Summary: Chandler and Monica watch a birthing video meant for Rachel. Ross tries to find a way to tell Mona that he's living with Rachel now. Phoebe gets Joey a dog to help him get over Rachel.
The Good: This was another consistently good episode. All 3 stories were really well done. The birthing video story is good fun and Chandler watching it because he thought it was porn is a really funny scene. The conclusion with Chandler and Monica watching it with Rachel is satisfying, and the subversion with Rachel still being horrified despite the baby coming out is pretty funny. Ross is excellent as ever in his storyline, and his awkwardness is a blast to watch (when is it not). The break-up was always going to happen and I like that even Ross knows that he deserved to be broken up with. The Joey story is the least funny, but there are some funny moments and lines with the dog and Phoebe. The interactions between characters are what really make this episode stand out. Everyone has great chemistry after 8 seasons and the writers continue to find funny lines and moments. As long as the storylines are good, we typically get really funny episodes. The ending cliffhanger and Joey's talk with Ross are a good way to end the episode on a more serious note. The Bad: The birthing video storyline goes too far in a few places which took away from the humour. Joey's story is more serious so there aren't a lot of laughs to it. Best Moment: I'll go with Chandler seeing "Candy and Cookie" thinking it's porn, and then watching the video with a horrified expression. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: That's four really consistent episodes in a row, and this was the best of the bunch. This season has had its ups and downs, but I'm happy to see that there is no shortage of laughs and the show is slowly starting to treat its characters with respect again. Hopefully this can continue for the rest of the season. Score: 70
0 Comments
Summary: Ross is upset that he isn't more involved with Rachel's pregnancy so Joey has to make a choice. Chandler tries to find out what's inside Monica's secret closet. Phoebe convinces Monica to let her give her massages.
The Good: This is mostly a well written episode. The jokes are witty, there are several clever ideas and the characters are used in very entertaining ways. The closet story is simple but fun, and it leads to some really fun moments as Chandler tries to find his way in. The payoff is a lovely moment and it makes sense that even a small part of Monica is messy, and not only that, but somewhat proud of her messes (she thinks Chandler will mess it up). Joey's story is excellent. There are a lot of funny lines thrown in like Rachel about contractions, Ross bringing the wrong food for Rachel and Joey's dream. The show also does a really good job of showing us Joey's conflict at feeling like he's preventing Ross from being a father. It was handled maturely but the writers did well to still include lots of funny moments. The scenes with Joey and Chandler were excellently written, and highlight how good this show can be when the characters treat each other like friends without any goofy, stupid storylines. The Bad: Unfortunately the Monica/Phoebe story isn't good. Monica's weird response to massages is funny but it makes no sense and will likely never be brought up again, making it pointless. Phoebe not being able to tolerate it feels out of character since Phoebe has always been the weird, eccentric one and she should be able to approve of Monica's quirks. Thankfully this storyline was very brief and didn't get much focus. Best Moment: Joey and Chandler talking about what Joey should do while attempting (and failing) to open the closet door. It's a great scene between two friends with some funny lines thrown in with bobby pins, Richard being inside and Chandler losing his credit card. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: This was a really strong episode. It might not be the funniest of the show, but there were consistent laughs, solid storytelling and the weakest storyline didn't have very much time dedicated to it. Score: 69 Summary: Monica convinces Chandler to take a bath. Monica and Chandler think Joey has a crush on Phoebe and tell her. Rachel and Ross argue over baby names.
The Good: Chandler taking a bath is a surprisingly funny storyline. There are some nice moments, especially with the ridiculous boat, and Chandler stealing Monica's bath was a fun joke. Better yet was Chandler facing karma as literally everyone walks into the bathroom as he's bathing. Joey's story was handled well and his crush on Rachel is dealt with in a respectable manner by everyone. I like that Chandler and Monica figured out that something was going on with him. Ross and Rachel's debates are pretty fun as usual, and the recurrence of Ruth had a pretty good pay-off. The Bad: It makes no sense why Monica and Chandler would tell Phoebe that Joey has a crush on her without first confirming with Joey. Ross and Rachel's arguments feel pretty frivolous and both characters come off as annoying at times. The episode overall had several chuckles but it never made me laugh hard like the best episodes have. Best Moment: Everyone walking into the bathroom while Chandler's in the tub. Character of the Episode: Chandler. Conclusion: Again, this was a pretty consistent episode. Not quite on the same level as the last one, but this is solid comedy and I had fun watching it. Score: 65 Summary: Joey goes on a pretend date with Rachel to prepare for his actual date. Phoebe buys Chandler and Monica a Ms. Pacman machine. Ross gets to teach an advanced class, but it's all the way across town.
The Good: This is a consistently solid episode. Joey's date with Rachel is pretty fun and they have surprisingly good chemistry. I'm not sure how I feel about the Joey/Rachel romance, but they do have very funny scenes together as two friends on a pretend date. The other two storylines are nothing special but they do offer laughs. Chandler's immature names and his "claw" are stupid but they are executed well enough to be funny. Phoebe swearing up a storm at the end is a good jokes to finish the storyline. Ross being late is pure filler, but it's very funny so I can accept it. The Bad: As per usual, there is inherent silliness within the episode that detracts from it. Ross not looking into the location of the advanced class before accepting is stupid. Joey has made so many jokes about not wanting to listen to Ross talk in this season that I'm starting to wonder why they're even friends. As mentioned above, Chandler gets a bit too silly in the Ms. Pacman story. Best Moment: Joey and Rachel sharing their moves to each other. The pretend date is a really clever concept. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: Sure there were problems with silliness, but this was a consistently fun episode even with the silliness. It feels good to have a consistent episode, especially with how inconsistent "Friends" has been lately. Score: 68 Summary: Ross gets nervous about talking to Mona about their future. Chandler tries to get out of dinner with his boss so he says Monica left him. Rachel's hormones make her lust for sex.
The Good: Ross does his best to make a dumb storyline funny, and the characters quirks are amusing to watch. I laughed a few times at how badly he kept digging a hole for himself while trying to have "the talk" with Mona. Rachel and Joey thinking about having sex is a fun scene with a funny ending. Phoebe and Monica finding someone desperate for Rachel to have sex with was a funny idea, and it was the best thing that the writers got out of the generic hormonal pregnant woman storyline. The Bad: This episode had more of the silliness that has been hurting the show in recent seasons. Ross being so afraid of his conversation with Mona makes no sense and it's played up way too much to be as funny as it could have been. I've always been annoyed by hormonal pregnant women storylines because of how cheap and unoriginal they are, and that remained true here. Chandler's storyline is awful and his lie has to be one of the stupidest things Chandler has ever said. It's right up there with him sabotaging a co-worker's career because of a misunderstanding over his name. Best Moment: Joey yelling at Rachel to go back into her room was a great trope subversion that was perfectly executed. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This episode had some funny moments, but the storylines were incredibly silly and there wasn't a lot about this episode that was memorable. Score: 53 Summary: Monica buys expensive boots and tries to prove to Chandler that they were a good buy. Phoebe tries to get tickets to Sting's concert since Sting's son is in Ben's class. Joey's sister is pregnant and comes to Rachel for advice on how to tell Joey.
The Good: Phoebe getting a restraining order is a fun and fitting end to her storyline. The "Ross can" joke is clever and shows the positive side of the Ross/Phoebe relationship, which doesn't happen very often. Joey is a lot of fun as usual, and his reactions to Dina's pregnancy are pretty funny, and it's good that he eventually comes around to accept it. Bobby is a silly but effective side character. The Bad: Joey goes too far in a few places to be fully believable. It feels like he's really overreacting to the situation. This storyline would have been more effective if Joey's sisters had appeared more in the show. Outside of the ending, Phoebe's storyline is awful and is the typical misuse of the character. She is annoying and unsympathetic the entire time. Monica's boots storyline is pure filler and doesn't have any good jokes. Chandler was treated poorly in this episode and doesn't feel like the witty character I've come to know. The character feels like he is starting to become a caricature of what he was now that he's married to Monica. Best Moment: Joey coming back to get the sandwich. It's predictable, but still pretty funny. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: This episode had some funny moments, but all three storylines were flawed and didn't bring anything special to the table. Season 8 continues its inconsistency. Score: 48 Summary: Monica invites her high school friend Will over for Thanksgiving but tensions arise because Will has always hated Rachel. Joey tasks himself with eating an entire turkey.
The Good: This may not have been as well-written as some of the bet episodes of "Friends" but this was certainly a very entertaining and hilarious experience. Not every joke lands, but the ones that do land are excellent and I was laughing hard during several scenes. The "I Hate Rachel Club" is a clever idea and it leads to some really funny moments between Will, Ross and Rachel, especially when the rumours started getting introduced. While Rachel being a hermaphrodite is decently funny, it's Ross' new reputation as a "romancer of the elderly" that really lands. I also really enjoyed Will. Brad Pitt is one of the show's most notable guest stars so far and I though he was handled very well, playing a fun character who never gets too much attention, detracting from the episode. The other characters have decent stuff as well. Monica adds some extra depth and laughs to the storyline, Chandler and Phoebe get the odd good line, and Joey is fun as he prepares to eat the turkey. The Bad: Some of the writing isn't great here. Chandler and Phoebe's storyline fizzles out quickly without doing much of anything. Seeing Ross and Rachel fight has gotten pretty tiresome over the seasons and this fight has to be one of their most forced arguments. It's hard to buy into Rachel being upset at Ross for something he did 15+ years ago. Obviously he doesn't feel the same way anymore. Furthermore, while Ross kissing the old librarian is funny, it continues the trend of the writers repeatedly humiliating Ross. Plus, it feels like stuff like this should have come up earlier. Best Moment: There are lots of great lines here. I'll go with Ross saying "she didn't look 50" and Chandler's reply of "did she look 16". Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: The jokes and ideas in this episode are tremendous and it leads to another excellent Thanksgiving episode. But because of some writing flaws, I can't say this is one of the show's better Thanksgiving episodes. Regardless, it's a lot of fun and is another welcome addition to season 8, a season which has done very well to have so many memorable episodes so far. Score: 72 Summary: Monica gets a stripper for a late bachelor party for Chandler when Phoebe lets slip that Monica had a secret bachelorette party. Rachel tries to tell her dad that she is pregnant. Ross continues to hide his situation with Rachel from Mona.
The Good: This was a really funny episode. The storylines here were all very well done and set up nicely for humour. Monica accidentally sending a hooker to Chandler and Joey is a unique idea that leads to plenty of awkwardness and comedy, culminating in a great final scene. I also really liked that the show addressed how Chandler and Joey aren't together as much anymore and how things have changed because of it. It was a nice story with funny moments. Rachel has a great episode as well as she can't help but lie to her dad to stop him from yelling. It fits her character and it's very funny to see her lie over and over again. And once more, it culminates in an excellent ending joke as Joey gets mad at Rachel's dad shouting on his phone. Rachel comes off as selfish here by lying, but the episode saves face by having her redeem herself by explaining things to Mona, in a scene that was pretty funny as Rachel somehow does the exact wrong thing every time despite trying her best. Lastly, Ross' storyline was comfortably the best part of the episode. The perfect storm that hit him when Dr. Green showed up with some unfortunate tidings was hilarious and David Schwimmer's reactions were gold throughout that entire scene. The Bad: Phoebe is the one character that drags this down. Everyone else is handled well, but Phoebe is such a prick throughout the episode. She seemingly thrives off everyone else's suffering and does almost nothing to help. She lets Rachel dig herself into a hole and offers no help to her, and then she sits around to enjoy the Ross/Rachel fight and complains when they handle it maturely and don't actually fight. It's hard to imagine why anyone actually likes her when she does stuff like this. Best Moment: Every second of Ross being intimidated by both Dr. Green and Mona. The best joke in this part was Joey's ill-timed phone call and Ross just deciding to lie down after being overwhelmed. Fantastic comedy, and one of the hardest laughs I've had in a while. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This is a really funny episode with 3 really good storylines to enjoy. Phoebe brings things down a bit, but outside of her, everything else is excellent. This season continues to have great episodes follow mediocre ones, so I can safely say that half the episodes this season have been excellent, while the other half have been poor. I would like to see more consistency, but I am pleased to see that "Friends" is back to having awesome episodes on a regular basis. Score: 76 Summary: Chandler hires a maid and Monica is convinced that she is stealing. Rachel gets Ross' help to find a new apartment while Joey convinces her to stay. Phoebe goes on a date with Eric who is having trouble getting over Ursula.
The Good: Joey and Rachel are very sweet in this episode and I really liked Joey's attempts to get her to stay. It's always nice when the characters in this show treat each other well. Ross does his best to make a weak storyline funny and he does well at certain parts. The Bad: Phoebe remains poorly written as she harshly blows off Ross in the opening scene. Her story wasn't very good and I would have preferred it if Eric hadn't returned since his story was pretty good in the previous episode. The story between him and Phoebe led to the obvious conclusion and didn't make enough jokes to justify it. Monica and Chandler's story is terrible and both characters come off as cartoon caricatures of who they once were. It's impossible to like them in this episode as they harass the maid, particularly Monica who makes completely unfounded claims. Chandler even realizes how absurd these are, yet he descends into complete lunacy as he somehow decides to listen to Monica by trying to get a look at the maid's bra. Ross does what he can with his story, but there isn't really anything to it. Best Moment: The best laugh was Chandler mocking Monica's nonsensical claims of the maid stealing. Character of the Episode: Rachel. Conclusion: It wouldn't be late season "Friends" if there weren't at least a few stinkers, even though this season has had some pretty good episodes so far. This episode was not one of them and I didn't find very much to enjoy about it. Score: 43 Summary: Monica and Chandler throw a halloween party and everybody comes by.
The Good: This was tremendous fun. You're always in for a wonderful episode when the premise puts all of the 6 main cast members together to interact with each other and have fun. This episode was really enjoyable with tons of fun interactions. The costumes provided a nice way to get in some laughs, Ross and Chandler's feud was really fun, Rachel's troubles with kids made for the odd laugh and Phoebe's story was surprisingly good and saw the character of Phoebe utilized in a way that makes her sweet, funny and likeable, something that has become rarer and rarer as the show has gone on. As a whole, this episode embodies what I enjoy about "Friends" and while it wasn't the very best execution of the concept of everyone being together, it was still very fun. The Bad: A couple laughs here and there didn't quite land but I won't go too far into the details. Joey mocking Chandler is funny but compare this to how Joey did it back in "The One where No One's Ready" and you can see how the show's humour has gotten less clever and more silly. It's still funny but the stark change in styles is the key reason why this episode doesn't work quite as well. Best Moment: I'll go with Chandler awkwardly calling Mona a slutty nurse when she walks in, a great laugh. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: This was a really fun episode. While it doesn't hit the highest of highs, there is a lot to love here and I had a great time watching this. Season 8 is off to a very strong start with a few excellent episodes. Score: 75 Summary: Rachel goes on a date with an actor that Joey works with which makes Ross uncomfortable. Chandler tries to avoid working with a guy named Bob who thinks Chandler's name is Toby. Phoebe starts dating a sweet guy from Monica's work but they have a conflict when Monica wants to fire him and Phoebe wants to break up with him.
The Good: Ross' story is very well done. I thought that the show nailed his characterization and he comes off as both likeable and understandable in his plight. Having him lay out his dream to Joey was a really nice moment and it allows us to really get into his head. I also liked how Rachel realized by the end of the episode that being pregnant makes it harder for her to get in a relationship again. Both characters arcs developed nicely until the end of the episode. The Bad: But then it becomes another situation of will they, won't they with the ending. We've seen it so many times that it no longer feels original. Chandler's storyline has a great concept and a great conclusion but everything in between doesn't work. Chandler looks like a total prick for sabotaging somebody's career because it would be awkward to work with him, and I think having a lower stakes plot about this concept would have worked far better. Phoebe and Monica's storyline is outright terrible. There aren't any good laughs here and the character of Phoebe is once again treated so poorly. It's hard to imagine that a show called "Friends" would see Phoebe so childishly try to have her way over Monica by unreasonably dumping the guy without talking it through with Monica. The story is stupid and both characters don't come off well. Best Moment: Ross realizing that Chandler's middle name is Muriel. It's a perfect "Friends" moment and I wish that it had been utilized more in the episode. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This episode handled Ross and Rachel really well but the other storylines weren't great and the laughs overall weren't as strong as they were in the other episodes this season. A much weaker episode overall. Score: 51 Summary: Ross and Rachel offer conflicting stories about who initiated the night of passion that got Rachel pregnant. Ross reveals he accidentally filmed that night. Monica and Chandler get excited after meeting a wonderful couple while on their honeymoon.
The Good: This was absolutely peak "Friends". After having some pretty forgettable seasons, it's a wonderful surprise to get an episode as good as this one. The characters all returned to their roots for this episode and they were handled superbly. The interactions between everyone were hilarious and every character got moments to shine. Rather than going overboard and being silly, the show offered up more realistic comedy which allowed the episode to really shine. The concept of the videotape was fantastic and it made for an engaging and interesting plot with the mystery of who actually initiated things. I really liked the flashback scenes and I thought that the backpacking in Europe story was a brilliant piece of comedy that managed to be absurdly funny, yet barely realistic enough to be believable. I thought the climax of the episode was outstanding (see: Best Moment), and the conclusion with Rachel and Ross watching their own sex was a perfect way to end one of the show's best episodes. The Bad: A few small things didn't work for me. Chandler and Monica's arguments were lighthearted and funny but it still seems odd that they argue so much. Their whole storyline did feel out of place in the episode despite having some funny moments. Best Moment: Specifically, I'll go with the immense satisfaction that came with the reveal that Rachel used the backpacking in Europe story to come onto Ross, but the entire sequence of watching the videotape was masterful. It was an enthralling sequence that wonderfully weaved together a lot of jokes from earlier in the episode, complimented by the fact that all 6 of the main cast were present and able to add on to the scene with their personalities. Simply brilliant. Character of the Episode: Also difficult to choose. I'll have to go with Joey. Conclusion: A stellar episode of comedy. The episode has an inventive and engaging plot with tons of laughs throughout the episode. I didn't think that "Friends" would hit this kind of quality again, but this episode was really impressively done. Certainly the best episode of the series since season 5. Score: 84 Summary: Rachel tells Ross that the baby is his. Monica and Chandler go on their honeymoon. Phoebe and Joey try to sneakily get into Monica and Chandler's apartment while they are gone.
The Good: There are some really good moments here. Some of the jokes land really well and are genuinely funny. The recurring joke about condoms, the scene at the beginning when Chandler learns Ross is the father and a few other smaller moments stand out. Rachel telling Ross he is the father is very goofy (see: The Bad) but it is funny. The Bad: Unfortunately this episode gets a bit too silly for my liking. The show loves humiliating Ross now so it shouldn't be a surprise that the intelligence of the character is once more undermined when he rashly concludes that Rachel wants one more night and arrogantly walks into another humiliation. Some of the later scenes of Rachel not being able to see the baby don't really work for me. I thought that the Monica/Chandler plot was pretty bad. It really undersells their relationship when they don't seem to care about spending time together on their honeymoon and get caught up on trivial things. Lastly, while Phoebe and Joey were quite funny, their story has no plot whatsoever and feels like a waste of time. Best Moment: Ross freaking out about the condoms. Character of the Episode: Rachel. Conclusion: This episode had funny moments and I enjoyed them, but there were also plenty of familiar issues regarding the handling of characters and the silliness of the recent episodes of the show. Score: 58 Summary: Joey learns that Rachel is pregnant. Monica can't help herself and starts opening wedding presents without Chandler. Chandler and Ross try to take fake wedding pictures after Chandler loses the cameras.
The Good: There is a lot to enjoy here. The jokes are especially good throughout the episode as almost every character is used superbly and in unique ways. Phoebe is refreshingly not as selfish and annoying as she usually is and is portrayed as caring while she teases everyone else. Joey is really sweet in every scene and he's the most consistent character to go to for a great laugh. The episode-long joke of Joey watching porn and eating nuts from the rooms of each character was hilarious. I also really liked the mystery surrounding the baby's father and the cameo return of Tag was a delight, and was handled perfectly. Of course the ending reveal of Ross being the father was brilliantly done and Joey's late reaction was perfect (see: Best Moment). I thought that Chandler and Ross had a pretty good side plot that resulted in some very good moments. The episode was just consistently hilarious, and I can't ask for more than that. The Bad: Joey's two proposals were funny, but also jarring with how flippantly they were treated. Surely something as huge as this should be treated as a big moment and not like a simple joke. It hurts the credibility of the show to have both of these proposals lead to nothing. Monica is the one character who I feel isn't done too well here. Her depressed mood is tough to buy into and we're never given a good reason for why she feels this way. And her storyline with the presents doesn't do much for me outside of the wonderful Chandler/Monica "fight" that ends the episode. Best Moment: Once Ross picks up the sweater it becomes abundantly clear that he's the father and Phoebe and Monica immediately realize this. Then the show cuts to Joey who has a spectacularly delayed reaction that fits perfectly with the character and ends the episode with a splendid joke. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: This episode had a sense of urgency and fun to it which made it excel despite its flaws. The impressively consistent laughs also helped a lot. A great episode, highlighted by the brilliance of the main cast, to get this season into gear. Score: 74 Summary: Rachel tries to keep it hidden that she is pregnant but it doesn't work out. Chandler tries to overcome his problem with slippery shoes to dance with Monica. Ross tries to make a move on a cute girl at the wedding.
The Good: The cast are quite good in this episode and it's their portrayals of the characters that carries this shallow episode. Ross stands out as usual and he's consistently funny as he gets humiliated. Rachel is the stand-out of the episode though as she deals with the baby problem. Jennifer Anniston does a terrific job in this episode and I thought that her plight was explored very well. Phoebe, Monica and Joey also have their moments throughout the episode. The Bad: This is a silly episode though and outside of Rachel's conflict, none of the stories here feel worthwhile. Ross has become a raging lunatic now and it feels like the writers have completely forgotten the essence of his character in an attempt to play up his funnier aspects. Phoebe falls into a similar trapping as some of the things she does are pretty nonsensical like pretending to be pregnant and lying to Rachel about the pregnancy test. I will admit that Phoebe's motivations to do these are more in line with the character, but her actions still stretch plausibility. I thought the fallout from the wedding was poor. Chandler almost ran away from the wedding but that's not even brought up here. Best Moment: Rachel's reaction to Phoebe revealing that she was lying was a really nice moment. It was well acted, and also quite funny as Rachel expresses how risky it was to do that. Character of the Episode: Rachel. Conclusion: This was an okay but flawed return for the show. Rachel's story was the strongest but unfortunately a lot of the issues with poor handling of characters and forgettable storylines persisted in this season premier. Score: 54 Summary: Ross and Phoebe bring Chandler back and keep their eyes on him. Rachel and Phoebe discuss Monica's pregnancy and Chandler overhears. Joey deals with his drunken co-actor who is preventing him from making it to Chandler and Monica's wedding.
The Good: This was more excellent stuff. As ever, the writers pull out all the stops in creating fun moments throughout the episode. The dialogue is smart, much smarter than it has typically been this season, the character interactions are done spectacularly well, and I thought that the cast was both utilized well and used appropriately in every scene. The Bings and Gellers were as funny as ever of course and provided many of the episode's best laughs. Joey's attempts to make it to the wedding are funny and he's given a lot of good lines to make it work. The episode neatly built up to the wedding scene which ended up being done tremendously well. Having Chandler come back on his own was the right choice, and seeing Chandler and Monica get married after building their relationship over the last two seasons was a wonderful moment. As was the surprise reveal at the end that it's Rachel who is pregnant instead of Monica. The show did a great job of keeping things funny during this sequence with Joey hilariously messing up his job as he got lost in the moment. The Bad: There are some moments that didn't quite work, but they were few and far between. The biggest offender was Joey's drunk co-actor who was far too over-the-top. Best Moment: Everything that happened after Joey made it to the wedding. Realy funny and really sweet stuff that served as a terrific end to the season. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: This was an excellent episode. Everything worked here and it was refreshing to get consistently strong writing mixed with tons of great jokes to close out the season. This was an extremely effective season finale. Season 7 as a whole was another mixed season though. While it didn't get as outright unrealistic and absurd as the worst of season 6, I think this season struggled to have episodes that were particularly memorable. There are a few great episodes throughout the season, but most episodes end up being forgettable, or had 1 or 2 storylines that were simply unbearable. Consistency is the show's biggest problem right now. This finale proves that there is still a lot of good that can be done with the show and that the writers still have the ability to make us laugh. But there are more weak episodes than ever before, and I'm not sure if the show can ever make it back to the consistency of its earlier seasons. I still enjoyed this season and I do like the show, but I can't deny that it feels like it's a shell of its former self and that it would have been far better to cut down the number of episodes per season, or at least cut down the number of seasons. Score: 78 Summary: On the wake of the wedding, Chandler starts panicking and runs away. Phoebe and Rachel try to distract Monica until Chandler returns. Joey gets a part in a movie but finds himself working with an actor who constantly spits on him.
The Good: There's a lot to enjoy here. Seeing that this is the big finale of the season, the writers go all out for the jokes and a majority of them land here and are extremely funny. I particular, the jokes involving the Gellers and the Bings are hilarious, and the cameos work perfectly. Much like with Ross and Emily's wedding three seasons ago, this episode feels momentous so there's a sense of plot urgency and importance that we don't get in other episodes that often have filler storylines. That improves my engagement in the episode and makes the already funny jokes land a little better with me. I thought Joey's storyline was excellent as well. The spitting was a clever idea and it impressively led to some really funny scenes rather than simply being silly. I thought Ross and Rachel were excellent in their roles, and while Phoebe had some weak lines, she was really good overall as well. Chandler was funny as his usual sarcastic self until he randomly decided to panic (see: The Bad). The Bad: Chandler freaking out was far too sudden and I don't think it worked as a plot line. It was ridiculous and undersold the strength of the relationship between Monica and Chandler to have him freak out like this out of nowhere. Furthermore, I saw it coming a mile away and it was the simplest and uninspired idea to base this wedding episode around. I hope that this story goes somewhere good or this will be extremely disappointing. Phoebe's reaction to the news that Chandler is gone is also quite terrible and is more irritating than funny. Best Moment: While the gay humour felt cheap in the last episode, I thought it was utilized spectacularly here. You can take your pick here between Jack Geller's "I didn't even get to pretend like I'm okay with it" and Rachel's hilarious interpretation of the name "Amanda". Character of the Episode: Jack. He's such an excellent side character that is consistently funny whenever he appears. Conclusion: This was a very strong part 1 to the wedding with a number of great laughs and some strong storytelling. However, the utter disappointment I had with the Chandler storyline hurt the episode and prevented it from being as amazing as it could have been. We'll see if part 2 can correct this mistake, or at the very least find a way to make this storyline work. Score: 69 Summary: Rachel tries to get Ross to let her drive Monica's Porsche. Monica and Chandler go to Las Vegas to invite Chandler's dad to their wedding. To prove his masculinity to Phoebe, Joey debates wearing women's underwear.
The Good: Chandler's story in this episode is quite good. It's great to finally meet his dad after all this time, and I thought that the writers did a good job giving Chandler a believable conflict. Chandler is too embarrassed by his father to want to see him, and Monica is there to help him overcome this and invite him to the wedding. It's a sweet story that treats the characters well. The other two storylines are incredibly empty in terms of plot, but at least they are funny. Rachel flirting with the cop leading to Ross trying the same thing later was very funny. I thought Joey's story had some good moments as well, but it all led up to an excellent final joke (see: Best Moment). The Bad: As stated above, the side stories felt like pure filler and were silly ideas for episode plots. I thought that there was a lot of weak comedy in this episode as well. Ross driving slow is a stupid idea for a joke since it has never been mentioned before, and it isn't funny at all. Naturally this leads to Ross being humiliated once again, and it's becoming very played out seeing Ross constantly embarrassed. I thought that the story of Rachel being a bad driver was so incredibly dumb. For one, this hasn't been established before so it feels forced. Secondly, it has been established that Phoebe is a bad driver, so why not just use her for this storyline? Instead we're supposed to believe that Monica trusts Phoebe, a bad driver, but not Rachel which is just sloppy and inconsistent writing. Phoebe once again comes off poorly as she escalates the argument between Rachel and Monica instead of helping. Lastly, there were a lot of gay jokes in this episode and none of them were funny. They also haven't aged well at all. Best Moment: Joey trying to get himself a date and making an ass of himself by pulling out a pair of underwear was fantastic. Better yet was his attempt to save face by saying "these are for you". Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: This episode had a strong central story and a couple of decent laughs. But the other two stories were lame and a lot of jokes and character moments were very sloppy. In the end, this was a very weak episode. Score: 53 Summary: Monica and Chandler try to prepare vows for their wedding.
The Good: As ever, writing vows makes for a decent enough story and gives this episode something to focus on by exploring Monica and Chandler's relationship. The Bad: Unfortunately, the episode chooses to do this through a clip show which feels like a tremendous waste. The clip show does work well enough because it reflects Chandler and Monica's relationship and heavily focuses on some of the best jokes from season 5. But a clip show is still rehashing content from older episodes and so it still feels like a waste of time. Best Moment: Joey had a clever line, saying that Chandler could steal Monica's vows as long as he said them first. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: I don't enjoy clip shows, but admittedly this was probably the best clip shows can be. Still, it isn't enough to merit anything close to a good score. Score: 42 Summary: Rachel reunites with her friend Melissa from college who she kissed. Phoebe doesn't believe her and Rachel sets out to prove that it did happen. Chandler and Ross get tuxedos for the wedding. Joey tries to convince Monica to let his parents come to the wedding.
The Good: The start of the episode is brilliant and has shades of the show "Friends" used to be in it. The episode sets up a simple and realistic storyline as Rachel meets a friend from the past who she shares an awkward history with, and the rest of the scene is spent discussing this with a bunch of clever jokes thrown in. It's a shame that the rest of the episode didn't live up to the realistic humour in this opening scene. Joey had a fantastic episode and is hilarious whenever he pops up with several great lines. The Bad: Unfortunately the 3 plots of this episode aren't very good. Phoebe is awful again as she blatantly doesn't believe Rachel and subtly insults her and is downright mean to her. Their story does not have a good resolution either as Melissa's character's realistic nature is sacrificed for a bad joke revealing that she's in love with Rachel for some reason. It's an awkward moment that isn't really funny and doesn't serve to cap off Rachel and Phoebe's story at all. Chandler and Ross' story isn't very good either. They have the occasional funny line but the characters aren't portrayed very well. Ross is surprisingly childlike at times while Chandler comes off as woefully pathetic. Chandler's comedy used to come from the fact that he's sarcastic and witty, but now it's just endless self-deprecation and he seems to be the butt of every joke. The show has changed the style of comedy surrounding Chandler and it hasn't been for the better. The Joey plot is saved by how funny he is but there isn't a whole lot to that one either. Best Moment: The entire opening sequence, highlighted by Joey excited to hear more from Rachel's story and Ross' claim at the end of how two of his wives have now become lesbians. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: This is a funny episode that had a lot of potential, but some sloppy writing and poor handling of characters really hurt what I initially thought could have been one of the season's best episodes. A disappointment overall. Score: 55 Summary: Ross and Monica's cousin Cassie comes by for a place to stay for the wedding. Joey lands a big role but with one key catch: he has to do full frontal nudity. Rachel and Phoebe forget to throw a bridal shower for Monica and scramble to get it done last minute.
The Good: This is a really funny episode. All the storylines are entertaining and there are strong jokes everywhere throughout the episode. The weakest story here is Rachel and Phoebe's but even that one had some redeeming moments, especially the ending as Rachel and Phoebe throw a strong surprise party only for Monica to unknowingly insult all of her guests in a hilarious twist. Meanwhile the Cassie story is really strong. The show gets creative in showing off her attractiveness in a funny way leading to two extremely strong jokes with Ross (see: Best Moment) and Phoebe. Lastly, Joey is given a solid conflict here and though he deals with it in a silly way, it is a fun plot line with a funny joke at the end. The Bad: There is a bit of silly writing here. Rachel and Phoebe forgetting to organize a party seems a bit unbelievable and their struggle to put together a quick party is tough to get invested in since it never seems very difficult. Joey pretending to be uncircumcised is ridiculous, especially the lengths he went to conceal it, though this is partly excusable because lying about it does fit Joey's character. However, I don't believe that Joey would stick with the lie to this degree. Best Moment: Ross debates whether or not he should make a move with Cassie. And when he finally does make a move we are gifted this fantastic sequence where he desperately tries to convince himself to talk, ending up with "I haven't had sex in a very long time" which was a hilarious pay-off from a weaker joke from earlier in the episode. It's so satisfying to see a comedy show call back to previous moments, and it made for one of the funniest moments of the entire season. Character of the Episode: Ross. His inner conflict was hilarious to watch. Conclusion: I had my qualms with this, but they feel like minor details when you consider how well set up the jokes were and how funny this episode was overall. An excellent effort from "Friends". Score: 74 Summary: After watching Phoebe date a new guy, Monica realizes that she won't ever have the spark of a new relationship again. Joey is nominated for a Soapie award. Ross is conflicted when a male student admits that he loves him.
The Good: There are a few good jokes scattered throughout the episode and some character beats are done really well. Monica's story has a simple but nice resolution. The Bad: This episode is pretty dull. The stories are extremely by-the-numbers with nothing interesting about them. The characters aren't explored in any meaningful ways and it's all pretty generic stuff. My biggest problem comes from the lack of an explanation for Chandler being unafraid of marriage and the show perplexingly playing up his insecurities as a joke instead of as a legitimate point. The jokes feel cheap and uninspired and the story feels empty because of this glaring hole in the character's mindset. Furthermore, the jokes in this episode are pretty bad. Joey's award storyline is as unfunny as they come without a single inspired joke. It just plays up Joey's character to an unnecessary degree every time with hope that it'll lead to comedy. It doesn't. Meanwhile Ross' story has some potential but nothing even remotely funny is done with the idea of a male student having a crush on him. Best Moment: Phoebe leading Monica to believe that she was being eyed by the other guy was pretty funny and a perfect character moment for her, though she is handled poorly a couple of times after this. Character of the Episode: Phoebe. Nobody else really stands out. Conclusion: This is the most uninspired episode of the show in quite some time. With sitcoms being just 20 minutes, it's usually a quick and easy watch. But in this episode I was unusually bored and I never got into the episode. The mix of poor writing and lazy storytelling is what caused this, and the result is one of the show's absolute worst episodes. Score: 42 Summary: Monica buys the wedding dress she wants but is forced to choose between her dress and the band Chandler wants to play at the wedding when she is blackmailed by somebody who wants her dress. Ross and Joey end up dating the same girl and try to decide who will continue to date her.
The Good: Monica's story is pretty good. By the end of the episode she makes a selfless decision to preserve what Chandler wants at the expense of her wedding dress. The show has developed a nasty habit of making Chandler and Monica argue far too much so it's always nice when we are reminded of how much they actually care for each other in stories like this one. Rachel and Phoebe's involvement in the story is pretty fun, particularly as they shop for the wedding dresses. Meanwhile, Joey and Ross find themselves in a hilarious predicament that's equally fun to watch being set up as it is to see the pay-off. The most consistent laughs of the episode came here with several excellent comedic moments. The Bad: But some aspects of this episode were disappointing. Rachel and Phoebe trying their hardest to get Chandler away from the band he wants was extremely selfish, and also unsubtle which took away from any humour that could have been present during those scenes. Chandler wasn't characterized very well either as he inexplicably became a nervous wreck around Kristen, which isn't consistent with what we know about the character. Ross and Joey had a really fun dinner set-up but it was ruined when the writers decided to have them immediately give away that they knew each other in a generic shouting fest instead of playing a funnier, more subtle scene. In these past few seasons the show is still good at getting easy laughs, but the subtlety has been really lacking. Best Moment: Chandler realizing that Joey and Ross were dating the same women, and the joy he took in slowly revealing it was very funny. A rare case of a fantastic, patient joke that was well written in an episode that was in-your-face a little too much. Character of the Episode: Ross. Conclusion: This was a decent episode. The 2 stories were fun to watch and there were several great jokes. But a lack of subtlety hurt what should have been one of the season's best episodes. Score: 65 Summary: Monica and Chandler search for somebody to marry them and Joey offers himself up as a candidate. Ross leaves Rachel to take care of Ben and she starts teaching him practical jokes.
The Good: This is fine stuff with mostly sound storytelling. Rachel's character is handled perfectly with her awkwardness around Ben as well as her affinity towards practical jokes, which upsets Ross. A lot of Ben's jokes are ultimately pretty funny and it's a lovely moment to see Ross come around and play a prank on Rachel at the end of the episode. Monica and Chandler's story is mostly quite good. There is some solid drama with the truth about London coming out, and it never feels too melodramatic or cheesy. The hunt for a good rabbi is also pretty funny at times, and I enjoyed Joey's absurdly ridiculous speech. The Bad: There aren't any particularly good jokes here and the episode feels rather ordinary as a result. Phoebe is practically meaningless in this episode as she contributes nothing whatsoever and still manages to come off an unlikeable and annoying. The flashback to London did have poor moments as Monica and Chandler behaved a little too childishly at times. Best Moment: Joey walking in on Chandler in London was funny and the writers got some pretty good jokes out of it. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: This episode had 2 solid stories with some pretty funny moments. Nothing that special happened, but it was a solid episode of comedy. Score: 67 Summary: Joey's character comes back and Joey is really excited, but it means the departure of a much-loved actress, Cecilia Monroe, who Joey grows close to. Ross tries to convince Chandler and Monica to let him play bagpipes at their wedding. Rachel and Phoebe argue over who should keep a phone that was left behind by a hot guy.
The Good: Joey's story is really well done and reminded me of the quality one-off stories that the show would produce in season 1. It was a lovely mixture of funny and engaging, and Joey looked better here as a person than he has in a long time. He's childlike in just the right amount without being over the top, and he comes off really well as he tries to respect Cecilia's character and her feelings despite being really excited about being back on the show. The side stories had their moments as well. The Bad: But for the most part, the side stories weaken the episode significantly. Ross looks really bad here as he tries to force bagpipes on Monica and Chandler. There aren't very many good laughs here either so it's a weak story. Phoebe and Rachel do have funny moments, but the resolution of the story feels extremely lazy with Phoebe being super attracted to the old guy. I also don't think that Rachel and Phoebe come off well as they continually bicker and argue over a really dumb conflict. Best Moment: Ross' hate for the brain transplant followed by Joey insulting him for not having sex in 3 months was the best joke of the episode. Character of the Episode: Joey. Conclusion: This episode had one great story but the rest didn't really hold up. What this results in is a solid episode, but one that isn't particularly special. Score: 64 |
Aaron DhillonJust a university student who loves to watch TV. And analyze it way too much. Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|