Sitcoms have been all the rage and can be dated back to as early as the 1940s. Having shows set in real-life locations with characters that resemble the different kinds of people that exist in real life, these situational comedy shows often resonate well with the masses. One such sitcom that was released in the 90s but that is still considered one of the best comedy TV shows is F.R.I.E.N.D.S (typically known as Friends).
The show follows the lives of six friends who live in Manhattan, New York City. These six friends (including a pair of siblings) who are in their late 20s and early 30s have the same problems as the common people do. After sharing two apartments in Manhattan among the six of them, over the 10 seasons of the show, these friends grow into adults, fall in and out of love, and find a purpose in their lives.
If you are someone who enjoyed watching Friends or someone who does not have the commitment to watch all 236 episodes, here is a list of the 10 Best Episodes from the world’s favourite 90s sitcom – Friends
“The One Where Everybody Finds Out” (Season 5, Episode 14)
Monica and Chandler’s relationship was the best-kept secret on Friends until everyone slowly found out. From being neighbours and friends for so long and suddenly being friends with benefits, Monica and Chandler kept their chaotic hook-up a secret until Joey found out. Things got out of hand soon after when Rachel found out that the guy Monica was hooking up with was none other than Chandler.
Following this discovery, everyone found out about the secret. This episode gave us such iconic lines as “The messers become the messees” and “They don’t know that we know they know.”
“The One Where Ross is Fine” (Season 10, Episode 2)
No one expects to find their best friend making out with their ex (read: baby-mama) but that happens with Ross and he handles it pretty fine. At least he says he does after he walks in on Joey and Rachel making out.
Ross has a mental breakdown trying to process the situation and he invites Joey and Rachel over for dinner with his girlfriend and Joey’s ex Claire making for a very awkward yet hilarious dinner where Ross is totally fine.
“The Last One” (Season 10, Episode 17)
An episode that definitely brings tears to your eyes is the show’s final episode where fans bid farewell to characters they have loved for a decade. As chaotic as any episode on the show can get, Monica and Chandler are suddenly thrust into parenthood after the woman they are adopting a baby (or babies) from goes into labour three weeks early.
Elsewhere, Rachel leaves to move to Paris while Ross suddenly realises that he wants her back in his life. Phoebe helps Ross in his pursuit to stop Rachel from taking her flight to Paris by discussing the “left phalange”.
“The One With the Embryos” (Season 4, Episode 12)
Only in the weird world of Phoebe Buffay can she decide to carry her step-brother’s child(ren). As she gets her uterus examined to have it implanted with embryos for her step-brother and mature sister-in-law to have kids of their own, the other friends decide to test their friendship.
After Chandler and Joey boast about how well they know Monica and Rachel, the four decide to turn it into a contest where Ross plays Quiz Master. The quiz keeps getting more and more intense with the stakes going higher and higher with every question, leaving the girls with the measly boys’ apartment while the boys end up with Monica’s much-superior apartment.
“The One With The Red Sweater” (Season 10, Episode 2)
While Monica struggles to deal with the fact that she is not a bride anymore but is reduced to just being a married woman, there is still the question about Rachel’s baby-daddy.
The question about Rachel’s baby-daddy is pertinent as Joey proposes to Rachel. Meanwhile, Phoebe concludes that the owner of the red sweater could be the real father of Rachel’s baby.
“The One With The Prom Video” (Season 2, Episode 14)
Being critiqued by her parents for being the second-best of their two children, Monica struggles to tell her parents that she was unemployed and was strapped for cash. Joey buys Chandler a tacky gold bracelet that he had to unwillingly wear.
Also in the episode, Ross discusses his feelings for Rachel with Phoebe when an old videotape from Monica and Rachel’s prom resurfaces showing the group how Ross has been Rachel’s “lobster” for a long time.
“The One With Monica and Chandler’s Wedding” (Season 7, Episodes 23 and 24)
The show has had a fair share of weddings but watching these friends-turned-lovers get married over the last two episodes of Season 7 was romantically chaotic. As Joey struggles to finish filming for his movie in order to reach the wedding venue in time, Phoebe assumes that Monica is pregnant as Chandler goes missing hours before the wedding.
As Ross joins Phoebe as she looks for the groom, Chandler comes to terms with the fact that he is more than ready to start a family with Monica. Rachel on the other hand, stalls Monica until the group is able to find Chandler in order to start the wedding ceremony.
“The One With The Rumor” (Season 8, Episode 9)
Arguably one of the most-loved cameos on the show is in this episode when Jennifer Aniston’s then-husband, actor Brad Pitt made a special appearance on the show as Ross, Monica and Rachel’s high school friend who joins them for Thanksgiving Dinner.
While Rachel is swooning over the totally hot Will, he clearly hates her. Rachel soon learns that there existed a ‘I Hate Rachel Club’ in high school and the dinner gets extremely awkward when she learns that her haters – Will and Ross – started a weird rumor about her.
“The One With The Videotape” (Season 8, Episode 4)
With the truth about the paternity of Rachel’s baby being out in the open, the group of friends are split as Rachel claims that Ross came on to her and vice versa. Ross reveals that he had videotaped them hooking up, leaving Rachel shocked as the group decides to watch (most of) the tape together to determine if Ross really came on to Rachel or if it was the other way around.
“The One With All the Thanksgivings” (Season 5, Episode 8)
Nothing bonds a group of friends better than trauma dumping when Chandler shares the story of his parents splitting on Thanksgiving Day. While he wallows in self-pity, the group of friends start sharing stories of the worst Thanksgiving moments of their lives.
The group goes down memory lane thinking about the time Ross introduced his college friend Chandler to his sister, Monica, and her sister’s friend, Rachel, where Chandler ends up losing his toe in a chaotic turn of events.
There we have it, our list of the 10 Best episodes of the classic sitcom, Friends!
What do you think about our picks? Did your favourite make the list? Were there any honourable omissions? Let us know in the comments below.
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