AIBU to think Phoebe is least central to Friends’ main storylines?

[Hummingbird01]

Here is the analysis of how the character is in the show :

Phoebe The Wildcard

Portrayed by: Lisa Kudrow

Phoebe occupies a unique position within the characters as the outsider-insider so to speak.

Her characters views allows the writers to introduce unconventional storylines and various odd stories, including:

• Surrogate motherhood for her brother
• Musical performances like “Smelly Cat”
• Unusual personal philosophies

However, Phoebe seems to be the least connected to the main core characters and the relationships that drive the show’s main stories .

She is good and funny but her character is the more an addation rather than essential character to the show / stories in the show ?

The context for the thread is apparent some people have said she's basically just the sixth character in the show ?

I think she's an essential character in the show

There is no Friends without Phoebe. The End.

Essential! Agree she’s not routed in their past/youth but neither is Joey. She can see things and be both ditzy and straightforward. Who else could so accurately have observed re Ross and Rachel - he’s her lobster.

My only issue at all connected with Phoebe is that they acted like Paul Rudd was a main cast member towards the end, they just did it because he was famous, I don’t think he was the ultimate happy ever after for her (and I don’t know that she needed one!!)

I think this has come about because she’s recently given an interview to promote her latest show and said no one cared about her and at her agency people referred to her as the sixth friend (probably as a bit of a headline grab)

It probably was accurate to be fair, whether down to mediocre acting or mediocre material her character never really led many storylines and more was there for balance and for the others to bounce off. Still she did very well out of it so I can’t feel too sorry for her.

I read that Marta Kaufman said that initially, it was going to be four main characters with Chandler and Phoebe as slightly secondary ones. Not like Gunther level in terms of screen time, but a bit more outside of a core four.

I saw that headline and felt bad for her because she is a talented actor who really inhabited that role.

All six were excellent, as were the recurring characters like Janice, the Geller parents, and Gunther.

It was very much a team effort.

Here is the analysis of how the character is in the show

Whose analysis? Is this more AI slop?

It's sad she didn't feel like she fitted in ,and sad that she got blamed for the cast deciding they would all be paid the same .
It was Emily who ruined it for me , couldn't stand the woman,she didn't fit in ,and I was glad she wasn't in long
Mind you I really disliked her in cold feet as well ,I felt she ruined both shows

Its because the other two females were in the big story relationships. But she is a lot of people's favourite character.

You really needed AI to summarise that for you. The use of AI is becoming absolutely ridiculous. I'd rather read a rambling wall of text or something with terrible grammar/spelling than the robotic drivel.

But Phoebe is absolutely essential to the cast, I'd say only Rachel, Ross and Monica are the main cast. Even joey and chandler have smaller roles.

She lives far away
She lifts right out 😁

😭 I replied just on the basis of the title.
Didn't read far enough to see it was more AI shite.
So sick of it, it's everywhere.

My thought too

I think she’s awful. I wouldn’t miss that character at all. I don’t think she adds anything

How did she get blamed for the cast deciding they would all get paid the same? I thought that was down to David Schwimmer and they all very much backed him?

AI?

Do you remember the episode where Rachel suggests starting a new group because it was awkward after the Emily situation ? Monica is Ross’ sister and Chandler was his college roommate so wouldn’t be part of the new group. Phoebe suggests getting Joey to join the group (if that helps jog your memory) We learn that there was someone called Kip who used to be part of the group but got phased out after he broke up with Monica.

I think that she became the sixth friend when she moved out of Monica’s because there’s no familial or roommate connection to the others plus it’s suggested that her apartment isn’t super close like Ross’s (ugly naked guy’s old place)

I have always counted her as the 6th Friend,

I always thought of both Phoebe and Joey as the ‘extra’ friends to the main group of four , as they were less attached to the group. The others had more connection to each other.
Ross - brother to Monica, best friend to Chandler, partner to Rachel
Monica - sister to Ross, best friend to Rachel, partner to Chandler
Chandler - best friend and partner
Rachel - best friend and partner

But,
Joey - long-term flatmate
Phoebe - original very briefly flatmate

I think both Joey and Phoebe were really needed though to provide additional dynamic to the group. It would have fallen flat without them.

Phoebe always seemed a bit invisible to me. They could have taken her out of the show and I wouldn't have missed her character.

I don’t think we really needed Phoebe. Although at least she was better than Janice.

There's an article in the daily mail at the moment explaining how she felt at the time and that she was blamed

Ah ok. I thought it was well known that DS played a blinder there. Who blamed LK?