Top 10 list - Episodes of Friends

By Amanda Koehler
Collegian Editor
October 11, 2006

It’s been almost two-and-a-half years since they left that big orange couch, but 10 seasons of hilarity, drama and the friendships of Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe and Joey can be relived through DVDs, syndication… and this top 10 list.

10) “The One at the Beach” (Season Three)/“The One With the Jellyfish” (Season Four) — The last episode of Season Three and the first of season four find the friends at a beach house. Rachel convinces Ross’ new girlfriend (Christine Taylor) to shave her head, they all play strip Happy Days and Chandler helps, uh, relieve Monica’s pain from a jellyfish sting.

9) “The One Where Ross Finds Out” (Season Two) — This one deserves a spot on this list simply for Ross and Rachel’s romantic first kiss in the doorway of Central Perk during a rainstorm.

8) “The One With Joey’s Dirty Day” (Season four) — Joey walks onto a movie set without getting a chance to take a shower after a long fishing trip, so he sneaks into Charlton Heston’s dressing room to clean himself up. Chandler tries to move on to phase two after his break-up with Kathy, and he’s ready to go to a strip club – but only has his female friends to take with him.

7) “The One With the Football” (Season Three) — Thanksgiving episodes are a staple of Friends. This one has the six buddies playing football for the coveted “Gellar Cup.”

6) “The One Where Eddie Moves In” (Season Two) — After Joey moves into his own apartment, Chandler gets a new roommate named Eddie. Eddie isn’t all there, and he accuses Chandler of killing his goldfish, among other such monstrosities. This is also the debut of Phoebe’s biggest hit, “Smelly Cat.”

5) “The One With the Holiday Armadillo” (Season Seven)— One of the few true gems in the last couple seasons, Ross desperately tries to find a Santa suit so he can play Saint Nick for his son – but all he finds is an armadillo costume.

4) “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” (Season Five) — The gang (minus Ross) all know about Chandler and Monica’s secret affair, and they go to great lengths to get them to confess – including having Phoebe “seduce” Chandler, which ends up being a showdown of the most awkward flirting techniques ever.

3) “The One With the Prom Video” (Season Two) — This is one of the best episodes revolving around Ross and Rachel, and we also get introduced to “Fat Monica.” Joey shows Chandler he appreciates his friendship by giving him a bracelet that is a “reject from the Mr. T collection,” according to Chandler.

2) “The One with the Embryos” (Season Four) — Even though the title of the show is named after Phoebe’s quest to become a surrogate mother for her brother and sister-in-law, the greatness of this episode comes from the game Ross invents for the other four to play. Monica and Rachel end up losing their apartment to Chandler, Joey and, of course, the chick and the duck.

1) “The One Where No One’s Ready” (Season Three) — Ross almost drinks the fat, Monica leaves a “breezy” message on Richard’s answering machine and Joey wears all of Chandler’s clothes. This episode is so awesome because it shows the series at its best – when it’s just the six characters in one room being their comical, quirky selves.

koehlera1@lasalle.edu