How I Met Your Father is confirmed to be receiving another season, despite having garnered mixed reviews on its premiere. Season 1 had only ten episodes, forcing the characters to develop at a pace that might have been too fast for audiences to fully get on board. However, the season finale undoubtedly had that How I Met Your Mother feel, leading fans of the original series to feel that the spin-off just might work.
The release of a spin-off has reignited some big fan debates surrounding How I Met Your Mother. The morality of the main characters, who should have ended up with who, whether the series ultimately flopped in the end, and more are all common arguments within the HIMYM fandom.
Did The Show Have A Plan From The Beginning?
Season 1 caught audiences’ attention with the mystery of Ted’s future wife, but the subsequent seasons had them feeling a little confused. While the show’s story surrounded by Ted telling his children how he met their mother, very little of his tale seemed to have anything to do with her.
This led viewers to wonder if the writers even had a plan. Even now that everyone knows the story had always been about Robin, there is still debate about whether that premise was thrown in at the end. While parts of the finale must have been filmed years before the episode aired, the existence of an alternative ending seems to support that the writers weren’t entirely sure of their plan.
Was The Gang Too Mean To Ted?
The protagonist of HIMYM had a great love for history, conspiracies, and architecture. He also enjoyed demonstrating to others just how much he knew about these topics. This sometimes made him appear pretentious, especially in flashbacks to his younger years.
However, even once he had significantly toned down his know-it-all tendencies, the gang frequently mocked Ted for his interest in obscure facts. This would go as far as blowing raspberries when he tried to talk or walking out of the room while he was in the middle of speaking. Some fans argue that Ted’s friends mistreated him, while others saw the behavior as a typical banter between buddies.
Was Barney A Good Friend?
Barney considered himself to be everyone’s best friend, but he rarely put in the effort to deserve that title. He had very selfish tendencies and was known to throw his friend under the bus if it meant landing himself another date.
Many wondered why Ted and the others even bothered having Barney around. It’s true that each member of the group had a moment in the series where they needed space from Barney because of his chaotic selfishness, but other fans can also argue that Barney proved his loyalty, such as when he ran to the hospital after Ted had been in an accident.
Was Marshall Too Good For Lily?
Lily and Marshall are introduced as the perfect couple. Not only were their affection and pet names cute, but they proved that they had a genuine friendship as the foundation for their romance. However, the end of season 1 saw Lily break up with Marshall and move away to pursue an art career.
While Lily did realize her mistake and worked to earn their relationship back, her decision left a bad taste in some viewers’ mouths. They argue that Marshall shouldn’t have forgiven Lily and that in later years she spent again and again that she was still selfish. However, other fans can relate to Lily’s discomfort over settling down and defend that she only needed to get away and clear her head.
Who Was Ted’s Best (Or Worst) Girlfriend?
Ted had a lot of girlfriends throughout HIMYM. Some were serious contenders for the position of “the mother,” while others, audiences immediately knew wouldn’t last (like Blah Blah, for example). Of course, fans were very vocal about their thoughts on these women.
None of Ted’s dates were perfect. However, something can be said for each of them regarding their impact on Ted’s life and growth. Some loved Stella because she showed Ted he wanted a family, while others hated her because of the Wedding Bride fiasco. Victoria was memorable because of her spirited nature, but some audiences found that nature to be a bit over the top.
Was Ted A Good Guy?
Everyone has moments from their past they are not proud of. This is often a part of growth. However, Ted seemed to have a lot of these “growth” moments, making him unpopular with several HIMYM fans.
Where Barney embraced his moral ambiguity, Ted considered himself a truly “good guy.” But some argue that by going along with Barney’s schemes, Ted was just as misogynistic. The opposition contends that Ted still demonstrated his ability to make the right choice and often went out of his way to make up for his misdoings.
Was Robin A “Pick-Me” Girl?
Robin remains a favorite for many HIMYM audiences, and her appearance in the season 1 finale of How I Met Your Father was a welcome sight. However, several viewers accused Robin of being a “pick-me” girl, or a girl whose inadvertent sexism leads her to believe that her “masculine” traits make her better than other women.
Those who believe so have pointed out that Robin frequently bragged about shooting guns, drinking whiskey, and smoking cigars, as well as claiming that she didn’t have any girlfriends because they were “weepy.” However, others argue that while these traits often describe a “pick-me” girl, it could also just be because Robin likes those things.
Was Barney Too Problematic?
Ted’s “best friend” had many problematic traits, and a majority of Barney’s HIMYM quotes did not age well. There is no denying there is a lot wrong with how he treated women, and several of his “plays” to get women often disregarded the concept of informed consent. This has led many to believe that Barney was not as lovably comical as initially intended but just misogynistic.
However, Barney’s fans have argued that since Ted was only telling a story full of gross exaggerations, it’s possible that the infamous “player” never actually went as far as the show made it seem. There is also the fact that Barney loved to spin yarns, so much of what his friends knew was likely fiction.
Should Barney And Robin Have Been Endgame?
After an entire season building up to Barney and Robin becoming engaged and then another season getting viewers pumped up for their wedding, it was a major disappointment for many when the two got a divorce in the very next episode (though after a two-year time jump.)
However, fans were split about whether this pairing could ever have worked out. While some felt that Barney and Robin were a relatable couple in HIMYM and brought out a vulnerability in each other that was enjoyable to see, others could not foresee a future in which either would give up their independence for the other.
Did The Series Finale Ruin The Show?
Audiences watched How I Met Your Mother for nine seasons, and their anticipation to discover who the famous “mother” grew with each one. For this reason, many fans were devastated when they finally met Tracy McConnell, only to discover that she had been deceased for six years before Ted even started his story to his children.
Between this, Barney and Robin’s divorce, and the revelation that Ted and Robin were destined to be together all along, many fans felt like the series finale was a complete disappointment. On the other hand, some audiences argue that the series always hinted that Ted would be with Robin, and the question had only ever been, “How?”
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