704 review

S P O I L E R

S P A C E

F O R

7 0 4

TOW Rachel's Assistant (directed by DS)

Decent episode this week --- not bad, but by no means spectacular. After TOO The Last Night, I may have been expecting a little more. With the exception of the Ross/Chandler/Monica story, this episode's main purpose was to serve as a setup for future big storylines involving Rachel and Joey's careers.

First, Rachel/Tag:

I couldn't help but immediately notice Tag's resemblance to Season 5 Ross. He even acted like the shy Ross of days gone past. I wonder if this will lead anywhere? I was half-expecting Phoebe to pick up on it when she saw the photograph. You'd think the show could find an actor who looked LESS like DS.

As for the actual subplot, it really wasn't that interesting --- probably the most boring part of this episode. It only served as a setup for future episodes. I can't really get excited about this relationship. Tag seems even less interesting than Joshua. I think Elizabeth actually had more personality. But the ending was a pleasant surprise, with Tag asking about Phoebe. Poor Rachel…

Second, Joey/Stryker/Drake:

R.I.P. Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E. It was only a matter of time.

Like Rachel's story, this plot only served as a setup for future episodes. Other than the "breast pressing," there really wasn't that much to laugh at.

Yet, I figured everything would work out at the end for Joey. But what made this story memorable was the excellent swerve at the end --- Drake survived the fall and is in a coma! Joey's back, baby!

Finally, Ross/Chandler/Monica:

This episode relied on these three to carry most of the humor tonight. As immature as it was, there were plenty of laughs. I'd have to say Chandler making out with a guy was the funniest --- it was "so" in character for him. And it was great to see Ross and Chandler turn on Monica. Unfortunately, C&M team up at the end, and once again, Ross is the one who walks out of Central Perk a loser.

And on a sour note, we now have the BIGGEST continuity error in Friends history. It was revealed today that Ross slept with the cleaning lady in college. Yet, in Season 1, Ross tells Chandler and Joey that Carol was his first and only lover. What gives? Are we now supposed to believe that Ross was cheating on Carol, and Chandler helped cover it up? This was uncalled for…

Overall, I'd give this episode a B+. It will probably not be remembered for its laughs, but as the episode where Rachel hires Tag, and Joey returns to Days Of Our Lives. I think how these two story arcs turn out will be a major determinant in the long-term popularity of this episode. The writers can either do well with these two story arcs, or they can screw them up royally.

--Doc

.>S

I thought this was a little better that last weeks episode - Jennifer Aniston was able to make me laugh a couple times.

But lucky Joey, just to see him in the Rachel/Phoebe sandwich - I am so jealous !!

Is it just me or does the show this season seem a couple of minutes shorter - and the commercials a couple of minutes longer. Has anyone out there actually timed the length of the episodes?

Kevin

[email] (DocDoc2222) wrote:

Maybe he had the same kind of system failure he apparently had with Rachel, and Chandler had with Monica in the season premiere. So he didn't count it. Or maybe he just passed out before he got too far.

A so-so episode in a so-so season, if they avoid a repeat of last seasons episode 7-sweeps decline and this Tag thing actually GOES somewhere, the season will be acceptable.

He is Ross...

...with Rachel's 1st season naivety and new job euphoria.

The question of wether it is better to lose a TV show and get pressed by their breasts or to keep the TV show will be debated for a long time to come.

Typical. Funny.

Maybe they were on a break? Or maybe Carol was there as well... either that or he lied about that whole first time thing.

I don't see the Dr. Drake thing going far, not to the degree that Tag will anyway.

S

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They actually managed, at long last, to deliver an episode with not one single laugh in it.

The easy way in comedy is to create "humor" by having adults act like babies, and this is what happened in this episode. The conduct of the characters was not funny in any way, shape, or form: they were merely pathetic.

This episode was painful to watch from one end to the other.

Off-topic: to anyone who might respond to this or has written other things about the show: my ISP's newsfeed is flakey and I'm missing many messages these days. They've got some sort of satellite feed in the works but it's not fuctional yet. So pardon me if I've not replied to things which I should reply to.

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

TOO

exception of

as a

Overall agree, but still much better than 702 and 703. Both of those were fairly lame.

He

lead

DS.

Watched the ep with my wife, and asked her if Tag was good looking. She said emphatically NO! You'd think, with all the hungry young actors in LaLaLand, that they could've hired someone with unquestionably hunky looks/persona (e.g., Paolo). And I really didn't buy Phoebe having the exact same taste as Rachel in men.

the

even

personality.

Poor

Good call, and agreed again. I am a bit ambivelant at this point about a realistic R&R reunion, but I have far less interest in seeing either of them pairing up romantically with a non-Friend.

at.

Here, I disagree. Joey, quite against my expectations, has become the most enjoyable Friend over the last dozen eps or so. I felt like his story worked because it was funny, showed a bit more of Joey's inward character, and resolved the Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E. plot and began a new one.

made

survived the

Yes, I really enjoyed that. You notice that the guy playing Stryker was as wooden as Joey in his acting and movement?

him.

Here again, I must disagree. Chandler was wasted here. None of his trademark humor -- in fact, I believe Monica was more sarcastic (and more successfully so) than Chandler in this plot. That's just not right! I generally enjoy seeing Ross and Monica interact and reveal more about themselves, but Chandler was simply a foil here, and MP was wasted.

C&M

Central

Yes, but we got to see Ross' trademark exit: Tilt head, pivot quickly, and stride out. Always worth a laugh.

his

Ross

Chandler probably would have done this, and it appears that Ross has since thought it was Chandler. If he was really drunk at the time, and the "morning after" was not a prolonged experience, it's not altogether unrealistic to think that Ross had essentially always thought Chandler did it, and thus no continuity error.

for

Days

royally.

For the Rachel and Tag story, I'm pretty sure it will be the second. For Joey's, it will be the former.

In article , "Michael Martin" wrote:

She

in

the

---

I totally agree with your wife... this Tag-guy didn't exactly make me say "humina humina humina." Come to think of it, neither did Paolo. But, you know, TPTB wouldn't want to cast someone who did because that would overshadow the actors. Outside of Tom Selleck (humina humina humina) have they EVER hired guest cast that have been that hot?

Sue

wrote in message news:8tchsd$2eh$[email]...

Paget Brewster (Kathy) Elle Macpherson Maggie Wheeler

Or did you mean MALE guest? Can't help you there! ;-)

In article , "Michael Martin" wrote:

news:8tchsd$2eh$[email]...

---

I'm sure your wife is quite pleased to have you say that. :-)

Yeah, of course I meant *recurring* MALE guest ('cause, of course, Da Cloone-man was the hottest, but he was already a major player on 'ER' when he guested).

Sue

they did have jean-claude vandam on the show. But he isn't that attractive to me.

On 27 Oct 2000 02:00:49 GMT, [email] (DocDoc2222) wrote:

I didnt see any resemblance to Ross at all, but I did notice that Tag comes with a bag. (he first enters her office carrying a unisex bag like the one Joey fell in love with a few seasons back)