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<\/a>A focal point of the fourth “How I Met Your Mother” season, the build towards a Barney-Robin relationship dates back, at least in a subtle capacity, to the very first season of the show. The two had always been portrayed as being cut from the same scotch-drinking, cigar-smoking, relationship-avoiding mold–their courtship, which began in the show’s fifth and current season, had seemed an absolute inevitability.<\/p>\n
The show nonetheless took a surprising turn earlier this month when the characters’ relationship came to an abrupt end. While axing the relationship did allow for last week’s extremely well-reviewed “Playbook” episode, it also left fans wondering why the writers would so hastily end a relationship that had been four years in the making.<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of us wanted to see Barney wearing a sweater-vest and going to bed-and-breakfasts,” said co-creator and executive producer Carter Bays in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Bays explained that while many viewers might have longed to see Barney and Robin in a long-term relationship, he believes that the viewers would ultimately much rather see Neil Patrick Harris’ Barney remain in his single, womanizing comfort zone.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s one of those things where you can give people what they think they want, or what they really want,” he added.<\/p>\n
Neil Patrick Harris’ turn as Barney Stinson is considered the show’s bright spot; the actor has received several Emmy nominations for his turn as the quirky, confident ladies man.<\/p>\n
Bays teased that a reconciliation is certainly possible for the future: “The story is not over, for sure.”<\/p>\n