Storyline:: After breaking his engagement with Ursula to be with Phoebe, Eric finally realizes he is attracted to Phoebe and invites her to his apartment. But things turn out to be very awkward and upsetting in the end.
Characters: Phoebe and Eric (Sean Penn)
Review: I sort of enjoyed this two-parter storyline continued from last week’s episode. I thought it was good for Eric to break up with Ursula for all the obvious reasons and I guess that was the second time he told her. But it was sad to see that Eric is having a hard time falling in love with Phoebe because she looks exactly like her sister Ursula. It seems like this might be kind of a recycled-type of storyline from The One With All the Jam with Malcolm who couldn’t get over Ursula either. Overall it was a decent storyline, and the most unpredictable part of the episode which was amusing in the end. The storyline wasn’t as funny as the first part from last week’s episode though. Well all I can say is, at least Ursula got another round of Eric for one last time.
Storyline Grade: 85 (B) -------------------------------------- Storyline:: Rachel plans on moving out for the baby’s sake because she feels it will be an uncomfortable lifestyle for Joey which Joey isn’t too happy about. In the mean time Ross knows of an apartment in his building that might be available for Joey. But first he decides to learn Dutch to get familiar with the ready-to-die occupant.
Characters: Rachel, Ross, and Joey
Review: Well it wasn’t what he thought it was going to be which did it? It was another sentimental storyline. In the end I am glad I am both happy that Rachel decided to stay with Joey because it meant a lot to him and the second reason is because it wasn’t overly dramatic; we have had way too many storylines like that so far this season. It sort of showed a type of friendship that Joey feels towards Rachel and vica-versa. But I think in the end, things might become a little bit different when the baby is actually brought in to the world and the apartment. The amusing part of the whole storyline to me was Ross trying to learn Dutch so he could become aquatinted with the occupant in his apartment who is on her deathbed, I think. I guess that “Aisel” phrase was one of Gunther’s attempts to make fun of Ross in front of his face since both Ross and Rachel were going out. The storyline as a whole was a bit predictable but the reasons for Rachel’s staying was a bit unpredictable. To me the storyline seemed the shortest out of all three yet still turned out to be one of the better ones. There were a few good laughs here and there, but I was mostly anticipating for Rachel’s decision to stay or not to stay with Joey. And I was happy with the result.
Storyline Grade: 90 (A) -------------------------------
Storyline:: Chandler decides to hire a maid who is doing a great job at the same time Monica feels suspicious that the she might be taking some of her clothes.
Characters: Chandler, Monica, and Brenda (the maid)
Review: A decent Mondler storyline if I do say so myself. This is probably one of my second favorite Mondler storylines this season. Some of us thought that “the stain” the title was referring to a perverted type of thing. It actually wasn’t; it was a stain on Monica’s old jeans The one thing I can say about this episode is that Monica was a hoot with her constant obsession to see if the stain was in the crotch and her falling out of her chair. And let’s not forget Brenda thinking Monica was a lesbian. To me Chandler was just “there” the whole time and really didn’t provide any one-liner laughs but still managed to keep the storyline on a good level. In the end we find out that it was Rachel who borrowed the stained pants and Monica who was wearing the ripped pink-flowered bra she thought Brenda stole: a bit amusing. I don’t care what anyone else says but I liked it not as much as the other two.
Storyline Grade: 85 (B-)
------------------------------- Notes
I know everybody is going to ask this but could somebody please translate the Dutch they spoke in the episode?
You can actually read some of the Dutch dialogue if you use close captioning in some parts.
Chandler never really said why he got Monica a maid, did he?
Who is Pearl Hermon?
Did anybody notice a framed picture hanging of Monica and Chandler at the wedding by their room?
Ursula was wearing the same suit as Phoebe but was wearing a big coat to cover most of it.
We see Hugsy: Joey’s bedtime Penguin pal!
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