To think Monica and Chandler were a much better couple

[Lostinbooksandcoffee]

Than Ross and Rachel?

I'm currently rewatching Friends on Netflix.
Ross was possessive and jealous. He couldn't stand when Rachel was successful in her new career and wanted everything about him, even with his own sister. She could do so much better and I still hate the fact she ended up with him, despite having a child together. They didn't suit each other at all and were complete opposite. Plus the whole 'we were on a break' thing was just ridiculous.

Monica and Chandler, however, were such a natural couple. He really grew up when he got with her. They loved each other despite their differences and quirks. If anything, they seemed to be better as a couple because of them. I loved them together.

Yes, I'm aware they're just characters in a TV show but amuse me.

YABU - Ross and Rachel were a much better couple

YANBU - Monica and Chandler had the best relationship

[Andthewinnerislucky]

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Joey and Rachel was the worst story line idea ever btw and ruined the end series for me

The relationship felt icky - like brother and sister making out and 'dating'.

So glad when it was over. Really was annoying.

[lilgreen]

Loved both couples.

[SirSamuelVimesBlackboardMonito]

I'm re-watching at the moment too! Ross is a dick but not horrendous. Bloody love Phoebe! She's a bit selfish but understandably considering her earlier life - she's looking after herself first. I also love how she uses the 'crazy Phoebe' thing to get away with stuff because no-one thinks to question it.

I aspire to be more Phoebe!

[cosycatsocks]

I never liked whiny manipulative Ross. Yes Monica and chandler were a better couple.

[Mummadeeze]

I agree but I love Jennifer Anniston and think she is such a brilliant comedic actress so I probably preferred watching the Ross and Rachel storylines.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

like brother and sister making out yes! I remember back to when joey read little women- it was so sweet between him and Rachel. Where as chandler and Monica always had on / off flirting eg. The beach house, the flash backs

[lilgreen]

I loved Phoebe. Monica was too controlling.

[vanillandhoney]

@Andthewinnerislucky

Ross gave up his time to stand in for Rachel's prom date who didn't show up but later did and Ross was left looking like a fool (Granted Rachel didn't know). He messed up his date in a restaurant because he felt sorry for his pregnant ex wife who was eating alone after her partner had to leave for work and they argued before she left. He invited her over and wanted to help - she appreciated it.

He missed his all important lecture that he had prepared for for ages and stayed with Rachel when she had a health problem.

All these things and more he did with no fuss at all. Yet dear old loverman "I carried you in my arms when you were little" Richard is somehow better? Just because he's "hot" and only icky in a certain light? Yet he refused to be anything else to Monica other than a lover?

Interesting.

FWIW I don't have a problem with Richard - I also liked their relationship because he seemed like a sensible guy and they had chemistry but Ross couldn't have been worse if we're judging.

You're missing all the super controlling things about Ross. Him doing nice things doesn't cancel out the shit behaviour.

He treated Rachel awfully - put her on a pedestal and then got angry when she turned out to be, y'know, a real person with feelings.

At the beginning, he didn't ask her out or make a move on her, but got angry and bitter when she ended up with Paolo.

He shouted at her (and humiliated her) in front of everyone because he decided she was taking too long to get ready.

He didn't like her working with another man (Mark) and even went so far as to turn up to her office to keep tabs on her. When she had to work late, he kicked up a massive fuss too. He even insisted on coming to a lecture with her (so Mark couldn't come) and then embarrassed her by falling asleep halfway through.

Yes, he was treated badly by Carol and Susan but that doesn't excuse his behaviour towards Rachel. He was controlling with her and exceedingly unpleasant with Emily too. I know we're all supposed to dislike the Emily character but Ross was hardly gold-star boyfriend material there either.

Richard did want to be in a relationship with Monica too (more than "just a lover", anyway) but felt he was too old to have children, and Monica decided that having a family was more important. I don't think he did anything wrong there - would it have been better for him to have a child he didn't want?

yes I realise it's just a TV show

[vanillandhoney]

@lilgreen

I loved Phoebe. Monica was too controlling.

I always thought Phoebe was quite unpleasant to pretty much everyone! She liked to wind people up and watch them get upset.

[lilgreen]

Rachel was a spoilt little rich girl at the start. Not perfect at all. They all had their faults.

[Andthewinnerislucky]

@CalledYouLastNightFromWaitrose

Yikes I meant no to Monica and Richard!

I'm a bit on the fence about Phoebe and Mike, both great characters but just a bit boring

Loved Phoebe....didn't like Mike. Boring character but then again Paul Rudd never moves me in any film/tv show. Although I think he seems like a nice guy.

Would have liked her to have ended up with the Minsk guy (David?) tbh than Mike.

[lilgreen]

Unpleasant Phoebe? Must’ve been watching something else!

[vanillandhoney]

@lilgreen

Unpleasant Phoebe? Must’ve been watching something else!

Yeah, I think she was. This article sums it up.

www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a814758/phoebe-from-friends-is-the-worst/

[monkeytennis97]

I never really liked Chandler and much preferred Ross. Felt that way in the 90s as a twenty something and feel that way now watching the reruns. I never found Ross whiny or annoying but did find Chandler annoying. Funny old world. Phoebe was the most annoying one.

[lilgreen]

Lol it was a comedy!!!

[vanillandhoney]

@lilgreen

Lol it was a comedy!!!

Well, yeah, I realise that

Doesn't mean I have to like all the characters though?

[rayoflightboy]

I loved Ross,he was my favourite.He has the best scenes.

Phoebe is my most hated,never liked her.

[bookmum08]

Other than being a terrible singer what exactly was Phoebe's personality? She didn't really have one.

[Andthewinnerislucky]

Him doing nice things doesn't cancel out the shit behaviour

Indeed just as him doing some shitty things doesn't make him a terrible person and those pointing out the shitty things are also missing out the good bits.

They all had shitty things about them. Every single one of them. They were all manipulative, whiny, grown men and women who acted like teenager sometimes - constantly complaining about not having boyfriends/girlfriends, etc.

Can't believe "i'll shag anything walking and I'll flake on anyone to get it and I'll mooch on my friends while making fun of them. Oh and I also cheated on nearly every person I slept with/dated and I think women are there as my sex toys" Joey is better than Ross.

Again, I don't mind Joey - funny guy but if we're judging bad behaviour, Ross doesn't come last to me at all.

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

Yeh I don’t think Ross was that bad- and probably was the most realistic character.

[sashh]

I never liked ross and Rachel as a couple

Yes but ti would be a shame to spoil two pairs.

Rachel was a princess, Ross was immature and just seemed to dump his son.

[bananaskinsnomnom]

I’m going to stand up for Friends just quickly here (I’m a very loyal fan!)

I don’t think it was a homophobic or transphobic show. I think it handled the issues realistically.
It dealt with homosexuality from the beginning. Lesbian wedding at a time when it was nowhere near legal. Everyone on the show was supportive. Ross’ negative reaction was due to him being the person who was dumped. If Carol left him for a man he would have been hostile to the man. In this case he was hostile to the other woman. Indeed if anything, the other Friends tell him he needs to get over it.
Yes Chandler was often mistaken for gay and took offence. Again I think that’s realistic. A lot of people even now, if thought to be gay because they fit a stereotype (eg tomboy girl or guy with a high pitch voice for example) take offence and get upset, even if they don’t actually have a problem with gay people. I felt it was handled in an “it’s fine to be gay” way personally. I watched it young and that’s the message I got!
Likewise transphobic, no. Most people would react badly to their parent being a trans or a drag queen. What you see is a man who had this thrown on him in a bad way as a child and finally accepting that that is who his father is and taking him how he is.

Anyway, you can tell in a long lock down what me and my real friends had a long debate about - I also binged watched it this year!

YANBU op. Season 5 in particular when Monica and Chandler are hiding their relationship if the best of the series I think!

I’m also in the minority who think Joey and Rachel would have made an adorable couple if given a chance. I’m sorry but he loved her for who she was and would have done anything for her, Ross loved her as an image of what he wanted.

You can tell the actors found it awkward though. Interesting thing is, what does Joey say? No chemistry on stage means plenty off stage!

[MargaretHooper]

I wanted Phoebe to end up with David the Scientist Guy.

[NameChange84]

@LittleMissRe

I say that too! I'm still looking for my Chandler- have you found yours?

Nope . 36, single and childless. Very like Monica in my personality as well. Completely at that sobbing and desperate at the wedding stage and wondering where the fuck I went wrong and if I’m going to be single and childless forever stage.

So all in all just about perfect timing for my Chandler to make an entrance lol.

Good luck finding yours! Hopefully he’s somewhere out there waiting in the wings.

[Andthewinnerislucky]

would it have been better for him to have a child he didn't want?

No, as I said I found him sensible and that's one of the sensible things he did. Don't blame him. But I'm comparing them to Ross and the way some people are going on about Ross and magnifying some of what he did as abusive and creepy, Ross would have been called selfish (at least) had he been the one who did what Richard did, not to mention all sorts of perv and paedo names. But we like Richard so we'll ignore that part.