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Original poster

To start watching friends at 31?

79 replies

HomeDecorMama · 24/05/2023 21:35

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?!

OP posts:
DeflatedAgain · 25/05/2023 12:27

00100001 · 25/05/2023 12:16

Except Season 9...

Show quote history

Refresh my memory, it's been a while. Why not season 9?

Is that the season with the margaritas and fajitas 😅

00100001 · 25/05/2023 12:32

DeflatedAgain · 25/05/2023 12:27

Refresh my memory, it's been a while. Why not season 9?

Is that the season with the margaritas and fajitas 😅

Show quote history

Joey and Rachel storyline... half assed tulsa ...
because they didn't expect a tenth season...

BeginningToLookALotLike · 25/05/2023 12:41

Grumpyfroghats · 25/05/2023 11:47

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.

Poor Penny wasn't even given a surname!

DeflatedAgain · 25/05/2023 12:42

00100001 · 25/05/2023 12:32

Joey and Rachel storyline... half assed tulsa ...
because they didn't expect a tenth season...

Show quote history

Ahhhh yes I remember. There are some funny episodes but it wasn't as good as the other seasons. That and season 1 of course

BriceNobeslovesMurielHeslop · 25/05/2023 13:08

Ross is a whiny arse in the later episodes, although I do think Carol and Susan treated him terribly.
However the episodes with the leather trousers and the sunbeds are hilariously funny because of DS.

BlibBlabBlob · 25/05/2023 13:16

I was a teen in the 90s and LOVED it, obsessively so. I can't watch it now though. Not because it has aged badly (although arguably it HAS aged badly - there's a lot of fat shaming, for example, which wouldn't fly in 2023). But because I recently bought and listened to (audiobook) Matthew Perry's autobiography. That man went to hell and back again and again and AGAIN during the time he was filming Friends and, given that Chandler was my favourite character, I can't bear to watch it knowing what I know now. I mean he was literally brought out of rehab to film the Chandler & Monica wedding, then went straight back again at the end of the day. He was deeply unwell. But with the amount of money that Friends was making, he didn't feel he had a choice.

DiddlyDoris · 25/05/2023 13:17

I used to watch it but think maybe it was a bit overrated

BertieBotts · 25/05/2023 13:18

I think with these things you often have to be there the first time to get it. I tried to watch Buffy as an adult and didn't get the hype at all. Friends was great if you watched it at the time, I don't think it would have the same effect today, especially if you start with series 1 which was odd. Most of us caught random episodes when they were repeated on channel 4. I didn't see them in order except for I think the very last ever series.

BertieBotts · 25/05/2023 13:18

But there are some funny episodes, it might be worth starting with those? Like pivot!

Newnamenewname109870 · 25/05/2023 13:19

Just do it! I have no idea if you’ll love it with the eyes of today. A lot of it is nostalgia and you forgive a lot because of the time it was out and how your felt then. It’s very watchable though.

Newnamenewname109870 · 25/05/2023 13:20

BertieBotts · 25/05/2023 13:18

I think with these things you often have to be there the first time to get it. I tried to watch Buffy as an adult and didn't get the hype at all. Friends was great if you watched it at the time, I don't think it would have the same effect today, especially if you start with series 1 which was odd. Most of us caught random episodes when they were repeated on channel 4. I didn't see them in order except for I think the very last ever series.

Only thing I’d say is it has a real cult following with young people atm!

Newnamenewname109870 · 25/05/2023 13:22

Even season 9 is great! They all have good moments, some eps better than ever. The final one was the weekend imo.

Also even though it’s dated it’s classic 90s so great to watch. Shows like Modern Family are way more sexist (imo) and seem to get away with it somehow in current times.

JPMJuliz · 25/05/2023 16:44

Songbird54321 · 24/05/2023 21:46

It's my comfort tv program, I'd recommend. It's easy watching, funny and often relatable (theme tune alone, it certainly hasn't been my day, week, month or even year 😂)
I watch it when I'm ill or sad or just too tired to concentrate on something properly

THIS!!! 100% agree with all said here :)

Mala1992 · 25/05/2023 17:04

We got to this late, with young teens (noughties). So we had the whole box set of dvds.

Thought it was great except for normalising porn. That a cool wife or a partner is ok with it and shows her love by buying it for him.

It was otherwise entertaining but because I was watching with teens and internet porn was now so freely available that part really bothered me - and didn’t even seem to add anything anyway

SargentSagittarius · 25/05/2023 17:50

BertieBotts · 25/05/2023 13:18

I think with these things you often have to be there the first time to get it. I tried to watch Buffy as an adult and didn't get the hype at all. Friends was great if you watched it at the time, I don't think it would have the same effect today, especially if you start with series 1 which was odd. Most of us caught random episodes when they were repeated on channel 4. I didn't see them in order except for I think the very last ever series.

Except that doesn’t stand up, as there are whole new generations discovering, and loving it, which is why it’s constantly available on various streaming platforms. Friends merchandise is huge.

My 12DD watches it on repeat.

If we’re talking about series 9, it’s the only one Matthew Perry was sober / dry / straight when filming.

SSCCLL · 25/05/2023 18:15

Do it x 100000

Superdupes · 25/05/2023 19:19

Do it, you never know till you try.

It's the Brad Pitt episode for me, I can watch that over and over and over. It's so childish, fairly offensive and obviously of it's time but Brad Pitt dropping Ross in it and Rachel having been so oblivious to what was going on is just hilarious.

Catlover77 · 25/05/2023 19:26

It’s dated, and is now loved by thirteen year olds which explains a lot

DollyTrolly · 25/05/2023 19:42

It's good and worth a watch but it is dated and like a lots of sitcoms the characters become parodies of themselves towards the end.

They also stole loads of their storylines from Seinfeld which is the king of all sitcoms imo..... followed closely by Frasier

SkyeBlue28 · 25/05/2023 19:44

You should watch it. It’s very funny.

EasterBreak · 25/05/2023 19:44

Friends is my go to comfort watch. Love it

Inthebathagain · 25/05/2023 19:47

Season 1 isn't that great, but stick with it.

It's very dated now in places in regard homophobic and trans attitudes.

I absolutely love it and still have friends-esque quotes with particular buddies.

SargentSagittarius · 25/05/2023 19:49

Chandler’s Dad wasn’t trans. He was a gay man who liked dressing up as a woman. He never claimed to be a woman.

drpet49 · 25/05/2023 19:56

Pile of overrated shit. Don’t bother.

TakeMeDancingNakedInTheRain · 25/05/2023 20:11

I discovered friends when I was in my early 20s and backpacking (not in western Europe or the foothills of Mount Tibidabo), there was this random place in the arse end of nowhere in se asia that played it 24/7, I was hooked! I managed to miss it the 1st time round I was only 11 when it first aired and did a hobby on a Friday night so never saw it.

Watch it, it's an easy light hearted watch. It does get slated now as tv wasn't made to be pc back then, which in many ways makes it more enjoyable.