How Friends effects me

Tonight I watched the last and fore last episode of Friends again and at the end of it I felt kind of down. It struck me that there was no new episode ever going to be made and that the story has been told. During my moment of weakness I decided to get into my cupboard and get de videos of the first season and watch it again.

Watching the first episodes again with the knowledge of their lives that I have now is kind of strange. Things have really changed over the years but at the same time it has not. Joey has gotten dumber; Phoebe has gotten smarter; Monica has gotten less sluttish; Rachel has gotten more sluttish. Chandler has gotten more pathetic and Ross has gotten less pathetic.

Watching it again was kind of an eye-opener. For instance: What does/did Jack (Monica and Ross' father) do for a living? He must have had a good job since he goes to the same club as Mr. Greene and Richard who are both doctors. I also never realized that Ross' ex wife was played by two different actresses. In the pilot episode Ross asked Rachel if she knew that he had a crush on her in high school. Hell, we now know that they even kissed at Ross' freshman year in college, so how could she not know. I know that it's just a sitcom that evolves during its lifespan but still, it's strange to watch knowing what I know now.

I'll try to watch the first series again. I wonder if it's still thrilling to watch these episodes for the so maniest time. How will I experience the Monica-Richard storyline knowing that she's going to end up with Chandler. I 'm getting excited just thinking about it. It's odd how a previously sinister mood turns into an anticipating one which is all accomplished by our favourite sitcom

It's getting late here in Europe and these are just the ramblings of a tired fan who's feeling a little melancholic.

Lambik wrote:

[stuff deleted]

I can't agree with this. Ross was pretty neurotic in the opener, and some of the first season, but he also had some nobility in the way he treated his friends and the way he viewed the world. In the latter seasons, the writers used him as the buffoon and he seemed much more selfish (most of the time anyway...he still had a few good moments). Chandler definitely wasn't as funny in later seasons, but I'm not sure more pathetic is a good assessment of his character. He grew up, at least in some ways, when he got involved with Monica. Before that he was IMO the shallowest character. That said...I liked the funny, shallow Chandler better.

[more deletia]

Here in the states there are many reruns a day of the show. We've had them for several years, and I've always enjoyed them. After the last episode, I wondered if I'd enjoy them so much since I knew no more new ones would come. But I don't really even think about "no more new ones" anymore. Maybe it's because the last couple seasons were mostly poor in my opinion, and it was past time for the show to end. Watching the early to mid seasons of the series reminds me of just how good it could be.

George

"gdp" schreef in bericht news:u4pFc.42705$Yu.9931@fed1read04...

I

but

sluttish.

Yes but at least he had a life in the later seasons. He met girls, he had the guts to approach them and he met girls outside the group. How he met them is beyond me but he did. Maybe I have the wrong definition of "pathetic" but can't you be pathetic and still be loyal to your friends?

Couldn't agree more.

thrilling

the

Chandler. I

by

Well for me it's more the idea that the story has been told so I already know the end. If I watched for example the R+R storyline (even in a re-run) I didn't know how it was going to end.. I do now!

There aren't so many reruns here and if there are reruns it's continues. So they start at a certain episode and than show the next one chronologically. They don't jump from one season to another, which was kind of my point. You still see a character evolve.

be.

For me only season 9 and 10 were down hill.

"gdp" wrote in message news:u4pFc.42705$Yu.9931@fed1read04...

I

but

sluttish.

thrilling

the

Chandler. I

by

be.

I think locally I can watch Friends reruns 3 times on 2 different channels from 5:30-7pm - maybe more if I searched the satellite listings. But after I watched the last episode, I felt like I just didn't want to watch anymore - at first. Now, I just watch when I can - even though I have recorded lots - and enjoy it for what it is. So many of us got really involved with the "lives" of these characters, many forgetting they were fictional. So now for me, I just have to make myself realize it is like the other greats that are no more (i.e. M.A.S.H.) and enjoy them for the one episode that they are!

Then on the other hand, sometimes I can't block out the reality and change channels when Ross and Rachel break up because I just can't handle the pain - and other times when the story line didn't go as I wanted it to.

What is funny is that I KNOW they are fictional and I KNOW it's just a tv show and I KNOW it's really shallow... but even though I was careful to record the last few episodes with no commercials, I've never watched any of them again. I've let my daughter in law and grandkids watch - IN MY BEDROOM - and maybe rainy someday when everybody is gone and I don't want to get out of bed, I'll watch them all day.........