Friends From A to Z

Rachel and Danny’s relationship sparks a debate about the best and worst couples of all ten seasons, which has some surprises of its own. There’s discussion of the reverse Dickensian theme in this episode and a lot of puzzling about why the Ross and Joey dynamic here is perhaps less successful than the Monica and Chandler storyline is echoes from a few seasons ago. 

**Note that this episode was recorded before the untimely death of Matthew Perry**

We had one of our favourite things with this episode: seeing it in a new light and with more layers than before. We learn that the edit choices around Ross’ sandwich have resulted in a creative magnifier that unfairly taint the episode in our memories, there’s endless admiration for Joey’s masterful manipulation of Monica and Zoe admits that Monica’s book class shenanigans remind her of a certain co-host. 

**Note that this episode was recorded before the untimely death of Matthew Perry** 

This is an easy favourite, with lots to love. There is also, though, a lot to forgive with several plot holes revealed through the discussion, but that doesn’t prevent this from being a classic. There’s surprise at Adele’s favourite joke, Friends-thru-a-lens makes an appearance with the OTT jokes about Monica being overweight and Zoe might just blow Adele’s mind with what she notices about why Monica would ever put a turkey on her head. 

There’s a surprise in store for Zoe with a very special Epidimerick. There’s a lot of debate about possible explanations for very curious behaviour from Rachel, Zoe learns a new social hack and an iconic hand gesture takes the conversation from sitcom to psychology. 

Does Phoebe have any way of justifying wearing the fur coat? There's a discussion about a possible flaw in the Danny storyline - is Rachel really ready for this yet(i)? And Zoe blows Adele’s mind by spotting that Emily and Ross are Ross and Rachel in reverse.

We're off to a racing start in this one with a cracking cold open and, despite it having a title that Zoe really (really!) doesn't like, it's jam packed full of fantastic laughs and stuff to discuss; Does Monica have the wrong idea of what a perfect weekend away should be like? Even though the weekend went a bit wrong, are they in a better situation because of it afterwards? Does Ross actually have any other option but to freeze Rachel out? And how on earth did clean-freak Monica fail to find Joey's box of emergency supplies under her bed?!

Apologies to any US listeners who will cringe at our lack of knowledge about PBS, but hopefully that doesn't distract from the discussion too much! Adele wonders what the plan was for Emily if the actress hadn't got pregnant when she did (meaning Emily is not only written out but also filmed only from the neck up). Zoe on the other hand isn't sure it's credible that Ross's love for Emily could be stronger than his lifelong devotion to Rachel. Elsewhere, after a very short debate about the philosophical idea of selfless good deeds, is it possible that there's one hiding in plain sight in this very episode?! 

(Note: we got carried away at the beginning and forgot to do the ratings for this one! At the time of extracting the data, this ep scored 8.30/10 and was 16th for Season Five. It does not feature in Ranker.com's best 100 episodes). 

It's The One Hundredth and that's not the only landmark thing about this episode. Elsewhere, Zoe reveals an improvised moment by Lisa Kudrow that never made it to air (understandably, when you know what it is!), we discuss why a tiny bump in the road for Chandler and Monica is so significant and we marvel at how an actor can make repeatedly delivering one line so memorable!

Important turning points here when another Rachel and Ross chapter closes, Monica and Chandler's story develops and Phoebe's life is about to change. We discuss why it's the right decision for Rachel to tell Ross she loves him, we find out what prompted Zoe's three smiles in the margin of her notes and we as why Monica and Chandler decide to have a romantic bath with Joey in the same room, when there's a perfectly Rachel-free apartment across the hall?

We’re back for Season Five and what an opening episode - the resolution to one of the greatest end-of-season cliffhangers in television history. So much here to discuss including of course the big question of just what it *did* mean that Ross said Rachel at his wedding, what to make of Emily’s reaction and just why it is that we’re so happy to ship Monica and Chandler when everything about their relationship has been totally platonic up to this point.