If you’ve been wondering about Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) and Robin (Cobie Smulders) on “How I Met Your Mother,” you’re not the only one. Cobie Smulders had been having a hard time understanding why Robin was always in the room while Barney flaunted his conquests right in front of her. But last Monday, the show finally revealed through flashbacks that Robin was not as cool with it as she seemed.

Smulders talked with Show Tracker last week about Robin’s and Barney’s relationship, Robin’s new boyfriend and how her many ex-boyfriends are going to lead to a emotional threesome that shakes up the dynamics of the group. We also discussed when Robin Sparkles might be making a reappearance.

The last episode was a great one for Robin and gave you a nice showcase. Were you glad that they followed up on the breakup and addressed Barney’s behavior?
I really was. I was quite relieved. When we were shooting, going through all these scenes, I was constantly saying to them, “This is crazy. I shouldn’t even be here for this conversation. There’s no way I would be sitting here while they’re yapping about his latest conquest.” I kept writing myself out of scenes. I feel like Robin has been redeemed in a sense. I feel like she’s finally shown she was really upset about this. Barney, hopefully, learned something from the whole experience as well, from the effect that he can have on people and that Robin is human.

For the first time, your character is getting a recurring love interest outside of the main cast. Is that exciting or nerve-racking for you as an actress to have someone new to play with?
It’s nice actually to switch it up a little bit and bring someone else in and give someone else the spotlight for a little bit. I just love Ben, who plays Don. We got along so well. We’re shooting the end of the season right now. It’s all about Robin taking a step back from the group of friends to feel out this relationship with Don. Every time she hangs out with her best friends, two of them are ex-boyfriends, so it’s always tinged with awkwardness. It’s playing with the dynamic of the group a little bit. I think we’ll get back to the core of it eventually, but it’s kind of nice taking a step outside for a bit.

One of the things the show teased this year was a Robin Sparkles-Alan Thicke variety show.
I know! I don’t know if we’re going to get to that. I have no idea what is in store for that. I know it’s still in the works. I think maybe getting a season six pickup this early in the game is somewhat to a lot of story lines’ determent, where it’s like, “Oh, we’ll do it next season.” Maybe I’ll get the script tomorrow for next week, and it’ll be like, “The Robin Scherbatsky Show!” I never quite know, but I have a feeling that we might have to wait until next season.

Read the complete interview: www.latimesblogs.latimes.com