Top 10 Friends Episodes

I've been rewatching Friends. I just love that show so much! The writing is brilliant, the characters are hilariously relatable, the scenarios are fantastic, the lines are priceless. I love it all! And I realized that I've never made a top 10 list of my favorite episodes. So, since I'm rewatching the show, the episodes are fresh in my mind, so I can accurately judge them :)

(This is based on my personal preference, how much I enjoy watching them, not necessarily how well made they are) 

Also, a SPOILER WARNING is in order.

10) 4x15- The One with All the Rugby

Ross participates in a rugby match in order to prove how tough he is to Emily and her British friends. Chandler runs into Janice again and tells her his company is transferring him to Yemen in an effort to avoid reuniting with her. Monica obsesses over a seemingly useless light switch in her new apartment and tries to figure out what it does.

I love Janice. I think she's my favorite secondary/reoccuring character. This is a classic storyline with Chandler literally moving to Yemen in order to avoid her. How long will he be gone? Just until they find an energy source to replace fuel. Haha! Also gotta love “Red Ross” while he’s playing rugby.  

9) 10x03- The One with Ross’s Tan

Ross goes to a spray-on tanning salon, but through a series of misunderstandings, only gets sprayed on his front multiple times. Joey and Rachel struggle with their new relationship. An old acquaintance of Monica and Phoebe’s comes into town and they attempt to cut her out of their lives.

Poor Ross can never catch a break with anything. I crack up every time he gets sprayed in the face. “I’m an 8!” And at the end when he’s practically black (not to sound racist or anything), but only on the front. Also Jennifer Saunders as Phoebe and Monica’s friend is great. 

8) 10x02- The One Where Ross is Fine

After seeing Joey and Rachel kissing, Ross invites them both to his place for dinner with him and Charlie for an awkward double-date. Monica and Chandler are overwhelmed with the adoption process so Phoebe recommends they talks to some of her friends who have gone through it before. Phoebe babysits the triplets who are driving Frank Jr. crazy.

I can quote Ross’s “love” toast word for word. It’s so hilarious! Also, every time I say fajitas, I always say it like he does (“my FAJITAS!!!”). He’s completely psychotic in this episode and it’s so funny! And then Monica and Chandler in that couple’s home is great. “We have to leave!” “Why? What did you do in the bathroom?” Chandler and the kid, OMG! I was laughing through the whole episode.

7) 5x21- The One with the Ball

Joey, Ross, and eventually Monica and Chandler participate in seeing how long they can throw a ball around without dropping it. Rachel purchases a hairless Sphinx cat for $1000, but finds that it hates her so she is out $1000. Phoebe finds out that her boyfriend, Gary, is planning to ask her to move in with him and freaks out.

This one I feel like is a little bit of a filler episode. I mean, the most significant thing that happens is that Phoebe breaks up with Gary, but other than that it’s just everybody throwing a ball around and Rachel walking around with a cat on a pillow... And yet I love it so much! All the comments about Rachel’s ugly cat, Chandler being a “dropper”, Monica’s over-competitiveness, just all the little things makes it great. All the dialogue and comedic timing is on point!

6) 6x24-25- The One with the Proposal (Parts 1 and 2)

Chandler plans on proposing to Monica, but worries that she is suspicious and tries to throw her off track by pretending he hates the idea of marriage. Meanwhile, Richard reenters her life and tells her he is still in love with her. Monica becomes confused with Richard telling her he loves her and Chandler telling her he doesn't want to get married. Meanwhile, Rachel, Joey, and Phoebe attend a charity event hosted by Rachel's boss where Joey accidentally purchases a boat at a silent auction. Ross decides to break up with his much younger girlfriend, Elizabeth. Rachel, feeling lonely after hearing about the impending proposal, decides to get a "back up" if she's not married by the time she's 40. 

Ground-breaking episode(s)! I was seriously tearing up at the end during the actual proposal. And it was seriously agonizing through the whole thing when Monica and Chandler’s relationship was almost screwed up. But then it was alright in the end and they had the sweetest proposal ever! And I loved how both Monica and Chandler ended up going to Richard’s apartment and venting their angry feelings to him before just leaving. It was funny. And while I did like Richard, Monica and Chandler forever! I also love all the other character's side stories. Joey with the boat is really funny, the Mr. Beaumont (I love that he still calls it that even after he gets it). Then Phoebe with her two back ups. Haha!

5) 2x22- The One With the Two Parties

Monica throws Rachel a surprise party and decides not to invite her father since her mother is already coming. However, her father shows up anyway and Chandler and Joey take him across the hall to their apartment to start another party. The guests are divided up and Rachel bounces back and forth between the two parties in order to keep her parents separated so that they don't begin arguing.

The lengths everyone goes to in order to keep Dr. and Mrs. Greene apart are so hilarious. The guys dancing across the hall, Ross with the glasses and cigarette, Joey kissing Mrs. Greene, all of it! Haha! One of my favorite quotes comes from this episode ("Alrighty-roo! ...What a great moment to say that for the first time.") Also I love all the guests trying to escape Monica's party and Phoebe treating it like they're escaping prison.

4) 6x09- The One Where Ross Got High

Monica and Ross’s parents come for Thanksgiving, but Monica has not told them about her relationship with Chandler because they don’t like him for some reason. Joey and Ross want to leave early to go to Joey’s hot dancer roommate’s Thanksgiving party. Rachel messes up her English trifle by putting beef in it.

I always love the scenes when they start shouting out each other’s secrets (there’s a lot of those moments through out the show). Also, poor Chandler trying so hard to be charming and failing miserably. Then everything with Rachel’s trifle is to die for. “It tastes like feet!”, “So a bird just grabbed it and tried to fly away with it and then just dropped it on the street?”

3) 10x11- The One Where the Stripper Cries

Monica and Rachel throw Phoebe a bachelorette party, not realizing she wanted a stripper, so they call the first one in the book... who turns out to be an old man. Chandler and Ross attend their college reunion and reflect on their younger years when they made pacts where they where they couldn’t date certain girls. Joey is a guest star on the TV game show, Pyramid.

This episode is pure gold! I love when there’s flashbacks to their younger years with fat Monica, Rachel’s big nose, Chandler’s Flock of Seagulls hair, and Ross’s afro and creeper ‘stache. The ending though when we find out who Ross kissed is one of the most priceless moments ever! Then Danny DeVito as the stripper is too hilarious for words. And of course Joey on a game show, “Paper! Snow! A GHOST!!!”

2) 8x04- The One with the Videotape

Ross and Rachel argue who came on to whom the night Rachel got pregnant and Ross reveals he caught it on video. Monica and Chandler realize that a couple they met on their honeymoon gave them a fake telephone number.

I love how literally everything in this episode ties together in the end. All the plot lines come together and make you go, “HAAAA!!!” None of the other episodes really do that. Maybe one or two plot lines connect, but not like this. This one left me slapping my knee and laughing.

1) 5x14- The One Where Everybody Finds Out

Phoebe finds out about Monica and Chandler’s relationship, so she, Rachel, and Joey plot to get them to confess. Meanwhile, Ross tries to purchase Ugly Naked Guy’s apartment.

“They don’t know that we know they know we know.” So GOOD!!! The “seduce-off” as I like to call it is so funny. Chandler and Phoebe are so hilarious together trying to get each other to crack. They’re both so awkward. I can’t even describe it. It’s something you just have to watch and die laughing at every time. “I’m gonna kiss you now.” “Not if I kiss you first. “ *awkwardly wraps arms around each other* “I guess there’s nothing left to do now, but kiss.” “...Here it comes.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

1x08- The One Where Nana Dies Twice

Ross and Monica’s grandmother passes away, but while they are saying goodbye, she momentarily comes back to life. Chandler’s coworker tries to set him up on a date with a man, mistakenly assuming he’s gay. 

1x14- The One with the Candy Hearts

It’s Valentine’s Day! Joey sets up Chandler on a blind double date who ends up being his annoying ex-girlfriend, Janice. Ross goes on his first date since his divorce and ends up at the same restaurant as Carol and Susan. Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe hope to end their bad boyfriend streaks by burning their ex’s belongings. 

2x06- The One with the Baby on the Bus

Ross has an allergic reaction to Monica’s pie and has to be taken to the hospital, leaving Joey and Chandler to babysit Ben. They take him on the bus in order to talk to some women, but end up accidentally leaving him on the bus when they get off. Phoebe loses her singing gig in Central Perk to a professional singer.

2x21- The One with the Bullies

Two men in Central perk steal Chandler’s hat and warn him and Ross to never come to the coffee house again. Phoebe attempts to see her birth father whom she’s never met, but the house is guarded by a vicious, tiny dog. Monica invests in the stock market in an attempt to avoid taking a job at a tacky 50’s themed restaurant.

3x09- The One with the Football

On Thanksgiving, the gang teams up to play some touch football, but the game quickly turns sour as Monica and Ross’s competitive streak kicks in and Chandler and Joey fight over the attention of a Dutch woman who's watching. 

3x18- The One with the Hypnosis Tape

A customer asks Monica out with a $20,000 check which turns out to be real. Rachel gives Chandler a hypnosis tape in an effort to help him quit smoking, but it is meant for women and he begins to pick up some feminine traits and habits. Phoebe discovers that Frank Jr. plans to marry a woman twice his age.

4x12- The One with the Embryos

Phoebe is examined for implantation of Frank Jr. and Alice’s embryos. The guys and the girls engage in a contest to see to see which pair knows more about the other. If the girls win, the guys have to get rid of the chick and the duck, if the guys win, the girls have to give up their apartment. 

5x09- The One with Ross’s Sandwich

Ross becomes depressed and angry after someone at work eats his sandwich. Joey struggles to keep Monica and Chandler’s relationship a secret. Phoebe takes Rachel to her literature class, but Rachel steals her answers, making her look stupid in front of the class.

7x05- The One with the Engagement Picture

Chandler is unable to pose for his engagement pictures with Monica. Phoebe and Ross date a divorcing couple. At Rachel’s request, Joey takes her assistant Tag out for a guy’s night, but teaches him to pick up women to Rachel's chagrin.

8x18- The One in Massapequa

The gang attends Monica and Ross’s parent’s 35th wedding anniversary. Monica attempts to write a speech that will make everyone cry. Phoebe brings a date who is overly-enthusiastic about everything. Rachel and Ross pretend to be married.

9x06- The One with the Male Nanny

Rachel and Ross hire a male nanny for Emma. Chandler freaks out when Monica tells him that a guy at work is the funniest guy she has ever met. Phoebe’s ex, David, comes back into town and meets Mike.

Galavant: A Review (NO SPOILERS)

I just finished watching yet another TV show, Galavant. I keep picking up on these shows with short reigns (but at least Legion has more seasons to come). This one, however, is stuck with only two rather short seasons. But they are two phenomenal seasons!

What is it, you ask?

It is a satire of the fairytale genre. Like, the sort of happily ever afters, brave knights, evil kings, princesses in distress, mysterious sorcerers, and all that. It’s got that sort of Disney-esque, Errol Flynn vibe... except satire.

Anyways, it’s about this brave and dashing knight who is the greatest in all the land, Sir Galavant, whose true love is kidnapped by an evil king to be forced to marry him. However, when he arrives to rescue her, she chooses the king over him. He becomes bitterly depressed and drops out of the hero business, turning into a washed up has-been. One day, a princess shows up at his door, begging him to help save her kingdom from the same evil king.

I’m telling you, this show is hilarious! It’s not a blatant, in-your-face humor like some shows, but there is a lot of wit. The plot can get a little generic and predictable at times, but that’s what it’s supposed to do! It’s just making fun of the classic fairytale. (Obviously this is why it got cancelled: for not being “exciting” enough. Satire always goes over people’s heads.) But most of the time when it seems like it's getting cliched and predictable, it takes a turn. It takes a generic plot and makes it silly. 

Oh, did I mention it’s a musical?

Yes, there are songs written by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater (the same team who worked on Tangled). They are fabulous! So many hilarious and catchy songs. The lyrics and the music just... ah! Great teamwork! 

They have a lot of their own material, but they do spoof a lot of musical numbers from other musicals; The West Side Story, Grease, Les Miserables, Rocky Horror Picture Show, to name a few. (They’re just so seamlessly written in to fit the situation, it’s great!) 

I love the musical numbers, they break the fourth wall a lot to recap the season/episode, to explain why a character can’t die so early in the season, to talk about how annoying all the singing is (ha!), etc.

The humor is great! I was cracking up for the majority of the show and sniggering for the rest. It’s like Monty Python and the Holy Grail meets The Princess Bride with a blend of Robin Hood: Men In Tights. It is very blunt in telling you what’s what. It’s kind of hard to explain. But like I said, it’s a satire. Satire is different from spoof because it pokes fun at things while also sort of paying homage at the same time (it’s like, “we know this is kind of silly and overdone, but we love it any way”). Whereas a spoof is just flat out making fun of it (like “ha! Look how dumb this thing is! Isn’t it hilarious?”). 

And with Satire comes wit and cleverness. I love that! Like, the healer lives in Sporin and his name is Neo... Neo of Sporin. I laughed. It was a little dumb, but I laughed. 

Or how two people are singing about how perfect their first kiss was like a total fairytale, but then as the song progresses, they realize that maybe it wasn’t so perfect after all and it was just alright.

Don’t even get me started on the “Enchanted Forest”. I was absolutely dying the entire time! “I have to save my true love. She resides...” “Awww!” “Yes, SHE!”

Or the Forest of Coincidence. Ahahaha!

So the comedy is what really carries it. But the characters are all a lot of fun. I enjoyed every single one of them from the main ones like Galavant, the king, and the princess to the minor roles like the cook and the jester. Yes, they all sing well. Different characters are on different levels. Obviously the main characters have a wider range than the lesser roles. The minor characters tend to have little goofy voices, but can still sing decently... Except for the jester who’s the narrator because dang, that guy’s got pipes! 

They all have kind of the stereotypical character development for each of their character archetypes (except for maybe the king, he took an unexpected turn, for me at least). But like I said, that’s kind of the point. Some of them even blatantly state it at times (that’s what I mean by blunt comedy). 

There's just tons of references, tons of guest stars (I mean Weird Al plays a singing monk, what? Haha!), great scenery, lovely people, and entertaining everything!

So sadly, it had a short run, but it was a beautiful short run. It is totally worth a watch. Is it perfect? No. Is it entertaining? Yes! Would I recommend it? YES!!! 9/10.

PLEASE GO WATCH THE SHOW!!! It was only cancelled a year ago. Perhaps the more attention it gets, the more likely it will get picked up again. (But also because it is amazing and you deserve to have amazing things in your life)

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