The charm of How I Met Your Mother is what drew so many people into the show all those years ago, and even though it’s been a while since it came to an end, that legacy still seems to exist. The likes of Ted, Marshall, and Barney all have their part to play in establishing HIMYM as the juggernaut it once was – but they weren’t the only ones.
Today, the aim is to shine a light on the female stars that did everything in their power to make fans laugh and make them cry in equal measure. The usual suspects that were there from day one will appear, but so will a few old faces that will bring a smile to the face of those who followed this journey from the “Pilot” all the way through to “Last Forever.” After all, building a cultural phenomenon such as this takes a team effort.
Quinn
Finding the key that unlocks the heart of Barney Stinson is tricky, to say the least, but Quinn managed it. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or assert her power over others, whether it was in her best interest or not.
She was proud of what she did for a living and that emotion and passion transitioned over into her relationship with Barney, and regardless of how it may have ended, there was clear chemistry between them that set Mr. Stinson on a path towards happiness.
Virginia
Virginia is the mother of Ted Mosby, and as such, what she has to say tends to matter more than most.
The issue with putting her in a list like this would be her inactivity, as she only tends to show up on an infrequent basis. Whenever she does show up, however, she does so subtly to get across her comedic timing – and that’s always going to be a winning recipe in How I Met Your Mother.
Claudia
The relationship between Stuart and Claudia teaches fans a very valuable lesson regarding the frailty of love and the issues that couples can face on a day to day basis. Yet, despite the serious nature of the subject matter, Claudia’s larger than life personality turns her into the kind of ‘crazy’ character that is always going to fit right in on a show like this.
If Claudia was featured more prominently, perhaps she’d be positioned further up the list.
Judy
Everyone needs an adversary in some way, shape, or form, and Judy Eriksen fills that void for Lily. She doesn’t appear to believe that Lily is good enough for her precious boy and as a result, all nine seasons consist of constant back and forth jibes between the two of them.
While she might not be the conventional idea of a character that should be this high up the list, it’s her calming influence that works so well on the show.
Nora
Quinn may have been the one to really get Barney to commit in a big way, but he never would’ve taken that leap if it wasn’t for Nora. She was one of the classier characters to be introduced to the HIMYM universe, and she used that class to break down the wall that Barney had been spending so very long building up.
The manner in which she departed left many feeling furious, especially after everything she’d done for him.
Victoria
Victoria was viewed as an early contender to be ‘The Mother’, as her love with Ted was far purer than anyone could’ve imagined when she first appeared at that wedding. There was an on-again, off-again element to their relationship, and that only left fans wanting to see more.
Few had the impact that Victoria did on the overall story arc of Ted’s journey to meeting his soulmate and that’s an important distinction.
Zoey
Zoey went from standing in the way of Ted’s dream becoming a reality to a woman that Ted could legitimately see himself spending the rest of his life with.
A number four spot is justified for Zoey only because of the build-up to them getting together. Ted had never previously fought so hard against the idea of loving someone, but whenever they looked into each other’s eyes, sparks flew.
Lily
It’s difficult to get around some of the decisions Lily made throughout the series, such as breaking up with Marshall or going out of her way to meddle in the business of her closest friends.
But at the heart of it lies one fact, which is that the show wouldn’t be what it is without her. She is one of the main five cast members and she clearly matures from the first season until the very last.
Robin
Robin may not have had children of her own, but she wound up being the mother figure to Ted’s children after almost a decade of the two toying with the idea of being together.
Her strength and determination were a central theme in how the show was written, and whether it was with Ted, Lily, Marshall, or Barney, she injected a slice of fear, comedy, and emotion into every single storyline.
Tracy
Not living up to the hype of being the mother on a show like this would’ve been a cardinal sin, but Tracy McConnell was everything that HIMYM diehards had been looking for.
The electricity felt between Tracy and Ted was there for all to see in the final episode, and her untimely demise will forever be marked down in the record books as a controversial decision. Like her or not, though, she will always be known as ‘The Mother’.
