Over the course of his adventures to meet the titular 'Mother', Ted Moseby dates an incredible number of women. From the one-offs and flings that How I Met Your Mother fans see for only an episode or two, to the ones that become a big part of the show (and even a fiancee!), Ted has a bulging little black book.
But out of these women, which are the ones that fans would most like to date (if they existed in real life, that is), and which are the ones that no-one would touch with a ten foot pole? We're looking at some of his most important relationships to decide.
Would Date - Cindy
Cindy only gets a brief moment in How I Met Your Mother, although she's incredibly important to the story - as she's the mother's roommate. She and Ted date for a minute, before Cindy breaks things off and gets together with a new girlfriend (who she ends up married to). She would be a great woman to date as she seems fun, interesting, and smart, and she's surprisingly emotionally balanced for a sitcom character. She has no hard feelings seeing Ted after the breakup, and that's rare (and impressive).
Wouldn't Date - Becky
The bubbly Becky was Robin's co-host, and the bane of her existence for a while, as everyone loved her cutesy attitude and it drove Robin crazy. Ted thought it was sweet at first, but eventually dumped her for the same reasons that no one would want to date her: she's just too much of a child. She's cute, but terrible at her job, has no integrity, is manipulative, helpless, and needy. Yikes.
Would Date - Naomi
Ted searched for the 'slutty pumpkin' for years, before eventually reconnecting... and discovering that the magic just wasn't there the second time around. But while Naomi and Ted just didn't really have chemistry, there was nothing wrong with her. She seemed funny, fun, she loved to joke around (even if Ted didn't understand), she had her quirks, and she knew how to have fun- and best of all, she was honest when she knew things just weren't going to work.
Wouldn't Date - Victoria
Victoria is one of the big loves of Ted's life, but she's actually not as great as she seems. Her initial push to not exchange numbers seems 'romantic', but (as Ted realizes), it's just kind of ridiculous and overly 'quirky'. Then, while they have a decent relationship at first, she's not exactly great with boundaries and fidelity.
She may not technically cheat on Ted, but she was so close that she hopped into bed with Klaus almost the moment Ted broke up with her, then she ran away with Ted on her wedding day to Klaus. Then, to top it all off, she sees nothing wrong with inviting her jilted ex to live with her and her new boyfriend.
Would Date - Stella
Stella certainly wasn't right for Ted, but she was actually fairly lovely, for the right person. She and Ted simply couldn't seem to communicate about their future (or their feelings) and it was clear that she was still in love with her ex. However, for the ex (or for our theoretical dater), Stella is a catch. She's smart, a great mom, has a good career, and wants to settle down.
Wouldn't Date - Jeanette
This should barely even be a question, as Jeanette is the character who exists purely to convince Ted that it's time to stop dating for fun and start looking for the one, courtesy of how terrible she is. Jeanette is drama central - she keeps tabs on Ted, she is jealous, she yells at him, she freaks out, and finally, she literally locks herself in his apartment and starts throwing his stuff out of the window (some of it, on fire). There is nothing datable about this.
Would Date - Tracy
Tracy is 'the mother' herself - and the only real downside to her is that she's not in enough of the show to get a true picture of who she is. But from what we do know, she is definitely dateable. She seems funny, self-possessed, creatively talented, and from the way Ted talks about her, she's basically a saint. ittedly, her bad sides might be there, but not mentioned because Ted is an unreliable narrator, but based on what's seen, she's fantastic.
Wouldn't Date - Zoey
Zooey might be charming and funny and ionate, but other than that, she's pretty darn awful. She is a criminal, for one thing - and while it seems at first that being arrested for protesting is a worthy reason for that criminal record, she is later seen being childish, petty, and seeming to enjoy the criminal activity for the rush.
Someone with as much money as she and The Captain have could set up foundations, not break into labs and steal the odd bunny. She also lies, cheats, is petty, holds grudges and vendettas, and is incredibly two-faced about her marriage and her money. Just not worth it.
Would Date - Robin
This should almost be a given, but (for the right person) Robin would be a phenomenal woman to date. ittedly, things wouldn't work out with someone who desperately wanted kids and to settle down, or who couldn't her high-flying job (like, sad to say, Barney), but Robin is awesome. She's sweet, funny, career-driven, a good friend, well-traveled, sure of herself, and always up for a laugh.
Wouldn't Date - Karen
Finally, we have one of the most abrasive characters on the show - the dreaded Karen. Ted's college girlfriend (and briefly, adult girlfriend), Karen is pretentious and mean, and constantly puts down others to show her superiority. She's insecure, and cheats on everyone she is with, as well as manipulating Ted and being wildly inconsiderate of him (and everyone else she meets). No thank you.