"Hey Scott, long time reader from the Netcop/Wrestleline days (although EVERYONE puts that). Thought that since everyone is into top 10 lists these days, you'd be interested in doing a different one. In your humble (ha) opinion, how would you rank Friends by season? Believe it or not, I'm even requesting this opinion without the compensation of a plug of the shameless variety."
Hmm, a tough but fair question.
1. Season three. They escape the sophomore jinx and blast into pop culture history. Ross and Rachel are happily together for most of the season until they have the biggest and ugliest breakup in recorded history but give the world the catchphrase for the 90s in the process. You also get Going Commando, the Princess Leia Gold Bikini, psychotic Ben Stiller, the introduction of Frank Jr., and Tom Selleck actually clicking with the cast as Richard.
2. Season four. Ross gets happy again with Emily (although it wouldn't last long), Chandler is in a box, the guys and girls switch apartments...there's just not a lot of weak points here. Oh, and Chandler bangs Monica in London, baby.
3. Season two. Definitely the one that has the highest highs and lowest lows, which is why it's only third. As great as the second half of the season becomes (the Eddie storyline alone comprises my favorite story arc of the entire show), by the midway point they were clearly getting burned out by all the attention and junk like the Super Bowl show was the result. Not to mention the maudlin death of Mr. Heckles. However, it does have the Prom Video episode, which ranks with the funniest Friends episodes ever, and a lot of the classic moments that people remember the show for are contained here as well.
4. Season five. Weaker but still intriguing thanks to the hidden romance of Monica and Chandler carrying the show and keeping it interesting for newer viewers. Emily becomes a crazed harpie and Ross changes personalities as a result, but The One Where Everybody Finds Out is such a piece of work that it brings up the rest of the season as a result.
5. Season one. Where it all begins, obviously. They take a little while to really find their way (and their hairstyles) but the slow build of Ross and Rachel and classic bits like Joey accidentally becoming a herpes model and Rachel's uber-hotness peak at the end of the season provide enough highlights to still watch these in syndication.
6. Season six. Beaten to death in syndication, we've still got The One Where Ross Gets High ("It tastes like feet!") which sets the bar for Thanksgiving episodes pretty high, the alternate universe episode that people either love or hate, and Bruce Willis in a role that again people either love or hate. But everyone hated his daughter. And no cliffhanger, as Monica and Chandler live happily ever after.
7. Season eight. This was supposed to the final year for the show, and it ended up being the one that finally won the Emmy, but it got extended for another two years thanks to 9/11 and the ratings resurgence that came with people looking for entertainment to brighten up their lives again. Rachel's pregnancy and strange almost-romance with Joey dominate here, and Brad Pitt has a really good moment as the leader of the I Hate Rachel Club.
8. Season seven. This would be the jumping the shark season for the show, with super-sized episodes and stunt-casting as the producers panic in the face of Survivor killing them in the ratings. Still some funny stuff, like the Holiday Armadillo Ross & Joey napping together, but the London flashback episode kills Chandler's manhood even further and the wedding episode feels like a 30 minute show stretched into a 60-minute one.
9. Season ten. It can't be the worst one because the final episode is at least fabulous and Ross being decidedly NOT fine with Rachel & Joey as a couple is a highlight. The rest is pretty middling stuff, however, and the wedding of Phoebe & Mike is too little, too late.
10. Season nine. By far the worst, as Rachel's baby gets featured or forgotten as the storyline requires, Joey dates a Nobel prize winning scientist and we're supposed to believe it, and Chandler accidentally moves to Tulsa and watches shark porn. This should have been the end for the show (actually, season 8 should have been, if we're being honest about it) and it actually hurt the legacy of what they had built up that it was allowed to be dragged down like it was.
Tags: Stupid lists, TV on TV Reviews
I actually kinda liked the Rachel/Joey romance. I just didn’t care about Ross/Rachel “will they/won’t they” anymore and wanted something new.
I think you’re being a bit harsh on seasons 9 and 10. Whilst the show definitely peaked years earlier, the later seasons were still very funny and better than 99 per cent of other sitcoms. I loved the way Chandler, in particular, evolved from his early loser-in-love mantra into a solid family man. And the Joey-Rachel storyline was terrific.
For me, that’s the biggest thing that went wrong with the show. Chandler’s evolution ruined much of the comedy and the chemistry he had with Joey. I wish they would’ve taken the Seinfeld approach to this show in which the characters don’t really evolve and just live out their lives.
I will say though, even though Joey got stupider each progressive season, I found his character the biggest reasons to tune into in the latter seasons. He was great.
This makes me remember the flop that was “Joey”.
A “Friends” spin-off seemed like a sure-fire hit, but didn’t make it.
What do you think went wrong? Bad writing? The cast? Not enough for Joey to do?
Imagine your favourite Appetizer. Now imagine going to a restaurant where that Appie was a main course that was the only thing on the menu with any taste to it whatsoever. That’d be Joey.
I am dumbfounded that so many people watch this overrated, unfunny and annoying pile of filth passed off as a sitcom.
Seriously Scott, I come here for wrestling or at least a review of something manly and/or entertaining. More attitude-era Raw recaps, less Friends please.
“Filth”?…..get a life dude, if you don’t like what Scott’s posts on HIS blog, then don’t click on his sight.
Liking Friends doesn’t mean one has a life.
manly
I’m just saying, more manly and appropriate than Friends.
Fuck Friends.
I don’t even particularly disagree, but then again this is Scott’s blog and it hasn’t ever really been limited to wrestling. So whatever he posts is fine with me because it’s my choice to read it or not.
I think the main reason anyone responded to you like that is because you came off like fucking Maddox or something. That’s all.
…But you commented to him… so shouldn’t you get a life as well? Hmmm…
I’m pretty sure Scott can stick up for himself.
And LOL at referring to wrestling as “manly.”
C’mon Scott, shark porn was freakin’ awesome! And since it must be said since no one else has – Joey/Rachel was terrible! Really, just an incredibly awkward experiment, like watching a brother make out with his sister. Plus, it put Joey in a drama-y situation, and that’s when I’ve always felt the character was weakest. Joey as a lovable goofball works; Joey in dramatic situations – not so much.
And there are a couple of episodes that I could watch everyday for the rest of my life and be happy; The One Where Everybody Finds Out is one of them.
I think my top season(s) is a toss-up between Two and Four with Season Three after that. Three falls to that spot because of the breakup episode – it’s just so darn painful to watch that I think I’ve only seen it twice (compared with multiple DVD viewings of every episode from Season 1-6).
Joey is a great supporting character, but I don’t think people bought a show built around him.
I never get the ‘they’ve hurt their legacy’ argument for anything. As though stuff they did earlier are some how not as good as they used to be due to stuff that they did later.