Robin & Barney

With the big two-part season finale of 'HIMYM' happening one week from tomorrow (yep, that's right, it's a full hour!), there's one thing on everyone's mind. Or at least, one thing on the mind of everyone who watches the show and has a vague investment in what happens to the characters:

Will Barney marry Nora Quinn? I'm sorry, they've been dating for such a short amount of time I couldn't remember which girl it was. But seriously, will he marry Quinn?

See, there was this flashback at the beginning of the season. Barney was getting ready to get married, and he turned to Ted and asked him if he was making the right decision. Now, I would say he's simply marrying
Robin because she needs a green card, but we know there's no hope for that because she decided to become a US citizen during the fifth season (S5Ep5). Which means that he's...marrying Quinn? I'm not sure how that's going to happen since they had a big fight at the end of last week's episode, but I guess the combination of a full hour plus endless flashbacks can fix that conundrum for the writers.

The funny thing is that lots of people seem to care a great deal about Robin and Barney getting back together. And reigniting that relationship would be a little tricky if he were married (though not impossible, remember that 'Ross-marries-Emily-gets-with-Rachel' situation on 'Friends'?).

But why does everyone (<--again, that's used loosely) care so much about Robin and Barney getting together? They only dated for six and a half episodes. To put that in perspective, the show has aired 158 episodes.

But things like this happened. So it was memorable.

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally supportive of the Barney/Robin relationship. I know that Quinn was supposed to be introduced as this great match for Barney because she was his female equivalent, but honestly all she has done is illustrate how much Barney has grown. The old Barney would have never admitted that he was jealous that his girlfriend was a stripper. Hell, he would have been as supportive of her being a stripper as he has pretended to be for the last five episodes. The new Barney wants a real relationship, which is (perhaps) why it makes sense that he may be getting married to Quinn. Still, if that's the case, it's a grown-up move with the wrong woman.

Barney and Robin were always great together, and they are still great. She's the only one he is truly honest with, and the same could be said for her. The show has lead us to believe that they were "killing each other" (S5Ep7), and that they weren't really happy. A lot of that can be blamed on the fact that they both wanted a perfect relationship for once. Now that they have dated other people successfully (weirdly, Barney has perhaps been more successful, though Robin did briefly date Don), they should be in a good place to be in a relationship. If the writers will give it to us.

I stopped caring a long time ago who Ted marries. I like the humorous relationship that Lily and Marshall share, but the baby has pulled them away from the group. I really watch the show for Robin and Barney. Which is currently ridiculous because they dated in six episodes two seasons ago. Regardless, I will keep watching the show if there is a chance that they will get together. Which I hope they do. Next week. At least we'll know there will definitely be a baby (thanks Marshall and Lily!).

Yeah! Maybe we'll get together! Maybe.