How I Met Your Mother 1x12 -

Just as Ted is about to pick Robin up for the wedding, she receives an emergency call to anchor the news. Ted attends the wedding alone and discovers Claudia was right—he did check the "alone" box, suggesting a subconscious fear of commitment.

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". How I Met Your Mother 1x12

While sitting alone, Ted locks eyes with a woman across the room (Victoria), setting the stage for the next major arc of the season. Just as Ted is about to pick Robin