Friends- The Best & Most Favourite Show

Sitcoms are my favourite TV genre.

I love the simplicity of them, being able to just simply sit down and watch an episode.

Of course, my favourite sitcom, and show of all time, is Friends.

Friends ran for 10 years, and was a consistent critical and popular success

A Simple Premise, Rich Results

The show’s simple premise of six friends living in New York City in their mid-twenties is not new, but they took it to a whole new level, and did it the best. Before and after friends, no show has come close to being as iconic, memorable, and critically beloved.

While it’s not realistic (very difficult anyways for television) it’s escapist fantasy being real enough means it never felt entirely out of reach.

Sure, they deal with career ups and downs, relationship problems, but they also tackle having a kid out of wedlock, parents divorcing, serious hard stuff that it’s perfectly mixed in with comedic moments.

The friends always stuck together, and though they had their fights, it almost never threatened to tear them apart.

Even after twenty years off air, the show it still relevant, because the topics, problems, interactions, are timeless.

Plus, the comedy is situational, not based around an actual joke.

I can remember every little detail, how every episode plays out.

The show’s premise is familiar, but done with so much quality it’ll never get old.

And the finale didn’t feel rushed, unlike others. It built it up through the second half of the season and felt more natural.

Characters

Unlike many shows where the cast (Main, recurring, or minor) is constantly changing, Friends never did that. I can think of only one character, Carol – Ross’ first wife – who changed actresses after the first appearance. If you change an actor, it should be early, which they did. Otherwise, they maintained it for ten years!

And unlike some shows where the social group has some in it who aren’t actually friends, Phoebe, Joey, Monica, Ross, Chandler, and Rachel all genuinely liked, loved, and cared for each other. Some were a little better together, but it never felt like two of them weren’t really friends.

Put any combination, two of them, four of them, anyone, and it still works. It doesn’t feel awkward or out of place, they are all friends!

They all had their unique traits, good and bad. Something that you remember instantly and always enjoy.

The group consists of Rachel, Joey, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, and Ross. They've all become iconic characters in their own way.

Icons & Iconic

The show is soo iconic in different ways.

From the title card, the theme song, everything about it.

The "will they won't they" and ups and downs of Ross and Rachel's relationship.

Monica and Rachel’s apartment? Central Perk!! Clothing, hairstyles, catchphrases and lines.

“How you doin?” “I Know!!” “We were on a break!!”

The main cast, major and minor characters.

Who could forget Janice’s’ annoying laugh? Gunther? Or Mr. and Mrs. Geller?

The show's famous quotes and lines are always recognizable, like this T-Shirt. Who says this to whom?

Though the show started off a bit like Seinfeld, it quickly made some adjustments, found its footing and planted them firmly down. It’s similar to Seinfeld with its quotes and sayings, but more memorable because it’s integrated into a conversation/situation.

Great Chemistry On and Behind The Set

Unlike many comedies (Big Bang Theory) that stray from the original premise and foundation, Friends pretty much always kept the formula. That consistency for ten seasons is unheard of, and just when you can tell in the final season quality was dipping, they bowed out, instead of dragging the dead horse on (The Simpsons).

The consistency both on the set and behind the camera are incredible. The original creators were there every step of the way.

Knowing the cast genuinely loved each other as much as they did in the show warms my heart. Most times the actors don’t like each other, either professionally, personally, or a bit of both.

They always had lunch together, Jennifer Aniston became Godmother to Courtney Cox’s daughter. They got along with the creators and producers, it was a friendship through and through.

Another aspect is equality. Most shows have characters that don’t appear as often, but in Friends, nearly every single episode they appear equally. I can only think of one episode where one character, Monica, appeared inly only one brief scene, and that’s it. Again, that consistency is incredible and unheard of!

By the later seasons the six cast members stuck together and ensured they got equal pay. Again, unheard of!

Knowing the premise of the show and chemistry amongst the cast translated to real life sets this show apart from all the rest

Problems

Okay, so I do acknowledge some subjective problems with the show.

My biggest complaint is Joey. He started off as not so much academic smart, but had enough common sense, talk, and street smart to get by. He was able to function, just not as strong as the rest. Slow in some areas, but ss the series progressed, he just seemed so stupid, almost to the point of being unable to function. Shows do this a lot where a less than smart character becomes incredibly stupid ad clueless, and I wish they didn’t do that to him. It’s made up for it because he’s still a layered character and has various intellectual and emotional moments, but just tone down the stupidity.

Another more minor problem is how they handled special guests starts. Now they had some incredible ones through the series, but when they stay for several episodes because they are dating one the six, it felt off. Reason was how they handle the characters exit. Like Jon Favreau’s character Pete. Dated Monica for several episodes, things were going well, then out of the blue, wants to become the ultimate fighting champion! Writers were probably trapped in a corner, but it just cheapens the arc.

A smaller one is Ross and Monica being brother and sister. It doesn't mean they're all friends without a familial connection, and at times the subjects they talk about, they seem to forget they're related. Though it's acknowledged amongst the group at times, and it isn't as a big of a deal.

Really, those are probably it. Other nit-picks I can live with, so for a show that has nearly 250 episode across ten years, that’s an incredibly small list of complaints.

Really, the quality of this show is unlike anything else.

A Lasting Legacy

Friends will forever live on and be remembered for what it is. A fun lighthearted show about a time of your life. With its memorable characters, situational humour, dialogue, and consistent quality and formula, Friends is my absolute favourite show of all time. Nothing else comes even close to it.

What about you? What do you love about Friends? Your favourite thing about it? Comment down below!