James Van Der Beek How I Met Your Mother
Okay, Hear Me Out: Van Der Beek Deserved More HIMYM Love
Let's talk about How I Met Your Mother. We all love it, right? But something's been bugging me for years. It's about James Van Der Beek.
Specifically, his guest appearances as Simon Tremblay. Remember him? Robin Scherbatsky's awful Canadian ex.
Seriously, That Hair Though
First off, the hair. They gave Van Der Beek the worst hairstyle. I mean, come on! He's beautiful!
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It's like they were actively trying to make him look dorky. And it kind of worked. But it's also kind of a crime.
Let's be honest, who thought that Robin would have dated such a creep?
The Character Was Too One-Dimensional
Simon was just...annoying. He was immature and clung to Robin. He was basically a caricature of a bad boyfriend.
Sure, he had a couple of funny moments. But mostly, he was just there to be the butt of the joke.
Did he really need to be that cringe? Could he not be just a little bit more relatable? Or even a little bit charming?
Unpopular Opinion Time: He Could Have Been a Recurring Character
I think Van Der Beek could have brought more to the table. With better writing, Simon could have become a genuinely hilarious, recurring foil for the gang.
Imagine Simon showing up at random moments, causing chaos. Picture him trying (and failing) to win Robin back.
The comedic possibilities were endless! They could have had so much fun with that!
Missed Potential, People!
Think about it. He could have been like a more pathetic version of Barney. Someone who constantly tries to be cool, but always fails miserably.
We could have seen him crashing Ted's dates. Or trying to impress Lily with his "business acumen."
Instead, they just used him for a few cheap laughs and then tossed him aside. Such a waste of Van Der Beek's comedic talent!
Maybe It's Just Me...
Okay, maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe Simon was perfect the way he was.
Maybe I'm just blinded by my love for Dawson's Creek. But I truly believe James Van Der Beek was underutilized.
He deserved a more nuanced role. He deserved better writing. And he definitely deserved a better haircut.
So, What Do You Think?
Am I crazy? Or do you agree that Van Der Beek's appearances on How I Met Your Mother were a missed opportunity?
Let me know in the comments! I'm ready for the backlash. But I stand by my unpopular opinion.
Someone had to say it!
Bonus: A Hilarious What-If Scenario
Just imagine if Simon had ended up with Robin. The show would have been completely different!
Ted would have been devastated. Barney would have been furious. And we, the viewers, would have been utterly confused (and possibly amused).
Thank goodness that never happened. But it's fun to think about, right?
"Sometimes I lie awake at night wondering if James Van Der Beek ever thinks about his HIMYM experience. Does he feel the same way I do? Probably not. But a girl can dream."
