Friends is my absolute favorite show. I’ve seen it four times through, so I’ve gotten to know the gang pretty well. Because I have a good understanding of each character’s faults and strengths, I decided to rank the six friends. Disclaimer: this list is not based on personality but is instead based on how good of an actual friend these Friends characters were.
Phoebe
Don’t get me wrong, I love Phoebe. She’s quirky, funny, and lovable. However, Phoebe was definitely the worst at being a friend. She was super flaky, she rarely offered good advice, and she lied quite a bit to her friends. Need proof? In “The One with the Joke,” she admits to being flaky after telling Monica she’s high-maintenance and Rachel she’s a pushover. In “The One with All the Poker,” she minimizes Rachel’s sufferings in the guise of a joke. In “The One with the Lottery,” she lies to her friends–albeit poorly–about dropping the lottery tickets off the balcony. Need I continue?
Joey
It physically hurts me to put Joey this far down on the list because he’s so sweet, funny and protective. But, Joey wasn’t always the greatest friend. He abused Chandler’s kindness, he prioritized getting laid over being there for his friends, and he held grudges. Do I hear a call for proof? In “The One Where Rachel is Late,” Chandler calculates how much money Joey owes him, so Joey decides to forgive him so he won’t have to pay him back. In “The One with Two Parts: Part 2,” Joey repeatedly chooses to hang out with Ursula over Phoebe. And, in “The One with Chandler in a Box,” Joey literally forces Chandler to spend Thanksgiving in a box for kissing his girlfriend.
Chandler
Friends fans universally agree that Chandler is the funniest of the bunch. Chandler is also a pretty great friend, too. First and foremost, he basically pays for all of Joey’s living expenses. Also, in “The One with Ross’s Wedding,” Chandler repeatedly comforts a sad, single Monica. And let’s not forget, in “The One in Barbados,” Chandler genuinely tries to give David good advice on how to make Phoebe happy. However, we can’t forget his faults. He’s often too sarcastic, can be pretty wishy-washy, and doesn’t always make the best decisions.
Rachel
Rachel is an absolute sweetheart. Sure, she was a bit stuck up and self-centered in the beginning, but she truly transformed into a strong, caring woman by the end of the show. Some of Rachel’s best moments as a friend include: when she cries over how wonderful Monica is in “The One on the Last Night,” when she comforts and uplifts Joey after he tells her he loves her in “The One Where Joey Tells Rachel,” and when she defends Ross’s honor to her sister in “The One with Rachel’s Sister.”
Ross
Nobody really likes Ross. He’s anal, he thinks he’s so smart, and he’s petty. Yet, when we look at his actions, Ross was actually a pretty great friend. In “The One with the Chick and the Duck,” Ross stays home from a television interview to help a hurt Rachel get ready for a work event. In “The One with All the Candy,” Ross buys Phoebe her first bike after learning she never got to have one as a child. And, in “The One Where Ross is Fine,” he pretends to be okay with Joey and Rachel dating because he doesn’t want to get in the way of their happiness. What a nice guy.
Monica
IMHO, Monica is the supreme friend. Sure, she’s pretty over-the-top and controlling, but it’s all out of love. By far, she is the most caring, loyal, welcoming, and supportive friend. Highlights include: letting Rachel live in her apartment in “The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate,” supporting Phoebe after her breakup with Mike in “The One with the Memorial Service,” and giving Rachel her baby name that she’d had picked out since she was a kid in “The One Where Rachel Has a Baby, Part 2.”
Of course, this is just one girl’s opinion. What do you think about this ranking? Let me know in the comments below!