After nine seasons, the final episode of How I Met Your Mother airs in the United States on Monday, March 31. Curiata.com is reliving the series this week by looking back at our favorites of the 208 episodes.

I have always loved the use of nonlinear storytelling in How I Met Your Mother. As the Ted Mosby of 2030 recounts to his kids (who now look like this and this) the epic saga of meeting his mother, he jumps around in time, remembering, forgetting, and obfuscating certain details. The second season episode “Arrivederci, Fiero” is a great showcase for this storytelling device. Even though the episode tells us nothing about The Mother, it works because of its focus on a particular theme and its revelation of complicated characters.

Marshall’s Pontiac Fiero is less than one mile away from the 200,000-mile mark when it stalls out. As the gang waits for a mechanic to assess the damage, they recount memories of their experiences with the vehicle. Along the way, we discover how Ted and Marshall became best friends, how Lily and Robin bonded over a shared secret, and how Barney (almost) learned to drive.

Each of these characters is shown to be multifaceted. Ted is an insufferable snob but is also fiercely loyal. Marshall is a goofy slob who also cares deeply about the proper use of “affect” and “effect.” Lily is usually the voice of reason but is undone by a particularly nasty pothole, forcing Robin to show her decisive, take-charge side.

And Barney, who always seems so self-possessed, is a totally different person when he gets behind the wheel. That is, hands down, the best scene in the episode. From his overly dramatic introduction to the story (“Why? Why!? WHY!? … WHY!!!???”), to his white-knuckled attempt to outrun an old woman on a mobility scooter, to his breathless relief as he rolls to a stop in front of a bush, Neil Patrick Harris nails this performance. (His final check in the mirror is flawless.) It’s a joy to see Josh Radnor, as Ted, delighting in Barney’s freak out — this is a real showcase for the chemistry between the two actors.

At its best, How I Met Your Mother allows us to see these characters as complex people who can’t be reduced to a single quirk or descriptor. By telling a story that spans decades, it gives us glimpses of who they used to be and who they are becoming.

In this episode, we also see Marshall coming to terms with his changing image of himself, from environmental activist to corporate sellout. Self-image is one of the ongoing themes of the show: Ted’s image of himself as a soon-to-be happily married man; Lily’s image of herself as a successful artist; Robin’s image of herself as an untethered, globetrotting reporter; Barney’s image of himself as legen- wait for it! -dary Casanova.

Throughout the series, dreams have changed and aspirations have evolved. In “Arrivederci, Fiero,” Marshall has to let go of something he thought defined him and struggle with the idea of redefining himself. That seems to be a microcosm of what How I Met Your Mother is trying to talk about as a series.

Best Line: “Is it cool if I still light these?”

Best Cutaway: “Hitchhiking Waldo”

Mother Lore: None!