Ted's journey to find love might have been the premise of How I Met Your Mother, but another romance managed to steal the spotlight. Fans became invested in Barney and Robin's unexpected relationship and watched as it evolved into an ongoing storyline.
There were multiple plot twists that everyone saw coming in How I Met Your Mother, but Barney and Robin's split left fans stunned. Because the entirety of the last season took place over the couple's wedding weekend, it seemed like the show was dedicated to giving them a happy ending. The divorce originally seemed to come out of nowhere, but looking back on it, there were several moments that foreshadowed Robin ending up with Ted.
Ted Shows Up For Robin At The Park
It's later revealed that both men showed up for Robin at the park, but when and why they did was important. While Barney was off playing laser tag with Robin's father, Ted skipped a big meeting directly after getting Robin's phone call. Ted knew that "no, it's stupid," meant that whatever was going on with Robin was important.
He prioritized her over his career and spent the afternoon helping her dig for a locket that she had buried when she was younger. Robin had asked the universe for a sign, and she believed that the missing locket meant she shouldn't marry Barney. What neither of them knew at the time, was that Robin had drunkenly dug it up years before because of her feelings for Ted.
Barney Talks To Marshall About Marriage
As Barney stated several times in the show, he wasn't monogamous. Even if he did settle down and get married, Barney told Marshall that he would still have sex with other girls. His breakup speech to Wendy the Waitress was based on him needing to be with multiple women.
There's nothing wrong with an open marriage if both parties agree, but this wasn't the type of relationship Barney and Robin had on How I Met Your Mother. He tried to force himself into a monogamous lifestyle when it wasn't what he wanted. No matter how much he loved Robin, they weren't romantically compatible.
James Gets A Divorce
Barney's brother helped him finally come around to the idea of marriage through his relationship with Tom. James and Tom made Barney believe in true love and he was especially enthusiastic to find out that they adopted a child.
The two were always said to be exactly alike, and they had the same opinion about relationships. James being in a happy marriage made Barney think that he could do the same, but he confesses to his brother on his wedding weekend that he and Tom got a divorce.
Ted Finds Robin's Locket
Ted finding Robin's locket was a huge red flag for Barney and Robin's relationship. How I Met Your Mother emphasized the importance of destiny, and while they often tried to fight it, things were always going to turn out the way they were meant to.
Before the wedding, Robin assures her mom that she has someone who will always be there for her, meaning Ted. She admits this to him in the dressing room after finding out about the locket, making it clear that Robin has more faith in Ted than in Barney.
Barney Tries To Cheat On Robin With Lily
Since it's played off as a joke, viewers tend to overlook a disturbing moment that takes place at Barney's bachelor party. Marshall tells Barney that he's going to fulfill one of his requests, and his response is one among many Barney Stinson quotes that haven't aged well in How I Met Your Mother.
Appearing extremely excited, Barney thanks Marshall and heads straight for Lily while undoing his belt. Lily might have stopped it, but he clearly had the intention to cheat on his fiancée with her best friend. This scene is proof that Robin didn't change Barney, and he still had no desire to commit to a single person.
Ted And Barney's Letters
To serve as a reminder of why neither of them should get back with Robin, Ted and Barney wrote letters to their future selves. However, they both said drastically different things. Barney wrote about how he and Robin don't work as a couple, which was exemplified when their relationship made them both miserable.
Alternatively, Ted said that Robin was the perfect girl for him and he would never forget stealing her the blue french horn. The only reason they couldn't be together was that Robin wasn't ready for marriage. It makes perfect sense that their aspirations finally line up in the series finale.
Robin Has Doubts Before The Wedding
It's normal to get cold feet before a wedding, but Robin had been uncertain about Barney for a decent amount of time. There was something about Ted she couldn't shake, and the reasons why she should be with him continued to grow up until the ceremony.
Robin did end up going through with the wedding, but one moment of clarity wasn't enough to shake years of doubt. A part of her always knew that she and Barney didn't work, and if they were completely devoted to each other, Robin wouldn't have been thinking about someone else.
Ted Doesn't Return The Blue French Horn
The blue French horn is among the most important objects in How I Met Your Mother, and it played an active role throughout the series. Ted stole the instrument on his first date with Robin, and they were forced to give it back the night their relationship ended.
During season 5, Ted steals the French horn once more, but is never shown returning it a second time. The blue French horn is a symbol for Robin, and he continues to hold onto it and everything it represents.
Marshall Won't Give Up On The Bet
Marshall knows Ted better than anyone, and he always believed that he and Robin were going to find their way back to each other. On the day that Ted stops clinging to the hope of being with Robin, he walks outside and sees a world full of yellow umbrellas. If this was the ending shot, it would have been a good indicator that Ted was no longer an obstacle in Barney and Robin's relationship.
However, a brief scene at the end changes the trajectory of everything. Certain that Ted and Robin wouldn't end up together, Lily asks Marshall to pay him the money from their bet. Marshall's reply, "not yet," showcased that, although it may seem like it, things weren't over between them. In a deleted scene from the series finale, Lily pays Marshall after Ted and Robin get back together.
Victoria Realizes Ted Will Always Love Robin
Victoria has always been an insightful character, and as much as she wanted to believe otherwise, she knew that Ted would never be able to let go of Robin for good. It's the reason why their relationship didn't work out, and it's the reason why none of Ted's other relationships lasted either.
After Victoria calls off their engagement and breaks up with Ted for the final time, she tells him, "I really hope you get her someday." If Robin and Barney were meant to stay together, it's unlikely that the show would have continued to write in lines that implied otherwise.