Friends 30th Anniversary: One Defining Episode From Every Season
Do these ten episodes represent the entire series?
The iconic sitcom Friends was one of–if not THE-biggest shows of its generation. In September 2024, the series celebrates its 30th anniversary from the day it premiered on televisions in the mid-1990s. Time has only made the series bigger with its fandom: streaming platforms help the series find new fans every year, and many iterations of The Friends Experience have popped up all over, welcoming thousands to step inside their favorite TV show. The fandom is alive and well–more than ever before. To celebrate this milestone anniversary, we picked one episode from each season that we think helps define the series as a whole. We welcome debate here at Rmrk*st, so please tell us in the comments what you think of our picks! And let us know your favorite series-definining episodes.
S1, E9, “The One Where Underdog Gets Away”
Friends had been on the air a couple of months, and already had established itself as a solid ensemble quirky comedy, introducing buddy comedy (Chandler & Joey), progressive family struggles (Ross’s pregnant ex-wife dating a woman he has to compete with), opposites-turned-besties (Monica & Rachel) and off-beat hilarity (Phoebe). This Thanksgiving episode truly combines all of these elements. In 22 minutes, we see these friends all have a similar coming of age experience: a holiday away from one’s parents. But they are all solidly attached to their childhood holiday experiences: going skiing, lumps/no lumps in the mashed potatoes, traumatic memories of your parents dropping bad news at Thanksgiving dinner. The news that Thanksgiving Day Parade Underdog balloon gets loose inspires the group to watch from the roof–a completely unrelatable experience that placed the series so much in the city of New York, yet tied it to an event everyone knows well. When the friends go back to the apartment, they have the most relatable experience: losing one’s keys inside, an unfortunate event that ruins all of their plans and their Thanksgiving dinner. The last scene is a bonding moment that defines the series (and sets them up for nine more seasons of iconic Thanksgiving episodes): having a “family dinner” with friends.
S2, E12 & E13, “The One After the Superbowl” Parts 1 & 2
Season 2 has quite a few iconic episodes; it’s hard to pick just one. But the post-Super Bowl XXX time slot in 1996 both solidified the show as a bonafide hit and ruffled a few feathers, because some accused the show of selling out. While the ratings were massive (52.9 million watched and it’s the highest ratings the show ever got–that’s including the series finale, which was only 52.5!), AND it’s the Super Bowl’s highest rated lead out show of all time, the episodes themselves–coupled with a massive Diet Coke ad campaign leading up to the broadcast–made the show feel a bit overexposed. The two-parter ends the Marcel the monkey storyline, as Ross finds out that Marcel is now a working actor and is filming Outbreak 2 with Jean-Claude Van Damme, one of the episode’s notable guest stars. Chandler runs into an old classmate played by Julia Roberts. And Joey begins dating one of his obsessive fans for his role on a soap opera–played by Brooke Shields–a role she was so funny in, that the legendary actress got her own hit series afterward: Suddenly Susan. Whatever your feelings as a fan, this episode block was a major “PIVOT!” (sorry, we had to) for the series. And after all that publicity, the next one to air was the iconic “The One With the Prom Video,” which set up a ton of Friends lore: overweight Monica (which we have mixed feelings about in 2024), Ross’s selfless love for Rachel (which she reciprocates whole heartedly in this ep to massive cheers from the studio audience), and, of course, we catch a glimpse of Ross fiddling on his keyboard, an easter egg for when we discover Ross’s “sound” later in the series.
S3, E16, “The One With the Morning After”
Depending on your fandom, this episode is either one of the best of the series or one of the worst. The most hotly contested debate in the fandom is whether or not Ross and Rachel were on a break, something the fans are still talking about (and we’re sure Ross and Rachel are still arguing about it as well, wherever they are). The episode before this one sees Ross and Rachel getting into an argument, and Ross, thinking the relationship is over, heading into the arms of another woman. The next morning, Ross and Rachel reconcile, and that is where this episode begins. What makes the plot here iconic is that we get to see the scope of the small Friends universe within their New York City neighborhood as Ross attempts to make sure that Rachel never hears about his night. He visits every person in their circle to see who knows what, ultimately failing when he finds out that Gunther, the coffee shop employee with a giant crush on Rachel, has spilled the beans. And so the two break up for good–for now.
S4, E12, “The One With the Embryos
This episode has everything a 90s sitcom could ask for: A rooster! Bets between friends! Trivia!,... IVF! It’s not only a fan favorite, but through an unexpected plotline does something not every sitcom does: introduces a major bit that is played over many episodes. The episode starts with Chandler and Joey’s pet chick–now maturing–crowing at the crack of dawn, waking the women up across the hall (but apparently nobody else in the building?). This is followed by a highly relatable moment between friends: Joey and Chandler bet they know what Rachel has bought at the grocery store (the highly local Citarella, for New Yorkers who know–excellent attention to detail!), including insinuating they know her menstrual cycle as well. The boys win by a landslide, and not to be outdone, the over-competitive Monica insists on a rematch to prove they know Chandler and Joey better than they know the women. Ross steps in, of course, to build the game, and his academic side takes over to build the questions and the game board. Meanwhile, Phoebe is getting artificially inseminated with the embryos of her brother and sister-in-law, hoping that one of them takes so she can be their surrogate. While this one serious storyline is happening, the other friends are solidly focused on their game. Monica and Chandler keep upping the stakes, with Monica betting that if they win, the chick and the duck must go, and Chandler betting that if they win, they get to switch apartments. Regardless of whether this is legal in terms of real estate (we think not?) the boys win, and the girls have to move. With a show set in NYC, apartments are often characters themselves throughout, so the vibe definitely shifts when we see all of the friends’ belongings in different locations. Chandler, Monica, Joey and Rachel are all yelling at each other when an excited Pheobe announces she’s pregnant, and her brother (played by Giovanni Ribisi) shouts the iconic line, “My sister’s gonna have my baby!”
S5, E15, “The One Where Everybody Finds Out”
You didn’t know that we knew that you knew that we were gonna mention this one… “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” is a classic because it employs a great trick of storytelling: letting the characters in on a major plot point that the audience has known for a while. This episode made the fandom part of the friends’ circle; the audience not only knew the hot gossip (that Chandler and Monica were dating) but they got to watch everyone hear it for themselves–and not without a few friendly hijinks. When Phoebe accidentally sees Monica and Chandler through Ross’s apartment window, she, Rachel, and Joey hatch a plan to mess with the couple before forcing a confession. Phoebe pretends to seduce Chandler, leading to a funny and awkward game of chicken, until Chandler finally declares his love for Monica in a heartwarming twist that absolutely nobody sees coming. The episode expertly showcases Matthew Perry’s incredible comedic timing and heart that he brought to the role of Chandler as it evolved over the course of the series.
S6, E15, “The One That Could Have Been”
We love a “what if?” episode of any series, and this one is great for so many reasons. The friends imagine how their lives might have turned out if they’d made different choices along the way. In this alternate reality fantasy, Ross is still married to Carol, despite her being a lesbian; Monica remains overweight and is dating a doctor; Rachel is still married to Barry but feels unfulfilled; Chandler is a struggling writer; Joey is a famous soap opera star; and Phoebe is a high-powered businesswoman. The alternate realities explore their dreams, insecurities, and potential paths. What makes this episode exciting is that each character maintains something specific about their essence. This could have been a disaster because fans know these characters so well, but the moments of humor, nostalgia, and self-discovery ring absolutely true. Phoebe might have gone in a completely different direction career-wise, but her attitude is still quite offbeat. Chandler may be a writer, but his wit is still very much part of his process. It’s a fun way to see the characters we love in a new light.
S7, E14, “The One Where They All Turn 30”
Was this the episode that the fandom realized that all of these characters were in their twenties the whole time? Well, maybe not: there are some continuity issues, because in Season 2, Rachel turns 28 in the episode “The One With Two Parties” where she has to have two birthday parties so her estranged parents don’t have to be in the same room together. In Season 5, she turns 29 in “The One Where Rachel Smokes.” Since Friends is a show about young singles and found family, it makes sense that the series would make a big deal out of the characters’ 30th birthdays, as it is a milestone–not only for them but for the audience watching. This episode allows us to catch a glimpse into some past occurrences in the characters’ lives that we didn’t get to see, which rounds out some key character developments.
S8, E6, “The One With the Halloween Party”
Surprisingly, “The One With the Halloween Party” is aptly named because it’s the only Halloween episode of the whole series. Monica and Chandler throw a Halloween costume party, leading to hilarious and memorable moments: Ross dresses as “Spud-nik” (a potato-themed Sputnik), Chandler goes as a giant pink bunny, which is hilarious because he intended to be the Velveteen Rabbit. Monica is Catwoman. Phoebe meets her twin sister Ursula’s fiancé, Eric (played by Sean Penn), and inconveniently develops a crush on him. A pregnant Rachel doesn’t wear a costume, but instead wears a dress she’s afraid she won’t be able to wear much longer as she struggles with the idea of motherhood while giving out candy to trick-or-treaters. Joey arrives at the party dressed as Chandler, which is hilarious for fans who know these characters so well. And somehow, Joey and Ross get into an arm-wrestling contest? In 8 seasons, it’s nice to know not much has changed with these folks.
S9, E3, “The One With The Pediatrician”
This episode introduces a guest star that might be one of the fandom’s faves: Paul Rudd, who fit in so well with the cast it felt like maybe he was always there. In this episode, Rachel faces a dilemma when she realizes she has been taking baby Emma to Ross’s childhood pediatrician, Dr. Gettleman, who eventually drops her as a patient due to Ross’s overuse. This prompts Ross to recommend a new doctor, leading to amusing tension. Meanwhile, Chandler accidentally reveals to Monica that he hates his job, and together they decide that Chandler should quit (do we ever really figure out what his job actually is?!). And Joey becomes suspicious when Phoebe starts dating Mike, played by Rudd, a guy Monica randomly sets her up with. Phoebe insists that Mike is just a placeholder until she finds someone better–but time will tell. This is a significant episode that is often overlooked, but it charts a path that will take plotlines toward the end of the series.
S10, E16, “The One With Rachel’s Going Away Party”
We picked this episode because it gives the series a full circle moment: the Friends pilot begins with Rachel bursting into Central Perk in a wedding dress, escaping Long Island and beginning the process of moving to the city. In this episode, we see her planning to leave it. Rachel is moving to Paris, and says goodbye to each friend individually–but skips Ross. When he confronts her about giving everyone a goodbye speech except for him, she admits how it’s harder to say goodbye to him than anyone else. The episode ends in an emotional makeout, and gives the audience what it always wants: Ross and Rachel together. But it’s at this point that the series ending becomes real for fans, and sets up the heartbreaking two-episode goodbye that’s coming.
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