‘How I Met Your Mother’ Star Josh Radnor: ‘It’s Totally Time To End’ The Show

How I Met Your Mother Star Josh Radnor has confessed that it is “totally time to end” the series after nine seasons.

The 39-year-old told Collider that with eight previous seasons of material to work with, “there’s so much history informing the characters now that there are so many more avenues to go to, in terms of both more dramatic stuff and comedic stuff.”

Radnor also said that, when he cut through the bar set to get to his dressing room, he had a bit of an epiphany about how life-changing the series had been.

“And I just had this moment of being in the bar when no one was there and feeling like, ‘Wow, this was a powerful time in all our lives,'” he said. “It’s certainly changed everyone’s life, in so many ways, and everyone’s life changed while they were doing it. I had this moment that almost felt like walking into an empty church. Not to overstate it, but it was really beautiful. ”

Of course, with the end approaching comes mixed feelings. Radnor said he doesn’t believe the series has “dwindled in quality or overstayed its welcome,” but that “there’s a sense that it’s totally time to end” because it would be too long to stay with one character, or five.

“We’ll be happy when it ends, but also inconsolable,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a grieving that goes on, just because of the transition into not having that be the main part of your year, with those people.”

Radnor also said everything that has been done this season has been done for the last time, but it was okay.

“One of the secrets to life is saying yes to change and allowing things to transition, but I also think you have to mark the time and give thanks for all that it gave you,” he said.

After eight long years, the titular mother was finally revealed during the season 8 finale. Cristin Milioti was promoted to a series regular for season 9, and Carter Bays said that viewers will see more of her as the mother but will also find out more about her than Ted will. The season will focus on the weekend of Barney and Robin’s wedding but will also focus on how the other characters get to know her before Ted does.

It was officially confirmed that How I Met Your Mother would be returning for a ninth and final season in January. Season 9 premieres September 23 with two half-hour episodes and will consist of 24 episodes.