• Announcements

    • Robin

      Welcome!   03/05/2016

      Welcome, everyone, to the new 910CMX Community Forums. I'm still working on getting them running, so things may change.  If you're a 910 Comic creator and need your forum recreated, let me know and I'll get on it right away.  I'll do my best to make this new place as fun as the last one!

Recommended Posts

After watching the Friends reunion last week, I got a craving to rewatch the series. I used to love this show; I watched it all the time in syndication back in the day, but the finale happened to be the spring before I moved away to school for the first time and as a result I haven't watched it in 17 years. I am a Friends cicada. This is also the first time I've been older than any of the friends ever were through the entire run of the show, whereas before I was always younger than them except in flashbacks.

I'm watching it again now on HBO max and am experiencing all kinds of thoughts and feels. I'll talk about each season as I get through them. Anyone else who wants to join in, feel free.
 

Season One – 8.5/10,  Friends in its purest form

-Super Nostalgic

-Tone-setting

-So many establishing character moments (Monica's OCD, Chandler's snarkiness and hatred for Thanksgiving, Rachel trying to get a job, Ross losing poker on purpose, Joey's terrible play, anything Phoebe does)

-Iconic stories and jokes (Joey's VD, The W.E.N.U.S., the butt double, trying to see each other's boobies/pee-pees, Nana dies twice)

-Some of the most memorable guest characters (Paul the Wine Guy, Mr. Heckles, Steve the stoned guy, Jill Goodacre, Paolo, Fun Bobby, Nora Bing, Young Ethan)

-Establishment of some of the best recurring characters (Jack and Judy Geller, Janice, Carol and Susan)

-Rachel adjusting to independence

-Ross adjusting to singlehood

-Truest “young adults in the city” vibe

-The monkey

 

 

Top 3 episodes (ascending):

3. The One With The Birth

2.The One Where Underdog Gets Away

1. The One With All The Poker

 

Bottom 3 episodes (descending):

3. The One With The East German Laundry Detergent

2. The One With The Evil Orthodontist

1. The One With Two Parts: Part One

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If I hadn't grown up watching it, I probably wouldn't have much interest in it now outside of curiosity toward a piece of TV history.

That said, there are definitely still parts of it that make me literally laugh out loud.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
7 hours ago, mlooney said:

I don't think I ever watched an episode of Friends.  Not on purpose that's for sure.

A sentiment I am likewise compelled to express

Actually, I don't think I have kept an appointment to watch a sitcom on network television since the end of Cheers and Night Court.  It's not so bad, but I do occasionally wonder what happened to Ubu.  Did he ever not sit?  Was he always a good boy?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Boo to all of you. It's great and I'm going to keep talking about it.

Season Two - 9.8/10, Peak Friends

-Still nostalgic

-All six main character backstories fleshed out (through flashbacks and conversations w/ characters from their pasts)

-Ross and Rachel (with not one but two pay-offs!) These two are both regularly cited as among the best episodes of the entire series

-Smelly Cat

-Strong emotional moments like the death of Mr. Heckles and the prom video

-More memorable supporting characters like Richard and Gunther (and Janice again)

-Big time guest actors like Tom Selleck, Julia Roberts, Brooke Shields, Charlie Sheen

-Monica loses her job, establishing that the status quo can be shaken

-Dr. Drake Ramoray

 

 

 

Top 3 episodes (ascending):

3.The One Where Ross Finds Out

2.The One Where Heckles Dies

1.The One With The Prom Video

 

Bottom 3 episodes (descending):

3. The One With Five Steaks And An Eggplant

2.The One Where Eddie Moves In

1.The One With Russ

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I miss everyone. If we had more people here, I'm sure someone else could reminisce with me. :(

 

Season Three – 7.8/10, The edge of the great Friends plateau

-Last precious drops of nostalgia

-Early stages of cringe humor as a staple

-End of Ross and Rachel (bittersweet but well done)

-First major flashback episode

-Rachel quits her job and starts a career

-First major bottle episode

-The chick and the duck

-Joey’s first serious relationship

-Great guest characters (Pete, Frank Jr., Kate, Janice again)

-Lackluster guest characters (Tommy, Chloe, Bonnie, Joanna)

-Consistent quality (only a couple stand-out great episodes, but no really bad ones)

 

Top 3 episodes (ascending):

3. The One With The Giant Poking Device

2. The One With The Morning After

1. The One Where No One's Ready

 

Bottom 3 episodes (descending):

3. The One With Phoebe's Ex-Partner

2. The One WIth The Screamer

1. The One With The Football

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this