This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 14, 2014.
After picking the best “How I Met Your Mother” episodes, it seems logical to pick the top 10 episodes of “Friends.”
But narrowing down the show’s 238 episodes into one top-10 list proved tougher than I thought.
I’m sure these could be debated, but here are my picks:
10. The One with Monica and Chandler’s Wedding (first aired May 17, 2001)
Three seasons after they got together (see No. 6 on the list), Monica and Chandler tie the knot.
Of course, Chandler freaks out over marriage. And Joey ends up performing the ceremony in his movie costume, which is stained with fake blood.
And, like most “Friends” seasons, it ends with a cliffhanger: Rachel, not Monica, is pregnant.
9. The One in Vegas: Part 2 (first aired May 20, 1999)
Poor Joey. The actor can’t catch a break.
Chandler and Monica leave their relationship fate to the casino, and then they steal — I mean, borrow — a blue sweatshirt for their Vegas wedding.
To top it all off, after permanent marker pranks and drunken stupor, Rachel and Ross go too far … and get married
8. The One Where Joey Dates Rachel (first aired Jan. 10, 2002)
I love this episode purely for the five or so minutes when Joey and (a pregnant) Rachel are on a date and they teach each other their moves.
They are the two flirtatious ones of the group, so it’s fun to watch them woo each other.
7. The One at the Beach (first aired May 15, 1997)
This episode shows a (brief) moment of reconciliation for Rachel and Ross after going on a break (or was it a break?) and breaking up earlier in the season.
Plus, Phoebe acts as she always does — a little nutty with a lot of heart. After breaking into what she thinks is her mother’s friend’s house, she discovers it’s actually her mother she’s staring at.
And the strip “Happy Days” game was ridiculous … and just kooky enough for the show.
6. The One with Ross’s Wedding (first aired May 7, 1998)
Um. Oops. You might want to say the right name in your wedding vows, Ross.
This episode is also the start of Monica and Chandler.
5. The One with Barry and Mindy’s Wedding (first aired May 16, 1996)
Best songs ever in the show (minus Phoebe’s songs, of course): “Copacabana” and “Someone to Watch Over Me” can be heard in this episode. Not that they compare with Phoebe’s songs, such as “Smelly Cat,” but they are two songs that I love.
The songs are incorporated into the emotion of the episode.
Rachel’s too-pink dress and wardrobe snafu at the wedding of her ex-fiance were hilarious moments, but she keeps the humor going with her rendition of “Copacabana.”
But mixed in all that, we have the emotional component of the reality and ending of Monica and Richard’s relationship, played out over the jazz tune, “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
4. The Last One (aired May 6, 2004)
This episode is arguably one of the best series finales ever.
“I got off the plane.”
It’s poignant and exciting, and it gave closure to a show that ran for 10 seasons.
3. The One with the Embryos (first aired Jan. 15, 1998)
Lisa Kudrow was actually pregnant in real life, so her character Phoebe is artificially inseminated in this episode.
In true Phoebe fashion, she agrees to be a surrogate for her brother, Frank (Giovanni Ribisi), and his wife, Alice (Debra Jo Rupp).
Phoebe was nervous, but the pregnancy was a success. But no one knew it would be triplets.
This is also the episode where Rachel and Monica lose their apartment in a quiz game to Joey and Chandler. All because they couldn’t remember what Chandler did for a living.
But the quiz did give some funny factoids into the characters’ lives. Who knew Rachel’s favorite movie is ”Weekend at Bernie’s”?
2. The One Where Everybody Finds Out (first aired Feb. 11, 1999)
Oh the games that ensue because of Monica and Chandler’s secrecy. And because Ugly Naked Guy moves out, allowing Ross to check out and move into the apartment.
It goes so, so far, but it’s hilarious.
1. The One with the Prom Video (first aired Feb. 1, 1996)
This is the episode that unites Ross and Rachel as a couple … finally. They are each other’s lobsters, as Phoebe called them.
And the appearance of Fat Monica and Rachel’s old nose are priceless.
There are many other good episodes I have left off here. What are your favorites?
