At the heart of How I Met Your Mother is none other than Josh Radnor's Ted Mosby. Unlike many sitcom protagonists, Ted is a bit of a divisive character within the greater HIMYM fandom. Some people find him endearing and entertainingly awkward. Others just find him awkward, needy, and unbearable.
But it is this very division that makes Ted Mosby such a fascinating character. You don't just love him or hate him - there's a very fine, very delicate mixing of qualities that makes him both relatable and sympathetic.
Overrated: His Dorkiness & Love Of Star Wars
One of Ted's distinguishing characteristics is that he's a bit of a dork. Unfortunately, many sitcom protagonists are also dorks, so this isn't as distinguishing a characteristic as the show wants you to believe. Ted displays many nerdy characteristics, particularly his complete adoration of Star Wars. Loving Star Wars isn't exactly a personality trait, and watching him force Stella into watching it was a little cringe.
Underrated: His Belief In Fate
Now what does make Ted Mosby (and How I Met Your Mother) individualistic and personable is his undying belief in fate. The sitcom often tackles questions of fate, free will, and destiny, and they're topics that most sitcoms often aren't willing (or able) to approach. Ted is a firm believer in theoretical concepts of fate, and his discussions on it are endlessly fascinating and enjoyable. It's a great character trait.
Overrated: His Ego
Ted has a bit of an ego, and it makes him intensely unlikable. Whenever Ted enjoys even a modicum of success (like gracing the cover of a magazine), it tends to get to his head. He often exhibits traits of a narcissist, and he is often incredibly selfish in regards to his own accomplishments - both personal and professional. Enjoying your accomplishments certainly isn't a bad thing, but Ted often takes it a little too far.
Underrated: He's A Romantic
Another great character trait of Mr. Mosby is his unrelenting romanticism.
Sitcoms have been exploring personal relationships for decades, and it's rare to find one (except maybe Seinfeld) that didn't hinge on romantic relationships to some degree. But no sitcom character is as romantic as Ted Mosby. His approach to said romance may be questionable at times, but there's no denying that his enduring dedication to love is commendable and absorbing.
Overrated: His Love Of New York
Like his dorkiness and love of Star Wars, Ted's undying loyalty to New York is a bit "been there done that." Most sitcoms that take place in New York (and there are a lot) contain characters that love the city and couldn't imagine being anywhere else. So when we hear Ted gush about the city and chastise Stella for not wanting to live there with him, it's all a bit tiring and cliché. We get it, New York is a cool place. Let's explore some other avenues.
Underrated: Giving Robin The Blue French Horn
The finale is divisive, to put it mildly. But even those who utterly detest its very existence have to commend Ted's adorable use of the blue French horn. This motif goes all the way back to season one, when Ted steals it from a restaurant to give to Robin. It's again referenced in season two as they're breaking up. It's clear that Bays and Thomas had this in mind from the beginning, and even though they failed to adapt to the elastic story they had created, their devotion to the blue French horn motif is honorable.
Overrated: His Stoner Phase
Another cliché that the show can't help employing is the characters' college stoner phase.
Yes, most people to some extent experiment with drugs in high school and college. But it's the way in which the show goes about it that makes it so embarrassing. Ted dresses like a stereotypical stoner and says goofy "stoner" things in that stoner voice (like "My parents live in Ohio. I live in the moment.") It's all a bit "TV," and cliché, stereotypical TV at that.
Underrated: Cool Teacher
A neat aspect about Ted's character is that he is actually as cool as he thinks he is. Well, to a certain extent, at least. Ted always envisions himself as "the cool teacher," and for the most part, that's actually true. Yes, he bungles his first day on the job and some of his students drop the class, but those that stick around seem to genuinely enjoy Ted's personality and teaching style. It's nice to see him actually enjoy some semblance of professional success.
Overrated: Life Lessons
It's common for sitcoms to give out "life lessons" like candy. Some are a bit more subtle in their approach, while others (like Scrubs and How I Met Your Mother) blatantly spell out their "lessons" at the end of each episode. These reflections can certainly be cute and emotional, but the problem is that the episode has to find something to say about each story - even the most banal and passionless stories of the series. It can be a little annoying and patronizing, and it makes us dislike Ted just a little bit more.
Underrated: He's Often Delusional
Ted's romantic personality is a plus, but so is his delusional approach to love. The show takes a unique tone, in that it often doesn't reward Ted for his approach to love. He has very specific guidelines and ideals for his romantic partners, and he often looks for the "perfect woman" and singles out their flaws. Marshall often makes fun of him for his idealism, and Ted himself eventually recognizes his own flaws in looking for "signs from the universe."