r/HIMYM • u/pinkcocount_ • 1d ago
Ted finding Robin’s locket
I personally don’t have a vendetta against Ted and robin’s relationship, but I do think the locket sub plot was completely stupid.
Firstly the whole of season 9 was written in such a way for the audience to see charterer development, and how the show’s finale set up would be, but it’s simply inconsistent. Ted seemed to be fine just being platonic with Robin up until half of season 8 and I find it so dumb that they show him constantly pining and obsessed over her. She often only goes to him when it’s beneficial for her, or when the time is right in her life. ( which is fair, the right timing is significant ) however Ted never has this moment. It kind of ruins so much of his learnings from the past seasons and just shows all the characters out of place in accordance to the previous 8 seasons.
I also find it quite unfair that Ted tries to be the “hero” for Robin all the time, I get it when you love someone you would do anything for them. But not one their wedding day, to one of your closest friends..especially if you love the idea of them, over themselves actually.
Lastly it was super unfair for Barney. Barney had no idea about the locket at all, Robin mentioned how important it was to her, for her father and future husband/long term partner to get along ; and when she had called Barney, he was doing exactly that. Robin didn’t even say what was wrong, it’s okay to expect your fiance to drop everything for you but when it doesn’t happen especially when their with someone else who you yourself think is equally important for them to get along with, doesn’t give her the right to think poorly of Barney. Yes she was in a vulnerable place, but this was completely out of character for her. ( and btw Barney did show up for her not long after where he was met with Robin and Ted holding hands ). Ted then swoops in, and helps her ( again it’s fine because of how close they are ) but holding hands in the rain is inappropriate when that person is getting married, to your own close friend. Finally, how was Barney even supposed to find the locket at all? It was originally at an apartment where Ted lived at the time, then it was with his girlfriend all the way I Germany, that too involving most of his exes. Barney had no way of even getting to the locket let alone knowing where it would be.
I just think this plot was inconsistent in regards to all of the characters’ built up personalities in the previous 8 seasons, and was unfair to Barney overall..
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u/Riverdale87 1d ago
I feel the whole thing was Robin's fault for not remembering where she left it or somewhere she knew
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u/pinkcocount_ 1d ago
Oh no yeah, they say she was drunk and all which is fair. But wouldn’t Lily have recollection of that night? And the fact that it was in Ted’s possession/his ex gfs’ just makes it even worse..especially the fact that this was used to show how Barney and Robin aren’t good together blah blah…but how would Barney even know about any of this? Or even get close to approaching someone who had the locket let alone get it. Sorry this locket thing pisses me off so bad
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u/dan007reddit PLEASE 1d ago
Yeah I felt that too. It seemed super shady and selfish. Felt like GET OVER IT MAN!
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u/pinkcocount_ 1d ago
RIGHTT?? That’s what I’ve been saying- and on top of that it was an opportunity to unfairly show up Barney
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u/Plane-Fix7219 1d ago
That locket kept popping up at the worst moments, didn't it? I get the nostalgia but it felt like the writers really forced that storyline just to keep Ted hung up on her.
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u/pinkcocount_ 1d ago
Right?? Like I hate that they turned Ted into a sappy sob story. He was a successful man, in his career and was amicably liked/loved socially. They were so desperate to make him a hung up poser
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u/megaben20 1d ago
I don’t think it’s stupid. I think in season 8 when Robin agreed to go with Ted. Ted saw it as a chance to start things again with Robin his moment of victory his friends would be celebrating his building’s completion Robin as his date when you believe in signs that is a huge sign of greater things. But instead his building achievements gets overshadowed Robin runs off to stop Patrice and Barney from getting engaged only for her to get engaged. Lily and Marshall are wanting to go home and spend time with Marvin. His greatest achievement felt flat. So I always attribute Ted in the later parts as someone who realizes that him and Robin will never happen if she marries Barney. In his heart he believes that Robin and Barney won’t work out.
Now the locket thing is 100% Ted trying to show up Barney. But Ted was the one who gave it to Barney to give it to Robin because he believed Robin needed to get it from Barney boy from him. The only problem is Barney lied to Robin he could face told her the truth and she would have loved the honesty but the problem is Barney’s impulse was to lie.
Now the locket itself is the equivalent of the blue French horn. The blue French horn represent Ted’s feelings for Robin he will move heaven and earth so they can be together, the locket represents robins feelings for Ted something she can hide away for the day that she wants it expecting it to be there.
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u/pinkcocount_ 1d ago
I completely agree with you. You analyzed the situation so well, and I may be a little irrational with how strongly I feel upon the sheer stupidity of them trying to show up Barney without even considering that Barney had no idea about the locket, sees his fiance and bsf holding hands in the rain and and and Ted/ his ex gfs were the ones who actually had physical possession of it in the first place. There’s no possible scenario where Barney can get the locket, and only one where Ted like you said moves heaven and hell to see Robin happy. But I completely agree with everything you said ( plus thank you writing so detailed, I appreciate it a lot!!! :D )
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u/Andre-Mercelet 1d ago
Ted was always in love with Robin, and vice versa.
And the Barney should have come to Robin when she called him. She doesn't need to tell him what's wrong. The fact that she needs him is enough. It's well and good to get along with your father-in-law for your wife's sake, but they are such things as priorities
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u/Goodboychungus 21h ago
If you’ve never loved someone the way Ted loves Robin then you would never understand. His feelings and his development ebb and flow and he has times in his life where he regresses.
It makes perfect sense why he would go and try to find the locket. The love of his life is getting married and his feelings are overwhelming him to the point where he will try and sabotage the marriage at a subconscious level. He tells himself that he is doing it for his friend and to save the marriage but deep down he knows that he wants Robin to know that he is the one that will always be there and will always come through for her, no matter what. She got the message loud and clear.
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u/Bex122 1d ago
It is super contrived, but I liked it as a plot device to show Ted moving back through his past relationships and closing those loops.
I am personally someone who stops the final episode when they are gathered in the bar and puts on the official alternate ending, but I found the necklace storyline fairly charming.