How I Met Your Mother's Unresolved Plot Line is the Show's Biggest Missed Opportunity

But according to Reddit, one of the show's biggest missed opportunities is the storyline involving Lily's time in San Francisco and her relationship with Marshall.

Lily and Marshall are the quintessential couple that we all root for. With their cute quirks and undeniable chemistry, it's impossible not to fall in love with them.

However, as the show progressed, it became clear that their relationship wasn't without its flaws.

And one of the most significant issues they faced was Lily's decision to leave Marshall for a summer fellowship to pursue her dream of becoming an artist.

When Marshall discovered through an answering machine message that Lily's application for an art program in San Francisco was accepted, he felt blindsided as the two had a wedding coming up in just a few months.

And when he asked her if she could promise that she won't realize he doesn't fit into her life after the three months of the program come to an end, she couldn't give him that reassurance.

Eventually, Lily ended up telling him that she needed to figure out who she was outside of their relationship, and the only way she felt she could do that was if they didn't talk for a while.

At the time, Lily's decision was a major shock to both the characters and the audience. It was an unexpected twist that added a new layer of complexity to their relationship.

However, the show's fans had a lot of expectations for how this situation could unfold, which the show failed to meet fully.

Some hoped to see Lily pursuing her dream while maintaining her relationship with Marshall, ultimately leading to a happy conclusion.

After all, it would've been great to witness how a well-matched couple pursues their goals without giving up on a good relationship.

Others, on the other hand, propose that it would've been more fitting for Lily to actually enjoy her life in San Francisco but then realize it's not the same without Marshall.

When she returned, she said the program was awful and the worst mistake she had ever made.

This, however, left many fans feeling like the only reason why she came back was that she didn't love her new path, not because of Marshall.

Even Marshall himself questioned her during one of their biggest fights whether she would've come back to him if she would've found success in San Francisco.

Fans have also suggested that the show could've delved deeper into Lily's struggles while being away from Marshall.

Perhaps even her art instructor could've remarked that her work was subpar compared to the pieces she submitted during her application process.

Lily could have then realized that Marshall was her inspiration all along, and being away from him made her feel disconnected from her passion.