As everyone knows, Friends does holidays well. The holiday-themed episodes of this famous TV show are some of the most-watched and most-loved episodes in the entire series. While Friends is more known for its Christmas, New Years’, and Thanksgiving episodes, the showrunners knew they couldn’t produce 236 episodes without doing at least a few Valentine’s Day episodes.
With Valentine’s Day coming up soon, here is a list of all three of the Valentine’s Day-themed Friends episodes for you to binge-watch on the 14th. Because what’s better than sitting on the couch, eating chocolate, and spending time with your favourite gang of friends?
- Season 1, Episode 14: The One With The Candy Hearts
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In this episode, we see Chandler set up on a blind date with his over-the-top ex, Janice — and to say that he isn’t pleased would be an understatement.
While Chandler is suffering through a date with Janice, the girls, Phoebe, Monica, and Rachel, are back home in their iconic purple apartment spending Valentine’s complaining about being single. Phoebe suggests that the girls do a “spiritual cleansing” by having a boyfriend bonfire. However, the bonfire does not end the way they were expecting; the bonfire ends up in flames bringing in some cute firefighters into the apartment.
Watching this is a must!
- Season 6, Episode 17: The One with Unagi
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In season six’s Valentine’s Day episode, Monica and Chandler decide to give each other homemade Valentine’s Day gifts instead of buying gifts for one another. All is well until the night arrives when the couple is supposed to exchange gifts and neither of them made anything. Monica freaks out and ends up giving Chandler one of Phoebe’s sock puppets that she has made throughout the show (that’s a whole DIFFERENT storyline that we just do not have time for right now) while Chandler gives Monica a homemade mixtape.
Monica can hardly believe that Chandler went to all that trouble to make a personal mixtape, until she begins to play it and hears Janice’s voice wishing Chandler a happy birthday — turns out, the mixtape is an old gift from Janice for one of his birthdays.
Oh. My. Gawd. Why must Janice always appear?
- Season 8, Episode 15: The One With the Birthing Video
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Now a married couple, Monica and Chandler are determined to make Valentine’s Day amazing. Monica has an amazing night planned out for Chandler and herself until it all comes crashing down when Chandler turns on the television.
Phoebe had brought over a DVD recording of her friend in labour to show the pregnant Rachel what giving birth is like. However, Chandler sees the recording first and is completely grossed out. Monica and, eventually, Rachel join him in watching the graphic video and the three spend Valentine’s Day horrified at what transpires on screen. To make the episode even more exciting, this is the one where Joey FINALLY reveals to Ross that he has feelings for Rachel, Ross’ “lobster.”
I’m starting to think that Monica and Chandler do not have the best of luck when it comes to Valentine’s Day… I mean, could it BE any more obvious?
Consider spending your Valentine’s Day curled up with your Valentine or your Galentine and watch your favourite squad attempt to survive the holiday. Happy Valentine’s Day!