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It has been twenty-nine years since Friends first came on the air. Let’s take a look at the most memorable, heartwarming and funny episodes that viewers will never forget!

10. “The One With All The Resolutions” (Season 5, Episode 11)

It is now the New Year 1999 and the gang is set to follow some New Year resolutions. This episode represents how hard it is to stick to a new goal.

Joey wants to play the guitar, Monica wants to take more memorable pictures of everyone, Chandler decides he won’t be sarcastically mean to any of them, Phoebe wants to pilot a commercial jet and Rachel decides she will not gossip. Ross has the most disastrous New Year’s Resolution. His goal is to try something new every day. He is wearing these leather pants and decides to go on a date with Elizabeth that ends in a catastrophe. Rachel finds out about Monica and Chandler, and Joey admits to knowing also. But it does end with Ross buying another pair of pants!

9. “The One With The Football” (Season 3, Episode 9)

Together the group decides to play touch football. Monica and Ross explain they can’t play because they are overcompetitive. Monica explains that she broke Ross’ nose (which is totally hilarious and only someone with siblings would understand).

The gang splits into groups, and it ends half and half. So they play again, this time switching teams so it is Men versus Women. Towards the end, Rachel catches the ball, but no one has tagged her! So Ross and Monica try to wrestle for it. This episode shows how far brothers and sisters take things! And it really highlights how competitive the friends are with lots of laughs.

8. “The One With Five Steaks And An Eggplant” (Season 2, Episode 5)

The gang gets divided after a fancy dinner to celebrate Monica’s promotion, where they split the bill equally even though Rachel, Phoebe and Joey have only eaten a side salad, a cup of soup and a small pizza, respectively.

For those who have friends who earn different wages, this is one of those episodes that always made an impression. The trio protests by staying home when the rest of the gang goes to a Hootie & the Blowfish performance for Ross’s birthday since they cannot afford the tickets. This hands down is a great episode and I think is relatable for some.

7. “The One Where Ross Finds Out” (Season 2, Episode 7)

This is one of the most memorable episodes of ‘Friends.’ The key part of the show was Ross and Rachel’s relationship. From the very beginning after splitting an Oreo, Ross politely asked if he could go out with her again. This moment made millions of Rachel and Ross shippers celebrate.

These two characters had pinned their emotions on one another from season one leading up to season two. Rachel and Ross get into an argument about them being over each other. He leaves but then turns around seeing that she is balling her eyes out. They end up running into each other’s arms and share an intense kiss. They eventually became official one hundred-plus episodes later.

6. “The One With The Proposal” (Season 6, Episodes 24 and 25)

In this two-part episode, Chandler explains to the gang how he is going to propose to Monica. It all starts a little bumpy when Chandler and Monica are at dinner, but before he can pop the question Monica’s ex pops up out of nowhere with his own girlfriend. Outside of this Rachel, Phoebe and Joey are at a Charity auction. Joey bids twenty thousand dollars. Rachel gets on his case about it, but he ends up getting the boat at the end of the episode which is so funny!

Chandler tries to propose to Monica again but it is another failed attempt since Phoebe, Joey and Rachel interrupt the process. By the very end of the episode, Monica’s ex comes back to the kitchen where she cooks and admits he is still in love with her. This episode left many speechless.

Moving on to the next, Richard says he wants to marry Monica and have kids. Thankfully after an emotional chat with Richard, Monica returns home and immediately finds herself in one of the most heartbreaking scenes of the show, she kneels down to propose to Chandler and he finishes it off! It ends with them both engaged and viewers in happy tears.

5. “The One Where No One’s Ready” (Season 3, Episode 2)

A brilliant idea well-executed, this episode is full of chaos. Monica is obsessed with a voicemail that Richard left her, and every time she tries to solve the issue, it becomes worse. Joey and Chandler are fighting over a chair. Chandler steals all of Joey’s underwear, and to get him back Joey wears all of Chandler’s clothes. These two are such best friends if you really think about it! Meanwhile, Ross panics because everyone is late to the event.

4. “The One With The Rumor” (Season 8, Episode 9)

Brad Pitt was phenomenal in this episode! At the time, he and his then-wife-Jennifer Aniston shared their only on-screen episode together.

The gang has the Thanksgiving feast at Monica’s. Pitt played “Will” whom Monica gets the idea to invite over with everyone. He sees Rachel and makes it known to Monica and Ross that he hates her.

Things escalate a bit and it is revealed that Will and Ross started an “I hate Rachel Green club.” They started a rumor saying that she had both male and female parts. This episode for sure sparked a lot of controversy but it is hilarious. For his only appearance in the show, Pitt really shows that he is one of the most beloved costars in ‘Friends.’

3. “The One Where Everybody Finds Out” (Season 5, Episode 14)

After sneaking around, Chandler and Monica’s relationship implodes. It all starts when the Ugly Naked Guy moves out of his apartment across from Monica’s place. Phoebe, Ross and Rachel go check the place out. Phoebe and Rachel catch the undercover couple through the window. It is brought up that Rachel and Joey already knew about them! They decide to keep this a secret and this upsets Joey because he is tired of lying.

They all eventually find out anyway because of Joey! Throughout this hilarious episode Rachel and Pheobe mess with Monica and Chandler and vice versa. This leads to Chandler and Phoebe taunting one another, and he breaks finally admitting that he is in love with Monica. They both share a romantic kiss and it ends with Chandler telling everyone not to tell Ross. But this once again upsets Joey. This episode is pure gold.

2. “The One With The Embryos” (Season 4, Episode 12)

I think we can all agree that this classic episode should have been called “The One With The Game Show.” This episode is known for the trivia between Monica and Rachel versus Chandler and Joey. It focuses on how well they know each other.

As it starts, they are giving lots of rapid-fire jokes and answering the trivia questions quickly and correctly. It all comes down to one unanswered question that none of them knew. “What is Chandler Bing’s Job?”

1. “The One After Ross Says Rachel” (Season 5, Episode 1)

This is one of the best cliffhangers on the show. It starts off with Ross saying his vows to Emily at the altar. He instead says Rachel’s name, causing a lot of confusion. This was such a great way to kick off season 5!

Ross then has to continue his vows to a fuming Emily. Rachel on the other hand is flabbergasted. She had booked the flight to London initially to stop the wedding and is wondering what it all means. Chandler and Monica dodge their romantically stressed friends by taking time off so they can get some alone time! No one knows they like each other just yet.

This was such an action-packed episode and is the best show opener. This really shows what ‘Friends’ does well and that is: having a sarcastic sense of humor, character development and great show plotting!

For 236 episodes, the characters of ‘Friends’ were there for their audience just as much as they were for each other. I hope you enjoyed the list I made. And most importantly let’s keep Matthew Perry in our hearts. He may be gone but he will not be forgotten.

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