F.R.I.E.N.D.S


I had expected to be bored thinking it to be some over-the-top comedy and quit watching this midway. I had not expected to be sucked into their lives, in upstate Manhattan, and feel their life change over the ten seasons so personally. Ten years in the lives of these characters. And this attachment to that apartment. I had not expected that this sitcom that had been airing globally for ten long years, to not at all be ‘over-hyped’. I wish I had set aside my judgement and for once watched this during my college days. It would have been such a cherished experience. It would have validated all the emotions of those days.

Watching the six friends’ personal trajectory from Season 1 to 10, over the ten years, through ten Thanksgivings and Christmases and Hanukah, was such a pleasure. I never knew I could enjoy comedy, and in comes Chandler. I remember how in the first few episodes, I couldn’t even remember their names, and now they feel as real and relatable as any other person. We all have that one person in our close buddy group who cracks a joke, however lame in any given situation. There’s always one who’s too bossy, micromanaging everyone and getting on their nerves – the ‘high-maintenance’ one. One who’s too gullible. One who would bore incessantly. One who’s a little too weird, out of the box but is ‘flaky’. One who would sneak away from chores, but is a ‘pushover’. These are our everyday people, so relatable. And it is about their friendship.

“It’s about friendship because when you’re single and in the city, your friends are your family.”

The themes of career, ambition, relationships, the complexities of it, breakups, family, friendships, and so much more that helps us grow and navigate through society, with life lessons. What I loved through all the seasons were the festivals that they celebrated together. And that it challenged thoughts- societal norms in subtle ways – lesbian relationships, surrogacy, single motherhood, adoption, and so many more. People there talked and gossiped, instead of looking into their cellphones - it was the era of television, and email. Social media didn't really exist. Of course, such a wonderful world the 90s were.

“You’re growing older and becoming an adult, you have problems with your parents, and you look to your friends for support. It’s a universal theme.”

They are so endearing with all their quirks and eccentricities. Emma would have been 18 this year. I wonder who she’s more like. The twins would have been 16 I guess. I wonder how their parents cope. I wonder who lives in the apartment. I wish the comeback reunion episode scheduled to release in 2020, hadn’t been postponed indefinitely.

And till today, after 25+ years of being aired it remains one of the most watched sitcom on Netflix. It is a legacy. A case study. A phenomenon. Ah, miss them!!

"I'll be there for you...... "

 



I'm taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter's My Friend Alexa.

Comments

  1. Very true 90's era were the era when relations were so truthful to each other. I have watched FRIENDS SERIES, but couldn't able to complete due to rest of priorities of life. Now your post refreshed all my memories of the series and now I am craving to finish it Thanks for making us relived the memories of wonderful series.

    Archana Srivastava
    archusblog

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    1. Yes. I wish I could go back to living in the 90s. They were so simple and so good. People watched TV together. They didn't get glued to their cellphones.

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  2. This is really nice post!! Friendship is magical. #myfriendalexa

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  3. oh i love this series so much, i can watch it anytime and it still entertains me and makes me laugh. I avoid letting the kids watch it as they are too young but once they are 16, im asking them to watch it!

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  4. I totally agree with you, Pratikshya! I watched F.R.I.E.N.D.S pretty late, after all my friends had already watched it twice or thrice. I was literally forced by a few of my close friends to watch this show. And voila! Life was never the same. I have ever since loved every bit and character of it.

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  5. Hey this is such a coincidence. I started watching this long back, purely because my sons would sit and chuckle through the episodes, then stopped somewhere in the beginning. Recently I was mulling over the idea of catching up.
    Thanks to this well written post, I will! Soon as Alexa is done and dusted!

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    1. This series has almost become a classic. Such universal themes and it is all still relevant. I think, the problems they faced then in Manhattan, we are all facing these days in our Metrocities. And living space is congested.

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  6. I loved Friends all through the time it was airing and even now...what a magical show...

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  7. How can anybody not love Friends! It is and will always stay one of my favourite sitcoms/ romcom. The characters in the series came to life through the actors and we can never forget them.

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  8. F.R.I.E.N.D.S is the series that highlights the importance of friends in life. Your post refreshed my memories:)

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  9. F.R.I.E.N.D.S is the series that highlights the importance of friends in life. Your post refreshed my memories:)

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  10. Ah, this was THE TV phenomenon in my school days. Made me quite nostalgic

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  11. Me too ! I watched friends almost during the end of my college and I wish I had seen it earlier. Even during the lockdown I rewatched the complete series !

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  12. Nostalgia hit again. I read your post and decide to check it out soon.

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  13. I am yet to complete the season. Reading your post makes me want to do it soon. Watching Modern Family at the moment. The themes mentioned are intriguing and glad you looked at the show as more than a show

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  14. Omg! I loved the way you figured the kids age. This is one of my favorite sitcoms of all times. We were in college when I first saw this.

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  15. I used to love it. Again planning to watch this series.
    Thanks for a wonderful post

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  16. This has been a series that was way ahead of its time. An all time fav.

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  17. When I cant decide what to watch I watch Friends! Love it.

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  18. I used to love Chandler when I first watched it & had a huge crush. Now I love Phoebe!

    DDS @ Anicca

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  19. Wonderful sitcom which can be watched again and again. My favourite actor Rachel or Jennifer Aniston makes me want the episodes again and again. You evoked a lot of memories

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  20. This one sitcom always features in why im proud to be a 90s kid and till today i have never seen a single person who can keep himself from the charm of this friendship !

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  21. I've never watched this series. But after your review i should plan .#MyFriendAlexa #dewreads

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  22. I had the same thoughts initially but when one day I thought to check it out.. my god I used to watch it the whole night till morning... And can still watch it anytime.. ♥️

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  23. Have loved it, and watched it a thousand times over. I use so many Friends references in my conversations and thoughts it’s uncanny! This show is the best.

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  24. Have watched all the seasons earlier and during this lockdown me n my husband started watching it again... it's always new and never gets old. Its jokes still make us laugh.

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  25. I think I have watched this show 1000000 times! And it makes sense in every phase of my life! That was one era and this show was way ahead of it's time!

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  26. Honestly I have not watched this show till date as not my genre. But yes I know many just love this show.

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  27. i so love this series. Must have watched it 4 -5 times and can watch it all over again n again....

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  28. Forgive me but I was rolling my eyes as I read the first line. No one, I repeat, no one gets sucked into friends only to leave it midway :D I love this series and you are right - it's a true legend indeed! Characters who won't be forgotten too soon.

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  29. Can't agree more, it's a legacy. I had heard so much about this show but never got a chance to watch it. But thanks to the lockdown, Friends was the first series I watched on Netflix.

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  30. Oh yes, Friends is certainly one of our most loved series across all the genres and all the languages. As you said while watching the few episodes, I never knew that they are going to be a part of my life.

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  31. FRIENDS is the best. Who is your favourite character and Why is it Chandler?

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    1. I loved Phoebe. From the very start. Till the end. Actually all of them are amazing in their own quirky way.

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  32. I can never get enough of this series, these friends are a part of our life now. We have watched this sitcom for years and I am sure our love will remain same for many years to come :)

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  33. Friends is an iconic series but I haven't watched it yet.. sad.. However, reading your post I am now gonna try watching it.. Jennifer Aniston looks beautiful in this.

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  34. I have read a lot about this series , seems it's good :) but haven't watched it yet.

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  35. Friends is a religion. It can never go outdated.

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  36. Wow, I have seen this show several times and you are right, they become a part of our lives. It feels so warm and cozy watching them chat, live so close-by to each other, those coffee shop visits and more.

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  37. I have watched every episode so many times by now that I have the dialogues byheart! Friends is the best and purest form of lesson in acceptance and 'being there' for people who matter. I wish they do that Reunion soon too!

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  38. Have watched it so many times. Even now, it's like a go-to series. It'll never get old.

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  39. For me, watching FRIENDS has always been kind of therapeutic. It has helped me get through some bad phases of my life.

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  40. I agree. This series was a phenomenon and also showed how friends can be normal people with their flaws but still loveable.

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  41. What a beautiful post that brought back all the old memories ! This remains my all time favourite show for sure . Every time I feel a bit low I turn back to this world of hope , optimism & fun. 90's was one of the best phase where relations had true meaning along with modern touch into our lives.

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  42. This is my all time favorite show and now my daughter's too. I can watch it anytime.

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  43. FRIENDS... I had actually started it once, then stopped it. Then started it again... then stopped again. And then finally, I just sat and steamrolled through it. And again, and again! I ended up watching the entire series thrice and given the time, would probably do it three times more. It's just, you end up craving for that kind of friendship, that camaraderie, all those antics and gossips... everything. It's just an amalgam of everything we hope for so much, and yet, never end up getting. And I think that's what makes it so loveable!

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  44. I loved watching the complete series too. It is surely one of the best and a lot of fun to watch.

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  45. Ah we all have such a special relationship with this show! I remember watching these episodes while I was in labour and the doctor told me to stay happy!
    www.nooranandchawla.com

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  46. I love Friends. A bad day and I end up watching this series to cheer me up. Same like you, I did not watch it during college days but later and enjoyed it till date over any other sitcom.

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Queeristan by Parmesh Sahani

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  Queeristan (Amazon Link) Thanks to Audible Free Trial I listened to this amazing non-fiction on LGBTQ inclusion in Indian workplaces. Author Parmesh Sahani identifies as gay Indian, working closely with Godrej higher management and employees for years to create an inclusive workplace, both legally and in spirit. This book is a result of those years of experience, research, collaboration with individuals from difference spectrum of the society and organizations who has successfully transitioned into a queer friendly one.   Indian history is inclusive. From the Khajuraho temple architectures, to Konark to the Rig Veda, there is existing proofs even 2000 years ago of Indian inclusiveness of queer. It’s the draconian British law that criminalised it, which was scraped in 2009, came into effect once again following a sad judgement in 2013 and eventually was scraped off for good in 2018. I am in awe of the lawyers who fought this legal battle- colleagues and partners – Arundhati Katju

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