While sitting alone, Ted locks eyes with a woman across the room (Victoria), setting the stage for the next major arc of the season.
The episode centers on the wedding of Ted's friends, . How I Met Your Mother 1x12
Ted invites Robin to be his guest after she breaks up with her boyfriend. However, when he mentions this to Claudia two days before the ceremony, she insists he checked the "coming alone" box on his RSVP and forbids him from bringing a date. While sitting alone, Ted locks eyes with a
Marshall and Ted convince Stuart to reconsider his fears of commitment, while Lily prevents Barney from trying to seduce a distraught Claudia at MacLaren's. The wedding is back on, and Claudia eventually allows Ted to bring a guest. The Ending and Significance However, when he mentions this to Claudia two
Producers have noted that if the show hadn't been picked up for a full season, they could have ended the series here by revealing the woman at the end (Victoria) was "The Mother".