The 20 Best Episodes Of Friends Ever

July 14, 2019, 5:30 p.m.

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The 20 Best Episodes Of Friends Ever

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Summary Friends' iconic episodes are timeless, hilarious, and filled with memorable moments that showcase the brilliance of the beloved sitcom.

The best Friends episodes feature emotional storylines, iconic comedy, and standout performances that have solidified its place in TV history.

Every episode reveals the relatable nature and significance of Friends, with fans globally still connecting to its characters and storylines today.

With over 200 episodes spread across 10 seasons, the best Friends episodes deliver outstanding, hilarious, and timeless stories that show why the series was so popular. The sitcom stands as one of television's most popular, binge-worthy sitcoms, and the extent to which it gripped the worldwide cultural zeitgeist when it first aired in the 1990s and 2000s cannot be overstated. Not even the passage of time seems to affect the significance and relatable nature of Friends, with the recent reunion episode only revitalizing things even further. To this day, people are re-watching Friends, referencing characters, events, and lines from the show, and discussing it with other fans.

The brilliance of Friends is that it is so consistently entertaining that every episode has a rewatchable quality, but the best Friends episodes of all time are among the funniest comedy offerings to ever grace the small screen. Whether it's emotional moments such as a wedding, or the excitement of trying to keep a relationship secret, there's something for everyone in each episode, with all the main characters having clear roles. However, certain episodes have become iconic over time, truly standing out and helping the show become the high-quality sitcom everyone knows it as today.

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20 "The One With Rachel's Other Sister"

Season 9, Episode 8

While Reese Witherspoon's role as Rachel's younger sister was a memorable one, Christina Applegate stole the show when she was introduced in season 9 as the third Green sister. "The One with Rachel's Other Sister" finds Amy (Applegate) showing up on Thanksgiving hilariously just to borrow a hair straightener only to be forced to spend the holiday with the gang when her married boyfriend chooses to spend it with his wife and kids instead.

It is rare that a guest actor takes over the show in such a big way, but Applegate commands so much attention in her hilarious role that it earned her an Emmy. She is a glimpse at the kind of vain and meanspirited person Rachel might have become if she had stuck with her old life. It also ignites a funny conversation in the group about who gets custody of Emma if Rachel and Ross were to die.

19 "The One Where No One's Ready"

Season 3, Episode 2

"The One Where No One's Ready" is one of the famous sitcom bottle episodes that has a lot of fun with just having the characters interacting in one room. The episode finds Ross nervously preparing for an important function at his museum and attempting to hurry things along, only to become increasingly frustrated that none of them are getting ready with the urgency he was hoping. This includes Joey and Chandler having a childish argument over who gets to sit in a chair and Rachel going through endless wardrobe choices.

What is fun about the episode is that it's possible to feel the tension and anxiety that Ross feels as he attempts to wrangle his friends and girlfriend for this important occasion. Of course, Ross takes things too far in his frustration leading to a funny response from Rachel. However, Chandler and Joey's rivalry steals the show, especially when Joey wears all of Chandler's clothes in order to get back at him.

18 "The One With All the Cheesecakes"

Season 7, Episode 11

While it is always fun to see the group hanging out together in episodes like "The One Where No One's Ready," some of the best episodes see the six main characters pairing up for their own adventures. Such is the case with "The One With All the Cheesecakes" which finds Rachel and Chandler conspiring over delicious cheesecake that was mistakenly delivered to them, Monica forcing Ross to bring her to their cousin's wedding she wasn't invited to, and the revelation that Joey and Phoebe do a monthly dinner together to discuss the others.

While the likes of Joey and Phoebe are a pairing that is always fun, the highlight of the show comes from Rachel and Chandler, who do not often get storylines with just the two of them. Their escapades of stealing cheesecake from neighbors and then fighting over the dessert is simple but hilarious with the great ending in which Joey finds them pathetically eating the last of the cake off the floor and joins them without a second thought.

17 The One With The Holiday Armadillo

Season 7, Episode 10

Friends Christmas episodes are always fun, but "The One With the Holiday Armadillo" ranks as the best of them all. The episode's main storyline revolves around Ross attempting to get his son excited about Hanukkah when Ben is just focused on Christmas. In an attempt to teach him about his Jewish heritage as well, he tries to rent a Santa Claus costume only to be stuck with an armadillo costume instead.

Ross is likely the most underrated character in the ensemble as he can sometimes be seen as too serious, but this is a perfect episode to highlight how funny he is as a man who is constantly humiliated yet keeps trying his best. There is also an enjoyable subplot with Phoebe worrying that Rachel won't want to move back in with her after she's been having so much fun with Joey.

16 "The One With the Morning After"

Season 3, Episode 16

The time Ross sleeps with another woman while he and Rachel are "on a break" is a pivotal moment in the series and in the timeline of Ross and Rachel's relationship. However, as memorable as that is, the episode that follows is even more notable. The installment begins with Ross regretting the incident as he learns Rachel wants to get back together, then goes on a mission to ensure she doesn't find out. However, when she does, the episode becomes a heartbreaking confrontation.

The episode is a great example of how the show is able to mix comedy and drama effectively. The implications of what Ross did are clear and have high stakes in the show, but there is a lot of humor in seeing him trying to cover his tracks. Even the fight between Ross and Rachel has its moments of comedy with the rest of the friends trapped in the bedroom during the whole thing.

15 "The One With The Red Sweater"

Season 8, Episode 2

Following the cliffhanger ending of Friends season 7 that reveals Rachel is pregnant, season 8's second episode got to the other pressing question in the matter. The entire episode is all about audiences guessing who the father of Rachel's baby might be, with the only true clue being the red sweater that the father left behind. This ends up being picked up by Ross, which provides an amazing reveal as fans realize he and Rachel got back together for at least a night.

The beauty of this Friends episode is that it is packed with mystery. Friends is a show that is all about comedy in the end, and there are moments of that in this particular episode. However, it's the tension and anticipation of who is at the center of this big secret that makes this particular episode such a standout.

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14 "The One With All The Thanksgivings"

Season 5, Episode 8

Every Friends Thanksgiving episode feels like a special event, but the one that stands out is the season 5 installment titled “The One with All the Thanksgivings”, which brings a lot of fantastic comedy and some truly iconic moments from the series. After having their traditional Thanksgiving dinner at Monica’s, the friends start reminiscing about their worst Thanksgiving.

There are several hilarious flashbacks, like Joey putting his head inside a dead turkey and Ross and Chandler’s unforgettable 1980s hairstyles. There is an unfortunate inclusion of jokes about Monica's appearance when she was younger which has aged poorly, including some that Chandler made about her that puts a dark spot over their past together. However, this results in a hilarious accident which is finally revealed to Chandler but the sweet resolution between the couple at the end is a big moment for them.

13 "The One With All The Resolutions"

Season 5, Episode 11

New Year's Eve episodes of the show are often entertaining and "The One With All The Resolutions" was a great example of that. The episode is all about New Year's resolutions, as the title suggests, and the group all struggle to keep them from a very early point in the night. This includes Chandler's attempts to not make snarky comments about his friends as well as Phoebe wanting to pilot a commercial aircraft.

However, the funniest part of this episode is all about Ross's leather pants. His decision to get them to be a bit different did not work out well for him in the long run. Seeing his struggles with getting them off is a scenario that brings some of the show's best physical comedy, with Ross trying all manner of ideas inside a bathroom during a date. There is also another big moment in the secret about Monica and Chandler coming out which is one of the show's best storylines.

12 "The One With Ross's Sandwich"

Season 5, Episode 9

The main hook of this storyline is all about Ross and the importance of his sacred Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich, known as the moist maker. When someone ends up taking it at work, it leads to Ross exploding in anger and showing a completely different side of his personality. It is a great episode for David Schwimmer to let loose by exploring Ross' hilarious unhinged side.

Meanwhile, Joey is forced to get creative as he tries to hide Chandler and Monica's relationship, including having to pretend he took off and left his underwear in Monica's apartment. He proves what a great friend he is in this episode, which gives the episode a signature heartfelt edge, but the situations he ends up in bring a lot of classically comedic scenes as well creating the perfect balance that the show is known for.

11 "The One In Vegas: Part 2"

Season 5, Episode 24

The best Friends season finales offer fans big laughs and some surprises to end the season. Season 5 wrapped up the group's trip to Las Vegas. The episode features Ross and Rachel's inebriated adventures in Vegas, which involve them getting married. Meanwhile, Phoebe has to deal with competitiveness when it comes to slot machines, which brings out a different side to her character and Joey gets obsessed with the idea that he's found his hand twin.

Seeing the group out of the usual environment is always a fun experience throughout the series just by giving the group some new situations to react to, and this episode delivered in one of the biggest and most interesting settings. Plus, seeing Monica and Chandler almost get married is a brilliant tease that leads to an even bigger laugh with the surprise ending to the episode.

10 "The Last One"

Season 10, Episode 17

The last episode of Friends provides an emotional, funny, and satisfying end to one of the most popular shows of all time. While it is a goodbye to the entire cast, the main focus is on the future of Ross and Rachel which has been the hearty of the show from the beginning. Ross and Phoebe are trying to catch up to Rachel before her plane takes off and, by mistake, ends up at the wrong airport.

Meanwhile, Monica and Chandler prepare to leave the famous apartment. While a lot of shows struggle to stick the landing when it comes to finales, this is something that Friends nailed. The show wraps up each of the storylines of the main characters wonderfully if a little predictably. However, it remains a satisfying end for Friends which brought it to a close in a way that many fans wanted to see.

9 “The One With The Proposal: Part 2”

Season 6, Episode 25

While Ross and Rachel may have gotten the most focus on the show from beginning to end, the relationship between Chandler and Monica was arguably the better romance on Friends. This is perhaps the best episode to highlight that fact. In the season 6 finale, Chandler does such a great job at making Monica believe that he never wants to get married that he almost pushes her right back to Richard. Because, while Chandler is talking about pigs, Richard tells Monica that he wants to marry her and give her everything she’s ever wanted.

In this hilarious mix-up of an episode, both the characters and the audience are put through an emotional roller coaster before they end up proposing to each other in the show’s most romantic moment. This episode isn't particularly about the humor but is instead all about the emotions and the love fans have for this couple.

8 "The One Where Ross Got High"

Season 6, Episode 9

Another terrific Ross-centric episode is "The One Where Ross Got High," which is all about secrecy. It also delves more into the backstory these characters shared before the show which is always fun to learn more about. This episode sees Ross tell Chandler his parents dislike him as Ross blamed an odor of marijuana on Chandler when in fact it was Ross who smoked it when they were younger.

Jack and Judy Geller are two of the show's most entertaining supporting characters, and they're at their best in this episode, reacting to all the chaos that's going on within the group. Rachel also hilariously tries to make a trifle but blends it with a meat dish, which helps to create one of the most memorable episodes of the series. The way which Joey consumes the disaster of a desert without minding it at all is one of the character's most memorable moments.

2:36 Related Friends Admitted To Its Most Glaring Plot Hole With This Perfect Joey Line In Season 6 Friends acknowledged the most glaring plot hole present in almost every episode of the sitcom with one clever line from Joey in season 6.

7 "The One With Monica And Chandler's Wedding: Part 2"

Season 7, Episode 24

There have been a few Friends wedding episodes that always have the potential to be special, and when it involves a couple as beloved as Monica and Chandler, it's no surprise this one was a hit. Of course, in classic Friends fashion, this episode was able to bring both emotion and humor together. Chandler almost not being able to go through with the wedding, but ultimately showing his love for Monica was a great opportunity for drama that the episode fully exploits.

Meanwhile, Joey provides a much more comedic journey to the altar as he tries to get out of work only to find his drunken costar (Gary Oldman) delayed the production of their movie. It is a beautiful episode to bring the brilliant storyline of Chandler and Monica's romance into its next stage and the episode continues to add more exciting elements with the last-minute reveal that Rachel is pregnant, setting up a new exciting storyline.

6 "The One With The Rumor"

Season 8, Episode 9

This is another excellent Thanksgiving episode of Friends, and it is an iconic one because of the guest appearance of Brad Pitt. He plays Monica and Ross’s high school friend Will. Monica runs into him and invites him to Thanksgiving dinner, not knowing that Will hates Rachel, who was "a little mean to him in high school." Soon enough, secrets start coming out and Rachel is hurt and shocked to find out Ross and Will not only founded the “I Hate Rachel Green Club,” but also started a vicious rumor about her.

The episode contains some humor that has not aged very well, but it is not enough to ruin the whole episode. Pitt is a fun addition to the show without overpowering the rest of the cast. There are a lot of fun elements to the installment, such as Joey taking on the challenge that he can eat an entire turkey on his own, leading to good physical comedy.

5 "The One With Ross's Wedding: Part 2"

Season 4, Episode 24

The finale of season 4 is one of those episodes where everything works, every scene is funny, and all the actors are fantastic. In “The One with Ross’s Wedding: Part 2,” a pregnant Phoebe desperately tries to warn the gang that Rachel is coming to London to tell Ross she loves him. It all culminates in the second half of the episode when it's revealed that Monica and Chandler slept together, and Rachel arrives before the wedding but decides not to say anything.

Just as it seems the wedding was saved, Ross blows it by saying “take thee Rachel” instead of Emily, ending the season with Friends’ biggest cliffhanger ever. There is so much going on in the episode, but it never feels overstuffed or rushed. The reveal of Monica and Chandler is a hilarious and memorable one, while Ross's mistake reopens the idea of Ross and Rachel in a clever new way.

4 "The One With The Prom Video"

Season 2, Episode 14

This episode takes place in the aftermath of Rachel and Ross being seemingly over before their relationship even had a chance to begin. To give Ross hope that he and Rachel are meant to be together, Phoebe shares the lobster theory with the gang, creating one of the show’s most iconic catchphrases, “he’s her lobster.” Meanwhile, Joey finally makes money and buys Chandler a flashy bracelet, which he secretly hates, and Monica and Ross’s parents drop off some of Monica’s old things, including a videotape.

It turns out the video in question is of Monica and Rachel’s prom night. The tape reveals some fascinating details from the past, most importantly, that Ross was willing to take Rachel to prom. It's an emotional episode that provides one of Friends' greatest moments in Ross and Rachel's relationship when they kiss. It is another fun look back on the past with these characters capped off by this touching moment.

3 "The One With The Videotape"

Season 8, Episode 4

The storyline of Rachel's pregnancy is made even more interesting by the fact that Ross is the father, suggesting that there is a future for this beloved couple. In this episode, Ross and Rachel try to explain to the others how they ended up in bed together six weeks earlier, but they disagree over a crucial question: who came on to whom? Luckily (and weirdly), Ross has the entire ordeal on tape, but it's not how people might think.

Meanwhile, Chandler and Monica discover they got fake-numbered by another couple. It becomes an episode about slowly unpicking Ross and Rachel's time together, and the way different situations interlock, mainly using Joey, is something that brings others into the tale and makes the episode an engaging one. It all builds to the hilarious reveal of the truth.

2 "The One With The Embryos"

Season 4, Episode 12

This episode is a true fan favorite that helps create one of the simplest and most entertaining ongoing storylines from the series. While Phoebe was getting pregnant, the others decided to go for a friendly wager. What starts as a silly bet on whether the gang can guess everything that Rachel bought at the store turns into a full-blown quiz where the stakes are Monica’s apartment and the Chick and the Duck.

The dedication with which Ross approached his task as the test-maker and host is fitting for him and ridiculous at the same time. The questions are hilarious and the answers even more so, with the contestants’ enthusiasm being infectious, making the episode a funny one. It shows some hilarious traits of the various characters from Chandler's embarrassing upbringing to Monica's intense competitiveness.

1 "The One Where Everybody Finds Out"

Season 5, Episode 14

For many, “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” is the best Friends episode and is the culmination of one of the greatest storylines in the show's run. As the title implies, this is the episode in which everybody finds out about Chandler and Monica and the secret relationship they've been having. Phoebe sees Monica and Chandler making out from Ugly Naked Guy’s apartment and freaks out.

Later, she and Rachel decide to mess with the couple and Phoebe tries to seduce Chandler to force them out of hiding. Monica and Chandler get wind of their intentions and attempt to foil their plans, which creates a great back-and-forth. The escalating game between the friends is increasingly hilarious with Joey unwillingly being dragged along on the confusing journey and culminating with the hilarious face-off between Chandler and Phoebe.