The One Where I review Season 2 of FRIENDS

Season 2 of Friends aired all the way back in 1995! It's been a little over 30 years now since the show started its run in 1994; they even had a reunion recently in 2021 on the MAX. Friends became a huge hit after its first season, so needless to say, the second season came in with high expectations. I think we all know how that turns out, but I'll be going through every episode of season 2 and giving some thoughts and a grade based on how good the episode was. 

SEASON 2

The One With Ross' New Girlfriend: Season 1 ended with Rachel coming to pick up Ross at the airport to confess her feelings for him. The episode right away spoils that moment by introducing Julie, his new girlfriend. Julie is a great character, and honestly, it kind of sucks that she's just used as a plot device to keep Ross and Rachel away from each other for a little longer. In the end, the show wants you to see Ross and Rachel, so it makes sense that she's not in here for very long. The other stories involve haircuts and suits. Phoebe gives Joey and Chandler haircuts, and Monica gets mad because she doesn't want to give her one, too. Phoebe eventually does, but of course, gives her the completely wrong cut, and Monica's life is ruined. The other, not-so-good story has Chandler being violated by Joey's tailor, and it's... weird. Chandler getting his haircut so soon into the season sucks. I really like his season 1 hair. RIP Chandler's hair. 

"Isn't that just kick-you-in-the-crotch, spit-on-your-neck, fantastic?" - Rachel

GRADE: B-

The One With the Breast Milk: The Rachel vs Julie story continues here, as Monica becomes friends with Julie, and this makes Rachel jealous. Rachel eventually tries to make peace with Julie, but Rachel won't stop being jealous of her, despite not completely hating her anymore. The other story has Ross being weirded out by everyone trying the breast milk that's for Ben. It's not that funny, but Ross' acting somehow makes it work better than it should. Joey starts working at a department store, handing out cologne samples, but is being outshone by a guy in a cowboy outfit. BIJAN FOR MEN! It's a silly one, but it works as a small side story for Joey. He looks good dressed as a cowboy. 

"If you blow into one side, does the other get bigger?"  - Joey to Carol while she breastfeeds

GRADE: C+

The One Where Heckle Dies: I actually really like this episode. Mr. Heckles had a few appearances in the first season that were great, but he died pretty early in season 2, just three episodes in. This episode is great for Chandler, as he really sees himself in Heckles when looking through his old photos and yearbook. I like how Chandler becomes afraid of becoming Heckles in the future and decides to give Janice a shot, someone who actually wants to be with him. It's a great twist when Janice shows up pregnant and married. None of the other stories come close to this, but we get to see Monica and Rachel argue about a lamp, so that's... fun?

"GO INTO THE LIGHT, MR. HECKLES!!!" - Phoebe

GRADE: B+

The One With Phoebe's Husband: We get a nice Phoebe story here, when her husband comes back wanting a divorce. Turns out they got married for a green card, but he was gay, so the feelings Phoebe had for him were never returned in the same way. Well, it turns out he's not gay and is marrying another woman. This is the second time we really see Phoebe having strong romantic feelings for someone, the first one being David in season 1. Poor Phoebe can't catch a break. There's also a fun bit where we see Joey in a porno as a background extra. Really, the most interesting moment in this is Rachel trying to stop Ross from finally having sex with Julie, especially the last scene where she has this very sensual moment with Ross, and he just leaves to be with Julie. Rough. Don't worry, Rachel, you'll be making love to Ross in the cavemen exhibit in just a few more episodes. 

"Hang on, the guy's butt is blocking me. There I am. There I am. There I am." - Joey on his cameo in the porno film

GRADE: B+

The One With the Five Steak and an Eggplant: This episode is actually really interesting in the way it splits the group apart. The friends struggle to find a balance between going out to expensive places and including the other friends who can't afford those luxuries. There's an interesting argument in the second half of the episode when Chandler, Ross, and Monica buy dinner and concert tickets to the "poorer" friends, Phoebe, Rachel, and Joey.  The "poorer" friends are insulted by this gift and reject it, and it's interesting to see a nice gesture be completely wasted. I like the fact that both sides make good points anyway, and you can see where everyone is coming from. On the other story, we get Chandler pretending to be a guy named "Bob" to manipulate a beautiful woman to get with him. A bit weird, but it backfires when she admits that Chandler is not a very good lover. Chandler's love life keeps getting worse and worse... but not for long? 

"What are these, like famous chickens?" - Joey, complaining about the expensive food at a restaurant

GRADE: B-

The One With the Baby on the Bus: Right away, we get a great gag where Ben cries anytime he's near Monica. There are also a lot of funny scenes with Ross having to speak with a swollen tongue. Chandler and Joey agree to watch Ben after Ross has an allergic reaction to KIWI! They, of course, decide to use Ben to pick up girls in the city. After meeting some hot girls on a bus, they accidentally leave Ben on said bus, and chaos ensues. I love how they only realize it's the right baby they found when he starts crying when Monica gets near him. We also get a nice story with Phoebe and Rachel, where the coffee shop hires a professional musician over Phoebe. We see guest star Chrissie Hynde as the musician, who is a punk icon famous for founding The Pretenders, so that's cool. We also see a quick cameo from the actor who would eventually play Phoebe's brother in the next season. 

"What kind of scary-ass clowns came to your birthday party?" -Chandler

GRADE: B+

The One Where Ross Finds Out: This is the episode where everything finally happens between Rachel and Ross. Rachel accidentally leaves Ross a drunken message admitting her feelings for him, and he listens to it right in front of her. Obviously, being with Julie means Ross can't be with Rachel... or you would think anyway. He ends up cheating on her later in the episode when he finally kisses Rachel. Monica decided to help Chandler lose some weight, only to make him more miserable by never leaving him alone. Chandler is forced to make Monica feel terrible about herself and her own life so she can leave him alone. Maybe there was a less mean way to handle that?

"You're over me? When were you... under me?" - Ross

GRADE: B-

The One With the List: I really love the whole "Mockolate" story in this episode. Monica finds a job where she has to create recipes with a terrible chocolate substitute, and they all taste awful because "Mockolate" is a terrible product. It all goes nowhere when she finds out the product has already been cancelled. Really though, the main story here is a continuation of the last episode, where Ross has to choose between Rachel and Julie. The boys all make a list for Ross with pros and cons for each girl, but ultimately Ross wants to be with Rachel. Everything falls apart when Rachel finds the list they made and decides she no longer wants to be with Ross. I will say I was always kind of bothered by this, mostly because Ross was in a tough position and was trying to find a way to figure out what to do. He also had a sweet thing at the end where he says the con about Julie is that she's not Rachel, but this is ruined by a typo, and it's completely missed. Guess they just wanted to stretch out the story a bit longer, but I think they do a good job later at making up for this. 

"Oh no! Two women love me. They're both gorgeous and sexy. My wallet is too small for my fifties, and my diamond shoes are TOO TIGHT!" - Chandler on Ross having to choose between two women

GRADE: B-

The One With Phoebe's Dad: The episode starts with a great gag as Phoebe thinks her dad is the guy who comes in all the stock pictures in frames. She finds out that not only is he not him, but he's actually living in the area, so she wants to meet him. This is the first episode where Phoebe's cab is introduced; it becomes a staple of the show as a silly car with as many quirks as Phoebe herself. There's also a Christmas Party happening at Monica's place, but her heater is broken, so everyone is overheating at the party. Ross and Rachel continue to deal with the fallout of "the list", but Rachel wants nothing to do with Ross. There's a great joke at the end where Chandler and Joey give all the friends gifts from a gas station since they couldn't make it to the mall with Phoebe. 

"How have you not been on Oprah?" - Rachel to Phoebe 

GRADE: C+

The One With Russ: Rachel starts dating a Ross doppelganger named Russ. Maybe the joke is too obvious, and honestly, this idea probably shouldn't work, but the performance by David Schwimmer playing the bizarro version of himself is too good. The makeup department did a good job at making him actually look like a different actor playing the part, as well as David adding enough differences to make it believable. It's also a nice way show the audience that Rachel still does want to be with Ross by being with someone exactly like him. This is also the episode where Joey gets his start on Days of Our Lives, which becomes an important part of the rest of the season. Monica also gets "Fun" Bobby to stop drinking, and he becomes the most boring man alive. Really fun scenes where Bobby is just talking about hardware stores not open at night, and everyone looks miserable. 

"They're as different as night and... later that night" - Monica on Ross and Russ

GRADE: A-

The One With the Lesbian Wedding: I suppose in the mid 90's, when this aired, it would have been seen as pretty progressive to have a whole lesbian wedding on a popular show. Now this isn't even a thing, but I still think it's cool that the show did this back then. Apparently, this episode was banned in Texas because of the wedding and Texas being what it was back then. We also get Phoebe getting possessed by an older woman who died on her massage table, which has its moments. The scene where the widower husband shows up and tries to sleep with Phoebe is funny, and of course, the line "Now I've seen everything" after attending the lesbian wedding. Monica's mother makes her first appearance on the show and tells Rachel she wants to leave her father. Rachel's parents are great on the show when they appear, and it's really funny when she asks for "marijuana".

"Tell me if this is too cute: lesbian wedding - chicken breasts" -Monica deciding what to cook for the wedding. 

GRADE: C+

The One After the Super Bowl Pts 1 & 2: The second two-parter of the series features a bunch of great guest stars, including Jean-Claude Van Damme, Julia Roberts, and Brooke Shields. The two episodes revolve around Marcel the Monkey returning as Ross sees him in a commercial and decides to check in on the zoo where he left him last season. There, he meets a very funny custodian who tells him Marcel was sent to Hollywood to make movies. It's honestly one of the funniest scenes of the season, watching Ross interact with the zoo janitor who is monologing about the animals instead of talking to him. Chandler meets his old classmate, played by Julia Roberts, who tricks him into wearing women's underwear and steals his clothes. Another really funny gag, where Joey and Ross make fun of him as he hides in a bathroom stall. Joey dates Brooke Shields' character, who thinks his character on Days of Our Lives is actually a real person. Brooke Shields' performance is great, and she plays the crazy stalker really well. The scene where she starts to lick Joey's hands aggressively should be creepy, but somehow still makes me laugh. The weakest story here, though, is Monica and Rachel competing over who gets to date Jean-Claude. Feels like a retread of last season's two-parter where they fought each other, except this time it feels more forced. Maybe it's because Jean-Claude just doesn't really do much here, especially compared to all the other guest stars. Phoebe gets a fun story where she sings to kids at a library, but her songs are too honest and make the adults mad, even though the kids love it. 

"And you left the toilet seat up, you bastard!" -Chandler to "Dr. Drake Ramoray." 

GRADE: A

The One With the Prom Video: One of, if not the most memorable episode of the season for many reasons. The main thing is Ross and Rachel finally get together after a season and a half of buildup and the whole Julie saga from earlier in the season. The other big thing from this one is the first flashback we see of the friends. Well, only like half the friends appear in the flashback, but it's still a fun one as we see Monica wearing the fat suit for the first time and Ross with his terrible 80s hair and mustache. We also get the iconic Phoebe line, "She's your lobster". The entire episode is building to the moment we've been waiting for since the start of the show, Ross and Rachel kiss, and finally start their romance officially. Maybe it's weird that Rachel forgives Ross because of something he did a decade ago, but it's a sweet moment, and you really feel for Ross when he gets left behind by Rachel and her prom date. We also get Joey giving Chandler a gold bracelet that repels women. I always love Chandler's reaction to first getting it. 

"Shut up, the camera adds ten pounds" - Monica

"So how many cameras are actually on you?" - Chandler

GRADE: A

The One Where Ross and Rachel... You Know: Yes, Ross and Rachel finally get it on. Ross gives Rachel the bone, and I'm not talking about dinosaurs. Roar. So Ross is trying to take Rachel on their first date, but things keep getting in the way. They end up meeting at the Museum Ross works at and doing it in one of the exhibits. The other important event of this episode is Monica reconnecting with Richard, one of her dad's friends growing up, and that romance begins. I always loved Tom Selleck as Richard in this show; he's super charming and fits in perfectly with the rest of the cast. Even though the romance is a bit weird, considering he was an adult when she was a child, it's still one of the most memorable relationships on the show. There's also a funny gag where Joey and Chandler sit on their new recliners the entire episode. 

"No! No! Homo habilis was erect! Australopithecus was never fully erect!" Ross

"Well, maybe he was nervous" - Chandler

GRADE: A-

The One Where Joey Moves Out: With Joey's new role on Days of Our Lives, he's finally making good money. When a friend tells him he's selling his fancy apartment, Joey is interested in moving out. It's cute how Chandler is immediately jealous and doesn't want Joey to leave, but can't admit it to him. Instead, they get into a fight, and Joey leaves. Monica and Richard are starting to date, but they have to go to Monica's dad's birthday together and don't want him to find out about their romance. Of course, he does find out and wants to kill Richard, but it works out. There's a funny scene where Monica is stuck hiding in the shower while her parents get it on. Awkward. We also get an okay story where Rachel and Pheebs get tattoos, but Pheebs is too afraid, even though it was her idea. I'd say I like the Monica and Richard story, but everything else in this episode is just okay.

GRADE: B-

The One Where Eddie Moves In: Here, we see the introduction of Eddie, played by Adam Goldberg. One of the funnier side characters on the show, as he slowly gets crazier in each episode he appears in. Joey is jealous of Eddie taking his place as the roommate, increasing the tension between Joey and Chandler. There's a great scene where Joey and Chandler want to call each other but decide not too. Heartbreaking stuff. With Ross dating Rachel, it also means he's spending way more time in Monica's apartment. They end up fighting and arguing like they are kids again, which annoys Rachel. Some of the best Friends episodes are ones that revolve around the Gellar siblings, and this one is good. Ross tricking Monica into thinking it's Richard on the phone when it's really their mom is great. Another fun story is Phoebe making a music video for her song "Smelly Cat". I always like the scene where she watches the video for the first time and thinks she's the one actually singing. 

"Oh, I am sorry, but I am incredibly talented." - Phoebe, when she hears the dubbed voice for her song

GRADE: A-

The One Where Dr. Drake Ramoray Dies: Joey pisses off the writers of his show in an interview, and they end up killing his character off, which leads to him not having money to afford his new lifestyle. Chandler's new roommate, Eddie, starts to scare Chandler with his obsession with his ex-girlfriend. Eddie thinks Chandler is sleeping with her and later accuses him of stealing his fish, which is pretty hilarious. The scene where Eddie gets a new fish, and it's just a goldfish cracker, is great. Monica and Rachel also argue about who is going to get the last condom as they both want to sleep with their significant others. Not the best one, but I do love Ross doing his weird animal sounds. 

"You're saying nothing between us is 'animal' at all? Not even a little 'animal', not even like chipmunk sex?" - Ross to Rachel, when comparing him to Paulo in bed

GRADE: C+

The One Where Eddie Won't Go: Chandler can't find a way to get rid of Eddie, as Eddie keeps getting weirder and more intense. Joey has to move out of his new apartment after all his new stuff gets repossessed. We get the introduction to the weird dog statue as Ross buys it for Joey as a way to cheer him up. Eventually, Joey moves back in with Chandler, and they trick Eddie into thinking he never lived there, which somehow works. Maybe Eddie should have gotten his own spinoff, but oh well. The ladies read a new female empowerment book that's trending, and they end up fighting with each other more than being empowered. There's a great scene where Rachel tells Ross, "How do you expect me to grow if you won't let me blow!" and Ross responds, "You know I have no problem with that."

"This is why I don't date women who read" - Joey to Ross, after Rachel reads the empowerment book

GRADE: B

The One Where Old Yeller Dies: Phoebe finds out her mom would turn off movies that had a sad ending early to protect her. So she watches all the movies to see the real endings and becomes depressed. I love the scene at the end of the episode where she's watching Sesame Street with Ben. The best part of the episode is Joey and Chandler trying to be like Richard after they hang out with him at a Knicks game. Chandler with the stache is too good for this world. The reveal at the end of the episode, where they end up calling Richard a father figure, is really funny too.  There's also a nice relationship moment with Ross and Rachel, where she freaks out at him when he tells her he has their whole future planned out already. 

"What kind of sick, doggy snuff film is this?" Phoebe, while watching the end of Old Yeller

GRADE: B

The One With the Bullies: This one is a bit meh. Ross and Chandler have to deal with some bullies who take Chandler's hat. It eventually leads to a fight that never happens, and the bullies end up teaming up with Ross and Chandler after someone steals their things. It's not bad, but I do like the scene where they are about to fight and keep adding new rules. Monica gets into stocks, and it's not that interesting, but we do get to see her at the Moondance job for the first time in the show, with her iconic costume. The best part of this one is the introduction of Frank Jr. Phoebe wants to meet her dad, but ends up meeting her half-brother Frank Jr instead. I love Giovanni Ribisi's portrayal of Frank Jr, as he is one of the funnier side characters in the show, and this is just his first appearance, and he already steals the show. 

"Have you been beaten up before?" - Joey

"Yeah, sure" - Ross

"By someone besides Monica" - Joey

"No" - Ross

GRADE: C+

The One With the Two Parties: One of the best episodes of the season. The friends are throwing a birthday party for Rachel, but things go sideways when Rachel's dad, Mr. Greene, shows up. Rachels' dad and mom can't be in the same room because they are going through a tough divorce, so the friends throw two separate parties to keep the parents away from each other. Ron Leibman plays Mr. Greene, and he's always one of the highlights of the show when he appears. His relationship with Ross is always hilarious, as he always seems unimpressed by Ross, no matter how hard Ross tries. The other funny part of this episode is everyone trying to escape Monica's party to go to Joey's and Chandler's more fun party next door. Phoebe sneaking people over behind Monica's back is a great touch. 

"Ah! You're having a PAR-TEEEE" - Mr. Greene, don't know why this one always gets me. But there's a funnier quote, so I have to put two for this episode.

"And because you're both, you know, white women" - Phoebe on why they confused Rachel's mom for Rachel. 

GRADE: A+

The One With the Chicken Pox: Phoebe's special friend Ryan comes into town while he's on break from the NAVY. Played by the lovely and not controversial Charlie Sheen, who does a good job in this episode. Their plans are foiled when they both get chicken pox and have to spend the entire week without touching each other or scratching. This leads to a fun scene where Monica tapes oven mitts to their hands, and they sensually scratch each other. I also realized that up to this point, Phoebe and Joey are the only characters who haven't had a relationship that lasted more than one episode on screen. Poor Joey doesn't get much in that department. Monica and Richard have some development in their romance, as Richard finds out about some of Monica's quirks, but Monica is annoyed that Richard doesn't have any of his own. We also get Joey working with Chandler and inventing a work persona to fit in with all the other office workers. This leads to a funny scene where Chandler has an affair with Joey's fake wife, who doesn't actually exist. 

"I can't believe my boyfriend doesn't have a thing!" Monica on Richard not having a quirk

"See, if anyone overheard that, I didn't come off well there." Richard

GRADE: C

The One With Barry and Mindy's Wedding: Oh boy, an episode with Barry. If you read my season one review, you know I hate the Barry character and don't want to see him on screen. As far as season finales go, this one is a bit weird. Usually, season finales are a big event in Friends; even last season had Rachel finding out about Ross' feelings for her. This season ending on a big wedding for two characters that don't really matter to the show is a choice. I guess it serves to put a bow on the Rachel and Barry relationship, once and for all. Also, it's meant to give Rachel a nice moment of growth as she overcomes all the harassment she faces at the wedding from Barry's friends. Eh, I still don't really like it, and it probably would have been better to just never see Barry again. The biggest moment from this episode is Richard telling Monica he doesn't want kids again, and it leads to their eventual breakup. It was pretty shocking the first time watching it and still pretty surprising now, but it makes sense that their age difference finally caught up to them. Chandler falls in love with a woman on the internet and wants to finally meet her in person. I remember how shocking it was to see Janice revealed as the woman, and they have a sweet moment together, as Chandler finally wants to be with Janice for good. They set up some good storylines for next season here. It's good, but Barry sucks. 

"Are you the cutest?" - Phoebe 

"I'm afraid I might just be" - Chandler

GRADE: B-

A very strong season that took all the good from the first season and made it better. All the actors are fully into their characters, and the writing is just really good. We got some great relationship moments with Ross and Rachel, and Monica and Richard. Chandler is even funnier than last season, and his friendship with Joey is even better now. Honestly, I'm curious to see when Joey starts to transform from his charming street-smart guy to the guy who struggles with anything that's more than just basic knowledge. The guest stars were also a lot better in this season, with the clear standout being Tom Selleck's Richard. We get to see a lot more of Ribisi's Frank Jr. in the next few seasons, so that's exciting too.

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The Rise of Latin Music in the USA

Latin music has had a place in the popular music zeitgeist for decades now, but it really wasn't until the 90s that it exploded into the pop charts in the USA. Artists like Ricky Martin, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, and the legendary Selena were a huge part of the Latin music boom of the 1990s. The success of those artists would continue into the 2000s as new artists and genres emerged in the Latin music scene, and they would continue to find huge success in the charts here. 

In 2004, Puerto Rican artist Daddy Yankee would open the doors for a new genre with his iconic song "Gasolina." The rise of Reggaeton in the early 2000s was the next big step for Latin music after the pop music of the 90s was starting to fade away. Reggaeton was a game-changer for not just Latin music but music worldwide as a whole. The genre had existed for a few decades, finding its start in Panama. Here in the USA, though, we saw the rise of artists like Don Omar, Pitbull, and Wisin & Yandel help the reggaeton genre keep rising in popularity in the 2000s. This is all important to what would eventually come in the 2020s. But, before that, reggaeton had its time in the spotlight for a few years before it went away for a short time. Like with all trends in music, things eventually become oversaturated, and the genre slowly loses its popularity. 

Enter the 2010s, and we get a new style of Latin music called Urbano that starts to take off in the charts, and that's the more pop-sounding tropical Latin songs with some reggaeton elements still in there. The biggest hit from this came when Daddy Yankee teamed up with Luis Fonsi to make the song of the summer in "Despacito". You also had artists like J Balvin, Nicky Jam, and, of course, Bad Bunny start to take off around this time. Lots of mainstream artists outside of the genre were also trying to use this "urbano" style to get hits, too. We saw the likes of Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and Drake all try to ride the wave of popularity and were mostly successful in doing so. 

All this leads to the current decade of the 2020s, where things are certainly changing. The whole "urbano" movement ran into the ground by this point, with all the artists trying to ride its popularity like I mentioned, so things needed to go in a different direction for Latin music. Enter Bad Bunny. In 2020, he released the album "YHLQMDLG", and it helped shift Latin music in a new direction. A return to the more club-centric style of reggaeton, with perreo. The album was a huge success for Bad Bunny, and it would eventually lead to his most successful album yet, a few years later. "Un Verano Sin Ti" was the album that took over streaming and launched Bad Bunny into superstardom across the world. It was his most ambitious project yet, and the experimentation in his music paid off, as it was hugely successful and was even a nominee for best album at the Grammys. Latin music in the 2020s has really promoted more experimental sounds and different genres, not that it wasn't happening before this, but it feels like more artists are being recognized from the Latin music world here in the USA. I mean, Bad Bunny just performed at the biggest televised event of the year in the USA, so that should tell you something. More artists are getting that kind of spotlight now, and it should just be the start.

Talking about modern Latin music and its rising stars, I figured I could mention a few projects here from the last few years that are standouts and worth checking out if you want to dive into some new music. 

The Marias: Submarine

A band that has music in both English and Spanish. They started getting big in the early 2020s, but it wasn't until "Submarine" came out in 2024 that the band would get their music on the charts. Actually, they did technically have a hit before this with a Bad Bunny collab back in 2022, but I would count that more as a Bad Bunny hit. They were actually just nominated for the Best New Artist Grammy, but didn't end up winning. Still, that's nothing. The album "Submarine" is their best work so far, though it's a great alternative album that really elevates their established sound. It's a more dreampop sound compared to their earlier work, but it really works for them, or at least they make it work better than a lot of other artists in that genre. I'd say anytime you can stand out in a genre that's being oversaturated these days is a big deal. Anyway, go check this album out is what I'm trying to say.

Rosalia: Lux

Is it still Latin music if it's from Spain? I don't know, but I'm going to talk about this album anyway. Rosalia has been around for a decent amount of time now, and she already has some great and well-known albums out there. Last year she released her newest album called "Lux," and it was... well, it was way different than I would have thought. Rosalia wanted to create an album that wasn't just full of earworm choruses and catchy tunes, but one that could really challenge the listener and bring out deeper emotions. It's without a doubt her most ambitious album to date, but also possibly one of the most ambitious albums ever made by someone in her position. Certainly didn't play it safe with this one, but the risk paid off and she accomplished exactly what she set out to do. The album still has a few pop-friendly songs, especially in "La Perla." But then there are tracks like "Sexo, Violencia y Llantas" that have heavy classical influence and deeper lyrics that continue throughout the rest of the album. Lots of religious imagery/references really help paint a picture along with the music. It's a challenging album, but one that deserves a listen. 

Natalia Lafourcade: De Todas Las Flores

Following the last album by Rosalia, we get another album heavily influenced by music of the past in "De Todas Las Flores" by Mexican artist Natalia Lafourcade. Seriously, one of the most beautiful albums of the decade (so far). Natalia has a special way of drawing in listeners with her amazing vocals and beautiful lyricism that often feels like a warm hug in the form of a song. If you just want to relax on a beautiful day, this album is perfect to just put on and enjoy. Really, Natalia is just great at putting emotions into all her music, and you can always feel what she feels through her vocals, even if you didn't understand Spanish. But if you do, then you are rewarded with beautiful lyrics from a great songwriter. 

Jean Dawson - Rock A Bye Baby, Glimmer of God

I've been really into Jean Dawson as of late. Jean is a Mexican-American artist who has been around the music scene for getting close to a decade now. He's known for his experimental sounds and always trying new things with his music. His latest project, "Rock A Bye Baby," was another really good one with elements of many different genres like pop, rock, R&B, trap, and more. I can't say it always works perfectly, but I'd say more often than not it does. He does a great job at injecting those genres with his own style to make them fit into his projects. Even though there's plenty of experimenting, nothing sounds out of place, and the album is cohesive. I just want to shout out more artists who are willing to keep trying new things and making them work. 

Well, those are a few albums you can check out if you've never heard them before. Not that they were hidden gems or anything, as all those artists have a good following, but in case you didn't, I would recommend listening to them. I look forward to seeing how Latin music keeps innovating not just in the Latin music world, but the entire music world as a whole. Who knows where else it could go from here, but I'd say it can only get bigger. 

                                                      

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The One Where I Review Every Episode of FRIENDS For No Reason (season 1)

 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. I also think Joey might be gay? (kidding)

"Sometimes I wish I was a Lesbian" - Chandler

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. 

"Are we still talking about sex?" - Joey

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 reveal that Alan actually can't stand Monica's friends is great. 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. 

"Maybe it's a contest, like collect all five" - Chandler on the thumb in the soda

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 time. 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. 

"Who's FICA? Why is he getting all my money?" - Rachel

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.

"Uberweiss! It's Strong, It's German, It's extra Tough" - Ross

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. 

"ALL YOU WANT IS A DINGLE" -Joey singing in his awful play

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. 

"Gum would be perfection" -Chandler, trying to flirt with Jill

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.

"You have a quality" - Monica to Chandler

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?

"Shoop, shoop, shoop" -Rachel 

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. 

"Hey! That monkey's got a Ross on his ass." -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. The relationship between Chandler and his parents is interesting too, because they seem to love him a lot, but I guess the trauma from his childhood keeps him at a distance from them. 

"...his huge, throbbing pens? You don't want to be around when he starts writing with those" - Ross on Rachel's erotic novel 

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. 

"AND we're done with the yogurt." -Ross, when Pheebs tells him some people eat placenta

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. I guess it's good to see Joey act like the adult in the room compared to his dad, but then realizing that he's actually just messing up a good thing for his mom is a nice, honest look at relationships. 

"Why can't parents stay parents? You know? Why do they have to become people?" - Rachel

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. 

"Is it loaded?" -Chandler's response to Janice saying she has a surprise for him

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's performance in this episode is especially funny. If you are a fan of The Office, you'd recognize the actress who plays Jan as Ross' date in this one. 

"Well, smack my ass and call me Judy!" - Steve, the stoned dude

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, but it also seems slightly too mean-spirited for Chandler when he starts rumors about her. It's still the best story in this episode, because it's Chandler, and he's the funniest in 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 when Ross was born was really nice. 

"Oh my God, I am so spoiled." -Monica pretending to be Rachel

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. And it's also nice to see Ross humble himself to make Rachel happy, which really makes you root for him. 

"Hey! That's Joincidince with a C!" - Chandler after Pheebs says Joker is Poker with a J

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.  

"Whoa! Marcel, did you poo in the shoe?" -Rachel

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. 

"Are you outing Mr. Peanut?" - Ross, after Pheebs calls Mr Peanut gay

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. 

"Joey... Switzerland?" -Chandler, when Joey asks for a more neutral-sounding name

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. Though it leads to a funnier gag where she dreams about having a threesome with Joey and Chandler, and at times, she's not even involved. 

"MY SCONES!" - Ross and Joey making fun of Chandler

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. 

"MY GOD! THIS PARACHUTE IS A NAPSACK!" -Chandler

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. 

"You're gonna be making money hand-over-fist!" -Pheebs to Joey 

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. Joey is also completely different from season 10, like almost an entirely different person in some ways, but I guess I'll get to that if I ever get to the later seasons. Who knows, I mean, this was just one season, and it took a while to get through this. 

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