How I Met Your Mother 'Evil Ted' Theory You Won't Be Able to Unlearn

But what if we told you that behind his charming exterior, there could be a dark side?

That's right, we're talking about the 'Evil Ted' theory that's been going around in the fandom. However, proceed with caution - once you know it, you won't be able to unlearn it, and it may change the way you see Ted and even make you question everything you thought you knew about the show.

Throughout the sitcom, we follow Ted as he tells his children the story of his past, leading up to the moment he meets their mother. The narrative is conveyed from Ted's point of view, which means the viewers only see the events unfold the way he recounts them.

This has led some fans to a controversial theory, according to which Ted is an unreliable narrator and may have manipulated the portrayal of his best friend, Barney Stinson, to make himself look better and to prove to his kids that he was the best match for Robin.

Based on Ted's stories and what we've seen in the show, Barney is depicted as a womanizer who has no interest in settling down but ends up having feelings for Robin and ultimately marrying her. Their marriage doesn't last, however, and they divorce. Meanwhile, Ted builds the life of his dreams with The Mother, who tragically passes away some years later.

In the final moments of the show, Ted concludes his story, and his two children tell him they believe the story is about how Ted is in love with Robin, urging him to pursue her. And that's why some viewers started to question if Barney's character was not as shallow or promiscuous as he was depicted and if Ted changed the narrative to gain his children's approval to date Robin again.

However, the polarizing theory has been met with skepticism.

Fans argue that it seems unlikely that Ted's kids would care more about Robin and Barney's love lives than their father's happiness. They also assert that Barney and Robin had parted ways many years before Ted told the story to his kids, and Ted went on to have a happy life with The Mother.

What's more, many point out that Barney is one of Ted’s best friends, whom he clearly loves. As such, they find it hard to believe that Ted would go out of his way to make Barney look bad in front of his own kids - especially since they've spent time with the gang and can easily confirm the real story.

While Ted may have exaggerated or downplayed certain events in his storytelling, there's no real indication that the main details are untrue.

Although it's possible that Ted may have manipulated his narrative in some way, we shouldn't let that take away from our enjoyment of the show and its characters. Besides, if it were true, the entire plot of the show would be altered.