Picking the best episodes of Friends is certainly not an easy feat but I’ve taken it upon myself to do just that and pay homage to a show I can never get tired of.
Everyone has a show they can watch 100 times without fail and for me, Friends is that show. I take a lot of comfort in the love and support all six characters show each other and the constant brotherly humor that never gets old. Outside of the happy go lucky scenes, the show accurately portrays realistic problems and situations — both good and bad — like job losses, heartbreak, and money troubles.
That being said, there are definitely some episodes that are better than others and while it’s always been up for debate, here is my own controversial list of the best episodes of Friends, in no particular order.
- “The One Where No One is Ready” (Season 3, Episode 2): This episode is one of my personal favorites because the entire episode takes place in a 20-minute time-span. It’s filled with connections between every character while Ross rushes everyone to get ready. The episode depicts ridiculous but very much realistic problems from Rachael trying to pick an outfit to the boys fighting over a chair and Monica calling her ex-boyfriend. There will always be people in the world that hate being late and the others, who are always late; a very relatable struggle within every friend group. This episode points out both sides which everyone can relate to.
- “The One With the Embryos” (Season 4, Episode 12): This episode is filled with all sorts of emotions: thrill, excitement, hope, and so much more. Phoebe begins the process of becoming a surrogate mother for her half-brother. Since the chance of becoming pregnant is really low and the procedure is extremely expensive, they are forced to play the waiting game. Back at the apartment, Rachael and Monica play a trivia game against the boys with their own apartment on the line. The mix of silly and serious is the perfect balance. The hope that the end of the episode brings makes me feel at peace and allows me to walk away feeling like good things can happen. It’s an incredibly welcome feeling of wholesomeness and climbs the top of my list with ease.
- “The One Where Ross Got High” (Season 6, Episode 9): To me, this is at the top of my favorites list. The idea of a bond between brother and sister and them spilling all their secrets to their parents is amazing. There are so many things we all did as kids that we got away with and, within just a few minutes, both Monica and Ross spill it all. The entire episode, Monica is hiding a secret that she asks her brother Ross for help in how to tell their parents. The episode is filled with so many confessions and silly truths that it makes me think of my childhood and how many stupid things my brother and I did as kids. This is the perfect episode to watch when missing family and friends while being away at college.
- “The One Where Ross is Fine” (Season 10, Episode 2): Everyone has those days where they say “I’m fine” but something is really bothering them. This episode tackles that sad truth, perfectly. The entire episode is based on the fact that Ross keeps telling everyone he is fine but, in reality, he is not. Rachael being in a new relationship with a close friend of his is not sitting well for Ross so to solve this, he invites them over for dinner. Let’s just say he had a little too much to drink. The funny yet very relatable episode always makes me chuckle since we have all been there. Whether we are stressed or just unhappy with a situation, there are times we all agree that nothing is wrong but, deep down something is truly bothering us. This episode shows that we all have those days, no matter our age, gender, or relationship status.
Friends is a show that I will continue to watch no matter how many times I have seen it. Between the humor and storylines, it will always be the show that makes me feel joy and comfort. Whether I am really paying attention to the show or just having it on in the background, hearing the familiar voices and theme song makes me feel content.