Why I Love the Show "How I Met Your Mother"

Written and designed by: Andrea (24-A2)

“How I Met Your Mother” has always held a special place in my heart. To me, it’s more than just a sitcom. It's a combination of humour, heartbreak, and life lessons that I can relate to on so many levels. The characters are all such unique people, each bringing something interesting to the table, which makes the show not only super engaging but genuinely moving. Watching the characters grow and evolve warmed my heart. This essay will explore why I love each character and how they’ve impacted me personally.

Let’s start with Ted Mosby, the show’s protagonist, as the show follows his endless search for love. His journey is often riddled with heartbreak and misguided choices, in fact through fault of his own, but he never loses hope, and that’s something I find deeply inspiring. Ted’s character embodies the idea that love isn’t always easy to find and often contains disappointments along the way. Yet, there’s an intriguing complexity to Ted’s character — even as he pursues one relationship after another, he’s never fully able to commit to them because of his love for Robin. He managed to ruin every relationship he was in because of his incapability to get over Robin without even realising it, which is both tragic but profound at the same time. This unwavering affection shows the impact of love, even when it’s not reciprocated. Ted’s journey reminds me that love is powerful and complicated, and sometimes it takes years to find what you’re truly searching for. You just have to always believe that there is someone out there for you and that eventually things will work out by themselves.

Next we have Robin Scherbatsky, one of my favourite characters. Her strength, independence, and drive has always inspired me, especially as a woman. She’s unapologetically herself, often prioritising her career and personal goals over traditional ideas of romance and family. Robin’s fierce independence shows that it’s okay to prioritise yourself, to chase your dreams even if they don’t align with others’ expectations, because at the end of the day your happiness is what matters the most. Watching her character develop over the seasons gave me confidence and courage to pursue my own dreams and aspirations. Robin’s refusal to settle, her constant fight for what she believes in, and her resilience in difficult moments all empower me deeply. She shows us that a woman’s worth isn’t defined by her relationships, but by her own choices and achievements. Additionally, we really are able to see just how much she changed in the show. When she first came to New York, she was an independent, strong woman who was insistent on doing everything herself. Throughout the show, she never lost this fierce independence, but she did learn that it was okay to rely on the people around her. Watching her truly experience friendship and love really warmed my heart as I was able to see her growing trust as well as reliance on her loved ones.

Now we have Marshall Eriksen and Lily Aldrin’s relationship, another aspect of the show that I really appreciate. They demonstrate what a healthy, loving relationship looks like—one filled with humour, loyalty, and mutual respect. Through their journey, they show us that love requires patience, compromise, and commitment. What inspires me is that their story includes a challenging separation early in the show, but they come out stronger on the other side. Watching them work through their difficulties and build a life together—eventually starting a family—reminds me that true love isn’t about perfection but about perseverance. They show that relationships can be tested by hardships and misunderstandings, no matter how much you love each other. However, with dedication and genuine care, love can overcome the hardest of situations. I also loved seeing both Marshall and Lily find themselves while still being in a relationship as it reminds me that even in a relationship, we will always be our own people ready to discover more about ourselves.

And lastly there’s Barney Stinson, my favourite character. Barney is often seen as the comic relief with his over-the-top plays to get women to go out with him, hilarious obsession with suits, and endless confidence, but there’s so much more beneath the surface. Beneath the bravado and the image of a womaniser, Barney is a deeply misunderstood character who’s been shaped by a challenging past. Despite his many flaws, he possesses a unique charm and loyalty to his friends that is rare. Even with the hardships and betrayals he faced in his life, this never affected the loyalty and love he showed his friends. He was not always the best at showing his love, but throughout the show we constantly see him dropping everything to help a friend in need, always ready to help without any criticism and judgement of his friends. One of my favourite moments of his is the episode on his ‘Fixer Elixir’ which shows him giving his friends a secret family recipe to make them feel better. At the end of the episode, we find out that the drink is in fact fake, however the assurance Barney gave to his friends was so genuine and confident that it helped them feel better during the toughest times of their lives. He’s someone who hides his vulnerability behind humour and confidence, which makes him relatable to anyone who’s ever had to put on a brave face to hide their pain. His journey throughout the show, from a womaniser to someone capable of genuine love and growth, is one of the most heartwarming arcs for me. Barney’s journey taught me that people are more than their mistakes. Everyone has a story, and sometimes, a little understanding goes a long way.

“How I Met Your Mother” is a show about friendship, love, resilience, and growth, where the development of each character carries a lesson. From Ted’s never ending quest for true love, Robin’s fierce drive to succeed, Marshall and Lily’s steady devotion to each other, to Barney’s drastic character development, every character adds to the tapestry of the story in a way that makes me feel deeply connected to them. This show will always be close to my heart because it taught me that life will definitely have obstacles and hardships, but when you’re surrounded by people you love and care for, there genuinely isn’t anything you can’t overcome.