Whoever has watched the popular F.R.I.E.N.D.S series have had some or the other memorable moments from it. Favourite characters, favourite lines, and favourite seasons-once a discussion on FRIENDS start, it can go on for hours.
Like you, I am also a big fan of this path-breaking sitcom, and have watched almost all the episodes of all the seasons, over and over again. Of all the 236 episodes, across 10 seasons, there are a few which have got etched in my memory forever. And hence in a way, they have helped me learn some important aspects of life.
Learning Number 1: You can be best friends, without even knowing each other’s professions.
You remember the episode where Rachel and Monica fight over a quiz with Joey and Chandler? They have a bet in which if they lose to Joey/Chandler, they would swap their apartment with them. Ross prepares a list of questions for the two teams and the questions are on each other’s lives; likes and dislikes. The last question which is posed to Monica and Rachel is: What is Chandler’s profession? And they are stumped. They have no idea! He carries a briefcase, LOL! And they lose the bet and their apartment because they don’t know what their best friend does for a living.
It doesn’t matter if your friend is a star performer professionally or not. For all you know, he could be a dud at workplace. What matters is how he is to you. The professional success or failure doesn’t warranty a lifelong of friendship, but being together through ups and downs of life does.
Learning Number 2: Even if you are best friends, you need to be your best, when going on a date.
It’s Rachel and Ross’s first date and despite knowing Ross for years, Rachel still dresses to kill. The moment she walks out of her room, along with Ross, all us viewers also had our jaws dropped. Wow, what beauty.
I think this is one mistake most of us girls do. We tend to take our boyfriends or husband for granted so much. I guess there are times, we need to dress up just for them. Even if they have seen us in our worst looks, there should still be moments where we tell them that it does make a difference to us about how their eyes twinkle when they see us in all our niceties.
Learning Number 3: Money does come in between best friends.
This is the fifth episode of season 2. While planning a birthday party for Ross, they realise that money is an issue in life, despite being best friends. Ross, Monica, Chandler the rich ones want to celebrate the birthday by spending a little more and Phoebe, Rachel and Joey don’t want to. The former end up celebrating the way they want, making the latter 3 feel very upset. However, by the end of the episode, Monica realises that she has lost her job, and then the six are together again, comforting each other.
Despite being best friends, the monetary backgrounds does make a difference. We have also had friends who probably can’t afford the expensive drinks or the trip. However the beauty is that we have time and again found a middle ground. Not necessarily do we need to go to the best malls to shop, the street side shopping is just fine. What matters is the company and not the fine dine.
Learning Number 4: Best Friends have differences too
The episode where Rachel is moving out of Monica’s house so that Chandler can move in with Monica. It’s one of the most beautifully shot episodes which shows the emotions best friends go through. Monica and Rachel have one of their worst fights in that episode when they are shouting at each other and talking of things they hate in each other. And while taking out what’s been there in their heart all these years, they realise how much they love each other.
I guess there are hardly any relationships, in which the two parties do not have a difference of opinion. The best thing is to talk it out and sort it out. Things inside your heart would only increase your troubles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgwifQ8XkVQ
Learning Number 5: If you are getting too much on your best friend’s head, she can expel you from her wedding job.
When during Phoebe’s wedding, Monica is driving everyone crazy with her time management, Phoebe decides that she has had enough of her. And despite being best friends, she is open enough with Monica to tell her that this is not how she would want to be run around. Monica feels bad with Phoebe’s outburst, but realises what she means. Phoebe knows this is how Monica goes about her tasks, and because of these skills of her, she is also the best person to manage the crisis which develops at the penultimate hour of the wedding.
The beauty is that Phoebe knows clearly that if her best friend is creating trouble for her, she can tell it to her in as many words. There were two highly emotional people in this scene-Phoebe and Monica and both can get upset if things aren’t as per their desires. However Phoebe understood that it’s her wedding and her feelings should take precedence over Monica’s. This is not how she would want to remember the best moment of her life. Monica knew that her project management skills are the best amongst them all but she is also a friend who needs to be in that moment and not ahead of the moment. Haven’t we all been in such situations where our role of our friend sometimes takes a back-seat and we start playing other roles of either being a teacher, a guide, a dictator in our friend’s life? Sometimes our friend does shake us up to tell that it’s not how she wants you to be, but more often caring for your feelings, things are never spoken out openly.
I am sure you have had your take-away too while watching this beautiful journey of 6 FRIENDS. I would be happy to hear your thoughts and views on this-do write in the comments section below.
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