I'll Be There For You?

Yes. If the first thing that came to your itty bitty brain is Friends then we can most definitely be friends. Also, that's called, "Ahh...Unagi".

We are talking about one of the most popular TV shows which has gained an immense amount of fandom throughout the years. Along with the popularity, has also come criticism.

Well, this series is also involved in the long-standing debate of whether it is better than The Office, How I Met Your Mother and whatnot. We are here to break down and give our review on Friends, the TV show.

The series started back in 1994 and instantly resembled with a lot of people, who eventually became fans of the show even back then. If you watch the reunion that happened in 2021, you will see how much it has impacted people all around the world. Friends became popular for their relatability, especially for people who are in their 20s.

Let's start with the good stuff, shall we? For starters, the chemistry amongst the cast members is evident. Each character, from Ross's nerdy mentality to Chandler's sardonic wit, adds their own distinct flavour to the show. What makes the show so fascinating and enjoyable to watch is how they connect with one another. Even when they're being absurd (which, let's face it, is most of the time), you can't help but root for them.

Another excellent part of Friends is how it handles some difficult themes in a genuine and relatable manner. The show isn't hesitant to tackle serious issues like divorce, adoption, surrogacy, and infertility while remaining light-hearted. The characters' reactions to these challenging situations are both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It's refreshing to see a sitcom that doesn't avoid difficult topics and instead confronts them head-on.

Of course, no show is flawless. Friends is no different. One of the most noticeable flaws in the show is the absence of diversity in the primary cast. There are a few minor characters of colour, but the primary six are very homogeneous. It's difficult to watch a drama set in New York City, one of the world's most diverse cities, and not see a more varied cast.

Friends also has a dearth of LGBTQ+ representation. While there were a few LGBT characters on the show, they were frequently treated as punchlines or caricatures rather than completely fleshed-out characters. It's upsetting to see a show that was previously so popular, not make further advances towards diversity. There were also problematic story lines that were - homophobic, and transphobic and also included much body -shaming.

But, let us not linger too long on the downsides. There are numerous reasons to enjoy Friends. Many pop culture references strewn throughout the series contribute to the show's greatness. Friends has given us so many moments that have been imprinted in our collective pop cultural memory, from Phoebe's "Smelly Cat" song to the iconic "pivot" scene, Ross and Monica's "Routine" and much more.

Of course, every show has its cringe-worthy moments. Remember when Ross got stuck in his leather pants on a date? Or remember when Rachel pretended to be a smoker in order to impress her boss? Yeah, those scenes haven't aged well. Hey, hey, it's all in good fun, right?

The way Friends treats romantic relationships and normalises surrogacy, co-parenting, and adoption, even back in the '90s are few of the things that distinguish it from other sitcoms. Some of the most legendary TV romances of all time have come from the show, including Ross and Rachel's on-again, off-again (also somewhat toxic) relationship and Monica and Chandler's surprising love story. The way these connections develop is both uplifting and humorous.

Friends, at the end of the day, is a show that has stood the test of time. While it has shortcomings, it is nonetheless a classic sitcom that offers joy to millions of people worldwide. As Joey would say, "What's not to like?"

Finally, Friends is a timeless sitcom that will make you laugh, cry, and feel everything in between. While it has shortcomings, it is nonetheless a show worth watching. 🧡