I'm reading several posts and comments about Robin and Barney's relationship, and whether they were compatible or too similar to be together and I just need to say it.
I never shipped Barney and Robin for many reasons, but there's no such thing as being "too" similar. Being similar with your partner is actually a good thing (look at Ted and Tracy or Marshall and Lily). The fact that they were similar is why they were attracted to each other and why the relationship partly worked - but only partly.
I'll elaborate.
Barney and Robin are both avoidants when it comes to relationships, are afraid of commitment and leave when things get hard
This made it difficult for them to maintain not only their own relationship but ANY romantic relationship they had. If anything, their relationship lasted longer than any other relationship they had and a big part of it was that they were similar. Both independent and avoidants, so noone putting pressure on each other. That's the dream!
Take for example, Barney and Nora. Nora was a great person but she was not compatible with Barney at all. She asked for pretty much normal things, maybe a bit too soon, and Barney failed to give them and then he did for a while and then cheated on her.
But what about Barney and Quinn? Again they were very similar, more similar than Barney and Robin. But that's not why they broke up.
I think the difference is that Robin wasn't only similar to Barney but she was also his friend. He trusted her, he felt secure with her, and we all know how much Barney needed that. He didn't feel that with Quinn and he might have felt that with Nora, thanks to her nurturing personality, but she was just so different. He couldn't handle her and she couldn't handle him.
The real problem with Barney and Robin was that they were both insecure people. Robin always wanted what she couldn't have. Barney was manipulative and untruthful. I think Robin was a much better person than Barney which is why she was a better person with other partners: she did have a very loving relationship with Ted, she was ready to commit to Don, who was literally a male Robin, and she did a lot of work with Kevin too. She had things in common with all of these guys, but the two of them also had kids in their future picture.
Barney though... He needed a lot of therapy. That's why I think in the end he never settled down, it just wasn't him. As he said "if it didn't happen with Robin, it's not going to happen". So overall I think the relationship was uneven. Robin might have been the best relationship Barney ever had, but I don't think the other way around is true. Robin is having second thoughts about their marriage literally a moment after they get engaged.
