705-Review

7 0 5

S P O I L E R

S P A C E

The One With The Engagement Picture

Weak episode this week --- probably the worst of the season, IMO.

First, Rachel/Tag/Joey:

The best of the three storylines --- but that's not saying much. The scene in Joey's apartment was hilarious. Poor Chandler. But Joey was definitely remarkable in this episode. I hoped we could have seen him and Tag at the bar. Joey giving Tag instructions could have made for plenty of laughs. I only wish I could say the same for Rachel. She was kind of pathetic in this episode. The crush just isn't working --- it's too Joshua. They need to move forward with this story or end it. That's that.

On a side note, JA's hair looked terrible today. As least next week, we can look forward to seeing her new cut.

Next, Chandler/Monica:

The title story was sort of a disappointment. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. Chandler's smile was funny the first time we saw it, but it wasn't funny enough to last 30 minutes. It was basically the same joke over and over and over again. Chandler was okay, but once again Monica was annoying. I actually wish Chandler had given his antihistamine to Monica. How can someone get worked up so much about something as unimportant as a photo?

Once again Joey came to rescue, though. Many people who read the spoilers were furious about the ending, but I thought it was great (though at Chandler's expense once again). MLB was brilliant.

Finally, Ross/Phoebe:

This was definitely the worst part the episode. Terrible plot --- the worst of the season so far. It started off okay, but it went to hell when all the yelling began. So much for Ross going back to normal. And Phoebe was just as bad, if not worse. Why do the writers like these characters this way?

So, where is Phoebe living anyway? What was the key thing all about? The writers have never addressed R&P's living arrangements since 702.

Overall, this episode was far from sweeps quality. Let's hope next week is much better.

--Doc

Yeah I thought this week's was going to be actually fun, but I guess I was way wrong. Has anybody else noticed that there are now more Joey/Rachel storylines this year? I kind of like it but I wish they were stronger.

And one more thing..did anybody else notice that person who played Whitney is the same girl who played Michelle's(Lisa Kudrow) rival in Rome and Michelle's High School Reunion?

Matt

Hi!

way

storylines

Given the fact, that those are now room-mates, I'm guessing the producers want to replace some of the storylines many fans are missing, namely Joey-Chandler-Storylines. I think Joey and Rachel work great together, and it is refreshing to see cast-members team-up in combinations, not seen that often in the past.

Didi

In article , DocDoc2222 wrote:

Agreed.

The crush isn't interesting *and* it's playing up Rachel's bitchy side in a very tedious manner.

Joey's involvement wasn't all that comedic in an obvious sesne, though I cracked up at Tag's "How you doin'?" pickup line.

Exactly. It was incredible to me that they thought they could stretch this out.

Um, this *is* Monica we're talking about ...

I actually thought this part was ok. Not great, but Ross & Phoebe arguing while echoing the other couple's issues from the past (with the genders flipped) I actually found fairly amusing.

This is the first time in a long while that I pondered Ross + Phoebe.

The key thing totally confused me, too. It looked as if Phoebe was moving out, but it wasn't made clear.

DocDoc2222 wrote in message news:[email]...

Absolutely.

scene in

bar.

only

move

End it. If the writers are serious about reuniting Ross and Rachel, these kind of idiot plotlines have to end, and they need to consciously plot out where the relationship is going. This feels random and done strictly for "laffs" -- not character or story building. Ugh.

I thought this was the worst of the three storylines. It feels very forced, very unfunny, very sitcomish -- fake. Rachel's appalling lack of professionalism and common sense are simply sad, not funny. Joey, again, emerging essentially unscathed from bad writing and plotting, was very funny but acted as a foil. The scene you mentioned worked because of Joey and Chandler, not because it was particularly well-written.

can

Yes, it is getting out of hand.

wasn't

over

How

photo?

You've obviously never had an engagement photo taken. And I agree completely: it was (sort of) funny the first time, but not the 30th time. Is anyone really that bad at taking pictures? They took something that may have been funny as a side-gag and made it a major storyline.

were

Perhaps I am way too serious-minded, but I found the end-credits sequence extremely unfunny. Nothing amusing about your fiancee taking her engagement picture with someone else.

worst

the

as

Yes, Shouting Ross was back in action. *Sigh* Sometimes I wonder if the writers working on the show right now even _saw_ the first two seasons of the show. Schwimmer can be very funny and do great comedic delivery without _ever_ raising his voice. Argh.

One thing I found very interesting here: there seemed to be an obvious chemistry between Ross and Phoebe. Maybe I'm reading too many Tennant Stuart posts :-), but Phoebe really seems to know Ross well, enjoys being around him...you see how close he sat next to her on the couch at Central Perk in the end?

Thought she was living with Mondler.

is

Let's hope this is as bad as it gets. A few more eps like this, and it's back to syndication/VHS tapes for me.

Almost.

Hopefully they'll close this next episode.

I still can stop from focusing on Chandler's capped teeth, but it's my fault for reading the posts in this newsgroup.

The subplots involving Joey and Ross/Chandler can sometimes be brilliant. But the storylines or subplots involving Joey and one of the girls seems to put the writers in a corner. They make him out to be such a sleaze/whore, that the conversations end quickly. That's a shame.

The writers seem to love a lot of subplots involving loud arguements.

I looked at those two and they did appear to get a little cozy with each other at one scene - maybe the writers ought to get them together for an episode or two Phoebe would turn Ross upside down.

Kevin