For the entirety of its run, How I Met Your Mother had fans believing that Ted and Robin had no chance of being together (she was called Aunt Robin to fool viewers), only to pull off a massive swerve in the finale by killing off the Mother and putting Robin and Ted back together in 2030, now in their 50s.
A majority of the fans - the ones who didn’t buy the creators’ excuse of the “life is unfair” logic - were understandably upset at Barney and Robin’s sudden divorce, leading to a seemingly never-ending debate over whether Ted was better for her or Barney. We’re settling this debate once and for all here, so read on below to see who the winner is.
Persistent To Get Her: Ted
If you’d watched the first episode of How I Met Your Mother, then skipped over to the last episode immediately, you’d be flabbergasted to see that Ted was still the same chump pining after Robin in the ninth season - a full 25 years in the future in-universe.
Barney knew when to give up on her, and didn’t make any attempts to get back together after 2016, but Ted carried the torch for her so bright that it was still flame in 2030. In the end, it seems Robin wanted someone who was so pathetically after her, seeing that she accepted Ted back. But let’s face it, they were no Ross and Rachel.
Attraction Level: Barney
We never saw Robin wanting Ted on a physical level, and any form of contact between them in this regard was either because she had unresolved feelings for him, or because it was convenient, as seen in Season 4.
With Barney, Robin had that attraction earlier on, such as when she sought him out in Season 3 with no intention of starting a relationship. The most amped up scene between them was in Season 7, where their dance sequence highlighted how attracted she was to him. Finally, Robin threw herself at Barney in Season 8, when she very badly pursued him for a simple fling.
Living Compatibility: Ted
Barney and Robin’s engagement tenure showed that it was a task for Robin to live with him, as she was taken aback by finding out one strange fact about Barney after another. While she lived with Ted, Robin didn’t have nearly as many problems.
By and large, Ted and Robin’s living situation was a good one, and they were brought closer as friends as they bonded emotionally. Due to this, it would not have been hard for them to possibly live together as a couple in 2030, as Ted already knew how to make Robin’s living situation a happy one for her. Barney was too set in his ways to change his style up for Robin.
Likeminded Thinking: Barney
The reason why most of the fanbase loved Barney and Robin together was because they gelled, with their personalities syncing beautifully. They didn’t have any emotional baggage, something that Ted brought in plenty with Robin.
Barney and Robin favored fun over drama, and even if that meant they overlooked any problems, at least they still loved each other. There are only a few couples who can pull off being romantic and friendly, and Barney and Robin were the kind of friends who had the most fun-filled moments; their mischievousness complemented one another greatly.
Better Friend: Ted
On an emotional level, Ted was simply there for Robin more than Barney. While Barney would be the first choice for Robin when needing a good and breezy time, it was Ted who would the one to initiate an emotional connection.
Seasons 4 to 6 were the best time for these two, as their physical connection was taken away in favor of painting them as platonic friends, which was when Ted came across as Robin’s emotional crutch. Perhaps, the Robin 2030 could now accept both Ted’s romance and emotional support at the same time.
Better Couple To Follow: Barney
One has to admit that Robin and Barney episodes were a lot more fun to watch than those featuring Ted and Robin. Season 2 wasn’t a great season for Robin, as most of her characterization hinged upon being uncomfortable with Ted’s pushiness; Season 8, where she was with Barney, had Robin be her fun self for the most part.
Unlike other women, Robin was accepting of Barney’s antics and would find the hilarity in them. For instance, when Barney wanted to see the girl with the “Ridonkulous” figure, Robin joined in as well. The two also had a hilarious method of avoiding fights, which was a whole lot better than seeing Robin and Ted sulk after they’d had a quarrel.
Grand Gestures: Barney
This was a close one, as Ted is the king of grand gestures; however, Robin was always shown to be uncomfortable when Ted did something big for her, rather than find it charming. Meanwhile, Barney pulled off “The Robin” from his playbook, an elaborate plan that was the grandest of gestures.
The success of this final plan led to Robin accepting Barney’s marriage proposal, while she had earlier vehemently turned down Ted’s supposed proposal in Season 2. There was also stuff like the rehearsal dinner and blowing up the playbook that won Robin over, meaning she had a soft spot for Barney’s elaborate ploys.
First Preference: Ted
Even though most of the fanbase might prefer the Barney and Robin coupling, none of that would have been possible had Robin not first fallen for Ted. This also makes it a little easier to root for Robin with Ted, seeing as it would appear that Robin wanted to be with him first and they separated only because of major differences in thinking.
Had Ted not let go of Robin, then Barney would never have had a shot with her. This was again seen in Season 4, where Robin’s first interest in having a casual relationship was Ted, and again it was Ted who ended things so that Barney could have her.
Wants In Life: Barney
The only reason Ted and Robin couldn’t have married when they were young was because Ted was fixated on having a spouse, a house, and children - all of which were things Robin didn’t want.
While Ted could never reconcile this part of Robin in his mind, Barney was easily accepting of Robin wanting to be a career woman and having no children in the future. Their wants in life were similar, in that contentment for them meant having a companion and accomplishing personal goals that brought them validation for their efforts.
Winner: Barney
All in all, Barney was the one who brought the fun side out of Robin. He was the one who made her at least consider being married and compromising in life for once, and he always accepted whatever decision Robin made, which relieved her of any feelings of guilt or resentment.
Ted got “lucky” that he’d found the Mother and lived the family life he’d wanted, but deep down his love for Robin was more of an obsession that haunted him to no end. It was because both Ted and Robin were single and had no more goals in life that they ended up together; move one or two things around, and they would have been doomed forever.
