Friends is one of the most iconic shows of the last few decades and has inspired a lot of jokes and memes over the years. It is hard to believe for old time fans of the show, but Friends has been off the air for 15 years now as of May 2019. To put that into perspective – twin sisters Noelle and Cami Sheldon who played Emma, Ross and Rachel’s adorable daughter, are now 16 years old!
The beauty of Friends is that it has a lot of great episodes through its 10 season run which makes it really hard to pick favorites. So, whether you watch all seasons regularly, have not re-watched the show in a while or are a newbie to the show, here’s a list (in no particular order) of what we feel are the absolute must-see episodes of one of the best sitcoms ever.
Also Read: Ted’s 5 Best Relationships in How I Met Your Mother
Ross and Rachel’s relationship is the core of Friends and their first breakup is heart wrenching and as real as it could be, but because Friends is Friends, the B story of the episode has Monica, Phoebe, Chandler and Joey trapped inside a room listening to the breakup and having their own issues, like a debate on what’s more painful: a kick in the groin or Waxing. Ouch!
Ross: Yeah, but this can’t be it, I mean.
Rachel: Then how come it is?
As the finale of Season 4, these episodes are phenomenal because they were filled with a lot of iconic moments – Monica and Chandler get together, Rachel realizes her feelings for Ross and flies to London to stop the wedding and Ross accidentally says Rachel’s name at the altar instead of Emily’s. Uh oh!
Ross: I Ross, take thee Rachel…
Thanksgiving episodes have always been the highlight of the show, but this one in particular is incredibly good. Between Rachel’s English Trifle(made with beef and sauteed onions) and all the information that Ross and Monica reveal to their parent’s in their game of one up-manship, the laughs just keep on coming with this one.
Judy Geller: Rachel, no, you weren’t supposed to put beef in the trifle. It did not taste good.
Ross gets a new couch and enlists Rachel and Chandler to move it because he does not want to pay extra for the delivery and then things get crazy in typical Friends’ style.
Ross: Pivot! Pivot! Pivot!…
Chandler: SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!!!
Although a sitcom, Friends had a wonderful knack for hitting the emotional notes with perfection. Monica and Chandler’s wedding was every bit the Friends episode which delivers the laughter but also hits us right in the feels.
Chandler: Monica, I thought this was going to be the most difficult thing I ever had to do. But when I saw you walking down that aisle I realized how simple it was. I love you. Any surprises that come our way it’s okay, because I will always love you. You are the person I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. You wanna know if I’m sure? (He leans in and kisses her.)
Early seasons dealt a lot with the gang learning to deal with the new status quo that growing up brings about. This episode is such a moment for Rachel, whose parents have separated and the gang ends up having to throw two parties across the hall from each other to make sure that both her parents think they were the only ones invited. Although keeping them from seeing each other takes a great deal of effort from the entire group.
Mr. Greene: Alright, alright, I can get my own coat. [the guys form a wall between Mrs Geller and Mr Geller and dance across the hall as he walks across]
Chandler: Sorry, we’re on a major flan high.
Phoebe: Oh no, you’re not supposed to be here. This is the staging area, you should, it’s all wrong, you should leave, ya know, get out. [opens the door, the guys are right there] Or perhaps you’d like a creme d’menthe.
All the Thanksgiving episodes were great but this one is extra special because the flashback shows us the history of crappy thanksgivings that all these characters shared with each other and the highlight being Monica accidentally chopping off Chandler’s little toe. Oops!
Ross: Uh, everyone, this is Chandler! My roommate and lead singer of our band!…
Mrs. Geller: I’m so glad you could come Chandler, we’ve got plenty of food so I hope you’re hungry.
Ross: Oh, mom. Mom. Chandler hates Thanksgiving and doesn’t eat any Thanksgiving food.
Mrs. Geller: Oh, well, I’m so glad you brought him here then.
Ross and Rachel’s drunk shenanigans lead them to get married in Vegas with the gang all invited to watch by Ross. Monica and Chandler looking for signs everywhere on whether they should get married. Joey and Phoebe being Joey and Regina Philangie.. What’s not to love?
Monica: So what are you guys going to do.
Rachel: I think we need to get a divorce lawyer.
Chandler: I think, I think Ross already has one. So you get this one for free, right? Because you paid for the other two?
The main story of the episode deals with Chandler trying to make things better with Joey after his kiss with Kathy, who Joey was trying to date and Joey puts Chandler in a box to make him repent (also a throwback to an earlier episode when Joey got locked into a TV Cabinet by a thief).
Chandler: The meaning of the box is threefold. One (holds a finger up through the air hole), it gives me the time to think about what I did. Two (holds up another finger), it proves how much I care about my friendship with Joey. And three (holds up a third finger), it hurts!
This is the episode where a simple bet between Monica/Rachel and Chandler/Joey turns into a super competitive, full-fledged trivia quiz about who knows who better, which leads to the apartment switching between the girls and the guys.
Chandler: Actually it’s Miss Chanandler Bong
The sixth season finale, this episode ends with one of the most beautiful proposals in TV history. The events leading up to the proposal are full of humor but the actual proposal itself makes the viewers feel involved in the fate of the characters, Could there BE anything better?
Chandler: Okay! (He joins her on one knee) Okay! Okay! Oh God, I thought… (Starting to cry) Wait a minute, I-I can do this.. I thought that it mattered what I said or where I said it. Then I realized the only thing that matters is that you, you make me happier than I ever thought I could be. (Starting to cry again.) And if you’ll let me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way. (Pause as he gets out the ring.) Monica, will you marry me?
Serving as the finale of the series, these 2 episodes have a lot of big moments for the cast. From Ross and Rachel getting together again to Monica and Chandler finally completing their family with the twins to the last scene with all the keys, these episodes make every Friends fan get teary-eyed.
Rachel: Should we get some Coffee? Chandler: Sure…Where??
Monica: I’m sorry Who should be along in a what, now?? We only ordered one!
Ross: Did she get off the Plane? Â Did she get off the Plane?
Rachel: Â I got off the Plane!
All the wedding episodes in Friends were beautifully crafted and Phoebe and Mike’s wedding is no different. When all the wedding plans go awry because of a snow storm, Monica helps Phoebe have her wedding outside in the snow and the vows make us all a little sentimental. Although the show did not add a regular cast member through its 10 year run, Mike makes us wish they had added (pre Ant-Man) Paul Rudd who fits in to the show perfectly.
Phoebe: When I was growing up, I didn’t have a normal mom and dad, or a regular family like everybody else, and I always knew that something was missing. But now I’m standing here today, knowing that I have everything I’m ever gonna need… You are my family. (She puts the ring on Mike’s finger)
Monica and Chandler have been dating for a while and Joey finds out but is sworn to secrecy. As always things start to unravel when Rachel and Phoebe find out and decide to mess with the happy couple and Joey is super confused with all the secrets he has to keep.
Monica: Oh man, they think they are so slick messing with us! But see they don’t know that we know that they know! So…
Ross and Rachel were the on again/off again couple through the entirety of the series and the events of this episode led to one of the most seminal kisses in sitcom history. Ross wins all our hearts as he does Rachel’s by the end of this episode.
Phoebe: He’s her lobster!
Ross: I went to that tanning place your wife suggested.
Chandler: Was that place the SUN?!”
Joey: Paper! Snow! A Ghost!
What do you think of our list? What would make yours? Tell us in the comments below!
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Awesome awesome! Memories reloaded.
Amazing .. I have lost count of the reruns that I have seen of this show. Infact I did visit the actual central perk with my best friend and it made it all very surreal. Love the way this article is written. It’s surprising on point. Loved it..