Dont Get It?

There are a lot of people who come in here who say that Friends just isn't the same anymore. I just have to disagree. I still find it entertaining and funny. I just wanted to ask what people think is missing from the show that wasn't there a few years ago? I have also noticed a lot of people claming that they can't cope with Ross anymore. I personally think he's really funny. Just thought I'd let go of some steam!

Speaking only for myself, the Ross thing is what bothers me most about the show the last several seasons.

The first few seasons, he was certainly neurotic, insecure, nerdy and somewhat whiny. But he also had many admirable qualities that made him likeable and easy to respect and root for.

More recently he's become cartoonish. Extremely whiny, but most annoyingly, unbelievably self-absorbed. Seldom do I see any admirable qualities in him. This is a shame. I don't know why they took his character in this direction, as a clown or buffoon.

Maybe the way they've written Ross is the reason many people don't want to see R&R together anymore. If you like Rachel, how can you see her with the almost complete loser that they've turned Ross into? Me, I still hope they get together, but only if they can believably salvage Ross's character, making him less self-absorbed, more concerned about others. Hard to see how they will believably turn the buffoon into someone we like and respect by the end of this season, if this is the last season.

I still like the show, just not as much as I used to when the characters seemed to care about each other more.

George

"gdp" wrote in message news:2PAB9.32450$[email]...

What are your examples though of him being whiny? The season in which I found Ross most annoying was in season 5 when he was getting over Emily. But from what I can gather they recovered him again.

For me the character that has changed the most in an annoying sort of a way is Monica. I still like her, but she changed from series 5 onwards. She had always been neurotic, but in series 5 she seemed to become over neurotic and sometimes childish in a way she never was before.

Still in saying all that I still love the show and if it was to stop I'd really miss it.

"Rach" wrote in message news:[email]...

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It really depends on how you look at Friends. If you have followed the series from day one, then yeah, the series has changed.

I kind of miss the Chandler/Joey mahem, the not so obsessive Monica, Phoebe actually performing in Central Perk being as weird as she can be, Rachel being... well... Rachel and Ross... Ah Ross... You know, he has had so many troubles these past few years, it's not that strange that he's turning childish, not being able to stand up for himself anymore. I wonder why they haven't sent him to a psychiatrist yet. This, after all, is an American sitcom, and as we (non-Americans) see depicted in so many shows and movies, that Americans go to psychiatrists because they're not being able to handle even the smallest problem on their hands. (I know that this is a generalisation as far as generalisations go. I know that in reality it isn't the case, and that it's just the image Hollywood gives us, no offense. "we don't know any better" ;o) )

Yeah, Friends has changed. But, every sitcom changes from time to time (Cheers, MASH, The Cosby Show, you name it). Even Scrubs, now in its second season, is different from the first season. You can say it's getting mature, it grows with the actors, but still, it's different.

The Friends writers are being replaced from time to time. As the producers once told, they want to keep the team young to stay fresh and get new ideas etc. But that also changes the general atmosphere of the show. Also you know the characters much better than you knew in the first seasons. A lot of things have already been done. And that's it I guess... The freshness has gone. It's like going to the same movie time after time. It gets predictable. You know the characters too well, and you know how they are going to respond...

I've heard this question before, on a local message board and someone asked the people who "attacked" (it was really bad, namecalling and all) the poster of this question their age... It appeared they were all aged 13-18... Which meant that when Friends started they were like 5-9... They never were there from the beginning and only started watching Friends from season 6 or 7... For them the earlier seasons didn't have the same meaning as they did for us... They never had to wait for months to know what happened after Ross said "Rachel", those episodes are rerun every now and then, on a daily basis... There was no suspense for them in those episodes...

I know that it might not answer your question, maybe even triggers some more...

"Coffee Mug" wrote in message news:ar6lub$fh6k6$[email]...

isn't

Ross

Indeed I have. I own every episode.

I also miss that. They should try and get that back even though they are not roomies.

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Ross

I love it !

"Rach" wrote in message news:[email]...

There is a distinct difference between owning the series and having to wait for a week (or even months) to watch what happens... There's added suspense and anticipation.

not

They're trying allright. For instance this week. (won't try to spoil it here) Or the one with the stripper from last year... It clearly are attempts.

They did, but that was for his temper only, which by the way has been running in the family for the last couple of years... (Monica)