'Friends' fans: did the series ever jump the shark?

[orangeyeahthatsright]

And if so, at what point in the series?

For me I think the episode with Emma's birthday party was where it all started to feel really laboured. Although it had been getting there since the episode where Phoebe blagged her way into Sting's house, for me anyway.

(Side note: I know Friends hasn't aged well in some regards, but that's not really where I'm going with this thread.)

they we’re also very progressive in many ways though. Single parents, divorce, kids out of wedlock (at the time still frowned upon), Ross being ridiculously supportive of his ex wife and her new partner (who for some reason felt she could have her name be included in the baby’s name?!). Chandler cracked jokes about his dad (even today kids would becusee kids laugh at their parents) but ultimately was kind to his dad and they made their relationship not a joke.

I will go so far as to say I never liked Monica and Chandler as a couple, so from London onwards.. 😬The whole secrecy that lasted forever too..

Bruce Willis as the scary Dad was a low point.

Loved Flatmate Eddie and Mike of course and Ross' leather pants redeemed everything though 😂

Thanks! That makes sense

A vaginal birth to triplets at full term in USA, not even including the brother surrogacy is the most unbelievable of the storylines and that's saying something!!

Similarly, Monica was so loud and shrill by the end - whereas she was nothing like that in season 1

It jumped a small shark when Monica and Chandler got together. A big part of the charm in the early series is the comedy between Joey and Chandler and it was never quite the same after.

It then jumped a huge shark by trying to force Rachel and Joey together. It just didn't work.

And the fact that the brother was with the high school teacher on top of us! And that Phoebe returned to normal, and barely mentioned the children after that. No maternity leave funded by the brother, nothing!

Great analogy! 😄

For me it was how daft joeys character was written. The letter to the adoption agency was just the worst.

One part I didn't like was when they had Emily punch Ross in the stomach after he said Rachel's name at the wedding. Just always made me feel uncomfortable and they portrayed it as 'funny' when it wasn't.

The worst
Hand twin
Mom cat
Ross the divorcer
Joey/Rachel
Shark porn
Monica and chandler keeping their relationship a secret

The best
Chandlers new roommate Eddie
Ben stiller the shouter
Ross and Rachel
Ross saying the wrong name
Unagi
Who dies to get Emma

@decaffonlypls Eddie was hilarious. The 'chip chick' that he called the mannequin head 😂. All I can hear is Chandler screaming "he's standing at the window holding a human head!" 🤣

Loved these and Rachels weird sisters

Kids out of wedlock were not frowned upon in the 90s, @Devonshiregal. It wasn't the 1950s.

Definitely agree with those who said a major low point was Joey and the brain damage level stupidity, illustrated in the talking French episode

In Ireland it was shocking for a TV programme aimed at young people to be so open about how they were having sex and not necessarily with long term partners. Also lesbians having a baby together, even if single motherhood was accepted. I'm taking about the older generation watching their adult children watch Friends.

I presume now the show would be instantly cancelled for Ross getting together with a student, along with many other storylines

Just thought of another episode that drives me nuts - the one where Monica does her parents anniversary speech trying to make them cry. Also phoebes crazy happy date.

Haha this is quite funny, thanks for explaining!
That reminds me - the storyline with the gynaecologist who was a Fonzi fan was quite stupid. No doctor would behave like that…

I was a huge fan - but always disliked Smelly Cat and generally Phoebe singing.

Joey and Rachel was stupid.

I love friends but always skip the ones that could have been , the shark one, the one where Rachel tells Joey her boss wants her baby and the one where Monica thinks the cleaner stole her jeans.

I love Friends, but do prefer seasons 1-6 to later seasons.

I disagree it hasn’t aged well, it was actually ahead of its time by including gay characters in jokes instead of the patronising way they’re written into TV and film now.

You can’t please everyone and to run for ten series we’re all going to have our favourites and ones we skip. For me it is the epitome of the 90s, I absolutely adore it. Yes times have moved on but at that point in time nothing felt off. Basically most of my references relate to Friends scenes which is tricky if someone has never watched it!

After Ross and Rachel split, the show loses its way. So that's season 3. It labours below par until season 5 when Phoebe becomes unbearable during pregnancy. The scriptwriters never allow her character to revert to her former self, and she remains cruel and manipulative for the rest of the show.

Other low points include: Ross and his student relationship, hand twin, Tag, Joey and Rachel.

High points: The older Gellers, Rachel's sisters, 'Ken Adams', Mr Zelna, Gunther (always), and Paul Rudd, Paul Rudd & Paul Rudd.

It was Rose's character that changed the most, and for the worst. He was shy and awkward in season 1 but so many things made him look stupid and arrogant - the bright white teeth, the leather trousers, the constant shouting "we were on a break", and "my sandwich"... He stopped being at all appealing.
My 13yo DS watched it but gave up just before Monica and Chandler's wedding, I think that's where it tailed off a bit but it was still better than a lot of comedies at the time.