Was Chandler and Monica's Marriage a Mistake?

It just seems like as a couple these two characters had more passion and chemistry before they tied the knot than after. Much like real life, once the vows were said, the sparks between them stopped flying. Before the wedding, in my opinion at least, the relationship between Chandler and Monica fueled the emotional aspect of the show. At times since the wedding, Monica's character has been unbelievably bitchy, while Chandler has been largely uninteresting. It's like these two were better off as an unmarried couple. Marriage has been mundane.

Sure, the writers do their best to convey the image of Monica as "the coolest wife ever"; e.g., she hires Chandler strippers, she gives him lap dances, she gets him porn on Valentine's Day. But the chemistry between the two just isn't the same as it was before the nuptials, regardless of how many extraordinary wifely duties Monica performs.

Before they said "I do," there was almost an unspoken bond between the two that manifested itself in all their scenes. Now, the sense I get from their relationship is one of obligation rather than infatuation.

Does anyone else notice it? Maybe off-camera relations between Perry and Cox have soured to the point where its become noticeable in their acting? Or maybe they are both such skilled actors that they are intentionally altering their performances to reflect the realities of marriage? Or have my own pessimistic views of marriage just superimposed themselves atop my enjoyment of the Chandler/Monica relationship?

Dan

"Dan Silverstein" wrote in message news:[email]... >

Yes.

Maybe off-camera relations between

Uh...no, I don't think that's it. I don't think either of them is particularly strong. I have never been that impressed with her, and his performances have been quite mediocre lately.

No, Dan, I think the problems is that the writers have decided these two are joined at the hip and neither is ever allowed to have any storylines with anybody besides the other. Any two person combo would get tired if there were never anything else. Sheer overexposure is what weakened the stars of season five.

"abrahammy" wrote in message news:...

I didn't believe this was the case, either. Although at times I *am* quite impressed with Cox, Perry has been unfunny and inconsistent.

I thought that's what marriage meant...

Any two person combo would get tired if there

I don't buy it. I think any combination of these two actors is capable of carrying a series all on their own. There are still people who would argue that Ross and Rachel never got tired as a couple, and their relationship dominated the show for nearly three seasons.

Dan

I wonder what Chandler thinks. Monica, too, for that matter.

They both were pretty much one-note characters before they got married. Perhaps just seeing them together has made that clearer.

However, I think there is hope. Let's see more of Monica's "Fred Sanford" side.

In article , [email] (Dan Silverstein) usenetted:

I never thought they had any chemistry whatsoever.

More likely that the *writers*' views have superimposed themselves: probably they find it harder to write comedy for a married couple that don't repeat the last few seasons, suggest the couple is in trouble, or focus on the possibility of the couple's having kids. Plus, given that the main story arc concerns Rachel/Ross/Joey this year, rather than Chandler/Monica.

But also, relationships *do* change when people get married, not necessarily for the worse.

wg

[email] (Dan Silverstein) wrote in message news:...

I agree their chemistry isn't as strong as it once was. They used to have the strongest sexual chemistry on the show by far, much more than DS & JA.

Once you're married, there just isn't the excitement and rush of a developing relationship.

Perhaps this is deliberate?

My friend has actually been to a taping very recently, he says that off screen the two had more chemistry than on screen, and seemed to have a lot of fun together, laughing and play fighting. To him their bond was stronger than any other two actors in the cast, and off screen they were the ones who had the real electric chemistry.

He thinks, that MP & CCA are deliberately altering their performances, and cooling down the passion to portray a realistic married couple. Also, he believes that they are encouraged to do this by BKC, as they do not want the viewers to be interested in C&M.

I believe that C&M are not getting good writing, also in recent times MP has been quite 'out of it.' Once he is more back to his old self, in terms of energy and performance, the chemistry should improve.

I know a few years ago, Courteney Cox was asked on FANatic, when C&M would be getting married and she replied "Hopefully not any time soon." I think Matthew Perry's thoughts were pretty similar. When they first put the two of them together, their one big fear was that they'd turn into a very happy, old married couple type, but they were assured that this would not happen.

"Chase Corrigan" wrote in message news:[email]...

     I think marrying them off was a mistake.  I know the writers had to be
thinking they'd go for the sure ratings, but there were so many other
options and directions for the relationship to go that taking the road most
travelled was, to me at least, a huge letdown.  If you ask me, the entire
point of the Chandler/Monica relationship is that these two are such good
friends, and know each other so well, that they don't HAVE to get married to
have that sense of safety and security that other couples naturally fall
back on marriage to attain.  If you really think about it, what other point
is there to marriage than to reassure your partner that you are willing to
commit?  In my view, Chandler and Monica could have been a unique sitcom
couple in the sense that they didn't NEED that crutch.  Marriage wasn't a
concern for them because it was unnecessary.
     I wrote some Chandler/Monica fanfic a while back, and in that story I
tried to convey that theme of their relationship.  In fact, one specific
line comes back to me:

MNCA: Do you think we'll end up getting married?

                   CHAN:  I think... we're already more married than most
married couples.
                                  I might have to marry you just to get some
space...

Dan

This is why many of us refer to M&C as Mondler! This like chemically made alter ego! Not as good as the two individuals. If there was one thing that I believe that the writers need to work on it's M&C's storylines and getting them to do story lines with more of the cast. I would like to see the three girls hang out together more and the three guys also. This brings up another point. Give Phoebe some better story lines, please. I love the fact that Rachel has had most of the limelight, since she is my favorite character, but PLEASE don't forget about the rest of the gang!!

Dan Silverstein wrote in message news:[email]...