Summary: The friends go for a vacation at the beach together and Bonnie can't make it. Chandler tries to convince Monica that he is boyfriend material. Ross and Rachel really connect again but it's ruined when Bonnie returns. Phoebe goes to talk to one of her mom's friends to see if she can help her find her father.
The Good: This episode was good and had some good storyline advancement. The Ross and Rachel stuff was pretty good and was pretty funny at times too. They have good chemistry and that carried this episode. The side storylines were fine and had funny moments, including the great strip happy days scene. I also liked Phoebe finding her real mother even if it wasn't particularly funny. The Bad: This episode feels way to ordinary without any big laughs. It got chuckles but not much more. The show has been lacking in heavy comedy recently and it hurts this episode too. Best Moment: Joey getting the tables turned against him when they finally played strip poker (or strip happy days game) was the funniest part. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This episode was good but nothing more than that. A disappointment considering the heights this show used to reach so consistently. As a whole season 3 started off really well with a lot of great episodes as usual, but it really slowed down after the Ross/Rachel breakup. I don't know what happened but the writing and comedy went down notably after that point. While the show is still enjoyable, it feels like the writers are running out of ideas and that's a shame. Hopefully season 4 can turn things around again. Score: 68
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Summary: Monica tries to be supportive of Pete but he is beaten badly in every fight. Chandler is annoyed when his boss keeps slapping him on the butt. Phoebe sets Ross up with a woman who used to be bald to Rachel's dismay.
The Good: There were plenty of good laughs here. The central Pete story is really fun and had a lot of great moments involving Pete getting beat up, and there were a lot of clever jokes leading up to the big break up at the end. The other storylines were good too. I enjoyed Rachel being flustered that Phoebe set Ross up with a beautiful woman. Rachel was terrific in this episode and her interactions with Phoebe were great. Chandler's side plot was a fun little story with some light chuckle moments. The Bad: Nothing really bad here. This episode does lack major laughs though and that puts it below some of the show's best. This flaw has plagued a lot of the latter half of this season. Best Moment: The scene where Rachel flipped out at Phoebe outside the coffee shop was great. Character of the Episode: Rachel. Conclusion: This was a good and fun episode but it's missing that amazing moment to make it great. Score: 69 Summary: Pete has to tell Monica something and she suspects that he is asking for marriage. Phoebe is dating two guys at the same time and struggles to decide with who to break up with. Ross notices a strange skin abnormality on his butt and tries to figure out what it is.
The Good: This was a pretty fun episode. Ross and Phoebe are consistently funny in their roles and their side stories are pretty fun despite being filler side stories. They never bored me and both characters draw really fun moments, like Ross going to the guru and Phoebe trying to get out of her situation when both Vince and Jason arrive at Central Perk. The main story is the most successful however as Monica frets over what Pete is going to tell her and ends up thinking that she has a full idea of what he is going to say only to be disappointed. I love how real this feels, as it shows a character taking one line that somebody else said and overanalyzing it until she comes up with a total answer in her head. It's a pretty real emotion and I'm happy to see the show exploring it while also coming up with some fun comedy. The Bad: This episode does feel mostly filler aside from Monica's story and that hurts it. Also, there aren't a whole lot of funny moments here. There are consistent chuckles but this episode lacks a major laugh, which a lot of recent episodes have lacked. Also, there seems to be a larger dependency on Joey and Chandler overacting, especially Chandler, as his character lacks the subtlety which made him so funny in season 1. Best Moment: Rachel harassing Ross for marrying a lesbian was very funny, as was Joey smiling at Ross before getting stared down. The best joke of the episode as it relied on the personalities of the characters rather than over-the-top slapstick. Character of the Episode: Phoebe. Conclusion: This was a good and fun episode, but felt a little filler and was missing the special spark that a lot of episodes this season have been missing. Score: 63 Summary: Rachel dates Tommy who has anger issues which only Ross seems to notice. Joey and Kate are forced to break up when Kate gets a new job opportunity. Phoebe is put on hold by the company she is trying to call.
The Good: I enjoyed Phoebe's storyline the most here. Her character was great at getting tons of laughs out of limited content and the funniest moments were always from her storyline. This was easily the best part of the episode. The Bad: The Tommy storyline was a bit too over-the-top and didn't get the appropriate laughs to make up for it. It was mildly funny seeing Ross obsess over him, but even that felt too over-the-top and it felt like the writers were pulling out Ross' obsessive nature too much for the sake of attempted comedy. It didn't work. Joey's storyline wasn't great either as it failed to feel emotional or even funny, rendering all of the build-up in the previous episodes pretty much pointless. The fact that it lacks humour is even worse. Best Moment: Phoebe's moments of slowly being driven crazy by the phone were the funniest of the episode for sure. Character of the Episode: Phoebe. Conclusion: Phoebe's C-story which offred the odd laugh saved this episode from being a total dud. Not great storytelling or humour in this one. Score: 54 Summary: Pete offers Monica a new job at a restaurant and reveals he is seeing someone else. However, Phoebe figures out Pete isn't seeing anyone and still loves Monica. Joey and Chandler buy a baby chick and try to take care of it. Ross misses a TV appearance to help Rachel who hurt herself.
The Good: Pete and Monica's story is good until the ending (see: The Bad). Both characters feel very real throughout and Phoebe is fantastic in her role as she tries not to break her word to Pete while also trying to help Monica, her friend. Ross and Rachel's storyline is good too. Ross is fantastic as always, and he does a great job of providing humour to a pretty serious storyline. As a whole, this was a great way to continue the Ross/Rachel storyline by getting them on appropriately good terms. Chandler and Joey make the odd laugh in their storyline. The Bad: The ending of the Pete story is very bad. Monica suddenly loves Pete after a kiss. What? That makes absolutely no sense and I feel like it exists because the writers had no clue how to make Monica fall in love with Pete. The episode as a whole also isn't very funny. There are good moments and the Ross/Rachel story is strong, but the rest leaves something to be desired. Joey and Chandler disappoint in jokes and feel content to just parody being parents. "Friends" has always been weakest when it tries to parody and that remains consistent here. Best Moment: Not much stands out really. I'll go with Ross being ridiculous while helping Rachel out in her room. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This episode was fine overall but did nothing special and disappointed me with a weaker level of comedy. Score: 58 Summary: Rachel has Chandler go out with her boss Joanna. Joanna likes him but Chandler hates her and tells her he will call her back without any intention of doing so. Monica's aunt dies and she inherits her dollhouse. Phoebe wants to play with it but Monica doesn't let her because of Phoebe's creative innovations. Joey and Kate sleep together but Kate doesn't want it to be any more than a one night thing.
The Good: Joey and Kate's story is really good and allows us to see another side of Joey as he appears to genuinely be in love. This does lead to some funny moments and some good character moments too. The Chandler storyline is the funniest due to Chandler's line delivery and Rachel's frustrations, though it isn't as funny as the writers probably think (see: The Bad). The dollhouse story is fine, but it doesn't have much comedic value save for the hilarious scene of Ross trying to extinguish the fire. The Bad: Joanna and Chandler overact a little too much for my liking which hurts the humour in the episode. It doesn't feel real and organic in the way most of the show's other relationships are, and that hurts the credibility of the humour. The funniest moments of the show are the realistic ones, and this episode's main comedy storyline fails on almost every level. The final line of Chandler saying he will call back is incredibly forced and is nowhere near as funny as something like the moment when Chandler has to apologize to Mary Jane and once more can't remember who she is. That moment felt real and earned, but this one is anything but that. Best Moment: Ross trying to put out the fire and running into the bathroom where Monica was showering was hilarious, and their reactions afterwards are a close second. Character of the Episode: Rachel. Conclusion: This was a solid episode, but it lacked in humour and realism. The show hasn't hit the outstanding level in quite a while now and that's a worrying sign. Something needs to change to ensure that the show isn't starting a downwards spiral. Score: 65 Summary: Rachel is asked out by Mark and she chooses to go out with him which upsets Ross. Monica discovers that she isn't attracted to Pete at all despite how great he is. Joey starts getting a crush on Kate, a fellow actress from his new role in a play.
The Good: This was a really well done episode which explored three completely different relationships. It was more of a character episode but it still did a great job of producing laughs. First of all, the Rachel and Ross storyline was excellent as usual. Both of them did well in their roles, particularly Ross who was hilarious and petty at all of the perfect times. I thought that the development for Ross where he finally had to let go of Rachel was very well done, and the big moment with Ross returning the shirt to Rachel was a really sweet ending to the episode. The other scenes between them were great too, as their argument was more light-hearted than their recent heavy fights and Ross' scene with Chandler was also fantastic (see: Best Moment). Monica and Joey's stories were harmless fun and did a good job of looking at some new aspects of these characters while allowing the secondary cast members to develop some chemistry with them to provide the needed humour. The Bad: Nothing really. The episode could have used some more humour as the funniest scene here was the most over-the-top one. The show doesn't appear to be conveying realistic humour as well as it used to. Best Moment: Chandler and Ross int he apartment was fantastic. I loved seeing Ross watching through the peephole while panicking while Chandler bounced his usual one-liners off of him. The culmination with Chandler having to hold back Ross as he tried to go to Rachel was great and served as a great character moment along with being a funny moment. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This was a really great episode which developed relationships nicely while providing the usual laughs. It was your usual episode of Friends without anything bad but also without anything fantastic, just consistently great. Score: 74 Summary: Monica gets a date with Pete who happens to be a multimillionaire. Rachel gets Chandler a hypnosis tape to help him quit smoking, but it also causes him to behave like a woman. Frank is going to marry somebody who is twice his age and Phoebe tries to convince him not to do it.
The Good: I enjoyed this. The Frank storyline is pretty good and it has a lot of unexpected and genuinely funny moments as Frank tries to marry his English teacher while Phoebe tries to stop him. I especially loved the way that Frank turned things around on Ross and Joey as they went to try to convince him not to marry Alice. Monica's storyline with Pete is pretty good too and they have good chemistry as they hook up. There are also a few good moments which were funny in a similar way that the Richard and Monica were which is a good way to show that the writers understand how to make the show funny. The Chandler storyline added some harmless fluff to conclude a storyline which was started last episode in his smoking. The Bad: The episode is overall pretty forgettable and there aren't many great moments outside of the Phoebe storyline. Chandler as a woman is a bit to on-the-nose sometimes as the show seems to be annoyingly fond of when he overacts for humour which to me isn't as good as the witty humour from seasons one and two. Best Moment: Frank turning Joey and Ross's opinions around was pretty hilarious and well written. Character of the Episode: Frank. Conclusion: A pretty good and fun episode, though once more it doesn't get anywhere near the best of Friends. The show doesn't appear to be reaching that next level very consistently anymore but at least it's still very good. Score: 68 Summary: Ross and Rachel are on bad terms now and refuse to be in the same room as each other so the other friends have to book specific times to be with each of them. Rachel invites the group on a ski trip and Ross is upset. Ross goes to Carol's to talk about things. The group gets stuck on a rest stop when Phoebe's car runs out of gas.
The Good: This was really well done. I like that the show continues to address Ross and Rachel's relationship while leaving both in a sympathetic light. Ross and Rachel both play their roles very well and continue to get the most humour out of their situation. I really enjoyed Ross going over to Carol's to talk about what happened and accidentally interrupt Carol's anniversary with Susan. The rest stop predicament was predictable but it was nevertheless funny and led to some great moments, like Joey's "PLEH" sign. The story of the friends being forced to pick sides almost leading to the group's destruction is a good one to tell and I think they did a pretty solid job with it. The Bad: I don't think the episode told its story as well as it could have and it could have used some more big laughs. That's pretty much nit-picking though. Best Moment: Joey's "PLEH" sign was really funny and a clever joke which led to some good lines from Chandler. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This was another good episode which continued Ross and Rachel's story with some nice moments. Score: 71 Summary: Rachel wants to get back with Ross after Ross sleeps with Chloe, meaning that Ross has to attempt to make sure the truth doesn't get out to Rachel. Rachel finds out and the two of them get in an argument with Monica, Phoebe, Joey and Chandler stuck in the bedroom listening in.
The Good: This was a pretty powerful break-up and both Ross and Rachel played their roles to perfection. I was genuinely sad that their relationship had degraded so much and I was also able to sympathize with both as they attempted to get through it. I thought it was done very well. Thankfully there was humour too, mostly coming from the other 4 friends in the bedroom who were stuck in there. The dialogue was written expertly to provide comic relief without making anybody behave out of character and I thought the timing was always perfect. The Bad: This is a tough episode to rate as a sitcom. A lot of the drama is too sad and depressing to make this a great episode of comedy, and even the great jokes between the other four can't overcome the melancholy atmosphere. Best Moment: Joey's "walk" was such a fantastic moment to relieve the tension and make me laugh out loud. The ridiculous idea of him thinking about something like that managed to feel real and it worked very well. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: This episode had some great jokes and funny moments, but the overall serious atmosphere prevents this from reaching high heights. I really enjoyed this, but it isn't efficient as a comedy. Score: 70 Summary: Chandler and Joey visit the copy shop and are invited to a party by hot girl Chloe. Phoebe dates a foreign guy who needs an interpreter to communicate with her. Ross and Rachel have another argument and Rachel suggests that they take a break.
The Good: This was very well done. It was very impressive how the writers kept such a serious storyline feeling light and fun while still capturing the emotional weight of Ross and Rachel's apparent break-up. There were some funny lines and moments in their argument which were expertly inserted into the scenes to feel organic and not forced. I was pleased by that. I also love how both characters motives are clearly understood and that they are both partly responsible for what happened, instead of only one of them being responsible. The side storylines were very funny too. Chandler and Joey were hilarious as always and the over-the-top to draw out comedy from their scenes. Phoebe's storyline was fun as well and the double date with Monica and the interpreter not allowing Phoebe and Sergei to enjoy themselves was really funny and well done. The Bad: This episode is pretty serious so it will never hit the heights of Friends' best episodes, but I still really enjoyed it. While Chandler and Joey's overacting is fun, it's a bit too much sometimes. Best Moment: Chandler and Joey discussing what the threesome would be like was great. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This was a very serious and dramatic episode but it did a very good job of maintaining the humour and keeping me entertained. Score: 73 Summary: Phoebe is reunited with a former partner who she has had a falling out with in the past and they start singing together again. Ross is upset with Rachel's long work hours but is happy that Mark is leaving Bloomingdale's. He tries to prevent Rachel and Mark from continuing to be friends. Chandler dates a woman with a prosthetic leg who Joey has horrific memories about.
The Good: I'm very glad that Phoebe got something major to do after what feels like forever. Her storyline is pretty good and has some fun lighthearted moments throughout. Ross' character continues to shine as he continues to be jealous and paranoid of losing Rachel while also wanting to spend more time with her. I think the writers have done a terrific job of making this very serious relationship storyline still have a lot of comedic value through the use of Ross and Rachel's quirky personalities. Chandler and Joey's storyline is excellent for a side story. The acting from both is fitting for the characters and they do a terrific job of getting the most laughs from everything they are given. Joey's story about what happened with Ginger is very funny and so is the conclusion with Chandler getting past the leg only for Ginger to be creeped out by his nubbin. That ending was a great use of irony to provide humour. The Bad: Nothing really stands out as bad. I suppose the final moment with Phoebe angry with her friend is a bit much for Phoebe's character but it isn't major. Best Moment: I'll go with Joey talking with Chandler about the leg. Both characters were very funny in this episode. Character of the Episode: Chandler but Joey is a close second. Conclusion: This was a very strong episode which had some great laughs in it. Score: 73 Summary: Monica runs into Richard and they decide to be just friends. It doesn't last long and they quickly get into a relationship again despite not wanting to. Joey gets Rachel to read The Shining and Rachel gets Joey to read Little Women. Phoebe dates a guy who unintentionally reveals too much out of his shorts.
The Good: The main storyline was very good. Monica's character has somewhat floundered since getting over Richard, so the decision to bring Richard back was definitely a good one. It was great to see Tom Selleck again and he and Monica played off of each other well and told a very good story with some great laughs. Joey and Rachel's story is great for a side story. We haven't seen the 2 of them in a story that often, so seeing them interact here works very well. There were some great jokes and I particularly loved Joey accidentally spoiling The Shining for Rachel. Phoebe's story has some great laughs too, especially from the reactions of Joey and Chandler. The Bad: Phoebe's character hasn't done much of anything recently. The writers don't seem to know what to do with her and keep throwing her into random one-off relationships with no resonance and little humour. Best Moment: Joey's reaction to the "showing brain" was hilarious. Character of the Episode: Monica. Conclusion: This was a very good episode though not quite the best that the show has done. Score: 71 Summary: Ross gets jealous of Mark and tries to make sure that he doesn't go after Rachel. Monica dates a new guy who writes a poem about her. Joey attends a dance audition by accident because he has written in his resume that he has dance experience.
The Good: The main storyline with Ross and Rachel is a great continuation of the last episode. Ross is really fun as he reacts to Rachel's growing friendship with Mark and his obvious jealousy is very funny to watch. The storyline is moving along nicely too and has gained my interest. Joey's story is great comedy as it springs from the relatable situation of lying on a resume, only for Joey the lying is to the extreme. It leads to a lot of funny scenes, culminating with a hilarious joke as Joey runs away. Monica's story is fine enough and has some funny moments, especially the ending were Julio gets the punishment he deserves. The Bad: The episode isn't all that funny aside from the Joey story so it doesn't ever threaten to be one of the show's very best episodes. Best Moment: Joey sprinting away at the end of his dance class was great. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This was another good episode but nowhere near the best that this show has done. Score: 69 Summary: Chandler gets drunk and fools around with Joey's sister but can't remember which one. Rachel looks for another new job and meets Mark who gets her a job at Bloomingdale's. Ross is suspicious of Mark and gets jealous. Phoebe hooks up with another guy who just moved into their apartment block.
The Good: The 2 main stories are really fun to watch. Chandler is fantastic as he fails to remember Joey's sister and he puts himself in hilarious predicament after hilarious predicament. It's very funny to watch and the payoff of Chandler getting punched feels earned and ends the story on a satisfying and comedic note. The jealousy storyline is excellent too and kickstarts the next big story for Ross and Rachel. Ross' reactions to Mark are fantastic and he plays the role so organically while creeping in tons of hilarious moments to add on to the story. Phoebe's story is fun for a C-story and has some funny moments even if there isn't really a huge laugh in there. The Bad: Joey is inconsistent here. I don't like how he is suddenly so protective of Phoebe to the point where he is offended when a guy cheats on her. Shouldn't he be the one person who doesn't care about that seeing how he always cheats? It's pretty poor. This also ties into his story with Chandler where he seems surprisingly offended about what Chandler did. Best Moment: Ross arguing with Monica about Rachel was fantastic and it had me laughing really hard with the "you grow up" line. Character of the Episode: Ross, though Chandler comes close. Conclusion: This was one of the funnier episodes this season but inconsistencies with characterization prevent it from being one of the show's best. Score: 76 Summary: Rachel decides to quit her job as a waitress and pursues something in fashion after Chandler encourages her. Phoebe helps Joey sell Christmas trees to help them fulfill their Christmas destiny. Ross accidentally breaks a little girl's leg and tries to sell cookies to help get her to space camp.
The Good: The Rachel storyline was good. It had some funny moments, especially the end where it reveals that Rachel's job has hardly even changed at all. Chandler's lines were very funny throughout and led to some good moments. I thought this storyline was handled well. Phoebe with the Christmas trees is fine for the odd laugh and it fits her character to try to help the Christmas trees. Ross' story with the little girl isn't great but it is inoffensive for a C-story and ultimately rides on David Schwimmer's charismatic performance to make some great laughs, turning it into the best story of the episode. The Bad: While Rachel's storyline is good, it really feels unfunny for the most part and lacks the humour to make it really good. Phoebe's story is a bit too silly to be particularly funny as well, meaning that the bulk of the episode relies on Ross' humour which is only able to make up for so much. Best Moment: Ross' interactions with the old woman as he tried to sell her cookies was excellent and had some great dialogue. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This was a solid episode but it did nothing to really stand out. Overall it's a good watch but not one that you will remember much of. Score: 65 Summary: The friends play a game of football together for Thanksgivings. Monica and Ross reignite a past rivalry in football and get overly competitive. Joey and Chandler battle over the affections of a beautiful Dutch girl who watches them play.
The Good: This was a really good episode. It had a single overarching storyline which allowed all of the friends to chime in at perfect times with their signature humour while also exploring individual storylines. Monica and Ross were really good in their intense battle and I love being able to see more about their sibling life which hasn't been explored to its fullest potential in the show so far. This was really well done and their constant bickering led to many funny moments. Better yet was Joey and Chandler for once crossing paths over a girl and trying to win her over. Both guys were hilarious and it was really funny seeing them try to humiliate each other. The ending with her choosing nobody was predictable but still funny nonetheless. The Bad: The episode is really great and easy to watch but it is missing a spark to take it over the edge into greatness. Best Moment: Chandler humiliating Joey by asking him about where Dutch people are from. Great comedy. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This was a really fun episode with some funny moments, but it ultimately feels pretty ordinary compared to the best Friends episode. However, that shouldn't take away from the fact that I really enjoyed this episode and the way the friends all interacted. Score: 75 Summary: Joey tells Chandler about what he saw and Chandler has to confront Janice about where her true feelings are. Monica and Rachel watch over Ben for the day and Monica accidentally bumps his head on the beam. Phoebe has to go to the dentist but is scared because every time she goes to the dentist, somebody she knows dies.
The Good: Chandler breaking up with Janice is a sad moment which has a fair amount of emotion to it. There are some genuine laughs to the storyline and while Chandler does go overboard towards the end, it is somewhat funny. The conclusion to Monica's storyline is very good and got a good laugh out of me. Phoebe's dilemma is some good harmless fluff. The Bad: Chandler is totally idiotic in this episode by the end. At first the break up is really great and handled nicely, but suddenly Chandler acts inhumanly attached to Janice in an attempt to get maximum laughs out of the scene, but all it serves to do is feel cartoonish and unrealistic, sapping the emotional resonance of the scene. Monica bumping Ben's head isn't as funny as the writers think it is and it really just feels like no big deal at all. I get that it's the point of the joke, but seeing that the jokes weren't funny, it then becomes a problem. The poking device is an unfunny and dumb idea. I can't buy that it stretched out as far as the writers want us to think it did. Best Moment: The discussion about the homosapiens was a classic Friends conversation in an otherwise unfunny episode. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: This was one of the weakest episodes of the show so far which had very little of importance, and what was important was executed poorly. Score: 54 Summary: Monica orders a new bed from the Mattress King which is owned by Janice's soon-to-be ex-husband. They send the wrong one and when Joey goes to return it he sees Janice kissing her husband. Joey is also teaching an acting class and attempts to screw one of his students out of an audition he is also going for. Rachel tries to get Ross and her father to be friends and they struggle to tolerate each other.
The Good: The Janice twist at the end was very good and Joey's reaction to it was certainly funny. It progressed the plot in an interesting way. I enjoyed the overall Mattress King plot too and Monica's bed led to some really great moments for Chandler too, especially the ending. The other 2 storylines provided some harmless fun. Joey teaching acting class was good for some small laughs and Joey's final "performance" after losing the audition was easily the highlight. Ross and Rachel's story was very good and it felt realistic that Ross and Rachel's father just can't get along and there were a ton of funny jokes in the storyline. The Bad: The ending to Ross' story was very clichéd though with the 2 guys connecting over their disagreements about Rachel. The episode also lacks some really memorable humour to send it over the top and is really just a good episode and nothing more. Best Moment: The dinner scene with the interactions between Ross and Dr. Green was hilarious. Character of the Episode: Chandler. Conclusion: This was a good if unspectacular episode. Score: 69 Summary: In the present, Janice asks the friends if they ever fooled around with each other. A flashback shows a time when Phoebe was still living with Monica. Phoebe has moved out but is afraid to tell Monica. Ross is in the process of discovering that Carol is a lesbian. Chandler needs to select a new roommate and meets Joey. Rachel is in town and is nervous about marrying Barry.
The Good: This was a superb episode. A great concept and an incredible execution makes this one of the best episodes of the show yet. All 6 friends were given moments to shine and they were really hilarious. There were great callbacks to things which we from the future would understand and they were expertly placed without ever being forced. The major storylines were fantastic plots too. Chandler picking Joey as his roommate was really fun, and I love how Joey wasn't even Chandler's first option and that they ended up connecting afterwards. Ross discovering Carol's sexuality was done really well and had tons of funny moments and teases which we all understood, especially with mentions of Susan. Phoebe, Rachel and Monica were excellent in their roles too and had some really smart storylines to fill out the time. This is a rare episode where it feels like there is no side story and that every storyline is equally important. It allows the episode to really fly by and for us to get even more hooked. There were so many fantastic comedy sequences too. Chandler and Rachel in the bar was fantastic comedy, especially from Chandler as always. Ross and Phoebe on the pool table was the most I've ever laughed seeing 2 characters hook up, and I like how it led to them stopping before anything happened. And of course Joey thinking Monica wants sex was hilarious and was easily the show's best visual gag since Ross talking dirty. Better than this though was how smartly written the episode was. The characters all behaved completely in character and there were lovely callbacks to previous things we knew about these characters, like Chandler and Joey's love for Baywatch and Monica having a crush on Joey when he moved in. Lastly, I loved the little cameo from Mr. Heckles. The Bad: Nothing really. Best Moment: We really are spoiled for choice. I'll go with the pool table scene in the end but so many other scenes delivered. Character of the Episode: Chandler. Conclusion: A really stellar episode, which had brilliant writing, story and comedy. This is pretty much a perfect package for an episode of comedy. Brilliant stuff. Score: 88 Summary: Phoebe spends a weekend with Frank Jr, but it doesn't go as well as she hoped since they are completely different. Joey builds an entertainment center in the apartment to Chandler's chagrin. Ross makes a list of 5 celebrities he is allowed to sleep with.
The Good: Joey and Chandler are really funny here. Though their storyline really doesn't equate to much, it's really good humour and provides the most consistent laughs throughout. Things get particularly funny when Joey starts using his new skills to help Monica retile her bathroom floor, which felt completely in line with Joey's simplistic character. Ross' celebrity story is fine comedy to fill out the C-story of an episode and led to a really good final moment where we see Ross get lightly humiliated for some good laughs. The Bad: I thought Phoebe's story was really weak sadly. Frank Jr's weirdness can be funny at times but it felt like there was too much focus on that instead of on the actual story which in this case should be more important. The ending wasn't very good either and it was hard to really buy into their final moment as some kind of bond. Best Moment: Joey breaking Monica's floor and trying to get out of the job was hilarious. Character of the Episode: It's tough between Joey and Chandler who were equally hilarious, but I'll go with Joey. Conclusion: A weaker main story, a hilarious B-story and a solid C-story makes this one of the show's most uneven episodes. It's a weaker episode for sure, but I can't say it's bad. Score: 65 Summary: Chandler is afraid to commit to his relationship with Janice but after talking to his friends, he overcommits and scares Janice away. Joey recruits Phoebe as an agent to help him get auditions but she doesn't want the job because she hates telling Joey when he doesn't get an audition. Ross is displeased to see that Ben is playing with a Barbie and tries to get him to play with something else.
The Good: I enjoyed the Chandler storyline a fair amount. His scenes were funny and he got a lot of good moments as he played a desperate guy who doesn't want to ruin his biggest relationship yet. I enjoyed the conclusion of the story too where Chandler is somehow able to keep his relationship together which surprises Monica and Rachel. Ross is fine in his storyline too and provides the odd chuckle, which is perfect for a background story like his. Phoebe and Joey also provide the occasional laugh in their storyline. The Bad: Chandler is a bit excessive at times, which takes away from his storyline. A lot of the funny moments feel like they are overacted which diminishes their impact. The other storylines are fine but I feel like they don't have much too them and I didn't laugh as much as I would have wanted. The Phoebe and Joey story was fine, but it wasn't funny and didn't have much of a point other than the ironic twist that Phoebe made up bad things about Joey to get out of her job, but even that felt out of character for Phoebe who values her friends more than that. Best Moment: Chandler horribly failing his aloof encounter with Janice at the store was very funny and definitely got a lot of laughs out of me. Character of the Episode: Chandler. Conclusion: This episode had a strong Chandler story, but unfortunately it was bogged down by overacting, while the rest of the episode really lacked. In the end we have just a decent episode. Score: 62 Summary: Monica starts making jam to get over Richard and Joey eats it. Phoebe is stalked by a man who mistakes her for Ursula and they start a relationship. Chandler goes to Ross who gives him advice about how to sleep with Janice without cuddling her.
The Good: There were lots of things to like about this episode. The story of Chandler trying to sleep with Janice without cuddling was Friends at its best and his conversations with Rachel and Ross about it were hilarious. I really love how Ross had kept everything secret from Rachel with his "hug and roll" technique before Chandler blew it like an idiot and got Ross in trouble. The scenes between them had tons of comedic value and I was laughing the entire time, all the way until the big pay off at the end with Ross telling Chandler that "women talk". Monica's decision to make jam was pretty good and added for some good laughs with Joey and one great laugh (see: Best Moment). The sperm bank idea was harmless fun and had a good sitcom story where Monica came to realize that she really did want to have a guy in her life with her baby. The Bad: The stalker storyline wasn't that great unfortunately. There were some nice laughs, but it was obvious that he wouldn't stop following Ursula so that took away a lot of the story's impact as well as some of the comedy when Ursula turns up at the end. Best Moment: Chandler asks Joey if he wants the Xerox girl naked or a bug tub of jam, to which Joey hilariously responds with "put your hands together". Fantastic comedy. Character of the Episode: Chandler. Conclusion: This was 2/3s of a fantastic episode but the Phoebe story unfortunately wasn't that great. This was another really strong episode though and had a lot of good laughs. Score: 73 Summary: Ross tries to get everybody ready to attend a gathering at the museum. Rachel can't choose what to wear. Chandler and Joey fight over who gets to sit on the chair. Monica is distracted when she hears a message from Richard which could be new or old.
The Good: This is how to do a bottle episode. This whole episode took place in Monica's apartment and was tremendous fun. All of the 6 friends got moments to shine and there was a lot of smart comedy here based off of the simplest of things. This is an exemplar episode which shows how good use of characters and smart writing can turn even the most simple of stories into hilarious and memorable stuff. The conflict between Chandler and Joey was clever and felt real, while also featuring some hilarious dialogue. Monica's story was excellent too as it featured more smart fallout from Monica's relationship with Richard and also providing some fantastic comedy to boot. Ross' panic throughout was very funny and so was Rachel being horribly indecisive and getting Ross upset. The Bad: Nothing really. The writing was too good for me to find any flaws. Best Moment: Joey arriving in all of Chandler's clothes and mocking him was the funniest moment for sure. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: This episode was superb. Smart writing and understanding of character made this episode something special. This is Friends at its finest. Score: 83 Summary: Ross tells Rachel about his sexual fantasy about Princess Leia and Rachel tells Phoebe and Monica to Ross' dismay. Rachel encourages Ross to talk to guys about things like that. Joey is having trouble getting used to Janice since he can't stand her. Monica suffers from insomnia after breaking up with Richard.
The Good: This was a great episode to kick of season 3. The storylines were great follow-up from season 2 and had lots of comedy throughout. The Joey and Janice storyline was great fun and I loved how Joey ended up coming into a very small conflict with Chandler about Janice before trying to like her and failing. It was pretty funny throughout and was a good story to do with Janice back into the show. Monica' story was very good too. It made sense that she would be so affected after breaking up with Richard and it led to several funny lines, and a really great ending where Jack Geller got to come in for a little bit, being awesome as always. The best storyline was definitely Ross' though as it led to a good discussion about the differences between guy friendships and girl friendships which led into a fantastic scene between Ross and Chandler. The Bad: Nothing really. I suppose it doesn't have quite enough comedy to really be considered one of the show's very best episodes. Best Moment: Chandler freaking out Ross by saying how his mom's face appears sometimes when he has sex was hysterical. It's slightly funnier than the final scene with Ross ad Rachel in my opinion. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This was a really strong and funny episode which was a great way to kick off season 3. Score: 79 |
Aaron DhillonJust a university student who loves to watch TV. And analyze it way too much. Archives
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