Ted Moseby may be the main character of How I Met Your Mother (and the narrator), but he's also one of the most hated main characters in sitcoms. After the widely-hated finale of the hit show, fans have become less and less enamored with him, pointing out how he was often rude, treated women badly, cheated, and was a bit of a hypocrite, just to top it all off.
But could Ted really be that bad? As the star of the show, he's got enough positive traits to balance out at least some of the criticisms - or at least, to mean that he isn't 100% terrible, all the time. In some ways, he's even a great guy - and you may not want him as a romantic partner, but he can be a great friend.
Worst: Pretentious
One of the most common criticisms of Ted is that he is incredibly pretentious. He's constantly correcting his friends on minor matters of pronunciation and grammar, even when it is completely unnecessary. He clearly thinks that he's smarter and more intellectual than his friends, thanks to his ability to recite Dante in Italian or do the New York Times Crossword, and he doesn't hesitate to let everyone know just how brilliant he thinks he is. It's just abrasive, and it's not surprising his friends call him out on it.
Best: Intelligent
While he may be a little too aware of the fact that he is intelligent, there's no denying that he is - and it's one of his best traits. He quickly catches on to things, he has a wide variety of interests and passions, and he is a talented architect and a good professor. If he would only be a little more humble about his talents, it would be easy to see that he has quite a few of them!
Worst: Obsessive
Ted is obsessed with finding 'the one' and building the life he dreams of, but he's also obsessive as a partner in general, and obsesses over other people in his life, or goals that he has.
His search for 'the one' is the core story, and in it we discover that he has paid a neighbor to watch over a long-time crush and let him know when she's single, that he tells women he loves them at the drop of a hat, that he drives back to college to force his professor to acknowledge him (even building a tiny model)... it's actually pretty disturbing, when it's all added up.
Best: Caring
There is no doubt that being caring in tough times is one of Ted's best qualities. He is always there for his friends when they need him, no matter what. When Robin is upset after finding out she cannot get pregnant, he doesn't even know why she is miserable - yet he cancels his own Christmas vacation to stay home with her and set up an incredible indoor lighting display. He gives up his own happiness for friends and partners, and is always willing to make sacrifices once he loves someone.
Worst: No Boundaries
This is, admittedly, a trait that a vast majority of sitcom characters share, but that doesn't make it any better. Ted is completely lacking in boundaries, whether that is with his partners or his friends. He even shares a toothbrush (albeit unknowingly... or so he claims) with Marshall and Lily! He 'loves' women after mere moments, he can't seem to let his friends have their own lives, and he is completely codependant.
Best: Adventurous
One thing that Ted definitely has in his favor is a willingness to put himself out there - and to try new things. He's not afraid to take risks, to take the leap, or to make a commitment early on. He was willing to buy a house on a whim, even though it needed a lot of work, because he knew it could pay off. He takes risks with his work, and starting his own company. And he and his friends are always doing interesting things, like robots vs wrestlers!
Worst: Jealous
Ted has some serious jealousy issues, and it's actually a big problem for him. He struggles with jealousy over Robin, both when she is with Barney, and when she is with Don, and he gets drunk and shows up at their apartment to scream/profess his 'love'.
He breaks up with a woman because he cannot stand the idea that Barney has slept with her in the past (even though it turns out that he hasn't). He was even so jealous over Robin's ex boyfriends that he demanded she give up her dogs because they were gifts from past partners - no matter that for most people, pets are family.
Best: Optimistic
Somehow, no matter how often he gets knocked down, Ted stays optimistic... which is no small thing, especially after he gets left at the altar. But no matter what, he is always enthusiastic (except, occasionally, about some of Barney's more hare-brained schemes). He may not always be the sunniest of guys - and often feels just a little too sorry for himself - but underneath it all is always hope.
Worst: A Terrible Boyfriend
Ted is, without a doubt, a terrible boyfriend. Throughout the series, he cheats, he lies, he deceives, and he manipulates - and yet he always paints himself as the victim of the situation. He cheats on Victoria with Robin, he lies to Robin, he leads women on (and then calls them crazy, of course), he pressures Stella into dating him, then gets upset that she won't move to Manhattan despite having a young child in school in New Jersey, he ghosts women and breaks up with them for petty reasons... in short, he's just not a great guy to date.
Best: A Total Romantic
On the flip side, when it comes to women (or, more specifically, the one woman) that he truly loves, there is no gesture too big or line too corny for Ted Mosby. He steals Robin her blue french horn, he gives up his time, his energy, and his money for his romantic pursuits, he is willing to move to New Jersey for Stella (after that initial push for the opposite to happen), and he is never willing to compromise on romance. On his best days, it's amazing.