10 reasons why Friends was the greatest show ever
Sitting inside Central Perk, on that brown couch, sipping a steaming cuppa and listening to a live rendition of "Smelly Cat" is exactly how I pictured to spend every evening. If you’re wondering what’s wrong with me, you obviously have not watched the American sitcom Friends, ever. And if you haven’t (seriously?), know this that you’ve not just missed out on one of the world’s most loved and successful TV shows, but also the experience of a lifetime. I am a Friends addict and I’m also not the only one.
Twelve years after it last aired on television (not counting the many re-runs and binge-watching sessions at home), the entire cast of the cultural phenomenon is reuniting for a two-hour special on NBC to pay a tribute to veteran director James Burrows, who recently directed his 1,000th TV episode, 15 of which were for Friends.
Naturally, everyone in the world is jumping with excitement, including yours truly. The idea of seeing Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe together on screen again is enticing enough; to have that happen next month is groundbreaking!
For its decade long run, Friends wasn’t just a TV show about six funny New Yorkers dealing with the rigours of work, friendships and love. It was a mirror to our lives - our equations with our friends, our work woes, our friendships - and each and everyone who saw the show could find themselves and their friends relating to one (or more) characters in the show. Take me for example: I’m like Joey because I don’t like sharing my food and like Rachel with my love for fashion. I have a friend with the same amount of OCD as Monica, a friend as hilarious as Chandler and a friend as socially awkward yet good at heart as Ross. And I’m sure you do too.
That’s the thing about Friends - it never fails at being relatable. You invest in the characters, live their lives and find yourself taking your solutions from them too.
As we all wait with thumping heartbeats to see our six favourite friends back together, let’s take a trip down memory lane to remember some of the most memorable parts from the show, shall we?
1. Rachel’s airport drama with Ross
Their love story is full of ups and downs, make ups and break ups and just like everyone else, filled with smiles and tears. But the first major turnaround in Rachel and Ross’ love story is certainly in the last episode of Season 1 when Rachel rushes to greet Ross on his arrival and reciprocate his feelings for her. As she’s all set to confess her love for him, Ross arrives back in New York with Julie, a school mate he’s now dating.
2. Smelly Cat
It’s a ridiculously funny song that Phoebe performs time and again at Central Perk in Season 1 and the song sort of becomes her anthem. We all know the lyrics and we all love to play it on the guitar. It’s completely thanks to Phoebe infectious rendition that something as dirty as a smelling cat ends up becoming such a rage. Smelly cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you?
3. Chandler’s day in a box for Joey
The ideal endorsement for two best friends, Joey and Chandler’s friendship passes every possible test through the show - Joey not paying rent for the house, Chandler getting seriously involved with Monica, Joey’s stupidity, and Chandler’s sarcasm etc... proving just how close the two boys were. It’s only when Chandler ends up kissing one of Joey’s girlfriends, Kathy in Season 4, a girl he earlier had a crush on that things turn sour for a bit between the two boys. But Chandler proves his loyalty by spending an entire day sitting in a box melting Joey’s heart. Leave aside crushes for friends are for life, isn’t it?
4. Exchange of apartments
In one of the funniest tracks, Joey and Chandler end up winning a bit with Rachel and Monica resulting in an exchange of the apartments in Season 4. Though it lasts only for a short while, it’s hilarious to see the girls discover all kinds of mess in the house while, the boys are shown loving the bigger place and all the comforts that come with it. Obviously, the girls end up getting back their apartment by outsmarting the not-so-smart Chandler and Joey duo later in the show.
5. Phoebe’s giving birth to her half-brother’s triplets
Having lived on the road, distant from her evil step sister and without any family, Phoebe’s joy knows no bounds when she discovers her half-brother. And such is her affection for him that she even agrees to be the surrogate mother of their kids, giving birth to triplets in Season 4. It’s adorable to see the quirky Phoebe heavily pregnant, still continuing with her antics. It’s a lesson to be learnt from Phoebe that at the end of the day, it’s all about loving your family.
6. Chandler thinking that Monica’s pregnant
Taking Rachel’s pregnancy test as Monica’s, Chandler panics right before his wedding to Monica in Season 7. It’s every guy’s dilemma really - to be a father or to not be, and Chandler is no different. But he manages to man up and convinces himself that he can do it and goes ahead and marries Monica with full responsibility, only to later realise that Monica wasn’t pregnant after all. I’m sure every guy on the verge of fatherhood can relate to this.
7. Emma: Ross and Rachel’s daughter
One of the most adorable things about the show is the birth of Emma. After yet another break up with Ross, Rachel discovers she’s pregnant in Season 8 and decides to have a baby, remaining friends with Ross and not getting back with him. Though Ross still harbours feelings and wants to get back, Rachel is adamant. And when he decides to propose, things turn haphazard and Joey unknowingly ends up proposing Rachel instead. The complexities of love, right?
8. Monica and Chandler failing to conceive a child
In one of the most poignant tracks of the show, Monica and Chandler try to conceive a baby after their wedding and end up failing to do so due to some health complications in Season 9. It’s extremely sad to see the two wanting a child. Seeing Rachel as a mother further adds to their feelings. They accept their fate and in the finale adopt twins.
9. Joey falls for Rachel
He’s the serial philanderer, having more flings than anyone else. But when he loses his heart, it’s deep and touching. After his accidental proposal to Rachel, when he actually falls for her, it’s adorable to see Joey play the lover boy. Their relationship in Season 10 ends as the two decide to remain just friends keeping in mind Ross and his emotions. Though he pretends to be fine, you can see the genuine pain in Joey’s eyes. It’s my personal favourite track of the show.
10. The supporting characters
Yes, the show is about the six friends, but it won’t be fair to not remember all the other supporting characters that were equally hilarious. From the silent lover Gunther who could never confess his feelings to Rachel and Phoebe’s evil twin Ursula to Chandler’s oh-my-god girlfriend Janice and the invisible Ugly Naked Man living in the opposite building, there were many such people throughout the show to keep us in splits.