I recently started my latest rewatch of the beloved series Friends, and I thought it would be a dumb idea to review every episode of Friends ever. So yeah, here goes nothing. I doubt I have to explain Friends before I begin this, but I'd like to at least say that this is probably the show I've watched the most in my life, as I've rewatched the series from start to finish multiple times, as well as just watching random episodes on cable every weekday afternoon back when cable was a thing we still had. It's a series that just brings lots of comfort to me, as spending time with the friends just feels relaxing and nostalgic. So here goes the longest post I'll probably ever make and probably the last one as this will be so much work that I'll never want to do this again. Maybe.
SEASON 1
The Pilot: A very solid episode to start a new series and introduce everyone in the main cast. It's always fun to see how much changes with all six friends from this episode to the last. It's actually almost jarring how different some of them are compared to where they end up in season 10. Right away, you pick up on a few qualities of the main cast, like Phoebe's eccentric personality and beliefs, or Chandler's constant jokes and one-liners. Probably the most important thing this episode does is establish Ross' feelings for Rachel, which ends up being the main story arc throughout this season.
GRADE: C+
The One With the Sonogram at the End: This episode really establishes the Gellar family dynamics, with Ross being the favorite and Monica being the one who's always being scrutinized by their parents. It's a long-running joke in the series, especially in the first few seasons, that Monica's mom is always finding something wrong with Monica, usually with her appearance. The other big reveal is Ross' ex-wife being pregnant with his child, another story that runs throughout the first season. Also, one of the few episodes (maybe the only one?) where Ross' wife Carol is played by Anita Barone before she is recast. Another decent early episode. Before I forget, it's also the first time we get an ugly naked guy joke, another long-running gag in the series.
GRADE: C
The One With the Thumb: The best part about this episode is Monica's new boyfriend, Alan, whom the friends become obsessed with. Leads to a lot of funny moments, like Chandler only quitting smoking because of Alan. The other big story is Phoebe finding a thumb in her soda and getting 7000 dollars from the company. It shows more of Phoebe's character and how she doesn't really care for possessions, as she tries her best to get rid of the money, but only keeps getting more and more free stuff. Not too bad, it's getting better as the cast starts to really become their characters.
GRADE: C+
The One With George Stephanopoulos: This is a fun episode because we get to see the guys and girls split up the whole episode. The guys go to a hockey game, but Ross gets hit in the face by a puck, so they take him to the hospital. We see a lot more of their dynamic, and I think it's a great episode for Chandler as he really stands out with his comedic bits here. On the other side, the girls end up spying on celebrity George Stephanopoulos from the balcony. There are some nice character moments as we learn more about their past, and it's just nice to see all the interactions between the friends and we get to see more of their personalities.
GRADE: B-
The One With the East German Laundry Detergent: This episode really helps build the romance between Ross and Rachel, as they spend a lot of the episode with each other. This is also the first appearance of the fan favorite Janice, who is always in an on-off relationship with Chandler and always makes for great episodes when they are together. The weaker story here is Monica and Joey trying to break a couple up, which leads to a lot of weird incest jokes and doesn't really end up going anywhere. Another decent episode held back by that last story.
GRADE: C
The One With the Butt: This one features Joey singing in one of the weirder scenes in the series. My favorite part of this one is Chandler's romance with Aurora, a beautiful woman he meets at Joey's play. The twist is she's already married, so Chandler is just one of her lovers out of many. It's nice to see Chandler is willing to give up a no-strings-attached relationship with a beautiful woman because he really wants something more serious, which shows how different he is compared to Joey. This episode also really establishes Monica's clean freak personality as she freaks out after Rachel tries to clean the apartment, which is another great moment.
GRADE: B
The One With the Blackout: One of the more memorable episodes of this season. We are introduced to the Italian Stallion, Paolo, who is used as an obstacle between Ross and Rachel's potential romance. More importantly, it's also the introduction to Mr. Heckles, who is a funny side character that doesn't really get enough time on the show. The last thing is Chandler getting stuck at an "ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacre." It's another little story showing how charming Chandler can be, even at his lamest.
GRADE: B+
The One Where Nana Dies Twice: Eh, I always kind of disliked this one. It's got some decent jokes, but overall, it's not the best episode for any character or story. The few moments I liked were Ross finding Nana's Sweet N' Low stash in her closet, Ross falling into the empty grave, and Ross getting high off of meds. So a good episode for Ross, really. Also, this is the first episode where they really focus on the "everyone thinks Chandler is gay" thing, which is a joke that comes up a few times after this episode. Not great.
GRADE: D+
The One Where Underdog Gets Away: Another not-so-great episode, but the first Thanksgiving episode of the series. In this one, everyone is forced to spend Thanksgiving at Monica's place for one reason or another. Everyone wants Monica to make a special dish for them, and it's annoying. Rachel wants to go skiing with her family, but can't afford it. The funniest part of this episode is Joey posing for a health poster that's posted everywhere in the city, so everyone thinks he has V.D. Not terrible, but as far as Thanksgiving episodes go, this might be the worst?
GRADE: C-
The One With the Monkey: We are introduced to Marcel the Monkey, who is a big part of this first season. I'd imagine having a monkey on set wasn't the easiest thing to do, so Marcel isn't a part of the show for long, but he does come back in a later season for a last appearance. The most memorable part of this episode is the one-off appearance by David, whom Phoebe falls in love with instantly. It's a very short and sweet story contained in one episode, but Hank Azaria does such a good job that it kind of sucks he doesn't stick around a little longer. Well, we all know he comes back one more time much later in the show, but you know what I mean. The episode ends with Joey kissing Chandler.
GRADE: B
The One with Mrs. Bing: We are introduced to Chandler's mom, who is always amazing when she appears in this show. This is the first episode where two of the main friends get into a real conflict, as Ross kisses Chandler's mom when he's depressed about Rachel dating Paolo. That's really the only good story in this episode, as the other stories involve Monica and Phoebe helping a guy who's in a coma they both fall in love with, and Rachel tries to write erotica. Nothing amazing. Chandler is extra funny in this one, but that quickly becomes the norm in this show.
GRADE: C
The One With a Dozen Lasagnas: The episode starts off great with the cast humming The Odd Couple theme song. The rest of the episode has a few memorable moments, with Paolo making a move on Phoebe and Joey and Chandler getting their famous foosball table. The episode ends with Ross finding out he's having a boy, and it's sweet. I don't know why, but I always find Monica giving Paolo a lasagna after Rachel breaks up with him extra funny.
GRADE: B-
The One With the Boobies: This is a meh episode that features a lot of storylines I don't really care too much about. The two big stories are Joey's dad having an affair and Phoebe dating a psychiatrist whom everyone hates. It's not great, but I guess it's nice to meet Joey's family here, even though I don't really remember them being in the show much after this. The whole gag where all the friends are trying to see each other naked isn't the best either.
GRADE: D
The One With the Candy Hearts: This episode is decent; the best part is when Ross and Carol have a nice moment alone, and we catch a glimpse at what their relationship was like before the divorce. On the other hand, you have a decent setup where Chandler is surprised by a blind date who happens to be his ex, Janice. It's always nice seeing Janice, so it's good. The girls spend the night reminiscing on all their terrible exes, and it's also pretty good. It's actually a great episode to learn more about the characters outside of maybe Joey.
GRADE: C+
The One With the Stoned Guy: This episode has one of the funniest gags in the first season, maybe the whole show? Jon Lovitz plays the stoned guy who wants to try Monica's food and he's so funny in this episode, one of the best guest appearances on the show. There's also a fun story where Ross is struggling to dirty talk with the girl he's dating, and Ross' performance in this episode is especially funny.
GRADE: A
The One With the Two Parts: The first two-parter of many in this show. It's probably the weakest one on the show that I can remember right now. I dislike the whole Joey dates Phoebe's twin storyline, because it feels weird for Joey to do something he knows will hurt Phoebe, and that never really fits his character. Joey is the one who almost always goes out of his way to make his friends happy. Chandler also starts dating an employee he has to fire, which certainly fits his character as the guy who hates confrontation. It's still the best story in this episode, because it's Chandler and he's the funniest most episodes. The last big story is Rachel and Monica having to pretend to be each other to get Rachel's health insurance. George Clooney and Noah Wyle guest-star as the doctors whom Rachel and Monica have to trick, and they put on solid performances. There is a nice moment where Ross is scared about becoming a father, but is comforted by his friends and his dad. Actually, that moment where Ross and his dad are talking about the first moment they shared was really nice.
GRADE: C-
The One With All the Poker: Another really great episode. It's always nice when most of the episode features all the friends just hanging out together, this time the girls play poker with the guys for the first time. Monica's Aunt Iris is really funny in this episode, kinda sucks we never see her again. The episode ends up focusing a lot on Rachel and her trying to get one of her dream jobs, but ultimately failing. It's another Ross and Rachel moment that really gets you to root for them to get together, as well as just being a very funny episode.
GRADE: A-
The One Where the Monkey Gets Away: Another memorable episode here that furthers the Ross and Rachel story. This time, they get into their first argument when Rachel loses Marcel the Monkey in the apartment building. Mr. Heckles makes another appearance, and he is once again one of the funniest parts of the episode. The end goal of this episode, though, is to tease the audience even more on Ross and Rachel's romance. Feels so close here, and yet we all know it's not happening anytime soon. Phoebe gets shot by a tranq, so that's fun.
GRADE: B+
The One With the Evil Orthodontist: Eh, this one isn't that good. Any episode that revolves around Rachel's ex, Barry, is pretty bad. I mean, I know we're not supposed to like Barry, but if they could have just erased his character from the show, that would have been okay. The rest of the stories aren't the best either. I guess maybe the best one is Joey finding out the person spying on them with a telescope is a woman, and he's into it. So Joey.
GRADE: D
The One With Fake Monica: The main story in this episode, where Monica has her identity stolen, is really good. It's funny to see Monica go through a whole life change as a result of that, and her short friendship with the fake Monica is surprisingly sweet. I will say, the change Monica makes doesn't really seem to carry over to the rest of the show. The other story is good too, and it's all about Ross having to say goodbye to Marcel the Monkey, as he can't take good care of him anymore in his apartment. Funniest thing in this one, though, is Chandler tricking Joey into using the name Joseph Stallin for his auditions.
GRADE: A-
The One With the Ick Factor: Boy, do I hate Ethan. One of the main stories in this one involves Monica dating a young man named Ethan, who is in College. Turns out they are both lying about their age, and Ethan is actually still in High School. It's not very funny, and I find the Ethan character to be really annoying. Chandler hires Phoebe at his job, but it doesn't go well when Phoebe tells Chandler that everyone hates him. It's funny to see Chandler try his best to be the likable boss, but even funnier that he just embraces the hate at the end. Ross is also jealous of Chandler because Rachel had a sex dream about him, which is... meh.
GRADE: C-
The One With the Birth: The first of many birth episodes in the series, and a pretty solid episode. Monica is sad throughout the whole episode because she wants babies, and she feels hopeless in her search for love. It's a nice reminder of Monica's wants, and it comes into play next season in a big way. I really like Joey's side story with Lydia; it's the first time in the show that we see him being really sweet and possibly having a real romantic connection with someone. Sad when it just ends before it even begins. I guess the weakest part of this is the Ross and Susan rivalry, which has been ongoing for the whole season. At least here, we finally get some feelings resolved, and Ross finally makes peace with Susan.
GRADE: A-
The One Where Rachel Finds Out: The season finale has some great moments, mostly revolving around the Ross and Rachel romance. Rachel finally finds out that Ross is in love with her, but he leaves for China for a week. It's a nice moment when Rachel finally decides that she wants to be with him, though it ends in a cliffhanger. Chandler's reaction to accidentally telling Rachel about Ross is really good, and the way he acts the rest of the episode is peak Chandler. The other fun story has Joey being unable to have sex with his new girlfriend because of a medical study he joins. This leads to him becoming the most unselfish lover in bed for the first time in his life. It's funny how he doesn't take anything away from this experience and goes back to his normal routine after.
GRADE: A
Season 1 Thoughts: Like I said before, it's always great to go back to this season and see how different all the characters are compared to the last season. This season feels a lot more chill and toned down than the later seasons in the show. A lot of the characters are still finding their personalities, and the actors are getting used to playing their roles, but they do a really good job in one season of getting you to fall in love with the show. There are a few mediocre episodes, but most of this season is still very good, and it still holds up. I wish Chandler had kept his longer hair for more seasons, but oh well. The Ross and Rachel romance is still good, though maybe doesn't hit as hard when you already know all the things that they are about to go through on this show.