It’s that time of year again! The leaves are falling, turkeys are being bought like they’re going out of style, and everyone feels the need to revisit some of the best Thanksgiving episodes that have aired on TV: “Friends”. Here’s my definitive ranking of all ten Thanksgiving episodes (and while there are certainly some I prefer more than others, they’re all great, so it’s really a matter of going to my favorite to my most favorite).
10. “The One With the List”
In this episode, Ross makes a pros and cons list for whether he should date Rachel or Julie, Monica has to cook with Mockolate, and Chandler’s obsessed with his new computer. While it’s certainly got some great moments, it’s got the least to do with Thanksgiving out of the bunch.
9. “ The One Where Underdog Gets Away”
This is the first Thanksgiving episode ever in Friends. We learn about Chandler’s dislike for Turkey Day, one of the Macy’s balloons gets away, Monica’s stuck making every variation of everyone’s favorite dishes, and Joey’s stuck with an STD campaign plastering his face all over the city. The closing scene steals the show but considering it’s early in season one, the show is still finding its footing at that point.
8. “The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs”
Phoebe and Monica are hiding a dog Phoebe’s dog sitting from Chandler after they discover that he doesn’t like dogs, Chandler tortures Ross with “the States Game” where Ross can’t figure out all fifty states, and Rachel is attempting to see if it’s okay to date Tag. Ross’s frustration may be the funniest part of the entire episode, especially once he thinks he’s finally gotten it all figured out.
7. “The One With All the Thanksgivings”
This is the season’s obligatory flashback episode, revisiting the gang’s various Thanksgivings from the past, including a couple in Phoebe’s former lives. Of course, we all know the best parts of the episode are seeing Joey and Monica with the turkey on their heads.
6. “The One With Rachel’s Other Sister”
Rachel’s sister Amy shows up and stirs up the conversation of who’s going to be Emma’s godparents, which both causes problems between her and Rachel and Monica and Chandler. Add in the subplot of Monica and Chandler’s wedding china and Joey learning how to lie, it’s a pretty giggly episode.
5. “The One Where Ross Gets High”
Ross doesn’t actually get high in the episode, but the fact that he did around his parents in college finally comes out when Monica and Chandler learn that Ross blamed Chandler for that time, leading to a floodgate of hilarious confessions coming from the entire group. Plus there’s Rachel’s trifle, which is a punchline in of itself.
4. “The One With the Late Thanksgiving”
Baby beauty pageant, a Rangers game, and getting locked out of Monica and Chandler’s apartment for Thanksgiving since… well… they were all late.
3. “The One With the Rumor”
Guest starring Brad Pitt. Need I say more?
2. “The One With the Football”
Between the Geller Cup, Rachel and Phoebe not knowing how to play football, and Joey and Chandler fighting over the heart of a Dutch woman, there’s a lot to laugh at here.
Annnd… drumroll…
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“The One With Chandler in a Box”
Just the image of Chandler’s one finger sticking out at the end makes me crack up, plus the confusion of everyone else by the voice coming from the box is PRICELESS.