Whether you are trying to get in the mood for Thanksgiving or are stuffed on the couch post-dinner, tis the season to veg out and and watch T.V. And what better to get you feeling thankful than your favorite Thanksgiving-themed episodes of Friends. So this thanksgiving don’t forget to be thankful for the friends that will always be there for you.
10. “The One with the List” (Season 2)
Ranking last, this Thanksgiving episode just does not quite have that feel good holiday vibe. The actual holiday is not the focus of the episode but instead it is one of many “will-they, won’t-they” episodes for Ross and Rachel. With, as a result of Ross’s pro/con list, the unfortunate they don’t ending, which does not provide a warm holiday feeling.
9. “The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs” (Season 7)
Nothing very exciting or dramatic happens in this Thanksgiving episode. It is the beginning of Rachel and her assistant Tag’s (relatively short and unimportant) relationship. But besides that, they eat, and find out Chandler doesn’t like dogs. So in the end, it really was just all a moo point.
8. “The One With Rachel’s Other Sister” (Season 9)
Finally after 9 seasons we meet Rachel’s other sister Amy. Amy’s appearance at Thanksgiving seemed to be a little forced for the sake of drama. And though she definitely provided that, the opportunity to show a heartwarming “Emma’s first Thanksgiving” was missed.
7. “The One With Chandler In A Box” (Season 4)
This Thanksgiving Joey is not talking to Chandler after finding out he kissed Kathy, Joey’s (now ex) girlfriend. So after many attempts to convince Joey to forgive him, Chandler agrees to do some thinking while locked in a box during Thanksgiving dinner. Though Richard Burke does not make an appearance in this episode, his son, Tim Burke is invited to dinner by Monica. Because, as Tim says, “what’s Thanksgiving without a little emotional scarring.”
6. “The One With The Rumor” (Season 8)
The one with Brad Pitt. This Thanksgiving special quest Brad Pitt is invited to Thanksgiving as a once fat nerd turned hot nerd who, becuase there always has to be something drama worthy, despises Rachel (played by his wife at the time, Jeniffer Aniston). Also making an appearance in this episode, Joey in Phoebe’s maternity pants.
5. “The One With The Football” (Season 3)
This episode is the most we see of the friends outside of the apartment during Thanksgiving. Instead of focusing on the dinner we get to witness some competition between both Monica and Ross, and Joey and Chandler. This is the first time Monica and Ross have played football since the tragic end of “The Geller Bowl” when they were kids. And they are both determined to finally win the ‘Geller Cup’. While this competition is going on Joey and Chandler are vying for the attention of a foreign woman who just happened to be walking by during their game.
4. “The One With The Late Thanksgiving” (Season 10)
The final Thanksgiving episode is strung together by classic screw ups, Monica’s competitiveness, and Chandler. Though it may not be the strongest Thanksgiving episode, what ties it all together and makes it truly memorable is that in the final minutes Monica finds out that their is a birth mother in Ohio interested in her and Chandler, bringing them closer to finally becoming parents. As the group hugs and Monica screams, “This Thanksgiving kicks last Thanksgiving’s ass!”, it is a perfect ending to the many Friends Thanksgivings.
3. “The One Where Ross Got High” (Season 6)
The whole Geller clan is at this Thanksgiving, and we find out that Monica hasn’t told her parents about her relationship with Chandler. So Chandler, now living with Monica, is determined to get the approval of her parents. Only to find out that they don’t like him because Ross had told them that Chandler smoked pot in college when really it was him. When Ross tries to leave without telling his parents the truth Monica takes it upon herself to do so, resulting in the sibling’s yelling their childhood secrets to their parents and Ross announcing that Monica and Chandler were living together. What’s not to like? Secrets, fighting, dinner, an english trifle, all goooood.
2. “The One Where Underdog Gets Away” (Season 1)
The fact that this is the first of many heartwarming and hilarious Thanksgiving episodes easily helps it earn its spot at #2. This was the first Thanksgiving Monica made for everyone in the apartment. It is where Chandler shares the story of how his parents told him they were getting divorced, on Thanksgiving, thus sparking his boycott of all things Thanksgiving. This Thanksgiving was also the first time all of the friends spent Thanksgiving away from their biological families, but with their new family.
1. “The One With The Thanksgiving Flashbacks” (Season 5)
Taking #1, this Thanksgiving episode takes us down memory lane as the friends discuss their worst thanksgivings (both in this lifetime and in lifetimes past). The episode shows flashbacks of pre-nosejob Rachel, 80’s/90’s styled Ross and Chandler, fat Monica and Civil War nurse Phoebe. What really makes this episode #1 is its heart string tugging, laugh-out-loud set up of the budding romance between Monica and Chandler. Flashback to the Thanksgiving where Monica overhears Chandler call her fat, followed by a following Thanksgiving where Monica, now skinny, wants to get Chandler back for his hurtful comment, and ends up doing so by accidentally cutting off the tip of one of his toes. Back to the present, Monica attempts to make it up to Chandler by taking a page out of Joey’s book and putting an uncooked turkey on her head. Thus leading to Chandler telling Monica he loves her for the first time.