fallen to make way for the mother next year or at least a more compatible love interest.

Other brief thoughts:
-- Barney’s evil laugh sounded a lot like Dr. Horrible.
-- Do you think Ted’s future kids are actually named Luke and Leia?

Showtrackers, relieved or upset that Ted and Zoey finally broke up? Do you think the breakup will pave the way for something better? What do you hope to see in next week’s finale?

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— Vlada Gelman