Countless sitcoms feature couples that fans love, and it's not always easy How I Met Your Mother's Lily and Marshall often take the cake in the ideal couple category. For a show that came out in 2005, it has aged considerably well since and still succeeds in offering relevant and entertaining examples of relationships that fans can adore and learn from.
But just because Lily and Marshall are a pure pleasure to watch doesn't mean that they are always perfect. Like any couple, these two have their ups and downs, and fans might find that they aren't as ideal as they imagined--but they may also find that it's the messy parts that make Lily and Marshall all the more lovable.
Dream Couple: They Get Each Other
Lily and Marshall have been together for so long that they hardly have to think about what the other's preferences are. Sometimes Lily will know what Marshall needs before he does, and vice versa. This is a sign of them truly getting each other, something that two people have almost instantly, and something that another couple might never find no matter how long they spend together.
Not The Dream Couple: Marshall's Obsession With Being Lily's "First"
It's a strange moment when Marshall reveals how much it matters to him that he and Lily lost their virginity to each other. The friends end up in a debate over what "counts," ending in Marshall considering that Lily technically had a lover before him. Whether she did or not seems quite an arbitrary fact, considering that Marshall is the one she has chosen. Such nitpicking isn't a healthy sign for a relationship.
Dream Couple: They Make Each Other Laugh
One of the most important parts of a relationship is being able to share a sense of humor, and Lily and Marshall surely do. It's always surprising to see long-term couples that are still able to crack one another up, and yet, it happens all the time. Lily and Marshall are a perfect example of this kind of dynamic, lightening each other's mood and sharing in something that possibly only they find amusing.
Not The Dream Couple: They Are Heavily Co-Dependent
It's only natural for some couples to be considerably dependent on one another, even without realizing that this is what's happening. Lily and Marshall spend almost all of their time together which might cause them not to notice just how much they rely on having the other around all the time--but as soon as they must part ways for even a single night, the degree to which this becomes an ordeal reveals just how dependent they are.
Dream Couple: They Try Not To Be Jealous
Jealousy is often a problem with couples, and with Lily and Marshall having spent most of their adult lives together it wouldn't be surprising if they were overly vigilant about losing their partner to another person--neither has a lot of experience in the dating world, after all. However, each tries to be encouraging of the other's social life and to resist controlling feelings.
Not The Dream Couple: Marshall's Toxic Family
Marshall and Lily have few issues when they are together, but when family is involved things can get complicated.
It's concerning to see Marshall going along with his family as they consign Lily to the kitchen work with the rest of the women while he goes out to play sports with the men; a strangely sexist part of the show. In most of the show, Lily is just as active as the male characters, if not more so, and it's strange for Marshall to selectively ignore this.
Dream Couple: They Have The Same Friends
Ted, Robin, and Barney are the couple's booth in the pub. It's an ideal scenario in many ways for a couple to have the same friend group, because it's not only a sign of having similar values but it's also convenient.
Not The Dream Couple: Lily Digresses
Early in the show, it seems as though Marshall and Lily could never have any issues. They are a long-standing happy couple due to be married. They are completely enamored with each other, and they know each other better than anyone.
And yet, things aren't as solid as they seem. Lily turns out to have secret desires to travel and pursue an art career, sending their relationship into a spin and calling into question the very foundation of their trust.
Dream Couple: They Can Be Weird Together
Everyone is weird in their own way, even if they don't realize it. The difficult, and sometimes most important, challenge of partnership is finding someone who is the same kind of weird as you - or who can appreciate your weirdness. Lily and Marshall adore and expand on each other's quirks and flaws, and the sweetness of it often overrides the clinginess.
Not The Dream Couple: They Don't Have Their Own Friends
While it might be convenient to share a Ted gives his allegiance to Marshall, eventually causing conflict between him and Lily. Luckily, this friend group functions like a family, ultimately working out their issues for the better of the group; but not all couples are so lucky.