[NOTE: The following post contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the How I Met Your Mother series finale.]

It's no question that the How I Met Your Mother series finale was controversial among watchers and critics. Not since Lost has a finale episode spawned so much debate (side note: a majority of Screen Rant readers thought that the Lost finale was awesome but nearly 49% hated the HIMYM finale). It's a bit surprising, however, considering that most hotly debated finales are those of drama series - while this outrage is over a sitcom.

It's understandable though; has always packed an emotional punch. But the finale's wallop made some feel more like suckers. Audiences spent 9 seasons watching Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) grow up and out of his childish fantasies to find the woman he was really meant for only to have her die from some unnamed illness so that, year's later, Ted could regress back to his 20s and end up with Robin (Cobie Smulders). Nevertheless, it appears there's a bit of light on the horizon.

According to a report over at Deadline, the Season 9 DVD set will include an alternate "happy" ending. Creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas had apparently contemplated a different conclusion during the run which will make its way onto the DVD as an extra. The adjusted end won't involve any additional footage, but will instead work everything they'd shot into a different turnout. Producers and 20th Century Fox TV declined to comment on any specifics but the source described this alternate conclusion as a "happy ending."

From what was presented in the finale, this means that Ted's alternate reality could go a couple of different ways. One could be that the mother still dies, but Ted considers Tracey the love of his life and remains a widower forever, which isn't very happy at all. Or, Tracey lives happily ever with Ted and their kids. Of course, those are just the two most obvious possibilities - and it'll be interesting to see what the producers consider "happy" in their alternate conclusion.

How I Met Your Mother Series Finale - Old Ted

For some, and depending on what is actually in the alternative ending, this move could be seen as a total cop-out. Bays and Thomas went with the plot they had in mind since the beginning of the show, even going so far as to shoot the scenes of Ted's kids telling him to go for it with Robin way back in Season 2. Yet, what they didn't anticipate was how much audiences would love Cristin Milioti as Tracey, how funny she would be and how well she'd meshed with the rest of the cast (especially Ted). They also didn't appreciate how long fans have been waiting for Ted to get over his childish obsession with Robin. As a result, it might have been better to embrace the Radnor/Milioti chemistry and change the ending altogether.

Now, however, they may have seen the error of their ways - and are attempting to appease fans who were frustrated by the ending - while making an extra buck on DVD sales while they are at it. Of course, the scenes will probably be online within minutes of release.

Still, even if fans get what they want (no guarantees that's what this "happy ending" entails) and Tracey is saved from an early death, will seeing the alternate take actually make a difference - given that the one that aired is still the primary ending? Sure it'd be fun to see Ted and Tracey grow grey together but won't the "true" ending always be in the back of our minds?

What would you like to see in the alternate How I Met Your Mother ending?

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MORE: How I Met Your Mother Series Finale Review

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There is no official release date set for the How I met Your Mother Season 9 DVD set, so keep checking back for updates.

Follow Casey on Twitter @CaseyCip

Source: Deadline