Feature :: The One With All The Love (pt 2)
With 236 episodes across 10 seasons, 62 Primetime Emmy nominations, 6 iconic characters and 12 years later after it last aired, ‘Friends’ still remains the most loved television sitcom of all time. The producers often referred to it as ,’just a TV show’, but the profound impact it has on relationships at all levels speaks for itself; its secret is hidden in its simply-crafted title and the magic of love the show eternally spins.
This feature was first published for Sunday Magazine, The Hans India
The second major love event was in strike
contrast to the first. As the couple danced around in London and New York,
hooking up and falling in love in a hushed and quiet way, fans were also
secretly rooting for them to make it work.
Coming at a time when the characters of the
show were at the point in their life when one is reaching towards stability,
the proposal gave the group a rock with the pairing of the group’s mother hen
with the group’s clown. The balance they gave each other was the show’s
stability point from then on.
On a serious note though, Joey falling for
Rachel brings out the reality of relationship dynamics people go through when
being in a close-knit group such as these six. Things happen and yes, friends
fall in love. Joey’s love was an intense crush; to an extent that Rachel could
have been the ‘one’ for him. However, their love is the symbol of friendship at
its purest.
This moment formed the “circle of life” for
the show; after ten long years of breakups and patch ups and “going on a
break”, audience received the closure they deserved and romance reached its
epitome when Rahcel “got off the plane”.
This feature was first published for Sunday Magazine, The Hans India
Iconic moments on the show are many, like
the one where Phoebe has the triplets on the 100th episode, when
Richard and Monica ‘fall in love’, when Joey is moving out and hugs Chandler in
the door… ok, the list is endless. We are focusing on the ‘love’ moments
though. These are the moments that had us falling in love, with the characters
and their stories and everything in between.
The
one with the Lobster
The very first of the many love moments on the
show was when after much ado about nothing, Ross and Rachel finally kiss. This
is the moment that set the show on a decade-long journey of the Ross-Rachel
mania that that had us rooting for television's most beloved couple to find
their happily ever after with each other.
The
one where Monica and Chandler hookup
The second major love event was in strike
contrast to the first. As the couple danced around in London and New York,
hooking up and falling in love in a hushed and quiet way, fans were also
secretly rooting for them to make it work.
The
one where Chandler loves Joey’s girlfriend
Chandler gifting the old edition of ‘The
Velveteen Rabbit’ to Kathy, who was (then) Joey’s girlfriend was a moment that
showed us it is ok to screw up and fall for your best friend’s girlfriend.
Because, no one can control who you fall in love with.
The
one where Monica proposes
Coming at a time when the characters of the
show were at the point in their life when one is reaching towards stability,
the proposal gave the group a rock with the pairing of the group’s mother hen
with the group’s clown. The balance they gave each other was the show’s
stability point from then on.
The
one with Phoebe’s wedding
Through Phoebe's endless dalliances and
loves, we never thought she would snag a man quite as cute and normal as Mike. There
couldn’t have been a more appropriate “opposites attract” moment with this
couple. Phoebe had suffered long enough; she needed her happy ending and Mike
was “the one”. Let’s not forget the snow capped Central Perk in front of which
the wedding was held!
The
one with Joey and his sandwiches
Joey’s love for sandwiches is probably the
truest of all loves. Joey’s string of lovers might come and go but, the
sandwiches were there…always! Even when he had to “save” a life, he opted to
save his sandwich. If that’s not pure love, what is?
The
one where Joey falls for Rachel
On a serious note though, Joey falling for
Rachel brings out the reality of relationship dynamics people go through when
being in a close-knit group such as these six. Things happen and yes, friends
fall in love. Joey’s love was an intense crush; to an extent that Rachel could
have been the ‘one’ for him. However, their love is the symbol of friendship at
its purest.
The
one with Carol and Susan’s wedding
Hands down they had the most solid
relationship on the show. Their wedding was a reminder of the bond Ross shares
with Carol—some love stories are above marriage.
The
one where Rachel gets off the plane
This moment formed the “circle of life” for
the show; after ten long years of breakups and patch ups and “going on a
break”, audience received the closure they deserved and romance reached its
epitome when Rahcel “got off the plane”.
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