After more than a quarter of a century, Friends is still seen as the quintessential show about a social group whose members rely on each other through their daily lives. Despite its age, the show lives on with generation after generation because it allows viewers to know its characters intimately, not just after 10 seasons but almost from the start.
This is astonishing because sitcoms are not known for going deep. Friends is a standard sitcom in a lot ways, but underneath the yuks, there’s more humanism in Friends than most multicamera series designed to be pure joke machines. Often, the friends had things to say that could be overlooked but had meaningful messages behind the words.
Phoebe Talks About The Trust In Friendship
“A Promise Between Friends Means Never Having To Give A Reason.”
Phoebe uttered this quote on the fly as a way to distract Joey from figuring out she was impersonating the deceased Estelle. However, the words had an impact on him, as Joey felt it signified their bond. In all fairness, Phoebe really was onto something when she said it.
The friends in the show were all so close that they could trust each other without reason. They knew that the people in their group would never want anything bad to happen to them and a promise with no explanation wasn’t going to carry any malicious intent because of how much they cared for each other.
Monica Sums Up Adulthood
“Welcome To The Real World. It Sucks. You’re Going To Love It.”
This could be one of the more underrated hilarious lines in Friends for the way it’s so true. In addition, Monica hit the nail on the head about how challenging adulthood was. She said the line after Rachel cut off her credit cards, promising her friend that life would be tough but she was going to love it.
Rachel had a difficult time for the next three years until she landed a full-time job and it was a decision she did not regret. Although making it without the support of parents is incredibly hard, the independence a person gains is worth it, especially for someone like Rachel who had been spoiled her whole life.
Rachel Feels An Identity Crisis
“I Just Stopped And I Said, What If I Don’t Want To Be A Shoe?”
While it’s not the best quote in the first Friends season, Rachel’s words might just be the most profound. She said this to her father on the phone after running out on her wedding, arguing that she had always essentially been told she was a shoe and that she’d like to be a purse or a hat – the metaphor is the point of the quote .
Rachel realized that she’d been controlled her entire life to be someone’s daughter and then someone’s wife, but she needed to know who she was as a person. It stands true for many people in real life who have their decisions dictated to them and Rachel was brave enough to put her foot down.
Monica Can’t Help Her Need To Be Liked
“I’ve Got This Uncontrollable Need To Please People.”
Monica was the most neurotic person in the friends’ group, known for making rash decisions because she hated confrontation. Although she did not want to meet her former friend Amanda along with Phoebe, Monica caved while on the phone and uttered this quote as her justification.
Friends may have made Monica’s need to be liked out to be something funny, but it’s a feeling the majority of people live with. There’s also the fact that Monica was always belittled by her mother and her wanting others to like her by acquiescing to their demands was a result of how she was treated during childhood.
Chandler Talks About His Broken Childhood
“I Hated That Guy. And It Didn’t Matter How Nice He Was. Or How Happy He Made My Dad.”
Chandler and Janice aren’t considered the best relationship in Friends but he got a valuable life lesson from their breakup. While convincing Janice to return to her husband, Chandler recounted how much he hated the man who had come between his parents to cause their divorce.
It was played for laughs at the time, yet Chandler voiced out the same sadness many people have who have grown up in broken families. It had a big impact on the way Chandler became afraid of commitment and the way he perceived relationships to be a power struggle.
Phoebe Says What People Usually Hide
“I Wish I Could But I Don’t Want To.”
Phoebe was known for being unapologetically herself, even if it meant she was absolutely blunt. When asked by the guys to help Ross move, Phoebe simply responded that she would if she actually wanted to. It may have been a bit harsh but Phoebe was bold enough to say what most would not have.
There are many things people succumb to because of peer pressure, which did not affect Phoebe. She said what she wanted and it was refreshing in its own way for her to turn down the guys so casually. The quote also easily established how Phoebe’s thought process works.
Joey Is Comfortable In His Own Skin
“I’m Curvy And I Like It.”
Joey hated Rachel’s sister Amy for how rude she was, known for belittling Joey for eating because she thought he was going to put on weight. Joey had the perfect counter for the shallow and judging Amy by shouting out this quote in response.
Joey deserves props for being comfortable in his own skin without bending to mean words aimed at his appearance. It was a good way for the show to let its viewers know that a person should love how they look rather than conform to someone else’s idea of physical perfection.
Ross Talks About Being A Divorced Dad
“Every Time I Have To Drop Ben Off At Carol’s, It Breaks My Heart A Little.”
This was surprisingly meaningful because Ross said these words at a time when Ben was barely shown in the series anymore. He admitted to Joey that having Emma as a single parent meant he would have to go through the same pain of separation he went with Ben.
It went to confirm that Ross did love his son a lot and did not talk about him as much because it hurt to admit to their separation. It reflected how divorced parents feel in general because being away from their children is never something a person can live down.
Phoebe Contextualizes The Friends’ Bond
“Boyfriends And Girlfriends Will Come And Go, But This Is For Life.”
There are many reasons why Phoebe can be seen as the best friend of the group, mainly because of how much she valued the others. Phoebe admonished Joey for choosing a date over their planned dinner, saying this quote to put things into context.
At the end of the day, the friends had a bond bigger than romantic partners because they had been through thick and thin. Phoebe made him see that preserving a friend’s feelings should take precedent when they felt so strongly about their relationship.
Mike’s Excitement At Being Married To Phoebe
“Phoebe, You’re So Wonderfully Weird.”
Mike’s vows to Phoebe were beautiful but this quote got a laugh out of the audience. While it is worth a chuckle, it also shows why he loved her. Mike was a person damaged by his divorce and it took someone wonderfully weird and unorthodox like Phoebe to bring happiness back to his life.
It went to show that Phoebe being unapologetically herself was the right thing to do because she found the person she was perfect for. In addition, Mike’s words confirmed why he was the best man for Phoebe since he appreciated her quirks and wanted her to stay just how she is.
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