Characters / How I Met Your Mother: Love Interests

How I Met Your Mother Main Character Index
Main Characters | Love Interests | The Main Characters' Families | Other Characters | Cameo Characters

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Characters the main cast have dated over the course of the series.

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Ted's Love Interests

Karen

Karen

Played by: Laura Prepon

Ted's On-Again, Off-Again Girlfriend.

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• Eating the Eye Candy: One of Lily's main beef's with her is that her eyes "lingered" on Marshall after Karen accidentally walked on him while he was posing naked for Lily in college.
• The Friend Nobody Likes: Everyone in the gang hates her except Ted, especially Lily. When she and Ted break up, the rest of the gang can barely contain their glee.
• Hate Sink: Out of all of the women Ted dated, she is probably the worst, having treated every member of the gang like crap and cheated on Ted numerous of times, even in front of him. Ted refuses to see what an awful person she is and nearly cut ties with the group until he realizes that Lily is right about Karen. It speaks volumes about her character that the only ex-girlfriend of Ted's worse than her was Jeannette.
• Hypocrite: She has cheated on Ted in his own bed numerous times, and she gets upset with him when she finds one of Robin's earrings in his bedroom.
• Insufferable Genius: She thinks of herself as cultured and sophisticated, when Lily and Marshall find her as a snob douche.
• Jerkass: Obnoxious, arrogant, cheater, unrepentant and toys with Ted constantly.
• Kick the Dog: Every time she's onscreen, she insults or hurts someone for no reason.
• Really Gets Around: Every time she and Ted broke up, it's because he found her in bed with another guy.
• Relationship Revolving Door: She and Ted have broken up and reconciled a lot during college, because Karen would cheat on Ted frequently, and Ted still forgave her (even after swearing every single time that he won't take her back).
• Sixth Ranger Traitor: In virtue of being Ted's On-Again, Off-Again Girlfriend and the fact that she always ends up cheating on him.
• Smug Snake: Just obnoxious to the gang about art, culture, and just... everything.
• Soapbox Sadie: A really obnoxious and pretentious version of this.
• Statuesque Stunner: Say what you want about her... she's still hot and tall for a woman. Probably why Ted kept going back to her.
• Teacher/Student Romance: One of the many times Karen cheated on Ted was with one of her professors.
• Token Evil Teammate: Every time she's Ted's girlfriend. See Sixth Ranger Traitor.
• Toxic Friend Influence: Anytime she's around Ted, her rude and snobbish behavior tends to bring out Ted's rather insufferably pretentious side to his personality which makes his own friends miserable.
• The Unapologetic: She has cheated on Ted many times, and she barely apologized. And if she ever did, it wasn't sincere or wouldn't last long until she hooked up again with someone else on Ted's bed.

Natalie

Natalie

Played by: Anne Dudek

Ted's three-time girlfriend.

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• Action Girl: Well she knows Krav Maga...
• Berserk Button: Ted dumping her again on her birthday without an acceptable reason (it got worse as Ted tried to fix it).
• A Birthday, Not a Break: Ted breaks up with her during her birthday. Twice. While he wasn't aware that it was her birthday the first time, the second time he still goes through with it after she tells him it's her birthday that day.
• Broken Bird: It's said that the first break up with Ted is what made her distrustful and bitter (with many reasons, Ted dumped her over the phone, leaving a recorded message, on her birthday, for everyone at her house to hear it). Before that she was very cheerful.
• Butt-Monkey: Poor Natalie got dumped by Ted on her birthday twice!
• Everyone Loves Blondes: But, as Ted, finds out, there are No Sparks.
• Happily Ever After: Ted reveals that about a year after their breakup, Natalie got married and went on to have three children.
• Humiliation Conga: The first time Ted broke up with her, it wasn't even in person. He called her and left her a recorded message... during her surprise birthday party... for everyone at her living room to hear.
• I Know Karate: Ted assumes Krav Maga is some form of Yoga until Natalie demonstrates it on him for dumping her.
• Kick Chick: She knows Krav Maga, and she's not afraid to use it.
• Love Hurts: Specifically if Ted is involved.
• No Sparks: Ted realizes she's objectively great, but he just doesn't love her.
• Relationship Revolving Door: She and Ted had apparently gotten together and broken up three times (a flashback in a season 5 episode has a scene that shows a post-breakup scene that can't possibly be tied any of the other breakups).
• Satellite Love Interest: Although Lily and Marshall know her, her scenes are always with Ted excluding flashbacks.
• Shoot the Dog: Ted considers breaking up with her for the second time as this. She responded with giving Ted his just desserts.
• Statuesque Stunner: Anne Dudek is 5'10. When in heels, she almost stands at the same height as the 6'0 feet tall Josh Radnor (Ted).
• Sugar-and-Ice Personality: She rejects Ted when he wants to get back with her, but she soon warms up to him again and rekindle the relationship, only for Ted to dump her again, which makes her snap and kick his ass.
• When She Smiles: She looks so sweet and happy!
• Woman Scorned: And holy shit how! First time, she cursed at him when Ted called after so many years. The second time went From Bad to Worse. Even when Ted tries to date her again despite that she kicked his ass before, he ended up having skin burns.
• Yank the Dog's Chain: She receives this from Ted. Just when she felt she could trust men again, Ted publicly dumps her on her birthday again.

Victoria

Victoria

Played by: Ashley Williams

Victoria is the first serious girlfriend Ted gets in the series, meeting at a wedding of Ted's friends and they hit it off. Absolutely enamored with each other, she stays around for a half-dozen episodes until she gets a culinary scholarship in Germany lasting two years. They attempted long distance but couldn't keep it together (in part due to Ted and Robin's growing attraction to each other). She returns in season seven as she and Ted cross paths again.

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• Career Versus Man: She has to choose between Ted and a baking scholarship in Germany. She angsts over the decision (briefly even choosing Ted) but ends up going with the baking scholarship. She and Ted try a Long-Distance Relationship but it doesn't work out thanks to Ted once again failing to resist his lingering feelings for Robin.
• Cassandra Truth: She was right about Ted and Robin being Amicable Exes who spend lots of time with each other not being a good idea. Twice.
• Graceful Ladies Like Purple: Majority of the clothes she wear are purple.
• Kind Hearted Cat Lover: Victoria loves cats, something that solidifies her rivalry with dog-loving Robin even more.
• Long-Distance Relationship: She and Ted try this out after she moves to Germany for a baking scholarship. It didn't work.
• Meaningful Name: Subverted. She was originally planned to be the woman to ultimately win Ted's heart (and vice versa), but wasn't victorious after all.
• Ms. Fanservice: Played straight on her introduction (see her pic above), but subverted after. She typically wears modest clothing.
• Nice Girl: Even though she and Ted split up again and she questioned Ted about giving him Robin's locket, even if that could mean Ted was trying to steal her at the wedding, Victoria still agreed to overnight it, along with goodies from her bakery.
• Noodle Incident: Her story in Game Night wasn't revealed up to this point.
• Only One Name: Her last name was never revealed. She's only known as Victoria.
• The Pollyanna: She's always cheerful and spirited, trying to cheer others or make them smile or laugh. The only time we see her cry is after her second break-up with Ted.
• Psycho Ex-Girlfriend: Most definitely subverted. Even after Robin is a factor in both of their breakups, she still stays on friendly terms with Ted even sends him the locket (and some chocolate truffle strusselkuchen) overnight from Germany with nothing more than a friendly warning about being involved in a third bride abandoning her wedding. When declining Ted's marriage proposal due to his unwillingness to cut ties with Robin, she tells him sincerely, "I hope you get her someday." When she and Ted break up the second time, she even takes a moment to emphasize that, despite Robin being at the heart of both breakups, she still thinks the world of her.
• Put on a Bus: Thrice. Once a plane to Germany, once a literal bus to go get engaged, and finally when she breaks up with Ted because he can't stop being friends with Robin. The Bus Came Back only to leave again.
• The Rival: Downplayed. While they are civil to each other, tensions between her and Robin are very obvious.
• Romantic False Lead: In part because of the way a show is produced she was actually intended to be "the mother" if the show didn't get picked up from the initial episode order. Her first appearance at the end of "The Wedding" was made flexible so that they could go either way on that. Because of that she was written as being a very good match for Ted on every level and in spite of being in only a few episodes that made her become a beloved character among the fandom.
• Runaway Bride: In the season 7 finale, she leaves Klaus at the altar. Season 8 reveals that Klaus did the same and also fled from their wedding.
• Second Love: Played with. After failing to get Robin, Ted genuinely did fall in love with her. However, long distance relationships almost never work out and he ultimately realized that he just loves Robin (who is the same city and his social circle) more which resulted in their breakup. Twice.
• Sickeningly Sweethearts: She and Ted are sugary at the beginning of their relationship. To the point that Marshall and Lily are jealous of how lovey-dovey she and Ted are.
• Sixth Ranger: She became part of the gang when she dated Ted in Season 1 until she went to Germany. In Season 8, she hung out with them again when she got back with Ted but left again after she realized that Ted still had feelings for Robin.
• Supreme Chef: She's a baker. Such a good baker that Marshall tells Ted to marry her on spot after having her cake. Ted wistfully notes that he misses her sticky buns, which he emphasizes is not a euphemism, and she even agrees to overnight him some chocolate pastries.
• Sweet Baker: She is a professional baker who has a little shop called Buttercup Bakery in New York. She also caters weddings and other fancy occasions. She's a lovely and very caring person. When she and Ted have a long-distance relationship, she sends him care packages with cupcakes.
• The One That Got Away: In season 7, Robin mentions that she's the only woman who was a viable candidate for Ted, yet he let her get away to chase after his own desires.
• Worthy Opponent: Of all of Robin's romantic rivals in the show (for both Ted and Barney, in this case the former), Victoria is one of only two she openly respects (the other being Nora, Barney's Romantic False Lead from Seasons 6-7). And of those two, it's evident that Robin holds Victoria in higher regard (at least as a romantic rival).

Stella Zinman

Stella Zinman

Played by: Sarah Chalke

Stella is a dermatologist who Ted visits for the purpose of removing his lower-back tattoo and initially rejects Ted because her life was too chaotic with her daughter Lucy. They grow very close and even get engaged in the fourth season opener. A major kink in their relationship ended up being that Stella has unresolved issues with Lucy's father, Tony.

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• Betty and Veronica: The Archie to Ted's Betty and Tony's Veronica in the episode "The Shelter Island".
• Bitch in Sheep's Clothing:
  • Comes of as nice, funny, and polite, but she's actually quite nasty if you think about it. She repeatedly forces Ted to compromise throughout the relationship without doing any of it herself (for example, refusing to even discuss moving to New York with Ted), then leaves Ted at the altar, and then, just when it looked like she may have redeemed herself in "As Fast As She Can," "The Wedding Bride" comes out, a film that paints Ted in a bad light despite him actually being a good guy.
  • She also refuses to allow Robin at the wedding despite her being Ted's close friend (and being perfectly nice to Robin's face in other episodes), and when Ted invites her ex Tony for the sole reason that it's the only way Stella could have her daughter attend her response is "I thought I made myself clear about this."
• Chekhov's Gunman: She was first mentioned, but does not actually appear, in an episode where the gang tries to convince Ted not to go out with her, where it seems like she's just another Girl of the Week, before appearing later in Season 3 as one of Ted's major Love Interests.
• Dirty Coward: As fitting with her tendency to play nice, Stella avoids confrontation, leaving Ted without speaking to him directly and later betraying him by letting Tony make a film slandering him as the villain in their relationship without even communicating with him and no indication that she ever apologized or even spoke to him about it.
• Easily Forgiven: Played with. When she comes back for an episode, no one forgives her for leaving Ted on their wedding day, but by the end of the episode, Ted himself lets it go. Meanwhile when she shows up again and actually speaks to Ted, he never forgives her but isn't still angry with her.
• Entitled Bastard:
  • After Tony dumps Stella again, she goes to Ted so he can help her get Tony back. Remember that she abandoned Ted at the altar for Tony.
  • She also assumes that Ted will move to into her home in New Jersey basically because that's what she wants despite them both working in New York and Ted clearly not wanting to move to NJ. A less selfish person would have probably opted for a discussion on the matter and possibly a compromise.
• Fauxshadow: In season 3's St. Patrick's Day episode, narrator!Ted states that the mother was at the same party he and Barney went to, but that they didn't meet her then. Stella mentions offhand that she was at a party on St. Paddy's.
• The Gentleman or the Scoundrel: Ted bent over backwards for Stella, but she chose Tony who has disappointed her repeatedly in the past and would dump her at the drop of a hat.
• Hair Color Spoiler: Stella being blonde while Ted's future kids are both brunettes like him is the first telling sign she isn't the Mother.
• Hospital Hottie: She's a beautiful dermatologist.
• Hypocrite: After "Shelter Island". Ted is understandably furious upon learning that within weeks of getting back together with Tony, she immediately agreed to move in with Tony in New York, since when he asked her if she'd consider moving to the City, she utterly refused to do so (or even discuss the matter). She then moves with him to California even though her main reason for refusing to move to Manhattan was supposedly not wanting to uproot her daughter's life. So moving across the state line is massively traumatic, but moving across the freaking country somehow is acceptable.
• It's All About Me:
  • Stella may be the most self-centered character in the series, even more than Barney. First she assumed Ted would move into her house in New Jersey without talking with him about it, refuses to even discuss the possibility of moving to Manhattan or anywhere else in New York, passive-aggressively threatening to break off the engagement if he doesn't agree. Then she unilaterally decides to to take her sister's wedding date and venue without even discussing it with Ted (their "telepathic conversation" not withstanding) meaning they have to move their wedding up to within a week. When Ted invited Robin to the wedding she all but forbade it despite her being one of his closest friends just because they used to date and jumps down his throat when he invites her ex Tony, even though it was the only way Ted could get him to let her daughter attend, because "she'd made herself clear" on having ex partners at the wedding. Finally she leaves Ted at the altar without even having the decency to tell him to his face, and had the audacity to ask Ted to talk to Tony after he broke up with her. Basically she seemed to view Ted as simply an addition to her life instead of a partner in it.
  • She tries to justify some of this behavior by claiming that it's for her daughter Lucy's sake, but this is clearly just an excuse. When she refused to move out of New Jersey, she said it was because it would be too traumatic for Lucy to move and change schools, then proceeds to move in with Tony in New York and later follow him to California. She also says that she owed it to Lucy to give her relationship with Tony another chance because he's her father, even though it's very clear that he was irresponsible and unreliable both as a boyfriend and a father while Ted is an ideal parent making it clear she was thinking more of herself than Lucy.
• Kick the Dog: She leaves Ted at the altar in "Shelter Island", leaving him nothing but a letter and is then seen making up with Tony. There is also her part in the making of "The Wedding Bride," which made everyone hate Ted's character and humiliated Ted.
• Love Epiphany: Realizes she's not over her ex-boyfriend on the same day she's supposed to marry Ted.
• Once Done, Never Forgotten: While Ted somewhat lets her off easy for leaving him at the altar, his friends certainly didn't. Barney and Robin, in particular, both make unsubtle potshots at her upon meeting Stella again in the penultimate episode of Season 4.
• Parent with New Paramour: Though unlike most examples, her daughter seems to like Ted.
• Put on a Bus: Left New York with Tony to Los Angeles near the end of season 4. Though she's mentioned again by Ted in Season 8 where Robin's locket was placed in her storage area in Los Angeles and made a cameo in Season 9 where she warns Ted about how giving the locket to Robin will ruin the wedding.
• Romantic False Lead: A given, but there are suggestions that Stella was a "back-up" mother (much like Victoria) if the show didn't get a fourth season.
• Runaway Bride: She ended up going with her ex, Tony, and left Ted at the altar at the day of their wedding.
• Sixth Ranger Traitor: She started as a textbook Sixth Ranger, but she ultimately leaves them behind.
• Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Ted was matched up with a dermatologist in a first season episode who was supposedly his soulmate. That relationship was also killed in the water due to her relationship (in her case, she's engaged, while with Stella it's her daughter).
• The Unfair Sex: Ted repeatedly finds ways to compromise throughout their relationship. Stella, not so much.
• Took a Level in Jerkass: Initially portrayed as a kind, very sweet and caring girlfriend who genuinely loved Ted. Then she leaves Ted at the altar, and then, just when it looked like she may have redeemed herself in "As Fast As She Can", "The Wedding Bride" comes out, a film that paints Ted in a bad light despite him actually being the good guy. Likewise, most of the details in Tony's film could only have come from her!
  • There were actually a lot of hints she was something of a Bitch in Sheep's Clothing all throughout her and Ted's relationship. She utterly refuses to compromise on anything with him, and expects him to do things her way or end the relationship. Her controlling and inconsiderate nature makes her later actions seem logical in hindsight.
• Ungrateful Bitch: Ted helps her get back together with Tony, even after Stella left him at the altar. Stella repays this kindness by helping Tony make a film turning Ted into a terrible person, providing him with details that could only have come from her.
• Will They or Won't They?: It's implied that she and Tony had been on-and-off for years until they resolved their issues at poor Ted's expense.

Cindy

Cindy

Played by: Rachel Bilson

The mother's roommate.

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• Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: Especially after she and Ted broke up.
• Brainy Brunette: She likes reading Philosophy for fun, finishes the crosswords and is writing an Economics dissertation.
• The Bus Came Back: She showed up in the first episode of seasons 6 where it's revealed that she came out as a lesbian after her break-up with Ted. Later, in season 8, she met Ted again in the subway and suggested hiring the Mother's band for Barney and Robin's wedding.
• Closet Key: The Mother was one for her.
• Girl on Girl Is Hot: Barney is visibly pleased when Cindy makes out with her girlfriend, and snaps a picture on his phone.
• Green-Eyed Monster: She admits to have a "Roommate complex" because most of the guys she knows end up falling for The Mother, including Ted himself. When Ted shows signs of being more compatible with The Mother, Cindy throws him out and starts treating him rudely. Later turns out that all her jealously towards The Mother was actually a secret crush on The Mother.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: With The Mother in season 5.
• Incompatible Orientation: Discovers she's gay when she falls for the mother, though Cindy takes it in stride.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Jealous of the Mother and initially bitter towards Ted after their breakup, but eventually (presumably after she realizes she's a lesbian) mellows out, enters a happy relationship with her friend, and sincerely apologizes to Ted for the way she acted.
• The Lancer: To the mother, being her most frequently shown companion and Foil. We also see Cindy got to be this when Kelly moved out. In her first appearance, she also have the same Color Motif as the mother and also dated her eventual husband.
• Last Het Romance: After her brief relationship with Ted ended, Cindy came out as a lesbian. That said, she apparently wasn't in too many romances before she met him.
• Lipstick Lesbian: She realizes that she is a lesbian sometime after breaking up with Ted. Revealed in season 9 to be right after Ted left.
• No Full Name Given: Her last name is never revealed.
• Red Herring: Cindy was intentionally teased to be the mother in her debut episode, which was the 100th episode. She was even given an attire that has the mother's Color Motif (yellow and purple).
• Romantic False Lead: She's introduced as Ted's Girl of the Week during the 100th episode and even has the same Color Motif as the mother, only to be revealed as just her roommate halfway through the episode.
• Unknown Rival: To the Mother, though in season 9 it's revealed she told the mother about Ted, right before she kissed her. It's possible that she was using this as a cover for the fact that she was actually in love with the Mother herself and was unable to admit it.

Zoey Pierson

Zoey Pierson

Played by: Jennifer Morrison

An activist Ted runs into, coincidentally determined to halt the construction of the high-rise building Ted was designing because it would demolish a run-down but unique building in its place. Initially Ted was attracted to her, it turned into a bitter rivalry and eventual friendship. Despite that, he kept his distance because she was married to the wealthy George Van Smoot aka "The Captain," which was eventually allowed to grow romantically when they got divorced.

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• Belligerent Sexual Tension: She and Ted argue and bicker constantly, even (and perhaps especially) after they get together. Her relationship with Ted ends up being a deconstruction of this, as Ted realizes he can't be happy in such a combative relationship.
• Dating Catwoman: A mild form of this with Ted. She's trying to save the Arcadian, he's trying to design the building to replace it.
• Disproportionate Retribution: The episode "Canning Randy" has Ted designing a the new GNB headquarters, which will replace a very old building being torn down to make room for it. When Zoey finds out, Ted says he doesn't care. Her response is to egg the window of Ted's apartment, get his entire class to destroy a billboard with Ted's picture on it, and get them all to abandon his class and turn against him. Especially disproportionate considering he did not choose the building site and has no power to change it.
• Freudian Excuse: The reason she wants to save The Arcadian is that she once lived there with her family.
• Hair Color Spoiler: As with Stella, Zoey being blonde while Ted's future kids are both brunettes like him is the first telling sign she isn't the Mother.
• Jerkass: She does her utmost to sabotage Ted's career for her cause without remorse.
• Kick the Dog: Revealing that she kept the tape of Ted badmouthing GNB, even after she said she'd destroy it.
• La Résistance: Future! Ted claims that she'll continue fighting for different causes, often failing.
• Laser-Guided Karma: Her last appearance has her getting attacked by the hawk she was trying to save.
• Manipulative Bastard: Zoey pretends to be miserable in her marriage, fakes crying in order to trick Ted into saying something bad about the project and record it. She ends up using it later in the season, screwing Ted over despite the fact that they're dating at the time.
• The Masochism Tango: The entire purpose of the character and her relationship with Ted was to be someone who constantly fought with him but in the process force each other to stand up for themselves.
• Mistaken for Prostitute: Ted mistakes her for a transvestite hooker when they first meet (in fairness to Ted, he was actually approached by one earlier).
• Pet the Dog: Despite her selfishness, she does show kindness towards her friends. And sometimes even Ted.
• "Shaggy Dog" Story: There's blatant foreshadowing that she isn't the mother before they even begin dating, though an episode that takes place during their relationship explicitly says that it ended poorly between them.
• Ship Tease: Unique among most of Ted's relationships, the initial romantic tease was shot down completely (by Ted) when it was revealed Zoey was married and she found out Ted was involved with the building she was protesting. From there it was about bringing them back to a place where they had some sort of romantic attraction again.
• Sixth Ranger Traitor: She became very close friends with the entire group, only to have revealed that she didn't erase the recording she made of Ted praising the architecture of the building like she said.
• Slap-Slap-Kiss: An interesting take on the trope happens in "Oh, Honey." Ted realized he was falling for Zoey and for the sake of morality tried ending the friendship, not even wanting to explain to her why. Marshall managed to figure out Zoey and The Captain were getting divorced, and Zoey also had strong feelings for Ted. As Zoey confronts him over ending the friendship, Marshall calls them separately and explains both halves of the story (Ted is in love with her, Zoey getting divorced and is in love with him). Upon finishing the call, Ted wordlessly pulled her into a kiss.
• Soapbox Sadie: Has a tendency to latch onto causes and espouse the virtues of them to everyone who'll listen, trying to guilt other people into changing.
• Took a Level in Jerkass: Granted she was never exactly nice, but, well... see Sixth Ranger Traitor.
• Tsundere: That's Zoey for ya! One second she's flirting with you, the next second she's egging your house, then she's making out with you, then she's trying to destroy your career...
• Yoko Oh No: Invoked. She almost becomes this for the Gang, when she gets Marshall in her side to defend The Arcadian and Ted deciding to side with her (even at cost of his own job), leaving Barney on his own, Lily having to support Marshall and Robin as the only Neutral part. The Gang only stays together when Ted realizes that he and Zoey were doomed from the beginning and Barney's job was also at risk.

Lieutenant Jeanette Peterson

Lieutenant Jeanette Peterson

Played by: Abby Elliott

Future Ted: Before a man meets the woman he'll marry, he'll make one final, horrible mistake. For me, that was Jeanette.

Ted's last girlfriend before meeting The Mother.

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• Ax-Crazy: Her defining trait is just how violently crazy she is.
• Clingy Jealous Girl: She thinks that Ted has a thing for Lily, and after they break up, she tackles a woman Ted is speaking to and grabs Ted.
• Cute and Psycho: Initially appeared as a cute girl who would take action to meet Ted. It's gradually revealed that she stalked him for a year and a half and started a fire so the alarm would set off and Ted could meet her, but Ted made a pass of all this because he found it "cute". And It Has Only Just Begun.
• Dark Action Girl: The woman knows what she's doing in terms of combat.
• The Dreaded: Not only the rest of the gang hates her, but they're also afraid of her. When Ted let Marshall and Barney watch his apartment for a while, Jeanette shows up at the front door which scared the crap out of Marshall and Barney that they had to let her in to Ted's room and do whatever she wants over there.
• Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Ted gives Jeanette a passionate speech about what love is: Trying to do anything in his power to make Robin happy even if All Love Is Unrequited, even if it's not to get the girl back. She still calls Ted "crazy" and throws the locket down the lake.
• Fair Cop: Police Brutality aside, she's still a good-looking cop.
• Florence Nightingale Effect: Hooks up with Kevin when he is assigned as her court-mandated therapist.
• The Friend Nobody Likes: The rest of the gang hates her, but put up with her for Ted's sake. This is to the point where Robin and Barney's response to Ted breaking up with her is to jump up and down on the bed with a bottle of champagne, screaming "THEY BROKE UP!" in complete joy.
• Hair-Trigger Temper: She blew up at Ted over any slight (real or imagined).
• Hate Sink: Like Karen, no one other than Ted like Jeanette, despite the obvious signs she is mentally unstable and even after it is proven to be true. She is prone to violence and after a fit of jealousy, destroyed Ted's apartment. Even Future Ted proclaims that dating Jeanette is the worst thing he did before meeting the Mother.
• Hot-Blooded: It does not take much to set her off.
• Karma Houdini: In only three episodes, she has caused more damage to Ted than anyone ever does (yes, this includes Lily). While she and Ted break up over all of that she never gets any retribution on it. Sadly justified, since she's a police officer and could easily lock and of the gang up in prison if they were to do anything in revenge. Future!Ted narrates that Jeanette finally got arrested for mailing jars of urine to Val Kilmer. She didn't receive jail time but she got mandatory psychological counseling with Kevin as her therapist.
• Large Ham: Chews even more scenery than Mickey Aldrin... whose actor happens to be her actor's father.
• Love Makes You Crazy: Discussed, but ultimately being crazy is what made her crazy.
• Odd Couple: Future!Ted reveals she hooks up later with Kevin when he is assigned as her therapist.
• Opposites Attract: By the other extreme, Jeanette is clinically insane, while Kevin is a trained therapist.
• Police Brutality: Implied by her interactions with the police dispatcher.
• Rabid Cop: Pity anyone that's ever been interrogated by her...
• Psycho Ex-Girlfriend: Becomes Ted's after their breakup to the point where she stole Robin's necklace and throw it in the water. She also sends a dead squirrel to another ex.
• Romantic False Lead: Obviously, as mentioned by Future!Ted, Jeannette is the last girl he dated before he met his future wife.
• Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: She's a cop. See Karma Houdini above. Put those two together...
• Sex Goddess: One of the few good things Ted has to say about her is that she's really great in bed.
• Sixth Ranger Traitor: Despite that Ted wants to bring Jeanette to Barney and Robin's wedding as his plus-one, no wants to hang out with her. After Ted finally decided not to go on dating again, Robin lets him recheck the wedding invitation.
• Stalker with a Crush: She started following Ted when he appeared on the cover of New York Magazine, which happened a year and a half before they started dating. She even started a fire at Ted's University so that she could force an evacuation, allowing her to finally meet him. Ted sees it as Stalking is Love.
• Token Evil Teammate: Not that the rest of the gang ever wanted her around in the first place. Besides Ted.
• Übermensch: She is a cop, but is perfectly fine with invading private property, stalking and damaging personal belongings because she is convinced everything she does is because she loves him.
• The Unfettered: She stops at nothing to get what she wants. She even makes Barney look like a saint in comparison!
• Woman Scorned: As Robin puts it, she is considered to be the No.1 worst ex-girlfriend that Ted ever had. She would do all sorts of nasty stuff just to get Ted back, which includes wrecking his apartment.
• Yandere: To Ted, even after they broke up. Especially after they broke up.

Barney's Love Interests

Shannon

Shannon

Played by: Katie Walder

Barney's first girlfriend.

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• Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: She kept up the charade of supporting Barney and still wanting to help people in Nicaragua, but in truth she just wanted Barney out of her life.
• Consummate Liar: Barney had no idea she was deceiving him and cheating on him.
• Cynicism Catalyst: Cheating on Barney made him the man he is today.
• For the Evulz: It's clear she remorselessly cheats on Barney and enjoys causing misery to him.
• Gold Digger: The reason she grew out of her hippie phase and started dating a guy in a suit is that she buys her a lot of stuff.
• Granola Girl: Formerly a hippie like Barney.
• Jerkass: Dumping Barney for a suit-wearing womanizer and lying to him about it? Ouch.
• Karma Houdini: Averted, though it took Barney 8 years to screw her for what she did to him.
• Kick the Dog: Her dating with the suit-wearing womanizer and making fun of his video resulted to Barney's Start of Darkness and Evil Makeover.
• Likes Older Women: Gender Flipped. The guy she left Barney for was much older than her.
• Revenge by Proxy: When Marshall visited her apartment and told her that he's a friend of Barney, she slapped him.
• Sex with the Ex: Barney goaded her into this as part of his revenge.
• Small Role, Big Impact: She only appeared in a single episode (not counting flashbacks), but her introduction made a huge impact in Barney's character/story arc.
• The Sociopath: She is extremely remorseless and seems to enjoy making Barney miserable for her own amusement.

Nora

Nora

Played by: Nazanin Boniadi

Barney's second serious girlfriend in the show and Robin's co-workers. Impeccably nice and British, unlike with past relationships, Barney made serious efforts to drop his womanizing ways for her. He breaks up with her in season 6 after fearing making a commitment. He wins her back at the start of season 7, only for it to end when he cheats on her with Robin.

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• Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: She's very distant when Barney is wooing her.
• Always Someone Better: To Robin. She got a great assignment, she got Barney, and Sandy Rivers now wants to sleep with her instead of Robin.
• Ambiguously Brown: She has a british accent, but it's never stated her actual heritage. Going off her actress' background its likely she is British Iranian.
• Betty and Veronica: The Betty to Robin's Veronica for Barney's Archie.
• Closer to Earth: Much saner than Barney.
• Foil: She is this to Kevin to an extent. She is a Brown skinned Asian woman (presumably of British Iranian origin) who is seen as a positive influence to Barney as his love interest but ultimately is cheated on by him with Robin. Kevin is a Brown skinned Asian man (of Indian American origin) who is seen as a positive influence to Robin as her love interest but she cheats on him with Barney.
• Love Martyr: She puts up with a lot of crap from Barney. After learning of everything horrible Barney has ever done to get laid, she still listened to everything and decided to give Barney a second chance. After Barney admits that he slept with another woman (without naming Robin), Nora only breaks up with him when she asks Barney if he felt anything for the other woman.
• Nice Girl: Everyone in the office seems to like her, she's always polite and nice to Robin who (secretly) hates her, and she even considers giving Barney a chance after he cheats on her.
• No Full Name Given: Her last name is never revealed.
• Opposites Attract: She couldn't be less like Barney if she tried.
• Parenting the Husband: Well, boyfriend. James can't help but notice that her behavior towards Barney is more motherly than anything else.
• Proper Lady: Sweet, polite, and refined.
• Put on a Bus: Once Barney and her break up. Veers into What Happened to the Mouse? since she's not mentioned at all after they break up, even though she still apparently works with Robin and they had a friendship (at least, from Robin's point of view, before she dated Barney).
• Romantic False Lead: For Barney. She returns to the story right before a flash forward reveals that Barney is going to get married.
• Single Woman Seeks Good Man: The only reason she accepts Barney is that Barney is willing to change into a better guy for her.
• Sixth Ranger: For a time, before she and Barney break up.
• Tsundere: Type B. Very sweet, very kind... do not piss her off.
• Unknown Rival: She doesn't have a clue that Robin envies her.
• Worthy Opponent: One of only two of Robin's romantic rivals in the show (for both Ted and Barney, in this case the latter) that she openly respects. The other being Victoria, Ted's Romantic False Lead from Seasons 1, 7 and early 8.

Quinn Garvey

Quinn Garvey

Played by: Becki Newton

Barney's third serious girlfriend. She is a stripper at Barney's favorite club who managed to hustle him out of money after leading him on to believe that they were in a relationship. They eventually hook up due to their due to similar personalities.

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• Amicable Exes: She plays the role of Woman Scorned in "The Bro Mitzvah" when she meets Barney again, but it turns out the whole thing was a prank between her and Robin and she's actually in good terms with both of them.
• Betty and Veronica: The Veronica to Robin's Betty for Barney's Archie, though in this case it wasn't so much a Love Triangle as it was part of the season 7 "bride mystery".
• Birds of a Feather: She has a lot in common with Barney. Their similarities ironically ended up being why they were ultimately incompatible.
• Deadpan Snarker: Usually engaged in Snark-to-Snark Combat whilst dealing with Barney.
• Distaff Counterpart: To Barney, in personality at least. Lampshaded in "The Broath".
• Everyone Loves Blondes: Barney certainly did and she's overall protrayed as a Head-Turning Beauty.
• The Gadfly: She certainly enjoys messing with people heads, much like Barney.
  • In "The Broath", she and Barney create a zany scheme to make her look like a controlling Gold Digger to his friends, just to mess with them.
  • In "The Bro Mitzvah", she goes along with Robin's idea to prank Barney's bachelor party, by making Quinn the stripper and having her play the role of a bitchy ex. All so he could have the "most memorable bachelor's party ever".
• Hooker with a Heart of Gold: Well, Stripper with a Heart of Gold. She milked Barney for a lot of money, but when he opened up to her she did give him a chance.
• Manipulative Bitch: When they first met, she milked Barney of thousands of dollars at the strip club, but she ended up feeling guilty about it when she realized he really liked her and made amends.
• Meaningful Name: Her stripper nickname somewhat describes that she in many ways is karma to Barney, manipulating him in the same way he manipulates dumb girls.
• Ms. Fanservice: She's a stripper, so she had the occasionaly striptease scene. She was also often seen wearing just a Modesty Bedsheet in post-sex scenes with Barney.
• My Girl Is Not a Slut: A lot of her relationship problems with Barney revolved around her being a stripper, to the point he begs her to quit and even tries to find new jobs for her.
• One-Steve Limit: Her stripper name is Karma. Barney had at least once hooked up with another stripper named Karma.
• Romantic False Lead: For Barney. The episode where he proposed to her even ended with The Reveal that Barney would marry Robin.
• Sex Goddess: Barney claims she's "mind-blowing" in bed.
  Barney: Mind-blowing sex! For an hour afterwards, I couldn't uncross my eyes. Which was awesome, because when I went back for seconds, it was like having a three-way with twins.
• Shameless Fanservice Girl: She's not ashamed in the slightest in what she does for a living, something that creates quite a bit of friction between her and Barney (See My Girl Is Not a Slut above.)
• Sixth Ranger: In season 7, she hangws around the gang often while she was dating Barney.
• Too Much Alike: What ended hers and Barney’s engagement, they were too much alike that they couldn’t trust each other.
• Tsundere: Hotheaded and snarky, but very nice once you get to know her. She has a lot of trouble admiting she likes Barney at first.

Robin's Love Interests

Simon Tremblay

Simon Tremblay

Played by: James Van Der Beek

Robin's Canadian ex-boyfriend who appeared in her second Robin Sparkles' music video, "Sandcastles in the Sand" and is a member of the band, The Foreskins (responsible for the single, "Murder Train").

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• Deadpan Snarker: Just in his first appearance, he demonstrated his snarkiness when he asked Ted on what he would if he's a lifeguard.
  Simon: Now, you got a bunch of dead kids piling up. And Robin has to report it, "This just in: my friend, Ted, killed a bunch of kids today".
• Future Loser: He's slowly balding and gained some weight but he's still got his band. Then, averted in Season 9, where he cleans up and wears a suit after being engaged to Louise Marsh.
• A Good Name for a Rock Band: For him (and also Robin), his band is called "The Foreskins". His explanation: They're four guys who don't wear shirts. The other possible meaning is apparently lost on him.
• Jerkass: As a teen and as an adult.
• Kick the Dog: He dumped Robin twice in the same van for the same girl, Louise Marsh, and for the same reason (She had a pool/jacuzzi). Oh and he asked Robin to load the drum set in the van before she leaves.
• Small Name, Big Ego: He clearly thinks he's far more talented and better-looking than he actually is.

Don Frank

Don Frank

Played by: Benjamin Koldyke

Don is introduced as Robin's new co-worker and love interest after she and Barney break up. When she swore she wasn't interested in dating anymore the guys tell her that's a sign she will find "the guy she's supposed to marry" and that is when Don showed up. Although a huge jerk to her at first as a result of apathy, their relationship grows closer over time.

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• The Alcoholic: As part of his backstory, he lost a network job during a bitter divorce that had him drinking at work. In the present, when Robin puts out a cigarette in his coffee, it catches fire.
• Broken Pedestal: He's introduced as a legend in Robin's industry, a veteran of 37 (now 38) local morning news shows. Robin quickly learns he's a Knight in Sour Armor who's bouncing from job to job because he's given up on his career ever mattering.
• Character Development: Starts out as a bitter, drunk loser who hates his job and doesn't even bother wearing pants. Robin's dedication and professionalism, along with a fuck-up that manages to embarass even him, inspires him to do better.
• Character Shilling: Coming after a couple of episodes portraying him as a shiftless loser who didn't bother to take his job seriously, he straightens up to show Robin some respect. That's all fine, but it's rather jarring that after hanging out with the guy once (offscreen, no less), Marshall especially couldn't stop glowing over how amazing he was.
• Derailing Love Interests: An interesting variation, since he was introduced as a lazy Jerkass but suddenly became the perfect man when Robin started dating him. Then he reverts to Jerkass behavior.
• Irony:
  • His introduction: Robin declares that she's not going to look for love anymore and focus on her career and Future!Ted says "Ironically, that's the day she met... Don."
  • The only reason that Don got a shot at his dream job is that Robin gave up that same opportunity.
• Jade-Colored Glasses: After a bitter divorce and a drinking problem cost him his shot at a network job, Don gave up and now he drifts from morning show to shitty morning show, doing the bare minimum, not even wearing pants.
• Jerkass: Being apathetic about his job regardless of who else that interferes with? Pulling the Naked Man on Robin after trying to make amends for his behavior? Leaving Robin for a job that Robin turned down so she could stay with him? Yeah, this guy fits here.
• Lantern Jaw of Justice: He's a classically good looking man, with a newscaster haircut, a newscaster Two First Names, a square jaw, and he's introduced as an industry legend. Then we get to see his tighty-whities.
• Living Legend: Only he's not. He's not a Miles Gloriosus, either. He doesn't claim to be the amazing veteran of dozens of morning shows that people think he is. He's a bitter, washed up, drunk who doesn't bother to wear pants and tries to convince the people around him to give up, too. A lot of the crew stop wearing pants and Robin starts out hating him.
• Pants-Free: On his first day at Come On and Get Up New York! Don would usually appear on set without pants and morning booze. The first thing Don does when he wants to redeem himself is wear them again.
• Put on a Bus: He went to Chicago for a job offer which is the same one offered to Robin and this ultimately ended their relationship.
• Romantic False Lead: Due to the Lemony Narrator, when Don is introduced, it's treated as though he's the man Robin will marry (since the narration was discussing how you find the one you marry as soon as you stop looking). Instead, he inspires her to take her love life seriously and, even though it doesn't work out, it helps her become the sort of person who could settle down, get married, maybe even think about having kids.
• Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids!: Don is a years-long veteran of more than three dozen morning shows. He's given up on being a successful journalist, doesn't even bother wearing pants any more, and does his best to discourage Robin from trying to get ahead.
  Don: But the second you get used to it they find someone who "isn't going through a bitter divorce" and "doesn't reek of gin".
• Took a Level in Kindness: Part of his character development is that he was ashamed that he tried to pull The Naked Man on Robin after reading about it in Barney's blog, and the fact that she turns him down after weeks of being disgusted and angered by his unprofessional, shitty conduct inspires him to try and be a better man. He starts wearing pants again at work as a show of respect, and a few weeks later he and Robin are dating.
• Two First Names: Don and Frank are commonly used first names.

Kevin Venkataraghavan

Kevin Venkataraghavan

Played by: Kal Penn

"My next patient thinks he's God. On the off-chance that he's right, I really don't wanna keep him waiting."

Robin's court-ordered therapist after she had assaulted another woman. He stopped being Robin's therapist because he was attracted to her and they ended up dating.

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• Awesomeness by Analysis: Kevin deduces correctly that Barney's lie to get rid of the Ducky Tie was because Nora's parents were going to meet him in two days only because of the elements of the made-up story.
  Kevin: Perhaps I can help. Marshall, ask yourself this question. Why today? He hasn't say anything about that tie for weeks, and yet suddenly today, he can't wear it another second? Now there's a reason. He's got something coming up. Somewhere where you're on display. Vulnerable. Exposed. It's not work related. No, this is relationship stuff. You're trying to impress someone. In the lie you told, you said you were being chased by two goons, so it's two people. A couple, perhaps. You're meeting Nora's parents tomorrow!
  Barney: Wroooong!! Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong! It's in two days and I really want them to like me!!!
  [Ted and Kevin high five]
  Ted: Therapist'd!!
• Betty and Veronica: The Betty to Barney's Veronica for Robin's Archie.
• Brainy Brunette: Kevin studied at Harvard University (twice) and Princeton University.
• Bollywood Nerd: Averted. He is a very capable therapist, has attended Harvard and Princeton, has his share of pop-culture savviness and is pretty normal and well adjusted to the gang (even to the point he is less nerdy than Ted, as Ted would bore him with a coin collector documentary).
• Crazy Jealous Guy: Subverted. He initially was taken aback because of Ted's lack of boundaries and feared that he was still after Robin, until they realized that he was just fragile because of his bad break ups. Also he never showed any signs of being jealous of either Ted or Barney. Even after Robin cheated on him with Barney, he chose to ignore this and remained by her side, ultimately breaking up with her for a different reason.
• Deadpan Snarker: Usually at himself.
• Derailing Love Interests: The writers had to get rid of him, but (in order to keep the Will They or Won't They? going) couldn't simply have Robin leave him for Barney. The solution? Introduce a need to have kids that had never been mentioned at any point before (which didn't even come up when it would be appropriate, such as when he was painting a nursery or when Robin learns she can't have kids).
• Florence Nightingale Effect: He meets Robin in court-mandated therapy, and starts falling in love with her after many sessions of knowing her. They start dating sometime after Kevin stops being her therapist. The same thing happens years later with Jeanette, who is indeed insane.
• Foil: To both Ted and Barney.
  • He is as nice, smart and grounded as Ted, both have unresolved issues with their families (Ted has trouble having honest talks with his parents, while Kevin's simply ignore him and favor more his surgeon brother), but Ted has quirks that even Kevin finds too nerdy and also Kevin has more emotional stability than Ted.
  • He is this to Nora to an extent. She is a Brown skinned Asian woman (presumably of British Iranian origin) who is seen as a positive influence to Barney as his love interest but ultimately is cheated on by him with Robin. Kevin is a Brown skinned Asian man (of Indian American origin) who is seen as a positive influence to Robin as her love interest but she cheats on him with Barney
  • Kevin has everything Barney lacks: He is a good listener, is compliant and, most importantly, sane, in comparison to all the ego and emotional baggage Barney has.
• Nice Guy: Very sweet and friendly, making him the perfect foil for Barney.
• Not So Above It All: While Future!Ted reminds many times Kevin is a trained therapist, he is not free from losing temper from the gang's Idiot Ball moments or getting jealous as well.
• Odd Couple: He hooks up with Jeanette, from all people.
• Only Sane Man: As a professional therapist, he can point out all the specific psychological ways the Five-Man Band is so completely messed up.
• Opposites Attract: Him being a therapist falls in love with Jeanette, of all people.
• Parental Issues: He bottles up frustration about his mother's favoritism for his brother. In the episode where he addresses Like Parent, Like Spouse and causes the others to freak about it, he makes a comment about how he would end up with a woman who will love his brother more than him. Then he starts seeing his mother instead of Robin. His response?
  Robin: Ted is a Nice Guy!
  Kevin's Mother: You should be more like him.
  Kevin: Mom, right on schedule.
• Put on a Bus: They broke up after Robin revealed that she doesn't want to have kids.
• The Shrink: Of the "Awesome" variety. Quite frankly, Robin's a psychological mess at this point and when he was her psychiatrist, she was making huge steps. It helps that he went to Harvard... then Princeton... then wow, Harvard again.
• Seen It All: When Robin asks Kevin if he's thinking she is an awful person, Kevin reassures she's not, as he has treated serial killers and psychotic mental patients, one of them who sent him a bag of feces.
  Kevin: At least he remembered my birthday.
• Sixth Ranger: He starts hanging out with them when he dated Robin and enjoys their company despite seeing how messed up her friends are.
• There Are No Therapists: Discussed. Upon seeing how messed up the Five-Man Band is, he is visibly disturbed on how long they are like that. And by the way, Kevin is an actual therapist.
• Token Minority: He is the only one with Indian heritage.
• Understanding Boyfriend: He only got insecure about Robin being friends with her exes, but got past it soon, as he understood Ted was fragile. Later, although he doesn't know Robin cheated on him, tells her that it's not necessary to tell if they'll still be together. Kevin only leaves after Robin reminds him that he would have to give up forever any possibility of having children in the future, as she doesn't want any.
• The Unfavorite: Has Parental Issues because his parents prefer his doctor brother to him.
• Verbal Backspace: "...By the way, you all look great, especially Robin."

Nick Podarutti

Nick Podarutti

Played by: Michael Trucco

Robin's crush introduced in Season 6. They became a couple in Season 8.

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• Brainless Beauty: Eventually.
  Barney: You can't wait [to break up with him]. His groin will heal. And then before you know it, you'll be marrying a man who once ate a vanilla-scented candle.
  Robin: That was on me. I shouldn't have left it in the kitchen. But it was lit... man, he dumb.
• Chekhov's Gunman: Shows up in an episode in Season 6. Doesn't become a real character until Season 8, when he and Robin begin dating offscreen.
• Derailing Love Interests: Twice! First happens when Robin suddenly is annoyed with how sensitive and in touch with his feelings Nick is. Later, he's suddenly The Ditz. It's implied that Robin never noticed before because the sex was so good, but it's jarring that these flaws were never even alluded to until they're used for drama. As the narrator, you'd think Ted would have commented on it.
• Female Gaze: Quinn only got convinced that Robin wasn't going to steal Barney back because Robin showed her Nick has washboard abs.
• Granola Guy: His motorcycle runs on corn.
• Hidden Depths: He is exceptionally patient for a Satellite Love Interest. He understands that Robin's history with her male friends are longer than their own, and is respectful of her hanging out with Ted and Barney from time to time.
• Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: Eventually revealed that he's much more sensitive than Robin, and he's a professional chef.
• Mr. Fanservice: Lots of shirtless scenes, and Robin finds him so attractive that she's often distracted by him.
• Satellite Love Interest: He becomes Robin's boyfriend after we've already been shown that Robin will be Barney's future bride. We know next to nothing about him except reasons why Robin might break up with him, namely that he's a bit too sensitive for Robin's taste.
• Sexual Karma: Right after Robin breaks up with him he stumbles into a three-way with two hot chicks who have also just been dumped, somewhat alleviating any guilt Robin or Barney may feel for the split.
• Sixth Ranger: He became part of the Five-Man Band when he dated Robin and joined Marshall's basketball team for a while before breaking up with Robin.
• Tall, Dark, and Handsome: "Hot as lava and just as thick," as Lily puts it.

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