10 Reasons Why How I Met Your Mother Season 9 Isn't As Bad As You Remember

While Josh Radnor's Ted is the main protagonist of the series, it's arguable the success of the show is much more down to Neil Patrick Harris's narcissistic playboy Barney Stinson. He just gets better and better through the show and the final season is arguably his best.

While Barney was the comic relief in the earlier seasons, his arc developed him into a much more complex individual over the years. While he still gets his chance to show off his playbook antics in Season 9 - the surprise Canadian party, weekend at Barney's and the ring bear to name a few moments - that's mirrored with some incredibly emotional scenes.

Meeting Robin's mother, confronting Ted over his love for his fiance, and his meeting with The Mother leading him to propose, all have real depth and show how the character has grown to care about his friends and confront his feelings. That all culminates with his promise to Robin to always be honest with her, and while it does sting the pair end up divorced one episode later, it does make sense for the character. Barney can't change who he is, but he's learned to face his demons head-on rather than run and hide in the playbook.

However, there's one particular moment that shines out, and it deserves a mention on its own merit...