Every generation has a memory. Whilst my adolescent days were buried in innocent treasures like Small Wonder and the likes, it was probably The Wonder Years that simply stay put in memory, and will last an epoch. Adolescence passed, and then into college, where there came again, another series, which again will last a lifetime. Yes, as I will always reminiscence The Wonder Years, years later, will I also cherish another memorable series – F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
Admittedly, I don’t claim to have seen all ten seasons. Nor did I see the complete tenth season too, but then that has always been the beauty of this serial. You really didn’t need to follow it to get hooked – you could start on it anywhere, and yet fall in love with it. Nor were all seasons great too, but then there is an unmistakable aura about the series which remains. A decade later, the chemistry between Monica, Joey, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler and Ross is as fresh as…. Err… yesterday’s Rose (Ok stupid analogy... lets try again) as fresh as fresh air.
Indeed, its difficult to choose the worst amongst them because they are so good, I will just go ahead and name the worst character I did not like most. Lets make it simple – I mean its difficult to choose the best amongst them because none of them are worst, I will just go ahead and name the best character I did not hate most. Excuse me, my English is as worse as Joey’s geography, but you may guess it right – it had to be the lazy, dull, unassuming Joey.
Chandler: [To Joey who's removing his tie] Would you put that back on? Monica's gonna be here any minute!
Joey:But it hurt's my Joey's Apple.
Chandler:[frustrated] Okay, for the last time. It's not named for each individual man.
All-right done with the favorite parts – but lets be fair, I think I liked Rachel too, I mean who wouldn’t ;-), though she was not necessarily the funniest character. And Monica too- I mean her err…mmh… cooking?. Cannot do without Phoebe – No No – the ultimate sneaky peaky a must have friend, and especially her poetry. Chandler is so funny, especially with Joey – No he is my favorite too – especially his one liners and enders. Of course I love the dinosaur too, and because I love dinosaurs, I love Ross too- I love his I-am-so-confused-with-this-world attitude. Ah well, what a waste of two paragraphs trying to guess whom I liked best.
An eclectic wandering of Phoebe-
Smelly cat, smelly cat
What are they feeding you?
Smelly cat, smelly cat
It's not your fault
They won't take you to the vet
You're obviously not their favorite pet
You may not be a bed of roses
And you're no friend to those with noses
The point is – None of them were above the theme of the whole series – friends; precisely why I loved all the zany characters. More so, because a little of friends is in everyone.
What I loved about friends was that the show was not pretentious in nature. American TV is obsessed with catering to every segment of society, and irreversibly any damn show you pick, the makers make it a point to have a character from prominent ethnic communities to satisfy both audiences. Friends was different – they didn’t follow the normal TV standards, and there was no pretensions. The show rose above the menial suit-to-everyone characterizations to actually consist of people in a real life situation, which made it all the more appealing to everybody. Friends was a good example of a script being larger than the character’s serial – and of course, for 10 complete years, being blessed by a star cast that shared an amazing acting chemistry.
Phoebe: [Right after playing a song in the coffee shop ] If you want to receive e-mails about my upcoming shows, then please give me money so I can buy a computer.
Of course Friends was not without it fair share of flaws. As in all sitcoms, seasons 8 or 9 weren’t really spectacular. Additionally, their underlying humor towards life sometimes got a little too crass and amateurish. Their handling of fatherhood, motherhood and babies was done pretty amusing and amateurish and sometimes felt went overboard with the humor, but then compared to ten years, small facets like these don’t really matter a lot does it? All in all, barring its small share of flaws, Friends remained on a singular track with lots of sideys, specials and such happening, but basically revolving in and around the coffee shop, and more prominently Monica’s apartment.
The season finale (05/05/2004) –
The season finale drew the curtains on FRIENDS for good (hopefully). What I loved about the last episode was the spirit of the serial – no melodrama, no overdone hyperdramatics – just the way it began, it just remained. Of course an hour long special did provide a lot of scope for emotions, but were subtly handled. The humor remained intact. The best part was the evening long specials of best scenes of FRIENDS really lighting up my day.
Should I be giving the end of the finale? Nah – I resist. Though a memorable mention to a particularly humorous part of the finale -
Doctor[To chandler and Monica]: The other one will be out in a minute.
Monica:Excuse me? What will be out of what?
Doctor: The other baby! You knew they were twins right?
Chandler: Twins? Two babies?!!. Hey, we ordered just one!
The F.R.I.E.N.D.S shall and will always remain. Now I hope to but the entire ten seasons DVD set in one go sometime. As they the Show must go on, and I hope there is something as lively and as friendly as FRIENDS soon on TV, else a generation might just have to live with the re-runs.
Happy viewing and cheers to one of the best sitcoms to hit televisions in a long time.
Joey: I play Doctor Drake Ramoray.
Sarah: I'm sorry. I don't own a TV.
Joey:You don't own a TV.? What's all your furniture pointed at?
