An iconic sitcom from the 90s’, “Friends” follows the stories of Monica, Rachel, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe and Ross—a group of friends in their twenties—as they navigate through their lives in New York City. The show, which is streaming on HBO Max, is a perfect watch when you need a laugh or some comfort. With 10 seasons and 236 episodes, it is difficult to narrow down the best episodes, but here are my top five picks.
Honorable Mentions:
“The Last One”- Season 10, Episode 18, “The One With the Football”- Season 3, Episode 9
#5: “The One With All The Cheesecakes” – Season 7, Episode 11
In this hilarious episode, neighbors Rachel and Chandler find a neighbor’s cheesecake delivered to their apartments. They intend on giving it back, but they decide to try it and it ends up being delicious. The two fight over the cheesecake every time a new one is delivered. One of my favorite moments is when Rachel drops her half of the cheesecake after the pair decide to split the dessert and the two eventually eat the cheesecake off the floor in desperation. The episode really shows Rachel and Chandler’s comedic and petty personalities and gives viewers a look into their chaotic friendship.This iconic episode is the perfect one to watch when in search of a good laugh.
#4: “The One Where It All Began” – Season 1, Episode 1
The pilot episode of a show can make or break the rest of the series, and “The One Where It All Began” acts as a perfect introduction. This episode introduces viewers to the main characters involved: Rachel leaves her fiance at the altar and runs into Monica, who she hasn’t seen since high school. The episode ends with Rachel getting a job at the group’s favorite cafe, Central Perk. Watching the beginning of the series is nostalgic for many fans, and being able to discover how much everything has changed over the years is bittersweet.
#3: “The One The Could Have Been” – Season 6, Episodes 15 & 16
“The One That Could Have Been” is a unique two-part episode. It follows the characters in an alternate universe, where Rachel marries her ex-fiance, whom she left at the altar in the real world, and falls in love with her real life best friend Joey even though she is married. Meanwhile, Monica is still the same as her high school self, and ends up with Chandler, who is a struggling writer. Phoebe is a stockbroker, while Ross is still married to his ex-wife. It is funny for viewers to see how their favorite characters might have turned out if the writers had taken a different approach, and these two episodes have one of the most creative plotlines in the whole show, which is why they’re near the top of the list.
#2: “The One With The Proposal” – Season 6, Episodes 24 & 25
These emotional episodes follow the heartwarming engagement of a fan favorite couple, Chandler and Monica. Chandler is planning the perfect proposal, when Monica’s ex-boyfriend Richard returns to confess his love. In the end, Chandler and Monica have a beautiful proposal in their apartment, leaving many viewers in tears. These episodes are in second place because they highlight a major event in the characters lives while giving fans what they always dreamed of.
#1: “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” – Season 5, Episode 14
This episode is one of the most famous ones in the entire show. In “The One Where Everybody Finds Out,” Phoebe, Ross and Rachel are touring a new apartment for Ross that has a view of Monica’s window. Through it, Phoebe catches Monica and Chandler kissing. Phoebe, Rachel and Joey spend the rest of the episode trying to get Monica and Chandler to confess to their relationship, and Chandler confesses that he is in love with Monica. They convince the group to hide this from Ross because they know he will be angry that his best friend is dating his sister. The episode ends with Ross finding out about Monica and Chandler, and is at the top of the list because seeing the group try to trick each other into confessing truly captures the group’s dynamic. This episode is still talked about even now, years after its release and it’s one of the most well known sitcom episodes in history.
