by Cristina |
Last Updated: May 27, 2021 Today is the day! After 17 years, the Friends cast has finally given us the reunion we all needed. Something light and happy that reminds us of simpler times. When we could be entertained by a couple of guys tossing a nerf ball to each other for 20 minutes, and a woman who sings songs titled “Smelly Cat.”
Friends ended after a 10 year run in 2004. While they probably went about one season too long, they still went out at the top of its game with everyone wanting them to stick around to be there for us a little longer. As we know, I have a self-admitted TV problem. I would fully credit these 6 individuals for contributing to my insatiable TV habits. Their DVD VHS set (dam I’m old) was one of the first sets I ever watched, and it was on repeat.
Lately, there have been little nasty rumors going around the internet, that Friends isn’t funny now and arguably never was. I’m not even sure who made this a thing. I would have to guess it’s the same people who are insisting on bringing back low rise jeans but I guess we can’t be sure (huge eye roll). In all seriousness, there is an entire subreddit about it, “Friends is not funny”. Careful if you decide to go down that rabbit hole, because it is very triggering.
I get it the laugh track is annoying to anyone who wasn’t raised with it. Then again so were commercials. TV was different back then kids. You wouldn’t believe it if I told you this, but we used to have to wait a week sometimes more (gasp) to catch episodes of our favorite shows. I don’t even want to tell you what would happen if you couldn’t make it home on time that day. Your little hearts wouldn’t be able to take it. And don’t get me started on forgetting to hit record and coming home to a blank tape instead of the season finale of Dawson’s Creek.
I digress.
My point is that Friends is funny. Laugh track or not. Notalgia or not. People are making the arguments that when you compare it to other shows like The Office, Arrested Development or Seinfeld, it doesn’t hold up. But I never understand this argument.
Was Friends thought provoking? No. Was it a diverse story of different perspectives? No. Did it change the way you saw the world? No. Not really. Not all TV (or art for that matter) has to do this.
Some TV should be like coming home. Sometimes TV should be just like hanging out with your friends. You know those nights where you can throw on your favorite pair of jeans, go eat pasta, open and bottle and just laugh. It’s easy. That sort of thing is good for your soul. Happy Anniversary to Friends! You deserve all the hype and more.
Here are my top 14 most iconic friends episodes
1
The One Where No One’s Ready – (Season 3, Episode 2) Ross has a big work event and needs everyone to be ready on time. Rachel can’t decide what to wear, Monica is frantically trying to erase a message she left on Richard’s voicemail, and Joey and Chandler are fighting for a chair. Click the image for a clip.
“Could I be wearing anymore clothes?” – Joey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k83DLNwHFTk
2
“The One With The Prom Video”: (Season 2 episode 14) Ross and Rachel keep missing each other. You’re in the peak of will they won’t they. Even though Ross feels hopeless, Phoebe is convinced they will end up together over because “she is his lobster”. Monica finds her old prom video where her and Rachel were getting ready to head out to prom, which is hilarious if not just for the costumes and the way they do the flashback. Either way, by the time the episode is over you know it’s true:
“You see, he’s her lobster.” Phoebe
3
The One With All The Resolutions – (Season 5, Episode 11) It’s a new year, and our friends have made some resolutions to start off the year right. Ross is trying to be “cooler” and on his quest he has picked up a pair of leather pants to wear on a date. When they won’t come back up, he asks Joey for help… well, check out the clip!
“The lotion and the powder have made a paste” – Ross
4
The One With Ross’s Tan – (Season 10, Episode 3) Ross goes to a tanning salon, and just can’t seem to get the instructions down. Check out the clip!
“Mississippilessly” – Ross
5
The One In Vegas Part 2 – (Season 5, Episode 24) Friends head to Vegas in this two part finale, and while Chandler and Monica are deciding if they should get married they realize Ross and Rachel beat them to the punch. Check it out below.
“Well hello Mrs. Ross! Well hello Mr. Rachel” – Ross and Rachel
6
The One With Phoebe’s Uterus– (Season 4, Episode 11) Chandler seems to be having a time pleasing the ladies, so Monica draws him a diagram and number is 1-7 and tries to show him how it is done. Definitely suggest that you check out the clip!
“7, 7, 7, 7, 7,7 7,7777…….” – Monica
7
The One Where Ross Finds Out– (Season 2, Episode 7) What always gets me is the locked door.
8
The One With All The Embryos – (Season 4, Episode 12) When Rachel and Monica are desperate to get rid of the Joey and Chandler’s rooster and duck- they agree to play a trivia game. If the girls win, the rooster and duck go if the boys win they switch apartments. I NEVER understood what Monica was thinking, but I love this scene! Check out the clip!
“Actually it’s Ms. Chanandaler Bong” – Chandler
9
The One With The Jellyfish – (Season 4, Episode 1) This episode calls your loyalty into question. If one of your friends needed you to pee on them, would you? Check out the clip!
10
The One With The Cop – (Season 5, Episode 16) Ross buys a new couch and is too cheap to pay for delivery. Because why pay for delivery when you have friends. So Rachel and Chandler come over to help, and Ross is just Ross. I would bet at least half of you have yelled Pivot when you’re moving any sort of furniture. The rest of you are just lying, pivot to the clip below!
“Pivot! Pivot!” – Ross
11
The One Where Everybody Finds Out – (Season 5, Episode 14) Monica and Chandler have been secretly together since the wedding in London. The way each of them finds out after is HILARIOUS. I don’t care who you are, impossible not to laugh in this episode.
“That’s my sister!” – Ross
12
The One With All the Thanksgivings – (Season 5, Episode 8) Their Thanksgiving episodes have always delivered. Since the flag football game in the park in Season 1, these episodes are always fun to watch. But if I had to pick one, it’s definitely the one with all the flashbacks.
13
The One With All The Cheesecakes – (Season 7, Episode 11) This is the most relatable episode ever. I would definitely eat a super delicious desert off the floor, if it came to it. The only thing I’m wondering is why I had never thought to walk around with a secret fork.
14
The One With The Videotape – (Season 8, Episode 4) Everyone wants to hear how Ross and Rachel hooked up since she was now pregnant. So naturally there is a tape! One of my all time favorite scenes.
“Ken Adams” – Joey
