To start watching friends at 31?

[HomeDecorMama]

So surprisingly, as a 90s baby I have never watched friends! But people seem utterly obsessed and I have read lots of story plots that have intrigued me. Should I start the whole series now?! Will I be hooked or is it over hyped because of nostalgia?!

Do it!!

You'll never look back. As the seasons progress they get funnier and funnier.

Ross is my favourite

Honestly, it really hasn't aged well at all. It seems incredibly dated now.

If you can accept it was set 30 years ago and not overthink it or overlay todays standards, it is easy, cheesy watching that will make you smile.

Series one isn't that great. The actors are all trying too hard. But as they relax into the characters, the series just gets funnier.
And actually, @ourflagmeansdeath , I think you're short changing us. Pivot. Pivot. PIVOT.

Frasier is much cleverer to be fair.
Mele Kalikimaka, Bob.

YANBU, it's one of my go to comfort shows, never tire of watching it!
Whether in need of a laugh, or feeling anxious, never fails to cheer me up or calm me down 🙂
Lost count of how many times I've watched it

Love friends. If you haven't watched it by now surely you don't like it? Have you really never seen anything about it? Have you been living under a rock?!

It's got some fecking awful dated views. Is pretty homophobic and sexist.

Friend and Big Bang Theory are the two best TV sitcoms i love to watch.

The Big Bang theory is really just an updated version of Friends. I love both shows!

love friends so much. I have it on in the background sometimes.

Not really. Friends was better. A true ensemble cast evenly split between the sexes. BBT was (originally) far more male centric - with token "bimbo"
It got better but no... not the same.

Far more similar was HIMYM

Ok. So I quoted the wrong poster
Meant to quote @MrsApplepants

Do it! I watched it last year for the first time with my very socially aware and socially conscious DD13. She loved it and is watching it again. It is so funny. I really don't understand where the sexist and homophobic comments come from. Each episode is 20 mins of pure joy. We felt bereft when we finished it.

We've nearly finished Big Bang Theory too and love that too.

Watched it first time round (when you actually had to wait for Friday night and sit through adverts) and have seen every series loads in the intervening years. Some episodes I'd sit and watch anytime. Other episodes I'll turn off.

Oddly all my favourite episodes are "Ross" episodes. I know he isn't very well liked on here.

I recently rewatched Friends. I enjoyed it and it is genuinely still funny. But some of it did feel a bit of its time - for me that was the pervy comments from the guys, things like explicitly imagining the women having lesbian sex, the occasional groping (e.g. Joey helping Rachel with her zip, taking it down not up).

I actually find the big bang theory worse though! The whole dynamic of the ditzy blonde who all the guys are panting over. At least the women on Friends feel like equals with the guys, Penny feels much more objectified.

My teenage DDs were obsessed with it, and I watched quite a lot with them but must admit that it hasn't aged well. It was very much of its time.

Mind you, I've found Everyone loves Raymond the same. My youngest loved this but now I think I'd bloody kill him....!!

I love it OP. It is silly and frothy and does exactly what it says on the tin.
The posters talking about how dated some of the views are aren’t wrong, but it was very progressive at the time. I think it was the first same-sex wedding shown on television.

Also, I don’t really understand the trend for not being able to watch something because some of the content has dated. It’s hardly Confessions Of A Window Cleaner. I watch It’s A Wonderful Life every Christmas Eve, should I stop??

Why bother reading any of the classics ...ugh what a waste of time... So many out dated views....and Shakespeare? Nah let's not bother as there are so many great plays today with up to date beliefs ....

Yes, but it's also very funny and clever as well.

Except Season 9...

Do it, it's brilliant. Be warned, series 1 isn't as polished as the rest.

I love Ross

This is me. Try it out.

OP was too young to watch it in the 90s if she’s 31, to whoever questioned that.

I really enjoyed it at the time it was first shown - although I sort of enjoyed hating some of the main characters (well, Ross). Because he reminded me of my off/ on boyfriend at Uni 😂

I see it as quite a life affirming show now

It is very dated but so are most shows once they are 30 years old