The most popular ship in How I Met Your Mother is the one that happened most unexpectedly. Robin was portrayed to be Ted’s main love interest from the very first episode, and while fans knew she wasn’t the titular mother, it was clear that their relationship was going to be complicated.

Will They Or Won’t They?

After Barney and Robin’s first breakup, their dynamic shifted. There were instances all throughout the series that implied the two still had feelings for each other, but it was up in the air whether they would do anything about it.

A One-Time Thing

When Barney and Robin first slept together, they agreed that it was just a one-time thing. However, it becomes the catalyst of Barney’s feelings for her and their deal obviously doesn’t last in the long run.

A Grand Romantic Gesture

There’s a lot of controversy surrounding Barney’s proposal to Robin, and, in actuality, it highlights the toxicity of their relationship in How I Met Your Mother. Yet, it was the most unexpected and extravagant romantic gesture anyone has ever done on the show.

Friends To Lovers

Barney and Robin were friends for years before they dated, and unlike the women that Barney usually hooks up with, Robin knew exactly what she was getting into. There are no major secrets between them, and she’s well aware of his past.

Feelings Sparked By Near-Death Experience

Their hook-up might be where Barney’s feelings originated, but he didn’t seem to become aware of them until much later. When Barney got hit by a bus and his life flashed before his eyes, he saw the thing that mattered most to him.

Kissing In The Snow

Robin and Barney were interrupted by a cell phone before they could have their rain kiss, but the series made up for it by letting them have one in the snow. After Robin accepts Barney’s proposal on top of the World Wide News Building, they seal the deal.

Pining

Barney pining for Robin in the fourth season was one of the best plots of the series. Whether viewers were on board with the ship or not, they experienced an entirely new side of his character.

A Secret Relationship

Barney and Robin started sleeping together after they kissed in the How I Met Your Mother season 4 finale but refused to label their relationship. They kept what was going on between them a secret so they wouldn’t be ambushed with questions about what it meant.

The Love Triangle

The love triangle between Ted, Robin, and Barney caused complications for the entire group. Barney broke the bro code by sleeping with Ted’s ex-girlfriend, which lead to a disheartening period of time when the two stopped being friends.

An Alternate Ending

The majority of fans were unhappy with the sitcom’s controversial series finale for two reasons, in particular. Not only was it revealed that the mother had been dead all along, but Barney and Robin got divorced after just a few years of marriage.