To think Ross was a jealous control freak and Joey was a sex pest?

[Cerseirys]

I was watching a Friends marathon last night as I had insomnia, and thought bloody hell, Joey was actually pretty creepy the way he would pursue women with his "how YOU doin'" line and do things like take down the shower curtain when he had a female roommate and ask her sex-related questions when interviewing for a new flatmate.

And Ross was bordering on psychotic with his sandwich fixation and jealousy of just about any guy Rachel interacted with. And also that weird overprotective thing when he first found out about Monica and Chandler. She was his sister, not his possession!

[KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes]

Joey also disabled the bathroom lock when Rachel moved in.

They were all vile, really.

[JeffreysMummyIsCross]

This seems to be the norm for American sitcoms. If you watch The Big Bang Theory, you'll also find their equivalents there - creepy Howard and controlling Leonard. As for the awful specimens in Rules of Engagement . . .

[KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes]

Ted and Barney are HIMYM's version of Ross and Joey.

Leonard and Howard, definitely.

[vestandknickers]

Its a comedy.

They need the extremes of characters to make the jokes work.

[OryxNotCrake]

YANBU. Ross's was definitely an emotional abuser too. He was vile to Rachel.

And Joey was just creepy most of the time.

[Enjolrass]

Ffs it's comedy. They are always extremes personalities and very very flawed.

I don't think they are every held up as ideal role models, they aren't meant to be.

All of them were horrible people really.

6 perfectly normal adults going about normal lives would be a shit programme.

[Cerseirys]

Perhaps I should've added "lighthearted" to the subject line, but I kind of assumed people would be able to figure that to for themselves...

[HermioneWeasley]

DW and I were watching one the other night where Ross was all outraged that Rachel had a fulfilling sex life before him and we both said "run for the hills".

[abbieanders]

There was a whole thing about how appalling Ross was, wasn't there? Must see if I can find it.

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

ShowofHands did a great thread on Ross, it's in Classics I think.

[CaoNiMao]

If old-fashioned race 'roles' were still played out in contemporary sit coms there'd be outrage. But it's ok for out-dated gender roles to be exploited.

Interesting.

[Karanka]

I always thought the really controlling one was Monica. And I found Phoebe loathsomely unpleasant (see how often she just routinely insults Chandler).

With the poster who mentioned the Big Bang Theory. The sexual politics of that show are all over the place.

[Hulababy]

To be fair CaoNiMio, it isn't as if Friends is some new tv show. It's from the 90s - it's over 20 years ago as it.

[Alicewasinwonderland]

Joey would have been a creepy sex pest if he had been unsuccessful and putting people off, however, he had hundred of women throwing themselves at him. The only one who ever resisted was Janine (Elle McPherson, no less), and not for long.

So YABU


Duh! Of course Ross was a control freak, that's why they broke off! He did have an episode, that's why he got sacked from his job.
So YABU for stating the obvious here?

(lighthearted too )

[Cerseirys]

I think the thing with Joey was that he was supposed to be this gorgeous stud who could always pull and was amazing in bed, but he was just so ridiculous and thick that I could never buy that! Plus would a successful soap opera actor really continue to live in a grotty flat share after he'd hit the big time??

[KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes]

I'd love a thread where we discussed Pheobe the way we do with Ross.

She's the worst character in the history of television. Hideous.

Anyone fancy starting one?

[Cerseirys]

Can use this one - I'm happy to discuss all the characters, and how the only ones who really evolved were Rachel and Chandler.

[VinylScratch]

I liked Pheobe in the first series then she turned into a real twat later, Mike was pretty normal so I don't know why he put up with her shit.

[x2boys]

I dont think phoebe was a twat ,whiney and irritating yes but not a twat.

[VinylScratch]

I thought she was a twat, she was so self centred, everything had to be about her.

[MamaLazarou]

They were all fat-shamers, too: especially Monica's vile parents.

[Karanka]

I always thought Phoebe's putdowns to the likes of Ross and Chandler came across as mean-spirited (certainly in later seasons).

[x2boys]

The irony being Chandlers weight went up and down like a yoyo [yes i know this was connected to Matthew Perrys addiction issues in real life]

[clockbuscanada]

I always thought Phoebe was the worst, the faux ditsiness covering up pointed insults or letting her opt out of taking any responsibility for her actions.