Everyone in the cast of How I Met Your Mother brings something different to the sitcom, but in terms of morality, Lily's behavior is questionable, at best. While Barney remains the most controversial character, there were times when Lily was the worst person in the group.
Lily has good traits along with her bad ones, and even though her heart is usually in the right place, viewers don't always agree with her choices. Unsurprisingly, fans have often taken to Reddit to express their unpopular opinions about Lily and her relationships.
Lily Going To San Francisco Wasn't That Bad
No fan of How I Met Your Mother can forget the gut-wrenching moment when Ted found Marshall sitting in the rain and holding Lily's engagement ring. Because Marshall is such a pure and kind-hearted person, it's unfathomable why anyone would ever want to hurt him.
But a Reddit user argues that, while Lily was often frustrating and selfish, leaving Marshall to go to San Francisco wasn't as bad as the show made it out to be. They believe that the storyline actually felt pretty organic.
Lily Doesn't Deserve Marshall
Lily and Marshall's relationship kept the show grounded. There are times that Marshall and Lily were relationship goals in How I Met Your Mother, and they're the one couple that most fans seem to agree on. But a Reddit user believes that Lily doesn't deserve Marshall, and, in recent years, it's starting to become less of an unpopular opinion.
They give some in-depth examples to further their argument and claim that Lily is self-centered, impulsive, and doesn't think about the consequences of her actions. Marshall, however, is always trying to make his friends happy and make up for Lily's selfish tendencies.
Lily Was Selfish And Childish
This actually isn't a very unpopular opinion, as there were several times when Lily was the most immature person in the group in How I Met Your Mother. A Reddit user admits that they hated Lily for the majority of the show.
After the second season, they got tired of her and felt like her jokes were too played out. They use Lily's shopping addiction and credit card debt, which she never told her fiancée about, as an example of how infantile she can be.
Lily Is Likable
There are a lot of mixed feelings about Lily, and a Reddit user expresses the unpopular opinion that she's actually very likable. They recognize that Lily has her downfalls, but point out that she's a loving friend, wife, and mother.
Lily put her dreams on hold to support Marshall while he was in law school, despite her credit card debt. The user claims that Lily proved her love for Marshall after Jenkins kissed him, and she has evolved throughout the series.
Lily Cares More About Her Own Dreams Than Marshall's
Marshall and Lily are thought to be a supportive couple by many, but a Reddit user feels the opposite. The pair got into a fight over who's the reacher and who's the settler in their relationship, and they were frustrated that Lily considered herself the latter.
Marshall would've become an environmental lawyer a lot sooner if it hadn't been for Lily and her credit card debt, and the fan feels that Lily put her dreams before Marshall's. They claim that Marshall is always honest with Lily, but Lily isn't honest with him.
Lily Had Character Development
While she's still their least favorite character, a Reddit user points out that Lily went through some major changes throughout the series. Because Lily is so selfish, she always runs away from her problems, like when she went to San Francisco. Yet, when she and Marshall are about to move to Italy in the final season, she tells him they should stay.
On another occasion, she confesses to Ted that she wishes she wasn't a mom. But Lily doesn't run away from her responsibilities like she wants to, and instead just opens up and admits her faults.
Lily Gets Too Much Hate
A lot of viewers hate on Lily, and a Reddit user feels like it's all a bit excessive. She is flawed, but so is the rest of the gang. There are plenty of unpopular opinions about Barney as well, and the user feels that he was much worse than Lily.
Lily tries to do the right thing and she's always well-intentioned. Every move she makes is what she believes is in the best interest of her friends. Lily is an important member of the gang and she's there for a reason.
Lily And Barney Would Have Been A Good Couple
Barney and Lily grow closer during the first few seasons of How I Met Your Mother, and Lily becomes his confidant. A Reddit user believes that if Lily had never met Marshall, she and Barney could make a decent couple.
They're both scheming, fans of kinky things, and aren't afraid to call each other out in order to help them grow. The user also argues that Lily is the only character who sees through Barney's lies, and he's more open with her than anyone else.