Like any show or movie,Friendsis very much a product of its time. The idea of a group of twenty-somethings living together in expensive New York apartments is a little ridiculous by today’s standards, for example, and yet there are plenty of things about the series that still hold up remarkably well despite several decades having now passed since the show first went on air back in the mid-nineties.
RELATED:The 10 Best Friends Christmas Specials
As fans now prepare themselves forthe highly anticipated reunion special, many may find themselves reflecting on the things that made the series so enjoyable in the first place. Not all of them remain entirely relevant to modern life and some have aged incredibly poorly. The rest, however, are truly timeless and are still just as enjoyable today as they were all those years ago.
7Its Take On Friendship
Although the idea of a group of friends hanging out in a coffee shop every day may be a little dated, the interactions between the show’s core cast are anything but. From Joey and Chandler’s adorable bromance to Ross and Rachel’sill-advised romantic entanglements, these are all things that one might expect to find in any average modern day friendship group.
As most will have learned at one point or another, however, friendship isn’t always plain sailing and this too can be observed throughout the show’s run. For all the fights and falling outs that take place though, the group, like any true friends, are always there for each other when push really comes to shove. That they’re actually there in person rather than via text message or a group chat makes this no less relevant.
6Its Humor
A lot of things have changed over the past few decades, but comedy isn’t really one of them. If anything, it could perhaps be argued that observational humor is a bit more prevalent today than it was back in the mid to late nineties and early two thousands, although some will feel that this shift in focus actually works inFriends' favor rather than against it.
Given that its primary focus is on the day to day lives of a group of average people, a lot of the comedy found throughout the series bears all of the same hallmarks as observational comedy. Even in instances where times have changed and these observations no longer hold true, such is the quality of the writing and delivery thatthe jokes and one-liners still remain funny, albeit within the context of the show’s setting.
5Its Portrayal Of Gay Relationships
There’s still a long way to go when it comes to fair and equal representation on television, but things are gradually getting better. Some will argue that Friends actually blazed the trail a little in this regard, being one of the first American sitcoms to include an openly gay character and even dedicating an entire episode to Carol and Susan’s wedding.
RELATED:15 Games With The Most Inclusive Romance Options
At the time, gay marriage was a fairly divisive topic and this led to the episode being censored in several states. Some network affiliates even refused to air it entirely due to its “objectionable content.” Granted, some of the early jokes about Chandler’s effeminate side haven’t aged particularly well, but when it comes to its actual portrayal of same-sex relationships, the show was fairly progressive and still holds water to this day.
4Its Core Cast
Some have undoubtedly done better than others, but the show’s six leads have each gone on to have incredibly successful careers. Consideringhow easily an actor can become type-castin this day and age, it’s therefore a little remarkable that they’ve all been able to break free from the shackles of theirFriendscharacters; especially after portraying them for ten long years.
Despite them all moving on though, seeing them together in thepromotional material for the long awaited reunion episodemakes it feel as though very little has really hanged over the last seventeen years. Save for the odd wrinkle and a few gray hairs, the group dynamic remains remarkably similar, as too do the actors themselves.
3Its Attitude Towards Work
Now more than ever, the challenges faced by young working professionals as they strive to climb the career ladder can at times be a little overwhelming. This is hardly a modern issue though and is something that can be seen on a fairly regularly basis throughout the entirety ofFriends. In fact, the problems that the group encounter perfectly mirror some of those faced by the modern twenty-something today.
With the exception of Ross and Chandler, none of the show’s main characters are really able to land and hold onto a decent job. Joey’s dreams of making a name for himself as a famous actor remain largely unfulfilled, Monica is forced to give up her dream job as a head chef due to a toxic workplace environment and Rachel spends ten years struggling to figure out what exactly she wants to do with her life. Much like war; it seems that problems surrounding work never really change.
2Its Format
Friendswas not the first television sitcom, nor did it break the mold when it came to its presentation or composition. What it did do, however, was refine the format and the resulting and prolonged success that followed laid the foundations onto which countless other series have since been built. There are many shows that borrow a lot fromFriends, but none more so thanHow I Met Your Mother.
RELATED:10 Great Sitcoms With Underwhelming First Seasons
Save for itsdisappointing series finale, the CBS show was incredibly well received, despite many of its key elements being lifted straight out ofFriends. The names may have all been changed, but the similarities between Barney and Joey, Ted and Ross and Martial and Chandler are impossible to ignore. Both groups meet up regularly to drink together too and also hook up with each other on a fairly regular basis. With this in mind, the success ofHow I Met Your Motherandother shows like itshow that the classicFriendsformat still works well in spite of its age.
1Its Characters
For as well as they work together as a group, the six main characters inFriendsarguably offer a lot more as individuals than they ever could as a collective. Each one possesses their own unique qualities and characteristics that are likely to appeal to a different demographic than the others. As a result, younger viewers may respond better to Joey’s stupidity or Chandler’s childish sense of humor, while older members of the audience might better relate with Monica’s maternal instincts or Phoebe’s cynicism.
Not only does this help to broaden the show’s appeal, but it also allows it to remain relevant with viewers as they grow and mature and people. Somebody who identified with Rachel when they first started watching the show may now consider themselves more of a Monica, while those who once idolized Joey might now find themselves sympathizing more with Ross. Granted, a little more diversity - both in terms of ethnicity and sexuality - would have been nice, but in its defense,Friendsoffered about as much of that as any of the other sitcoms from its era.
NEXT:The 10 Best TV Comedies Of The 21st Century (So Far), Ranked
