The best couple from Friends is regarded as so due to the way they broke many annoying sitcom trends, elevating the show as a whole in the process. Widely viewed as one of the most iconic sitcoms in history due to Friends' excellent array of characters, the show coasted through 10 seasons by exploring the relationships between each one. Be it through the titular lens of friendship or the familiar relationships depicted in the show, the characters and how they interacted with one another are a large reason as to why Friends' 10 seasons are ranked so highly among sitcoms.
Although there are some harsh realities of watching Friends season 1 where relationships are concerned, the show eventually settled into a nice groove in this regard. As Friends went on, the relationships it depicted only grew stronger, fell apart dramatically, reunited heartwarmingly, or remained as great as always until its finale in 2004. Many of the moments and scenes that define Friends as an entire show link to relationships; Above all others, however, one couple stands tall as the show's best, with the primary reason for this being the way it bucked an annoying sitcom trend, thus improving Friends itself.
Friends' Best Couple Avoids Several Frustrating Trends
The best couple in question is Chandler and Monica, despite many thinking this crown goes to Ross and Rachel. The primary reason for the former being ranked as the best couple in the show is that they ignore all of the most annoying sitcom tropes that plague not only Friends but just about every other major sitcom in history. For this reason, many of Friends' best-ever episodes center around Monica and Chandler's relationship, primarily due to how well-written it is concerning avoiding frustrating, overly used trends.
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The show spoils for choice, but from "The One Where Everybody Finds Out" to "The Last One: Part Two," these Friends episodes are the best of all time.
For example, the reliable sitcom trope of "will they, won't they" was not used at length for Monica and Chandler. The episodes leading to their engagement did sprinkle in some doubt thanks to the resurgence of Tom Selleck's Richard, but quickly the show resolved this with the two agreeing to marry each other without dragging the uncertainty out. Similarly, Monica and Chandler tell each other they love each other relatively easily and without the typical sitcom drama of one person saying it first and the other being unsure.
Finally, Monica and Chandler did not go through any break-ups. From their union at Ross's wedding at the end of season 4 to Friends' season finale, Monica and Chandler only went from strength to strength. This is certainly rare for long-lasting sitcom couples, again proving another way that Friends broke the mold regarding Monica and Chandler's relationship, rendering it the best in the show and one of the core reasons the entire story is still so well-received generations later.
Chandler & Monica’s Relationship Was The Opposite Of Ross & Rachel
Ross & Rachel Are Seen As The Pillars Of Friends' Romantic Storylines
As alluded to, Ross and Rachel are often regarded as the main couple in Friends. However, the very reason why Ross and Rachel are the flagship couple of the show is the same reason why they rank lower than Monica and Chandler. The former couple is the quintessential sitcom relationship, with the aforementioned "will they, won't they" drama lasting all ten seasons, their accidental drunk marriage in Las Vegas, and even an unplanned child making matters more dramatic along the way. These all work as storylines, but many of the tried and tested sitcom tropes they include can get annoying.
Nonetheless, the relationship between Ross and Rachel contains several of the most common sitcom tropes, marking them as the antithesis of Monica and Chandler...
As evident, Monica and Chandler are the polar opposite of Ross and Rachel. It is worth noting that this is not to say that Ross and Rachel's relationship does not work in Friends. After all, there is a reason why the two getting back together was the climax of the show's final episode and why most other sitcom couples beyond Friends' air date were compared to Ross and Rachel. Nonetheless, the relationship between Ross and Rachel contains several of the most common sitcom tropes, marking them as the antithesis of Monica and Chandler.
Some Of Friends' Best Moments Only Happened Because Monica & Chandler Got Together
Monica & Chandler's Relationship Led To Some Of Friends' Best Episodes
Not only did Monica and Chandler's relationship strip Friends of more tired sitcom tropes, but it simply improved the overall quality of the show itself. Some of the best individual episodes in the show's latter half center on the union of Monica and Chandler, or at least are caused because of this. Six of the 10 best-rated episodes of Friends on IMDb prove this, from both parts of "The Last One" that focus on the birth of their twins to "The One with the Proposal: Part 2" in which Chandler proposes to Monica and "The One with Ross's Wedding: Part 2" when they first get together.
"The One Where Everyone Finds Out" | 9.7/10 |
"The Last One: Part 1" | 9.6/10 |
"The Last One: Part 2" | 9.5/10 |
"The One with the Embryos" | 9.4/10 |
"The One with the Prom Video" | 9.3/10 |
"The One with the Rumor" | 9.2/10 |
"The One with the Proposal: Part 2" | 9.2/10 |
"The One with the Videotape" | 9.2/10 |
"The One Where Ross Got High" | 9.1/10 |
"The One with Ross's Wedding: Part 2" | 9.1/10 |
The highest-rated episode of the show on IMDb is "The One Where Everyone Finds Out." This episode features the iconic chess match between Chandler and Phoebe, as the latter messes with the former by seeing how he reacts when she comes on to him, secretly knowing he is in a relationship with Monica. Without this relationship, this episode would not have happened. Another Friends episode that is often considered one of the best in the show's run is "The One With The Videotape," centering around Ross and Rachel.
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The episode sees the gang figuring out who came on to who on the night that resulted in Rachel becoming pregnant with Ross's baby. However, the central event happens as Ross and Rachel are preparing invitations for Monica and Chandler's wedding. Without them, Ross and Rachel may never have hooked up, had a baby, and propelled the show into its latter stages. Evidently, Monica and Chandler's union improved Friends drastically, all while standing tall as a trope-free relationship in a sitcom, which is something of a rare commodity in this day and age.
Friends is the popular sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, released back in 1994 and ran for ten seasons. The show follows a group of six twentysomethings through their lives in New York City and their time spent between their two apartments and their local coffee shop. The show features the group navigating tricky relationships with one another and comical misadventures.
Release Date September 22, 1994
Seasons 10
Writers David Crane , Marta Kauffman
Directors David Crane , Marta Kauffman
Showrunner Marta Kauffman
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