Summary: Ross has to go to China on an emergency on Rachel's birthday. Chandler accidentally reveals Ross' love for Rachel to everyone. Rachel tries to see Ross before he goes to China but isn't quick enough. Rachel goes on a date with Carl before she accepts that she loves Ross. She goes to see Ross when he comes back but Ross has got a girlfriend in China. Joey donates sperm to the doctors and is unable to have sex. He has a girlfriend and is forced to have sex with a woman for her instead of for himself.
The Good: This was a very fun season finale. There were loads of funny moments and there was some great movement on the show's overarching plotline of Ross being in love with Rachel. I was pleased by the ending as it should add an excellent new dynamic to the show with Rachel now being the one desperately in love with Ross but unable to tell him. Ross was fantastic in the role, and Rachel's character seems to fit in really well with a role like that so it leaves me wanting to see the jokes made in season 2. As for the episode itself, it was very funny. Chandler's accidental reveal was spectacular and he played it off so hilariously, making it a standout scene. Phoebe was great in this episode too and she continuously kept delivering perfectly timed jokes at every opportunity. Phoebe excels as a background character and nearly always says some of the best jokes in the episode. Joey's storyline was great too as it highlighted his character in a hilarious way with how he is always selfish when having sex. And yet even when he learns how it is to give, he still wants to do it for himself as soon as he can again. It was a great storyline and a perfect B-plot for this season finale. The Bad: Nothing. Best Moment: Chandler accidentally giving away Ross' secret is one of the season's best moments for sure. Character of the Episode: Phoebe, but Chandler is a close second. Conclusion: This was an excellent season finale with loads of funny moments and a very memorable storyline. There was no better way to set up season 2 than this. On the season as a whole, I think it was fantastic. Absolutely the best season of comedy I have seen so far, though that isn't counting the other seasons in this show. Friends was so special because of how much it focused on the characters and putting them in relatable situations which we can all understand all laugh at. The jokes were smart and often times the episodic plot was actually worth watching and made us learn more about the characters which is essential. This season was a huge thumbs up. Score: 82
0 Comments
Summary: Carol enters labour and Ross and Susan fight each other. They end up trapped in a closet with Phoebe. Rachel flirts with a doctor but stops after he reveals he sometimes gets sick of woman's private parts after seeing them every day. Monica freaks out about not having a baby yet. Joey helps a single mother give birth.
The Good: This as another very fun episode of Friends, that comes very close to being outstanding. There were good jokes all the way through and all the storylines were very funny to watch. Ross, Phoebe and Susan in the closet was the definite highlight here though. Ross and Susan arguing was very funny and there were a lot of great lines and comedic ironies present. Phoebe was great in her role too as she helped them realize how petty they were being. It was a well-executed storyline with some good laughs throughout. Monica's story was also a highlight despite it being in the background. It felt consistent to Monica's character and her want for babies led to a lot of well timed jokes involving the people around her and especially Chandler. Chandler had some of his best jokes in this episode and he was very consistent in this episode, making funny jokes at every possible opportunity. Rachel's story was fine too and had some good moments of comedy throughout. The Bad: I wasn't a fan of Joey's story. He was completely alone and while it was still funny sometimes, he is nowhere near as funny as he usually is without one of the other friends to bounce off of. This story ended up getting more time than it probably needed and the jokes really weren't worth it. Best Moment: I really enjoyed Ross and Susan arguing, so I'll go with their argument in the closet with went to "lesbian lover's day", which I think was the episode's best laugh. Character of the Episode: Chandler. Conclusion: A very funny episode as expected that was nearly another special episode, but it is dragged down by a weak B-plot. Score: 79 Summary: Monica dates a college senior named Ethan who loses his virginity to her. However he then reveals he is a senior in high school to Monica's shock. Phoebe temps as Chandler's secretary and reveals to Chandler that nobody at work likes him. Chandler is upset and tries to be more friendly but finds that nothing is working. Rachel has erotic dreams about Joey and Chandler, which makes Ross very jealous. Carol calls Ross when she enters labour.
The Good: Friends makes a good comeback with another great episode of comedy. There were plenty of laughs throughout this episode which made it funny on a consistent basis. The Monica storyline as good and had a great twist to add to the comedy. I enjoyed Monica's reactions to the revelation too as they felt organic and still provided tons of laughs. Phoebe and Chandler's storyline was very good too and had a very real story revolving around Chandler's role as boss. It was a nice comedic look at how workers always hate their bosses and it made for plenty of laughs as Chandler tried to prove he was a good guy, and especially when all the friends started poking fun at Chandler's mannerisms. The Rachel storyline was complete filler, but it made for a perfect C-story here because there practically wasn't a single moment without humour. Ross brought the storyline to new heights with his hilarious jealousy which made for some fantastic lines and moments, the highlight being Ross getting upset with Chandler and Ross getting overly excited when Rachel finally has a dream about him. The final moments were fantastic too as Ross was very funny as he tried to get everyone else out the door. The final moments where Ross froze were also hilarious and unexpected which made for the perfect end to the episode. The Bad: Friends has approached relationships a lot, but I fell that too many have ended in just a single episode. The story tries to make us care, but it really doesn't work if the relationship only has a single episode to grow. This hurt the Monica story this time around. This hasn't been much of a problem before, but now it is getting too formulaic and the attempts to add some kind of emotional tone really don't work at all. Best Moment: Everyone making fun of Chandler was fantastic and I'll give the nod to that, though every Ross scene in this episode came close to being in tis section. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: Friends continues to provide extremely high quality humour, though some worrying story trends are beginning to surface as the first season nears its conclusion. Score: 76 Summary: Monica's credit card is stolen and she becomes jealous of the person using it, who is living her life better than she is. Monica meets the fake Monica and they quickly become friends but the fake Monica is eventually arrested. Marcel has reached sexual maturity and Ross has to send him to a zoo and say goodbye to him forever. Joey tries to come up with a stage name.
The Good: This was a very good character episode for Monica and it felt much more serious than any other episodes of Friends with the two major storylines heavily revolving around story instead of humour. Monica's storyline was fun and had some funny moments, but it was mostly great because of how much it highlighted Monica's character and her insecurities. Monica has been the least interesting of the 6 friends, but this episode lets us understand her more and get used to her humour. It was a good showcase for Courtney Cox who finally got her chance in the show. Ross' storyline was fine too and Marcel created some funny moments in the episode. Joey's storyline didn't have much to it and it did nothing for the show in the long run, but it definitely helped provide the odd laugh in this episode, which ended up being invaluable due to this episode's serious nature. The Bad: The lack of humour does drag this down. Though I really enjoy character-based episodes in drama, it doesn't work as well in comedy. Comedy TV shows need humour more than anything else, so if humour has to be sacrificed for story, the episode won't be nearly as good as the show's best. This was an excellent story, but without lots of humour, it runs the risk of falling flat. I've been against Marcel's inclusion in the show honestly. The monkey jokes were very rarely funny and it ended up creating a rare breach in reality for the show. The emotional goodbye to Marcel also didn't mean much to me as I was just happy that we wouldn't be getting weak Marcel storylines anymore. Best Moment: Ross talking to the man who ran the animal fighting "wildlife experience" was hysterical. Absolutely the best joke in this episode, which felt lacking in jokes. Character of the Episode: Monica. Conclusion: This episode had a great story, but it notably lacked memorable humour, which really took away from the episode. Score: 66 Summary: Rachel and Barry develop a relationship again despite Barry being engaged to Mindy. Rachel soon learns that Barry cheated on her with Mindy when they were going to get married and she tells Mindy that she is with Barry again. They go together to get angry at Barry, but Mindy chooses to marry him anyways. Chandler goes crazy while waiting for a girl to call him back on the phone.
The Good: This was another funny and enjoyable episode. I really enjoyed Rachel's plot line. It had some nice messages about real life and how people are, while also developing Rachel's character and giving us a ton to laugh about. The scenes with Rachel and Mindy were great and I especially loved the dentist office scenes and the cameo of a returning Robbie. The Chandler story was hilarious too. It wasn't much of a stoey but Matthew Perry breathes real life into Chandler and makes anything the character is involved in a real pleasure to watch. There were loads of well-timed laughs, be it from Chandler's desperation, the friends teasing him and the actual phone conversations when they happened. I also love the touch that Joey tried to call Chandler to torment him near the end when Chandler realized the phone was off. Speaking of Joey, I think he was very funny in this episode despite his limited role. Ross and Phoebe also shone as always in their background roles, keeping very consistent with their characters in all of their jokes. The Bad: The final moment in Chandler's plot felt a little too silly for my liking with Chandler not wanting to be with Danielle for her seeming to needy. Sure it is an ironic and fitting conclusion, but I feel the execution made it a little too cheesy. Best Moment: Chandler arguing against Rachel being with Barry on Ross' behalf was very funny. The "I have my reasons" line was excellent. Character of the Episode: Chandler. Conclusion: Another strong episode for Friends that was very enjoyable. Score: 75 Summary: Rachel is tasked to watch over Marcel and she lets him escape to Ross' dismay. She calls animal control and an old friend arrives to get Marcel because he is illegal. Ross is mad at Rachel, but Rachel earns his forgiveness when she ensures Marcel's safety for Ross. Ross prepares to tell Rachel his feelings but Barry suddenly arrives and tells Rachel he still loves her.
The Good: This was a great episode of comedy. After a few weaker episodes, Friends returns to form with an engaging plot with many great laughs. The story that Marcel got lost was great and it allowed for the characters to organically split off and provide some excellent laughs. Ross was great as always, and even when he was upset with Rachel, both characters played off of each other very well to still make up some laughs in serious scenes. Chandler and Joey got to shine with several hilarious scenes together and some great lines. And of course Phoebe was fantastic in this episode. Her jokes were timed very well and she created the best laughs from the background using her character without ever feeling too ridiculous. I think she really got to shine in this episode. The running gag of Ross getting interrupted any time he tries to talk with Rachel continues to be great. The Bad: Rachel standing up to Animal Control girl (I forgot her name) felt a little forced and I don't think it was acted too well unfortunately. Best Moment: Ross enters with plans to tell Rachel he likes her but Rachel says she can't do it, referring to keeping Marcel secret. Ross responds "quick and painful". I think that is one of the better "coincidental conversations coming together" jokes I have ever seen. It was organic, sudden and hilarious. David Schwimmer breathes some excellent life into Ross, making him the real standout character in all of his scenes. Character of the Episode: Phoebe. Conclusion: A very strong episode to put Friends back in form before the end of the season. Score: 76 Summary: Rachel looks for a new job and gets some interviews. The guys play very competitive poker with the girls and Ross and Rachel develop something of a feud. The game takes a sad turn when Rachel doesn't get the job she was hoping for and Ross lets her win.
The Good: This was a very simple and easy to follow episode. It was great to see all 6 friends taking part in a single storyline together and that gave this episode a fun and unique feeling. The plot was genuinely engaging and there were plenty of nice character moments and some nice jokes throughout. Chandler's sarcasm was consistently funny and I enjoyed seeing Ross and Rachel's conflict. there were good jokes and fun moments from it. The Bad: This episode was filled with chuckles, but nothing particularly funny. It was missing that one amazing comedic scene that made it special. This episode was also extremely by-the-numbers for a sitcom episode. not much to talk about really, it was just decent. Best Moment: I'll go with Ross' line of "I want to go to the bathroom" as it was the funniest joke for me. Character of the Episode: Chandler for his constant sarcastic humour. Conclusion: This was a good episode that felt different, but the jokes were lacking and the story had no innovation, making this lack the spark that other episode this season have had. Score: 67 Summary: Ursula stands up Joey and dumps him but doesn't tell him. Phoebe poses as Ursula to give Joey some closure. Rachel uses Monica's insurance coverage to pay fro a medical bill. They date the doctors to Monica's dismay. The girls have a fight and scare away the doctors. Marcel swallows a scrabble piece and Ross rushes him to the hospital to save him. Marcel survives and Ross accepts that he will be a good father.
The Good: This was better than the last episode for sure. There was a lot of storyline pay-off and more funny moments. Phoebe and Joey had funnier scenes in this episode and their finals scene together was well done for a more serious comedy scene. Ross' storyline had some good closure with him saving Marcel. There were a few funny moments, with Jack Geller's return being a highlight. Monica and Rachel also had a fun storyline and it was very funny seeing them fight each other and freak out the doctors. Their interactions felt petty, but that was the point and it led to a lot of excellent humour. Chandler didn't do a whole lot but he was still very funny. The Spanish TV bit did pay off a little with the funny ending scene. The Bad: This still wasn't quite as funny as most other episodes this season, but it was still very good. Best Moment: I'll give it to Jack Geller's return. His interactions with Ross constantly made me laugh. Character of the Episode: Rachel stood out this time. Conclusion: This was another very good episode of Friends, but the two part structure did take away from this episode too. Score: 71 Summary: Joey falls in love with Phoebe's twin sister Ursula to Phoebe's dismay. Phoebe lets it happen but has second thoughts afterwards. Chandler struggles to fire a co-worker who he is attracted to and ends up asking her out instead, making it more awkward when he has to break the news to her. Ross gets doubts of being a father after attending Carol's Lamaze classes. Rachel forgets to take off the Christmas lights and falls from the balcony while trying to take them off.
The Good: This was another very enjoyable episode, though it was an evident step down (see: The Bad). Each of the storylines were very enjoyable. Phoebe and Joey's story is set up for more payoff and was a fine storyline which I enjoyed. Ross attending the Lamaze classes was fantastic though as Ross continues to have hilarious interactions with Carol and Susan. There were loads of laughs and it ended with a great moment of Ross beginning to realize the responsibility he is about to take on. Ross would have definitely been the character of the episode, but he was one-upped by Chandler's equally wonderful storyline. His "firing" of Nina was hilarious and the situation continuously getting worse was very funny. Chandler has so far been the MVP for this season as he consistently delivers whenever he is given a major storyline. The Bad: This episode wasn't as good as others in the season though, and I think it was because of the two part structure. By having only set up here and no pay-off (with the exception of the Chandler story), it gave the episode a sower pace and there were fewer jokes because of that. I think the Joey storyline suffered the most because of this as there was a noticeable drop off in joke quality for that storyline. This could have been squeezed into a single episode. The Spanish TV story wasn't very funny and simply felt like padding. Best Moment: Chandler dropping lies after lies in hilarious fashion. Though it is closely contended with Ross at Lamaze class. Character of the Episode: Chandler. Conclusion: This was a solid episode of comedy, but a disappointment when compared to the other episodes this season. The two part structure is likely to blame as comedy storylines are often weaker when stretched through multiple episodes. Score: 68 Summary: Ross goes on his first date in 10 years but messes it up when Carol arrives and he spends more time talking to her than his actual date. Chandler goes on a double date with Joey only to find that his date is Janice. They both get drunk and have sex to Chandler's dismay and Chandler is forced to dump her again. Rachel, Phoebe and Monica have a boyfriend bonfire in an attempt to get better guys in their life, but it goes wrong and starts a fire.
The Good: I thought this was a fantastic episode of Friends. This is the kind of episode that may get forgotten in the shuffle, but it is funny, memorable, emotional and superbly written. This is comedy at its absolute best. The thing that I love is how all 3 storylines make sense and have a really great story to them. Chandler and Ross in particular go through some excellent arcs in this episode that really add on some emotion o the episode. And yet the episode is also able to be one of the show's funniest on top of these stories which is no mean feat. It made me feel something while making me laugh hard throughout the whole episode. Now to be more specific, I enjoyed Chandler's story the most. Janice's return was capitalized on much more here than in "The One with the Monkey" and led to a myriad of funny jokes while also letting Chandler get a good story arc revolving around his relationship with Janice. The best thing about this is that they had a lot of serious scenes which were also infused with comedy, making them both funny and also emotional at the same time. Ross' scenes were similarly good, though not quite as successful. His storyline was the most satisfying storywise but it wasn't as funny as the others. The girls also had a fun little background story, providing the odd laugh as they attempt to improve their love lives in ridiculous fashion. The Bad: Nothing. Best Moment: I'll pick Chandler breaking up with Janice. Janice was given a good character arc and Chandler's insecurity was highlighted brilliantly while the scene kept up with a lot of laughs all the way through. Character of the Episode: Chandler. Conclusion: A spectacular episode, which is the best the show has offered so far. This season is mostly remembered for "The One with the Blackout", but I honestly think this was better and more enjoyable. This is how you do a comedy episode. Score: 88 Summary: Chandler accidentally sees Rachel's boobs and she plots to see him naked as revenge. Joey's dad comes to stay at Joey's place, but Joey finds out he's been cheating on his mother. Joey tells him to stop, but finds that it causes more problems than it solves. Phoebe has a new boyfriend, a psychologist named Roger but all of her friends totally hate him.
The Good: This was one of the best episodes yet. Hilarious from start to finish. The boobies storyline was great and made for consistent laughs throughout the episode as all characters were hilariously petty on trying to see each other naked. Every scene where one of the friends see the wrong person naked is hilarious with the final one with Joey's dad being the best off them all. The other storylines were very funny too. I loved Joey's story as he had to "parent the parent" in hilarious fashion. He had some great jokes with Chandler too as always and his general stupidity kept the plot funny. But more than that, it was a meaningful plot that let us learn more about Joey and feel something for him in the end. And through all that it was funny, which is perfect structure for a comedy episode. Phoebe's story was also well done and I loved seeing Roger slowly turn all of the friends against him by exposing their flaws. His interactions with everyone were very funny and felt very realistic since most people don't like looking at something true about themselves like that. The last scene was good too and helps us buy into the idea that Phoebe loves her friends since she dumps Roger as soon as he starts dumping all over them. The Bad: I suppose Roger's rage at the end was a bit unrealistic which took me out of the moment. It was still funny though, but flawed. Best Moment: Monica seeing Joey's dad naked and him just saying "hello dear" was hilarious and ended the episode on a perfect note. Character of the Episode: Joey for this one. Conclusion: A great episode that was structured very well and consisted of three very strong and funny storyline which never overshadowed each other. This is a comedy TV show at its best. Score: 81 Summary: Paolo makes a pass at Phoebe who has to tell Rachel about it. Rachel dumps him. Ross tries to avoid learning the sex of his unborn baby, but ultimately learns that it's a boy. Joey and Chandler buy a new foosball table when their old table breaks. Monica cooks a dozen lasagnas but doesn't know what to do with them.
The Good: This was another very strong episode. There was one very strong plot development with Paolo exiting the show presumably and I think it was handled very well. It gave a nice character conflict for Phoebe who was very funny throughout the episode. Her scene with Rachel when she dropped the bomb was very well done and had laughs at all of the best times. A very well structured scene for the story. The follow up was good too as Rachel made the breakup official and the other friends saying their goodbyes to Paolo. Ross is particular had a great final moment when he closed the door on Paolo. The side stories were very good too. Ross stole the show with his storyline about his unborn child as always. His interactions with Susan and Carol are some of my favourite character interactions in the show; hilarious. Joey and Chandler were also pretty good in their story. Joey is suitably slow and Chandler gets a lot of funny lines. Competitive Monica was also a good joke in the back half of the episode. Lastly, I really enjoyed the Ross/Rachel scene. I'm glad that the show is taking their time with the story and are getting all of the possible comedy potential out of Ross being in love with Rachel and her not knowing. The Bad: Nothing really was bad. The only thing would be that this episode isn't particularly funny and there isn't a memorable "laugh until you fall" moment. Best Moment: The aforementioned Phoebe and Rachel scene was very funny and was a perfect mixture of character, story and comedy. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: Another really strong episode of Friends. While not particularly memorable, the strong writing and consistent laughs make it stand out enough to be considered great. Score: 72 Summary: Monica and Phoebe accidentally cause a guy to be put in a coma. They fight over him. Ross gets drunk after seeing Rachel and Paolo and he kisses Chandler's mom and Joey sees. Joey gets Ross to tell Chandler the truth and Chandler is upset and confronts his mom.
The Good: This was another good episode. The Chandler's mom storyline was good and there were some good jokes about her. Ross and Joey were the clear highlights and had a lot of funny jokes between them including a fantastic racquetball act (see: Best Moment), Joey convincing Ross his mom is hot and Joey and Ross spying on Chandler. That entire storyline was very well done and even led to a good story moment with Chandler talking to his mom about what happened. It was very well constructed and funny at all of the right times. The Monica and Phoebe story had some funny moments too and told an interesting story. I enjoyed Paolo's return too and he was used in very humourous ways with Rachel. The Bad: This wasn't all good though. The jokes about Chandler's mom being weird were overused and became unfunny very quickly and it became annoying to hear Chandler constantly say "and that's my mother" or something along those lines. The Monica and Phoebe story didn't have many funny moments and there is something unbelievable about a story where 2 girls practically fall for a man in a coma. Best Moment: Ross and Joey are forced into awkward confrontations with different people and make an excuse that they were supposed to play racquetball. It was funnier each time and I laughed a lot hearing Joey try to one-up Ross in the ways that each of them screwed up. Character of the Episode: Joey, but Ross is a close second. Conclusion: A very strong episode again, but some flaws are weighing it down. Still a very funny and very enjoyable main storyline makes this great. Score: 70 Summary: Everyone makes a pact to not have a date for New Year's but everyone slowly but surely end up breaking the pact. Ross gets a new monkey names Marcel. Phoebe meets a man named David and starts dating him but David has to make a tough decision when continuing his work means going to Minsk and leaving Phoebe behind.
The Good: There were a few good moments in this. Phoebe's story was definitely the best and her romance with David was very well done. It was very well fleshed out in just 20 minutes and I bought into the idea that they fell for each other. Their last scene was decently emotional for a sitcom too, which is well done. Phoebe's songs at the beginning were funny too. I also enjoyed the idea to have a pact which is slowly broken as it felt a little realistic. Janice's return was good for some laughs too. The Bad: This was for sure the weakest episode thus far. While Phoebe's story was really good, all the other friends had extremely forgettable storylines that hardly provided laughs. Fun Bobby was pretty boring for one. Rachel getting beaten up wasn't funny. Ross' monkey didn't feel realistic so even though it had some good laughs, I just couldn't buy it. Though I liked Janice's return, it definitely wasn't Chandler's best storyline. Joey's date received minimal time and not enough laughs as well. This episode was too packed and with only one engaging storyline, it made the episode rather disappointing. Best Moment: Joey kissing Chandler at the end was the funniest moment. Character of the Episode: Phoebe. It's her first episode where she has to carry the episode and she does an excellent job. Conclusion: This was weaker than what we have gotten so far. There were still some laughs but a lot of storylines weren't very well developed. Score: 57 Summary: Ross tries to talk to his baby when he finds out that Susan is. Monica plans to cook a Thanksgivings dinner but is overwhelmed when each of the different friends demand different things. Rachel misses her flight to spend Thanksgiving with her family. Chandler reveals his history with Thanksgiving.
The Good: This was another very strong episode. There were loads of laughs throughout and a lot of the storylines were well done. Joey's VD storyline was a highlight and the montage of the VD posters was very clever and funny. The other storylines were good too. Chandler's hate of Thanksgiving was great, Monica being overwhelmed was priceless, Rachel shooping was unique comedy and Ross continuing to be petty about Susan and the baby was hilarious. In short, all of the storylines worked and then they came together in a beautiful fashion near the end where everybody gets screwed over on their Thanksgiving. It was a little cheesy, but worked pretty well and gave us a good idea of the friendship between all of the characters. The Bad: As mentioned before, the story was pretty cheesy and typical for a sitcom. However, I think it was executed well which somewhat overcomes this. There was a little bit of a leap in realism with the Joey VD stuff but it was funny which made up for it. Best Moment: I'll pick Monica freaking out when everyone gets locked out. There were a lot of funny jokes there. Character of the Episode: I'll pick Joey for this one because the VD jokes were surprisingly good. Conclusion: Friends continues to impress with yet another great episode, even if this one felt a little more unoriginal. Score: 73 Summary: Monica and Ross' Nana dies in the hospital. The friends all attend her funeral. Monica gets to talk with her mom regarding her extreme criticism. Ross hurts himself and takes pills and acts very flamboyantly. Chandler deals with the fact that lots of people think he's gay.
The Good: This was another very strong and funny episode of television. The side-plot with Chandler was wonderful as usual, and it also had a very real feeling as people discuss how Chandler has a gay "quality". There were loads of laughs and funny lines which helped the episode have a lighter tone despite it focusing on the death of Nana. I think the character moments were woven beautifully throughout the episode as well. They were brilliantly laced with comedy and I thought that the progression of Monica's relationship with her mom, the continued hilarity of Jack Geller and Ross continuing to show his feelings were all very well done. Phoebe and Joey were in the background this episode, but their few lines were very funny. The Bad: There were a few scenes that I felt were played a little for emotion regarding Nana's death, but since we didn't know her at all the scenes kind of felt awkward and out of place. It also didn't help that they lacked humour. Best Moment: I'll go with Monica's interactions with her mom at the funeral. It was some great character development and also had lots of laughs interlaced with it. While it's not the funniest scene in the episode, but I think it was the most well done. Character of the Episode: I'll give it to Ross this time. Though Chandler was still hilarious, Ross got more focus and delivered in every scene so I have to give it to him. Conclusion: Friends continues to be must-watch comedy with another great episode, this time providing some quality character moments with the usual laughs. Score: 75 Summary: New York City has a black out and all the friends except Chandler are stranded in their apartment. Chandler is trapped in an ATM vestibule with hot model Jill Goodacre and tries to impress her. Meanwhile at the apartment after a conversation with Joey, Ross tries to make a move with Rachel but is blocked when Rachel meets Paolo, an Italian man who she is instantly infatuated with.
The Good: Now this is more like it! After last episode was rather ordinary, this was a spectacular return to form and delivered a really special episode. Where to begin? First of all, my complaints about Joey in the previous episode were rectified here. Joey is put back in the background and is much better there and delivers several hilarious lines to Ross especially. Joey's charm definitely won me over here. Monica had less of a role in this episode, but she was great in her scenes and managed to help progress the plot with her lines too, specifically with getting over how dreamy Paolo is. Ross and Rachel were excellent as always. David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston are so good in the roles and really bring these characters to life. It was nice to get a full episode to explore Ross' affections on Rachel which have seemed to be a bit clumsily on and off throughout the show so far. Here there seems to be a dedicated direction given to the storyline with the introduction of Paolo, which really works and makes the entire story more engaging. I'm excited to see what Ross will do in the future to try to get Rachel back, which is very good. Chandler in the ATM vestibule was amazing too (see: Best Moment) and almost every line had me laughing out loud involving that storyline. Another thing that really worked about this episode was how well written it as. All the dialogue was witty and humourous and each of the characters played a role in the story and had their memorable moments. The Bad: Nothing really. This was excellent. Best Moment: We really are spoiled for choice here with so many hilarious moments. In the end I will have to go with Chandler phoning Joey about Jill Goodacre, as that had me laughing more than anything else. The other Chandler scenes were also spectacular and almost took this section. His character was used to brilliantly to pull all the possible humour out of the situation. Character of the Episode: Chandler again. Conclusion: This was stellar television and I was laughing almost the entire time. Great comedy makes full use of all characters and has regular laughs that floor you, and this did all of that in such a brilliantly organic fashion. Fantastic television. Score: 86 Summary: Chandler meets and asks out a pretty girl named Aurora at one of Joey’s plays but is surprised to find out that she has many ongoing relationships. Chandler is overjoyed to Elaine that she wants this relationships to be mostly sexual, but faces moral problems after some time. Joey is finally hired for a budget movie after getting a new agent but the role is to play Al Pacino’s butt. Rachel cleans Monica’s apartment and Monica tries to fight against the fact that she’s a total clean freak.
The Good: Most characters are consistently funny and their stories are enjoyable, but not all of them reach their full potential (see: The Bad). Chandler remains one of the show’s best and had quite a few good moments in his storyline this week, though I don’t think the storyline lived up to previous ones. Still it was unique, well-written and let us learn more about Chandler as a character. Joey’s storyline was decent too and gave me a few laughs at the sheer ridiculousness of it all. Lastly, Monica’s story was pretty fun too and we got to learn something new about her too which will presumably be used for more laughs in the future. The Bad: Joey and Monica were funny but they seem to have a certain blandness to them that the other friends don’t have. Perhaps it’s because of the acting involved, or maybe the characters just aren’t well-defined enough for us to enjoy an episode where they both feature quite prominently. Without Ross or Rachel taking centre-stage and with Chandler’s story lacking, this episode felt notably worse than the previous 2 episodes which were very well done. The characters of Joey and Monica need to get more of a spark to them if they are to carry an episode. As the previous episodes have proven, they are excellent as background characters but they certainly can’t carry an entire episode on their shoulders. Not to say this was bad, but it was a notable step down in quality. Best Moment: The best moment for me was probably Joey revealing his role as a Butt and getting ridiculed by all of his friends. That part was hilarious. Character of the Episode: Chandler for continuing to be the funniest character. Conclusion: A solid episode of comedy that is enjoyable, but some character issues are detracting from the experience. Score: 65 Summary: Ross goes with Rachel to help her do laundry for the first time. Joey recruits Monica to help split up a couple because he wants to be with the girl in the relationship. Chandler and Phoebe accompany each other as they both have to break up their relationships.
The Good: This was another spectacular episode. Each of the three plot lines were set up expertly and believably which added to my immersion to the episode, but also all three of them delivered tons of laughs and had me engaged and consistently chuckling whilst watching. Chandler's energy was hilarious, Ross and Rachel's awkward "date" was clever and worked on almost every level, and Joey and Monica breaking apart the couple was unique and even more impressively, believable for both characters to ultimately decide to do it. And not only was the story good, but the laughs were awesome and each storyline built up the big laughs so wonderfully with several small comic moments which built up to absolutely hilarious jokes. The Bad: I suppose the aggressive laundry woman was quite over-the-top and not as funny as she was intended to be. I also can't really buy Rachel kissing Ross yet as the moment didn't feel earned. Best Moment: Ross walking into the laundry machine door after standing with that dopey look on his face following Rachel's kiss was hilarious and was the perfect example of a scene getting funnier as it went on. Character of the Episode: Chandler and Ross have been the MVPs for this show so far, but I'll edge this one out to Chandler who was uniquely hilarious in his overly energetic role. Conclusion: Another awesome episode, which is the best, and funniest, yet. The show's writing and sense of humour has only gotten better and more impressive as its went on. Score: 80 Summary: Rachel freaks out about not making money and brings down Phoebe and Monica. Ross, Chandler and Joey go to see a hockey game, but Ross is out of it because it's the anniversary of his first time having sex.
The Good: This was an excellent episode of comedy with loads of laughs. All 6 friends had hilarious moments throughout the episode and I was engaged throughout as 2 very simple and enjoyable plotlines were on display. All 6 of the characters are now well defined and factored into their respective stories in a funny and organic way. Rachel's panic, Monica's uptightness, Phoebe's weirdness, Ross' awkwardness, Chandler's sarcasm and Joey's slow mind each added to the story and there were tons of moments where I almost fell apart while laughing. The hockey game story was excellently edited for its time and the hospital lady led to some really good moments. I also loved Ross' continued sadness which made Chandler and Joey's lines that much funnier. The other story wasn't quite as funny but it was still enjoyable and the three girls had very good lines. Rachel's character arc also progressed in her attempt to be more independent and it was a nice development for her as she realizes that she is in th same boat with her friends despite them being more experienced with life. The Bad: There were still a couple poorly written lines and jokes, but other than that this was superb. Best Moment: Probably any scene with the hospital lady. It's tough to choose in this episode. Character of the Episode: I'll go with Chandler but all three of the guys were show stealers in this episode. Conclusion: A very strong and enjoyable episode of television. If Friends can keep this quality, the show can be something really special. Score: 78 Summary: Monica dates a new guy named Alan and is reluctant to show him to her friends. But when she does they all love him. Phoebe keeps getting bonuses from her bank and feels guilty about it. Chandler starts smoking again.
The Good: This was another very good episode. There were more funny moments in this episode, though the episode did border on too over-the-top at times (see: The Bad). The highlights was definitely the Chandler smoking storyline. There were loads of great gags and it let Chandler give some really great lines throughout the episode. I particularly liked the scenes with Chandler smoking in his office and Chandler making the friends argue amongst themselves. The Alan story did give off some nice laughs too and there was a good use of irony with it. Lastly, I enjoyed Phoebe's story as it gives her some good development so we can begin to understand her more. Plus it was fun to see a lot of "bad" luck going her way, culminating with the big laugh with the titular thumb. The overall dialogue through the storylines was superb. The Bad: Alan was a little unbelievable. It's really implausible that all of the friends would like him more than Monica and though it was funny, I still couldn't properly buy into it and enjoy the storyline. The laughs did feel a little less in that story too and it was honestly probably the worst we have seen from the show so far. Best Moment: Chandler starting an argument between the friends. Hilarious and smart storytelling with very satisfying laughs. Character of the Episode: Chandler. Conclusion: Another really good episode, though the Alan stuff wasn't very enjoyable. Score: 69 Summary: Ross' lesbian ex-wife tells him that she is pregnant with his child and that she and her lover Susan want him to be involved in the life of the child. Monica is overly stressed because she is dreading her parents coming to her place for dinner. Rachel has to return her engagement ring to her ex-fiancé Barry.
The Good: This was much better. The pilot episode didn't have a great pace as the plot was slowly progressed and the characters were introduced through witty, filler scenes without much purpose. This episode improved on that by having a purpose with 3 distinct plot lines revolving around 3 of the 6 characters to help us get more acquainted to them. Ross in particular was impressive and funny as he dealt with his ridiculous situation with is ex-wife Carol. Though the plot was simplistic in its structure, it worked and helped us understand a little more about how Ross normally behaves. Most of the laughs came from Ross as well. Monica on the other hand stood out because we got to see her relationship with her parents in comparison to Ross. It allows us to relate to her even though she seems to be the most serious of the 6 characters. Rachel's story was also interesting and the use of the kid in the dentist room was smart and allowed a rather serious scene to have some good laughs. Overall these 3 storylines were written very well and delivered funny moments as well as good character development. A great improvement over the first episode. The other 3 characters were used sparingly, but very well and provided laughs whenever necessary. The Bad: The dialogue was still a little bit choppy at times and some of the jokes weren't as funny as I think they were intended to be. On that note, the jokes were good, but they weren't memorable or drop-dead hilarious. It was just for chuckles instead of good belly-laughs. That isn't a flaw but it does prevent the episode from reaching a really high score. Best Moment: Ross in the doctor's office got the most laughs out of me. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: A much better episode that improved on the writing and characters. Though there weren't any memorable laughs, this was still a fun episode to watch. Score: 70 Summary: Rachel bails last minute from her wedding and goes to her high school friend Monica for help. She is encouraged by Monica's friends to become independent. Monica herself has found a new relationship with a man named Paul. Her brother Ross is dealing with a divorce which happened because his wife was a lesbian.
The Good: This was very good and quite enjoyable. The show is quick to introduce its characters and lets us understand everything about them in just a few quick early scenes. The laughs are also intelligently placed through the use of smart and funny dialogue between the characters. It's definitely a unique idea to base a show off of 6 people just living their lives and talking about stuff without very much plot. It's interesting and at times can make for some really good moments. The Bad: However there were some problems. This show is very reliant on dialogue so if some lines aren't very well put together, it shows. There were a couple poor lines that really weren't as funny as intended like "stay out of my freezer" and just the entire spoon analogy thing in general. I felt it didn't click very well. Another fault is that the show doesn't have very much excitement in the overall story. This can be improved once we get to know the characters better but the laughs just aren't as good as they perhaps should be. Best Moment: I really liked the scenes in the café because the dialogue there was genuinely funny a lot of the time. Character of the Episode: I would go with Rachel for this one. Conclusion: A strong episode overall with a couple funny moments, but there does feel like something is missing. If some of the flaws can be ironed out as this show starts to get going, there is serious potential for a great comedy series. Score: 63 |
Aaron DhillonJust a university student who loves to watch TV. And analyze it way too much. Archives
February 2024
Categories
All
|