Friends (tv show)

[nightshade]

I was watching The Good Place last night, and Michael was talking about watching Friends. Mentioning the friendship between Phoebe and Ross. Now it's been years since I've watched the show, but how did Phoebe fit into the group? Would Ross have been friends with them, if he wasn't Monica's sister, other than Rachel?

Was it a friendship group that was realistic?

Is it a show that if made today you would watch?

 

[NotASlayer]

Friends is a series that though I know of it and have seen lots of clips from it, I have somehow never managed to see an entire episode of it!

 

[Taake]

Phoebe lived with Monica, so that’s how she came into the group. Kind of like Joey too.

Phoebe at one point tried to ”ice” Monica out, but they somehow remained friends.

Ross, Monica and Chandler (Ross’ college friend) are the core of the group. Then Rachel joins, who knew Monica in high school, so they all make sense as they’ve been friends for so long.

Phoebe and Joey are roommates that turned long term friends. So while they’re different from the main group, I still think it makes sense. They bring something to the dynamic that I could see how the others find appealing. So I think it is realistic, even if Phoebe and Joey are both unrealistic characters

What doesn’t make sense, of course, is how much they hang out. For the ones the live together it makes sense, but like the start of s2, Ross comes home from China and the first thing he does is bring his new girlfriend to his sister’s apartment to greet his friends. Then he goes to see his son. Then he goes home. Like, who would do that after a long journey?

Maybe, I would Watch a new show like that… but I’m getting too old to find the antics of 20 something’s entertaining. I can re-watch Friends and HIMYM, much like I can re-watch Buffy or Sabrina. Because I remember it from back when.

Now teen shows and young adult shows fail to grab me. The actors look like children and I, for obvious reasons, don’t relate to their emotional drama.

 

[nightshade]

Phoebe lived with Monica, so that’s how she came into the group. Kind of like Joey too

Oh I forgot that, I always think of Phoebe living elsewhere and Monica and Rachel sharing the apartment.

 

[hoponlilmama]

What doesn’t make sense, of course, is how much they hang out. For the ones the live together it makes sense, but like the start of s2, Ross comes home from China and the first thing he does is bring his new girlfriend to his sister’s apartment to greet his friends. Then he goes to see his son. Then he goes home. Like, who would do that after a long journey?

One must suspend their disbelief to make it work!

There were a number of instances where they'd be gathered at Monica's early in the morning for breakfast and it's a work day. You could understand Monica, Rachel, Chandler and Joey being gathered, but when Ross and Phoebe are there?

I suppose you could explain it away by saying Phoebe (who at a time was self-employed) didn't have a massage client until later in the day, and Ross stopped by because he was passing the apartment on his way to the museum.

Or the time they're all gathered at Central Perk - they even made a crack about it once, why they're all hanging around there when they should be at work and it's after 9am.

 

[November]

Is it a show that if made today you would watch?

I didnt ever really like Friends much as it was airing, I just watched it cos everyone else at school did and it was an easy topic of conversation. So I remember about as much as you do.

If there was a sitcom about friends/housemates now, I would prefer something more like The Golden Girls.

 

[Taake]

One must suspend their disbelief to make it work!

There were a number of instances where they'd be gathered at Monica's early in the morning for breakfast and it's a work day. You could understand Monica, Rachel, Chandler and Joey being gathered, but when Ross and Phoebe are there?

I suppose you could explain it away by saying Phoebe (who at a time was self-employed) didn't have a massage client until later in the day, and Ross stopped by because he was passing the apartment on his way to the museum.

Or the time they're all gathered at Central Perk - they even made a crack about it once, why they're all hanging around there when they should be at work and it's after 9am.

Lol, yeah, I remember they have a talk where they all mention their bosses don’t like them, and either Joey or Phoebe goes ”maybe cause you’re all hanging out here at 11 a.m”

 

[Nix]

Slightly attached to the subject - I'm going to The Friends Experience in London in March!

Check it out

 

[Bop]

I think the way Rachel slid back into Monica's life was unrealistic, they were best friends in High School but lost touch and then Rachel moves in with Monica when she runs away from her wedding (that Monica wasn't invited to).
They did decide that Phoebe is the one who 'lifts right out of the group' because she lives far away, isn't blood related to any of them and didn't know any of them in high school/college.

 

[nightshade]

I didnt ever really like Friends much as it was airing, I just watched it cos everyone else at school did and it was an easy topic of conversation. So I remember about as much as you do.

It was always on, and my mother would always buy me random episodes on vhs. There were always buy one get one free type deals, so I'd get maybe 4 tapes of it for Christmas. However she never looked to see if it was ones from the same season, so it would be episodes 1-4 of one season and 9-12 of another!

 

[famicommander]

There aren't many live action sitcoms I enjoy and Friends is certainly not on the list.

 

[hoponlilmama]

Forgot to answer the original questions:

Was it a friendship group that was realistic?

Yes and no. I mean, who is hanging around their mates that often? In terms of personalities, all different, but they worked somehow.

Is it a show that if made today you would watch?

I would. You ignore all the unrealistic elements. If Friends was made today, they'd also be sensitive to audiences. Some of the jokes made back then have aged very badly.

I think it's a great show, but Seinfeld is the superior series. Feels like Friends pushed another year to make 10 seasons just to pip Seinfeld's 9. Whilst still funny enough, I think the series had run out of steam and should've wound things up maybe around season 7 or 8.

 

[hoponlilmama]

NotASlayer Should have wound things up earlier is sadly too common when it comes to series, regularly buried under The Quest for More Money.

Ain't that the truth!
"It's always better to leave the party early"

 

[Taake]

I think the way Rachel slid back into Monica's life was unrealistic, they were best friends in High School but lost touch and then Rachel moves in with Monica when she runs away from her wedding (that Monica wasn't invited to).

To be honest it also it felt unrealistic that they were best friends in high school, being so different it seems like they would have had different friend groups then already

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Hmm, it’s been a while since I watched Friends. I did watch it all he way though in 2017 I believe.

From what I can recall, yes Phoebe was friends with Rachel and Monica originally and became friends with Ross, Chandler and Joey by default. Of course they’re all friends, but I don’t remember Phoebe being particularly close with Ross at all.

Do I think the friendships were realistic on the show? Yes, I do actually. Part of the groups continuing friendships was of convenience I think, all living in the same building, dating each other and all. But with time they became like family.

And yes If the show was on now I’d definitely watch it.

 

[Mr Trick]

I’m guessing it’s not that realistic but then that is partly the appeal to the fan base who see it as a classic escapism show. It also fits a bit into the inspirational career woman type shows we were getting in the 90s.

 

[hoponlilmama]

I’m guessing it’s not that realistic but then that is partly the appeal to the fan base who see it as a classic escapism show. It also fits a bit into the inspirational career woman type shows we were getting in the 90s.

You make a good point. We often watch television and movies for escapism. So there's a fine line I guess between over-analysing a show, and making sure to switch off your brain and just enjoy whatever you're watching.

Could Monica and Rachel afford their apartment, food, clothes etc on their wages living in NYC? Probably not, but let's not try and overthink it too much. 🤣

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

Oh, Courtney Cox was the actress with the highest profile at the time the show debuted, being in movies like Ace Ventura and He-man, and that one Bruce Springsteen video. So, they wrote the series relationships around Monica as the center node.

 

[Taake]

Could Monica and Rachel afford their apartment, food, clothes etc on their wages living in NYC? Probably not, but let's not try and overthink it too much. 🤣

Since they establish that Monica is actually illegally renting her dead grandmother’s rent-controlled apartment… then yes.

And they don’t start wearing nicer clothes until later when they have established careers. At the start of the show their dress is pretty low key and realistic (probably reflecting the budget of the show more than anything)

 

[hoponlilmama]

Since they establish that Monica is actually illegally renting her dead grandmother’s rent-controlled apartment… then yes.

Fair point. This is revealed in the 4th or 5th(?) season I believe. I think they just may have been inconsistent at times with the writing.

We're shown in s2 or 3 Monica is struggling with money and can't afford to pay her bills - yes she's unemployed for that period - but she's put nothing aside? This is coming from a character who is depicted as being a 'type A' and very organised. I found that a bit odd.

I don't know. Like I said, best not to overthink a comedy series too much!

And they don’t start wearing nicer clothes until later when they have established careers. At the start of the show their dress is pretty low key and realistic (probably reflecting the budget of the show more than anything)

Haha yes that is probably more down to the budget and uncertainty if the show would proceed to a second season!

What I did like is that actually dedicated an episode to money struggles (I think it was in the 1st season?) and how it can change the dynamics within the group - you had Phoebe, Rachel and Joey who told Monica, Chandler and Ross that they couldn't afford fancy dinners and the like, because they didn't make as much as them.