Romance played a vital role in How I Met Your Mother, and the show would be best categorized as a rom-com. It recounts the events that lead to Ted meeting his wife, but he isn't the only character who gets an epic love story. Ted's relationship with his friends, as well as the gang's relationship with each other, are also major components.
While Marshall and Lily were only ever with each other, Ted, Robin, and Barney date several different people throughout their 20s and 30s. All of the major romances significantly impacted the characters involved, and each one can be summarized by a quote that was said in the series.
Robin And Barney: "We Tried This And We Failed. Why Try Again?"
Barney and Robin had better chemistry than most of the other couples. They were also a fan-favorite pairing, so their split left viewers heartbroken. However, it wasn't out of nowhere and there were several moments that foreshadowed Barney and Robin's divorce.
The couple tried to date in the past but broke up because they weren't romantically compatible. It made little sense for them to get engaged when they struggled to even be together long-term. Because Barney and Robin were so in love, it was difficult for them to acknowledge that they didn't work. No matter how many times they tried, their relationship failed.
Stella And Ted: "And That, Kids, Was The Ending To A Perfect Love Story. It Just Wasn't Mine."
Ted and Stella's engagement period was full of red flags, and they both chose to ignore the biggest one. It was subtle at times, but Stella often projected the relationship she wished she had with her ex onto the current one she had with Ted.
Stella always dreamed that Tony would be more romantic and spontaneous, which is Ted's personality in a nutshell. Yet, she wanted those things from Tony, in particular, so it felt as though Stella was settling for someone with the qualities he lacked. Stella and Ted never had their own love story, as Ted was simply guest-starring in Stella and Tony's.
Barney And Quinn: "I Just Worship Chaos."
There are a lot of Quinn quotes that show she was right for Barney and their relationship feels like wasted potential. Barney and Quinn were each other's perfect match and there was honestly no one better suited for either of them.
Rather than simply accepting Barney's lifestyle, Quinn shared it. They thrive off of chaos, yet don't feel the need to create any between them. The gang was often annoyed by Barney's attempts to make every night legendary, but Quinn matched his energy.
Ted And Victoria: "The Thing That Is Almost The Thing You Want, But Not Quite."
Although this was said to Ted by Klaus, it perfectly epitomized both of their relationships with Victoria. Victoria was one of Ted's more popular love interests, and they very easily could've ended up together. She was perfect in every way, but she wasn't perfect for Ted.
Ted was forced to choose between Victoria and Robin twice, and he chose Robin both times. He would rather end his engagement with Victoria than his friendship with Robin, which spoke volumes. No matter how good they looked on paper, Ted and Victoria were just short of enough for each other.
Ted And Robin: "When You Love Someone You Don't Stop, Ever."
When Ted laid eyes on Robin, it was love at first sight. There are very few things that remain true in both the pilot and the series finale, but Ted's feelings for Robin are one of them. They might have married other people, but Ted and Robin always found their way back to one another.
Their love took on several different forms throughout the years, but it never weakened. Ted and Robin were relationship goals in How I Met Your Mother, as they always became the person the other needed. They've been each other's partner, roommate, friend, and they've both stepped back to let the other move forward.
Marshall And Lily: "Being In A Relationship Is Hard. And Committing, Making Sacrifices, It's Hard. But If It's The Right Person, It's Easy."
Marshall and Lily have the type of marriage that most people strive for. No relationship is perfect and they didn't always see eye to eye on things. But no matter how badly they fought, Marshall and Lily never regretted their choice to be together.
Disagreements are a part of life and they wouldn't want to work through their differences with anyone else. Each day brings a new challenge, but Marshall and Lily's relationship was rarely one of them. They saw one another's successes as their own, which made sacrificing easy.
Ted And Tracy: "You And I Are Going To Meet, And We're Going To Fall In Love, And We're Going To Get Married, And We're Going To Have Two Kids, And We're Going To Love Them And Each Other So Much."
There are several aspects of Ted and Tracy's relationship that fans wish they got to see, but it only took a few small glimpses into their life to show how perfect they were together. Tracy was proof that Ted was right to put his trust in the universe. They were two halves of a whole who ended up in the right place at the right time, both physically and emotionally.
Ted does a good job at summarizing their story in the short time he has, and while it sounds generic, How I Met Your Mother showcased how hard a simple, happy life is to achieve. Ted comes to realize that the concept of marriage and kids isn't fulfilling in itself. True happiness could be found with the right person.