I would comment this out in the open but I wanted y'all to see it: in your friend character analysis videos you talk about rachel NOT going to paris as a completely different thing, but in this video you make that the reason of her "tragic" ending. HMMMMMMM
The Ross and Rachel storyline of her getting off the plane doesn’t mean she’s giving up her dreams. She just chose to get back together with him. And honestly their characters seemed like they would’ve moved together possibly for her to pursue her dream. Their storyline stayed open ended for interpretation of what they would decide to do so to me it doesn’t seem like she gave up on her dreams. As for Phoebe her story her story line of getting married to mike seemed appropriate he appreciates her for who she is so I’m sorry but The Take creators seem off with their analysis on why the ending is sad. Yeah it’s sad but not for their reasons they say in this video. I think they need to re-evaluate how they analyze shows or characters moving forward they have been disappointing me.
I agree with the majority of this. But phoebe seemed genuinely happy to have the stability and family she craved with a man who loved her for exactly who she was. It wasn’t a bad ending for her. For Monica, having kids was always her dream and sometimes that does mean leaving behind a career. Which isn’t bad. It’s her choice.
Oh @thetake. Yet another analysis of Friends. What's next, another Deep Dive on How I Met your mother? You have over forty videos on these shows, but not ONE deep dive on the original show these shows were based on, Living Single. I wonder why that is? I'm assuming it's due to a combination of a lack of diversity on your staff and the fact that How I Met Your Mother and Friends was more reflective of the American zetgeist, while Living Single's biggest impact outside of being the original archtype for the two shows you love to over analyze can be found in the black community. I'm not saying you're doing it on purpose, I'm just writing this to make you aware of what you're lacking on "The Take". Where is your analysis on Martin? Or My Wife and Kids? Need something more contemporary? How about Blackish, Grownish, Abbot Elementary (though I think you may have done a video on that show, I'll have to check). All I'm saying is. If you can deep dive those shows of the 90s and 00s, it would be great to see you put in that effort on other programs that had cast members that were a little more diverse.
I don't mind Joey's ending. Marriage and kids aren't for everyone, and there's nothing wrong with not choosing that path. He's still acting, and when Phoebe points out that he's in his 30s and never had a serious relationship (after just realizing that about herself), he's happy about that realization. In the earlier seasons he would talk about a future wife, but I think this shows that he enjoys being unmarried and doesn't need a serious relationship to feel fulfilled, and that maybe he's moved on for what people are "supposed" to do to what he actually wants
That's exactly what I think. Im 27 about to be 28, and people always make it seem like is sad that I live alone, and not seek a serious relationship. I went to college, graduated and saw all my friends slowly disappear one by one or just not being the same. Some marry and had kids, and stop hanging as often or talking the way they used to. Some moved to other places, and dont get to see them often, some just dont have the time. And is understandable, but they always see you with this face of you never grew up, or sadness. But I have my house, cars, live alone with a dog. See women not often, but enough that you dont feel like dying from lack of sex 🤣 but truly I just enjoy not having to change schedules, and plans for others. Waking up and sleeping whenever I want without someone moving, snoring, or breathing next to me. I enjoy eating at whatever time, I enjoy going out or to a trip whenever I want, I enjoy that my decisions and finances only afect me, I enjoy watching and buying whatever I want. I like kids but dont want them, the responsibility, time, finances stress, sleep deprivation, diapers, and freedom changes scare me and dont want them. I respect people who have kids, they are the pure form of innocence honesty that we lack more day by day. They also are funny(some)... but its not for me, and it does feel some kind of awkward whenever people, family, friends, etc. try to advice you to change your lifestyle, to get a gf/wife, or feel sad for you. Happiness has a different definition for everyone, just focus on feeling good with yourself, helping when you can, and not being an asshole. My definition of happiness is freedoms, and a simple life. I wish that everyones reaches their happiness❤
@@whyisgamora5435 It's not just that. It's the fact that Joey was a street-smart guy, with his own quips, wit and intelligence to stand out from the rest in season 1, and then, by the show's end in season 10 being written *down* as this one dimensional character being in serious need of a supervisor. Appearing in several episodes as if he had a Lobotomy to describe his stupidity and display of child-like behaviour/manners. Then, add the fact that Joey was 36 at the time, it was pretty damning to see him appearing so helpless. E.g. mopey, pathetic and unable to maintain one proper relationship or job.
@@dvchel Exactly my thoughts. Joey in Season 1 was... capable :D And witty, he was cooking and stuff, the way he handled the situation when he found out about his cheating father etc. And later on it's only get worse, like he was dropped as a baby or something. I still love him as a character but I don't think it was fair.
@@KrissieG Yes! I had forgotten about that season 1 episode wherein he dealt with his cheating father. I usually use Joey's _"Stealth Heterosexual"_ joke in that same season (Episode 8) as the common point of reference. Pointing out to readers how much the writers had been dumbing him down over the seasons. The way he dealt with Chandler and Kathy in season 4 was pretty much the last moment of Joey being believable and nuanced to a certain extent within the Sitcom universe. After that the regression got increasingly worse, until Rachel's pregnancy that is, which sadly didn't progress afterwards to complete him.
Same here personally. I grew up in a small, conservative, religious area so the assumption is that if you were single by a certain age they would "pray for you" and assume you were unhappy and something was wrong with you. But truth be told my mom has four siblings: of the five siblings four of them have been married and had children. Those four have also experienced major depression and/or substance abuse problems, as well as never having "successful" careers. Meanwhile, my aunt who never married nor had children who everyone "pitties" works for the government and makes more money than the other four put together. She enjoys her life and uses this money to travel the world in her spare time with friends and learning new cultures and languages and has also engaged in all of her "bucket list" items in one form or another by the time she was in her 50s. She is one of the happiest, carefree, most open minded individuals I have ever known in my life and if that makes her a failure then I'll be damned 😅🤣
While I agree with Rachel's ending being bad, Phoebe's end was something she needed dearly. Nothing is wrong with wanting a normal life after all she went through in her life, she wanted stability and for the first time to not be "the weird one" and just because is not eccentric and zany doesn't mean is boring and bland
Agreed. She even said in her vows that she felt like she never had a real family until she met him. And she married an amazing, supportive guy who loves her for who she is. Her ending was perfect IMO.
@Bichi Allen Well, after watching Ross/Rachel in the Pilot episode, and then, the very dramatic season 3 breakup and later the final reunion, it's easy to conclude the ending felt hollow and staged. Purely, because the prelude had been rather average, in addition to keeping Ross and Rachel apart for far too long. Using the contrived plot of Rachel/Joey vs Ross/Charlie as point of reference, or Ross' many divorces etc. There was lots of potential right there.
Narratively Ross should have gone WITH Rachel to Paris. It would have allowed Rachel to live out her dream and would have shown that Ross would have grown enough to sacrifice his own ego for a commited partnership. It would be the perfect resolution to the original argument they had.
THIS It would have been the perfect way to show he finally grew into someone who deserves her. And the fact that Ben was even a consideration was ridiculous, he barely ever saw that child and he was being very well raised by his two moms. Nobody would have been traumatized with him moving abroad.
I think the writers' original plan, was for them to have a romantic weekend in Paris or something that, but it didn't fit into one or possibly two episodes.
"Phoebe lost her originality and quirkiness towards the end of the show" Phoebe, in the Finale: - Tries to create a musical to depict Ross's situation; - Speeds around NYC on a fake cab; - Screams "Rachel" at the top of her lungs in the middle of an airport; - literally causes a flight delay that ultimately culminates in Ross and Rachel getting back together Seriously, stop trying.
Yeah, I was kind of confused at that part. Like Mike loves her for her quirkiness, and uniqueness. He wouldn’t have her any other way. Just because she is looking forward to spending her life with the man she loves and getting children doesn’t mean that she is any less as unique as she was before. She stills is an individual who doesn’t care what other people think about her, hence why she screamed out Rachel’s name to get her attention in the airport when Ross had a cap on his volume due to social rules.
Also I feel like Phoebe's quirks came from a life of neglect and trauma and her resistance to "normal" was due to resisting healing as it was a reminder to what she never had before. As she healed from her life of instability and trauma because of support and consistency she stopped resisting finally having the things she grew up without.
Jeeeez, Pheobe finding the love of her life is boring? Let me tell you as someone from a broken home, that has been through some staff, I'm eternally grateful for a husband who accepts me and my wierdness. Creating a stable home feels great and secure. I didn't feel Phoebe sacrificed her personally for a relationship.
I agree. It’s pretty clear that Mike loves Phoebe exactly for who she is. He even said in his wedding vows that he loves that she’s “wonderfully weird.” I highly doubt her quirky personality would disappear altogether just because she’s married. If anything, I think she’d continue being weird, only now with her husband!
As someone who is and has lived a life just like Phoebe's I completely disagree with the video too. I'm exhausted and having these traits in this society takes its toll, surviving is actually a great achievement and having that kind of stability and family becomes everything, even necessary if we are to work or create
So Pheobe getting married means she won’t have anything to offer to the world anymore? Just because she’s married, doesn’t mean she can’t be herself...
X Y I don’t think that’s what they were tryna say. Most feminist promote supporting all women, including those who choose to get married. If anything, they were being a bit anti feminist
@@godsstrongestmagicalgirl5217 i think they kind of misunderstood pheobe's marriage situation. if she was with someone that kind of forced her to suppress who she really was, then yeah marriage would be the wrong thing for her. but mike is someone who is extremely supportive of who she is, so she married the right person.
I was just thinking that too. Personally I just talk to my friends online occasionally now but in our 20s and earlier 30s they were like family. Made me realize your family is your family and your friends are your friends
No no no! I al about to be 30 and I really don’t want that to happen. I have moved with my partner and we are planning to get married but I don’t want to drift away from my friends…that’s so sad
I'm still very close to my high school friends too.@@rebecca8525 I'm sure you'll agree that "very close" means something different in your 40s in comparison to your 20s. Specially after kids come along.
Everyone commenting on the sad story but only the real ones know that mon and chandler get divorced, phoebe marries chandler for the money and divorces him, Rachel and joey have beautiful kids, Ross is killed by phoebe, eventually joey breaks it up with Rachel and now phoebe has the money and joey has the beautiful kids. There are no other endings
I really liked the whole video, but Phoebe getting married isn’t really a bad ending for her, she ended up happy and that doesn’t mean she isn’t going to be a free spirit anymore. As someone in the comments pointed out, that just means she’s going to have someone by her side. What is sad is as you said about giving her very little to do on the finale, besides drive Ross to the airport and high key selfishly ruin Rachel’s dream. The rest is really accurate and what truly makes the ending tragic
I agree with you. Marriage does not mean killing your free spirit or not reaching full potential. It means just sharing a life with someone important who, as Mike, loves that spirit you have.
I think it was a different The Take episode that had a neat (and more optimistic) perspective on how Phoebe's story concluded: basically being the "soccer mom" was the craziest thing for her to do
It was more about her "greed" than "dream". She was ready to leave all her friends and separate her daughter from her father just because she got a high paying job in Paris, even though she already got an offer again from Ralph Lauren.
I actually agree with their interpretation of Ross and Rachel's ending. Sure, they reconcile, but how long is that realistically going to last? They essentially end up where they started, with no indication that either have even changed. Plus, it annoyed me that Emma was hardly mentioned, and Ross was apparently totally cool with Rachel taking his child to another part of the world, where he'd hardly be able to see her. 😢
Yeah, it’s almost cliche to talk about how Ross and Rachel have not aged well at all. If the show was made today, Ross and Rachel would most definitely not be endgame. Rachel would likely be single, Ross would have been paid dust, and Joey would have probably had more of a chance with Rachel.
I don't think they ended up where they started, both of them have grown and matured a lot together, their relationship is so much more than it was. In the beginning, it was just passion like a teenager romance, and in the last seasons, they've created an honest and truthful friendship that became the base of their new start. I do believe that they will put up together because the biggest problem was that they were both very selfish. In the end, I think that this was the only thing that has changed about them
@@Vii905 NO but Joey and Rachel was an attempt to inject some pep into the show without moving out of the circle, probably because the relationships Ross had had were so awful, both storywise and in the show.
@@Charles_200 That's the rumor that has been going around on the internet. Pretty much like that Rachel/Joey were in fact more meant for each other ... if you exclude Joey's brazen stupidity at times that is.
The first time I watched through the show I *could not* believe that people were rooting for Rachel and Ross to end up together. I always pictured her much happier with a guy like Joey. It would have been a fantastic ending for both of them. Joey, the ladies man, finds happiness in a single mom with a child, who isn’t necessarily planning for something super serious immediately., which works great for Rachel who found true meaning in her work! And Rachel ending up with a guy that is the furthest from Barry and her future with him? Joey is kind and loving and honest and they had space to learn and grow together at their own pace. They are also just adorably similar in personality, which doesn’t always have to work, but with those two I can just see it. They are chaotic and flawed but in their friendship that rarely was an issue. They understood each other so well because they were similar. Ross yearns for a wife. A happy family where he works and his wife is a devoted mom. Nothing wrong with it, but he needed Rachel to be someone so different. This is literally established the first time they date. Ross can’t handle Rachel not having time for him. They both want different things.
Joey's whole storyline was sad. He was sexually abused for years by his family tailor, starting in childhood. Adult survivors of sexual abuse often display many of Joey's traits, such as difficulties with intimacy or commitment, compulsive or risky sexual behavior, and measuring their self worth on the superficial opinions of others (he becomes an actor), and avoidant attachment.
The fact they made that a joke was so disturbing. There was no follow up, no genuine comfort for Joey when he realized that. It's such an horrifying ordeal
@@samiai8905 I really don't think it was as horrible as some may think... I experienced something similar with my middle aged male violin teacher during private sessions when I was a little girl. I had no idea what was happening. Didn't really get traumatized or anything.
I'm not happy with how "married and kids" is a bad ending for creative quirky people? That's what I've been told my whole life as a high-achieving woman, and it's only now it my late 20's that I'm discovering ..... that's kind of what I want? And that's not a disappointing thing? I'm allowed that?
Not according to those types who like to analyse films/series/literature on youtube and have a very idealised black-and-white perspective on life, that has nothing to do with reality LOL
I think The Take's complaint is that Phoebe's ending is under-developed. She has her big ending (getting married) earlier in the final season and all the show does is suggest that she will also have kids. While I think the video does a bad job of explaining their beef, I agree with it: Phoebe's quirky individuality is missing from her ending. While getting married and having children isn't wrong for her, it falls short of the character she is. Yes, she increasingly craved normalcy as she got older, but she was still a fun-loving, wild person. Why not have her and Mike get discovered as "Banana Hammock and Crap Bag"? Or suggest that Phoebe decides to take Rachel's place in Paris for a while (totally plausible and something she would do).
Its because this video is trying too hard to reach for some political context in an episode that wasn't made to be viewed through a political lense. Thats why this analysis feels a bit disconnected. This youtube channel is clearly politically left leaning(nothing wrong with that, its just relevant to mention for the point I'm making) and recently it seems that leftish commentary looks down on strong women deciding that they want to get married/start a family. Personally I think we should support women/men who decide to start a family, or who decide to focus on their career, because both are postive things that we should celebrate.
Phoebe's "end" isn't really a bad, every eclectic person needs a calm phase, the good thing about her "end" is that she found a partner in her shenanigans, a good balance for her, she is bringing life to the sheltered man's life. She will still have adventures. It is not an end for phoebe, it is just a phase. A phoebe spinoff would actually have been so amazing.
Right? What I liked about Mike was, he could go along with Phoebe's wild side, but he was good at pulling her back when she went too far. He didn't get mad or criticize her; he just understood her well enough to make her see his perspective. Also, I kinda resent this idea that marriage is safe and boring. Why couldn't Phoebe continue to have adventures while also being in a relationship? Also this idea that being in a relationship is somehow self-sacrifice. While I agree that Ross and Rachel's situation was kind of fucked up, deciding that a relationship is not giving up your hopes and dreams for someone else.
I really disagree with Phoebe's ending being tragic. Her settling down and becoming more "vanilla" is another way of saying that she grew up. She became a more mature, stable version of her wonderful quirky self. Her desire to settle down with Mike is a direct result of her friends loving her unconditionally for years. Marriage isn't a tragedy when it's to someone who loves you for exactly who you are, and Phoebe had grown into someone who could accept that level of love. It also does not cancel what is important to her, namely her concern for the environment, animals, and world peace. Now she will be able to pass those values onto the children she is excited to have. Her story is not a tragedy because she is whole-heartedly happy.
she became more "vanilla" with Mike, but she did NOT give up her individuality. Remember the box of rats? Mike is justifiably freaked out at first, but once he sees Phoebe likes animals & wants to take care of them, he's like aight sure. And he helps her. Only once the problem begins getting out of hand does he suggest getting rid of them. Another thing is Phoebe donating the wedding money to the children's charity. Very unusual thing to do, but he's like sure, let's make a positive difference. Then he supports her when she realizes she wants something fairytale-like after her shitty upbringing, willingly humiliating himself by asking for the money back for her. I don't remember other things right now, but basically this was a great ending for Phoebe! Regular, normal happy wedding with an unconventional twist. Her wild personality was tamed into a way that was not lesser, just more healthy and happy for her.
Yeah, she is still herself, she didn't change from her quirky self. It is just shown with more mildness now. It's more balanced now. She didn't change her personality, it just matured little by little over time. She is never gonna change who she is. She is Phoebe
I also disliked Rachel’s ending. Rachel should have gone to Paris. Doubt that Ralph Lauren would re hire her and get a job as so well paid as LV. Good luck! (As Chandler’s highschool ex said).
I personally felt it would have been more powerful for him to have gone to Paris and meet her there to stay. It would have at least shown he's willing to relinquish some of his power, and be willing to make some sacrifices in order to be with her. Just imagine if he had done it and had said he was willing to do what it takes to be with her and to let her follow her dreams... wow 🤯 But no...
@@IrinNovy he can fly Ben out to see him 🤷♀️ it's not like he isn't doing well and can't afford it, he didn't see him that much anymore anyways the character hadn't been in the show for several seasons by that point
Grace Haven come on, that’s not the same. Ben has school and a life, flying out would only be an option two or three times a year. That’s not enough to have an actual relationship with your dad- and concerning that theory... I doubt it. Ben wasn’t living with him anyway and Ross and Carol are still pretty close, I don’t know why his slight anger issues (over a sandwich) would keep him from seeing his son a few times a week. For the sake of Ross and Rachel’s relationship I also would’ve liked to see him move to Paris with her- at least that would’ve been some kind of indication that things changed since they first dated. I was happy they ended up together, but in the end, none of the issues they had the first time around actually got solved. Ross is still just as jealous, maybe even more so. Still, with Ben in the picture, moving away wouldn’t have made sense for Ross.
Phoebe had such a beautiful ending. She made the choice to get married after she found a guy who accepted and loved her free spirit just as she was! After a life of such hardship and tragedy, of course you would want a loving and stable life.
Apparently marriage and having kids and starting a family is bad. All they care about is all women spending their 20s and 30s trying to follow models and rich 'single' women hoping they could be like them too when the world is just not built like that.
Female - decides to settle down with a family after marriage = internally misogynistic, brainwashed, limited. Male - decides to be free and explore the world despite not having serious relationships with women = bad, undeserving, "he needs a woman in his life"
Well I think the thing is Phoebe had a character arc. She knew what she wanted the whole time then realized what she needed and she got it by the end of the series. Did Joey have that? I feel like they dropped the ball with him. Not that he had to have the same ending as everyone else where he got a happily ever after with someone. The whole ending felt bitter sweet because everyone was going into a different phase in their life. I don’t recognize and changes in Joey between the beginning and end of the show. Joeys ending just felt bitter. Or at least that’s how it felt to me.
I’m only 21 so take this with a grain of salt but I think the ending wasn’t supposed to be happy but bittersweet. We start with them as 20 somethings trying to figure out their lives. Going through divorce, unemployment, relationships, and so much more. However it ends with them as 30 somethings who clearly learned a lot from their 20s. And I think that the end cements that they are grown with life experience under their belts. They are leaving behind their 20s and early 30s. This feels like a place they grew up almost because in my experience so far 20s is like the preteen years of adulthood. Edit: Phoebe wanting to get married isn’t bad. It also shows how Phoebe has changed. It was clear she was and is eccentric. Marriage didn’t always seem to fight with Phoebe. If s1 Phoebe got married it’d be ridiculous. That’s not who she was. At the end she was able to find safety and love in someone who was very similar to her friends. She wanted that stability . Also I always interpreted Rachel’s ending as she ran away from Barry because she was supposed to marry him. She never made a decision for herself in her life. At the end of the series, she had did everything she set out to do. She wanted to be independent and make her own decisions. She wanted to do the things she loved. I think she realized she was fulfilled and no longer needed to prove to herself she wasn’t that frightened 25 year old girl begging Monica for an out. She was very successful and was a great mom. She realized she always loved Ross. She was ready to try to make things work with him. What made Rachel and Ross’s issue is they both put each other on a ridiculous pedestal. He believed because Rachel being very pretty he thought everything that followed would be perfect. Rachel believed because Ross was this very timid and nice guy he’d never hurt her. They seriously needed to wait. They had growing pains to work out in the beginning.
Yaaaaa dude completely agree with you this vid depressed me But after reading this comment ,i am happy thanks man ur analytics skills are amazing Have some PLAAATINUMM
I really agree with your take on Rachel! Just because Ross has his problems in the relationship doesn’t make Rachel’s decision to choose the relationship any less worthy. She has grown to be an adult and know exactly what she wants, and every relationship has their own toxic elements with everyone’s weaknesses. People that choose to stay deal with it and grow out of it together. I think her choice is looked down because she gave up a career choice, but our culture today over glorifies careers. There are people who are happier with relationships than they are with work, and they shouldn’t be looked down upon.
I love the show, it makes me feel good 🙂 But I do recognize that there are few problematic elements. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Same thing with The big bang theory. People DESPISE it because apparently it's misogynistic...? I love it anyway, I think it's the point of the show, that group of people who are bit anti social eventually grow and develop more mature and healthy relationships. And I don't think it's offensive to nerds, almost everyone is a nerd nowadays, who the Hell actually thinks that nerds are just socially awkward, women hating creepos...? If that is still a prevalent stereotype, I haven't met a single person who actually believes it.
I understand why people wanted joey to have a romantic relationship as well. He is deeply loving and very loyal and those qualities are of course valuable.but lets face it, Joey never liked the idea of commitment he never had a serious relationship until rachel and even than he was keeping it kinda casual. He never wanted to have romance he just wanted to have fun with life and he did. I see why viewers are bummed but you can't force a man to start something that he just doesn't want. Being single isn't tragic.
Joey is not deeply loyal, once he sleeps with a woman, he never calls her back. That’s not loyal and I always wanted Joey to be in a proper rleationship
@@Josama0214 I think it is more him being deeply loyal to his friends rather than girls he sleeps with. Would it be interesting to have Joey in a good, fulfilling relationship? Sure, but at the same time it would be too clean and perfect; which is exactly what the writers didn’t want otherwise they would have just have Phoebe and Joey together at the end. You don’t have to be in a relationship to be fulfilled in life, and the things that fulfill him at that point of his life were his friends and being with them.
What I don’t like is he didn’t have a character arc. Every good character arc has a want and a need. The character is pursuing their want until they finally learn what their need is and get that in the end. What did Joey get? I feel like they dropped the ball with his character. And the thing with him not getting a love interest by the end was that they were building up to it. Then they stuffed it under the rug and didn’t give an explanation. Not that characters can’t regress but, you have to give an explanation for it.
Honestly I always felt the worst for Phoebe in the finale. Rachel (in one of her worst moments) mentions how Phoebe "lifts right out" of the group. Monica and Ross were related, so that kept them and Chandler and Rachel in each other's circles, and Chandler even mentions having a place for Joey in his and Monica's house. So he wouldn't be cut out. But Phoebe really had no permanent ties, and out of all of them I could see her losing touch with everyone eventually. I was really glad she had Mike by the end. And I'm really getting sick of people implying that marriage and a family is a bad ending for a woman. It's not, as long as it's what she wants. Phoebe didn't have to give up anything to be with Mike, and she got someone who loved and wanted a family with her in the end. I couldn't think of a better ending for Phoebe than that. What would have been terrible is for her to see all her other friends move away, or just move on and her being in exactly the same spot she was in in the pilot, only this time ten years older and alone.
I can’t believe y’all used a tiny clip of Monica getting her eyes checked by her ex’s son because the narrator said “looking closer”, why is this so funny to me??
The one point I don't agree with is the one about Phoebe and her marriage. Every relationship is different, every couple has a different dynamic, and getting married doesn't suddenly change who someone is as a person. Marriage is just a more professional term for dating and it wouldn't stop Phoebe from being a free spirit, she'll just have someone by her side. It also shows how Phoebe grew from being a quirky free spirit with no shackles on life to a free spirit who understands the value of an anchor for stability. If she didn't choose to get married then she would be exactly like Joey, someone who didn't grow or change as a person (We've also seen throughout the show that she's been hypocritical about her beliefs and values if she can get something out of it, regardless of the fact she doesn't like what she's doing)
I feel similarly. We could debate endlessly about which Friends character changed the most over the course of the show, but Phoebe definitely came the farthest over the course of her whole life. She had just about the most turbulent childhood a kid could have, and while her quirky personality is a big part of who she is, there's also a case to be made that her zany ways were necessary to handle a life where stability was long denied to her. I doubt any of the other friends could have handled growing up in her world as well as did. In a way, I've often felt like Phoebe was the most mature and well-adjusted of the group in her own odd way. As she grew older she really did have the opportunity to choose any kind of life she wanted, and deciding to come back down a few levels and commit to a life with someone was a big change for someone who'd spent about three decades being a free spirit. Yeah, everyone around her may be more "boring" than she is, but who's more interesting than Phoebe anyways?
For the record, getting married does not equate to growing or changing as a person. People can do that with or without a spouse...and quite frankly, stay stagnant with or without a spouse.
Why? I feel like people here haven't watched the show. Is her career really her priority? Is Paris really this exciting opportunity when she has been at a high level in New York? Rachel isn't this naive young waitress anymore.
@@KrayonFisher yeah it is when she was offered more money to say she still wanted the new exciting career like literally a few episodes earlier. I'm sorry but she wanted to go and only stayed because it was the safer option. Not necessarily because it's what she really wanted. Especially if she had more time to think it through.
@@hippygirl1386 It's not a new career, it's just a promotion. Perhaps people here have not experienced moving for jobs, but your work doesn't significantly change as you move up the corporate ladder. If anything, it is the move to Paris that's new and exciting, not her job promotion.
@@KrayonFisher idk exactly where ur getting ur info from but Rachel clearly says she had done everything she could in her current position and this new job which is at a different company so not technically just a promotion will allow her to experience new things. Maybe u dont know much about the fashion industry but working for Ralph Lauren in New York is a drastically different from working with Louis Vuitton in Paris. Trust me on this one it's not the same at all. Not just because of the change in location.
I’m so glad other people saw Rachel’s sadness and how uneven Ross’ jealousy was. He had so many chances to grow beyond that and he proved his 2 Dimensional again and again
Rachel did the same thing when she went for Ross' girlfriend after they broke up simply because she loved him. And after she broke up Ross and his girlfriend they didn't even end up together. Then she told Ross that she loved him after his sham of a marriage as if that would suffice anything. She only told him because she was selfish in wanting him for herself. She did the same thing with Joey, trying to steal Joey away from Charlie simply because she suddenly started to like him and wanted him. She doesn't learn and didn't even take responsibility for her actions. I'm not Justifying Ross' actions but Rachel has got problems as well
@@anisaafsar4528 Rachel has a lot of problems, yes. I personally feel that Ross' issues are worse, but that's an individual perspective and I wouldn't argue with someone who thought otherwise. To me, it feels like being in a relationship with Ross is always destructive. Rachel is emotionally irresponsible and sometimes vindictive, but these bad traits come when she is in a bad place, almost as a defense. That is not justifying her behaviour, but I find it that she has a better grasp at what one must do to have a healthy relationship. People try to hard to find ways for them being together. I don't doubt they love each other, but love is not nearly enough. I don't think they could be happy as a couple, and Rachel traveling to Paris was such a perfect setup for them to get the distance they needed to grow apart so they could meet again in a more mature context, as friends or lovers.
Just because they grew and started new chapters in their lives doesn't mean their friendship is over. People grow up and find new purposes in their lives but true friends, like the group, will never just end like that.
I am sooo glad that someone finally put it in words properly that ross was soo wrong in doing that airport gesture. I always felt bad that Rachel had to leave the job in Paris. And i am all about being with a person you love but that relationship was just toxic and really not worth leaving a dream job.
She didn't have to leave the job in Paris. She chose to get off the plane and go back to Ross. It's a shame the writers couldn't go with their original plan of Ross and Emma moving to Paris too and R&R falling in love again there.
I only agree with the words "I am all about being with a person you love" but the rest eh it somehow sounds like someone who may not truly know a single damn thing about Romance like has nobody ever heard that love is blind and that love conquers all:(also I think from a Romantic POV nobody would give a damn about logic rationality and "toxicity"):so really therefore the ending may have practically been meant to be a symbolically "fairytale" like ending maybe at least for 5 of the 6 main characters
I always considered the Friends finale to be one of best tv endings for its time. The show is about the importance of family and how it evolves over time. These six characters were family to each other, but they eventually created their own individual ones (except Joey). I think it’s very poignant for Joey to have the loneliest ending considering he grew the least out of everyone, while Chandler and Monica get the most rewarding one. If nothing else, Chandler, Monica, Ross, and Rachel will always be connected.
That's accurate, it was a happy go lucky sitcom, albeit with some dramatic, heartbreaking moments, that celebrated the merits of friendship, and how platonic love can be JUST as rewarding as romantic love! 💞
I'm rewriting their endings 😁 Rachel: stays on the plane and becomes an international top businesswoman Ross: continues doing what he loves (his job) and meets a woman at the museum who he falls for (finally moving on from Rachel) Phoebe: becomes a travelling (not all the time so there is some stability) folk singer/guitarist with her funky band mates while her husband supports her Monica and Chandler: stay in Manhattan where they raise their kids Joey: still lives across from Monica and Chandler, so he stays close to his friends and helps raise their kids. He also learns how much he loves being with kids and becomes a fun loving elementary school teacher
Yea not bad! One tweak: Joey teaches *theatre* to elementary school kids, but we find he actually decided to study and becomes an ACTUAL teacher ... but his credential is from a barely accredited online source so... but hey *growth* and its funny :)
I love these deeper looks at favorite TV characters and I really loved the video about Ross being a toxic friend. However, this video feels like a very 20-something bitter person reading really heavily into the finale. "All my friends are getting married and leaving me behind", and unable to see the joy in marriage, parenthood etc. "Ross won't leave his son" is said like that is a negative thing. It isn't, really. The voice of this video just comes across as immature and fearful of the wrong things. The end of the video sort of acknowledges this, but the premise of the video is more negative than the actual experience of the things it is trying to point out as tragic.
totally true, i think the woman in this video really has a problem against ross, as she's been harsh on him in previous videos too, i have 3 kids with my ex and ive had big job opportunities abroad but wont take them as it would mean leaving them, so i sympathise with ross
Phoebe is the one who wants to be married, she's the one who wants more normal things in her life, her ending definitely is the best she can get. I always think Phoebe getting married is the best thing throughout the last season, so happy to see her having the life she wants.
Knowing Rachel she would’ve left Paris after a month to go back to Ralph Lauren anyway. She’s amazing at her job and adventurous don’t get me wrong but as soon as she had to take care of Emma solo, learn a new language and a new job in a place with no friends or family. Yeah she would’ve been back in NY so fast, Paris would’ve made sense for her pre-Emma. Post having a baby there’s zero chance she sticks out that Paris job
I think you missed something important with Mike, he virtually rejected his own family to be with Phoebe. His uptight parents went to their wedding in the middle of the street with some hippie playing the bongos. They met each other halfway. I think that was great. Maybe Phoebe over corrected a little to balance her past, but Mike knew what he was getting into. He accepted Princess Consuela Bananahammock. About Joey, it’s not a sad ending, it’s just the truth that your growth doesn’t have to be parallel with your friends. He’s taking more time to grow, he’s enjoying his bachelor life for longer. That happens, is not a tragedy. He’s like a D List celebrity living in New York. Not a glamorous ending, but not that bad either. People don’t have kids or get married at the same time as their friends. Sometimes you feel left behind, sometimes things just fall into place and everything is perfect. If anything. Joey just continuing his life is very realistic.
Only those in their twenties or early 30's would see this as sad. It ended well for all. Choosing a loving family/committed relationship over a lucrative career is the most mature move anyone can make. It is making room for the inevitable stage-which is aging and passing on the wisdom you've gained, and nurturing the next generation. (If in doubt, ask old people in their deathbed- no one fondly thinks of boardroom meetings-it's all about relationship and family) Like Joey, Not everyone can be married, but choosing a life path that leans towards caring for others is true maturity. Joey is single, but he is the kind of friend that you can rely on, that is why Monica and Chandler choose to keep a room for him. Plus knowing his sensitive side, his story is not finished yet.
So true! Marriage is not for everyone, but for those who aspire to it, a career should not be more important. Rachel did not have to stay with Ross. She obviously realized he meant more than a career. If her career was really more important she would not have stayed.
It's funny how the Friends finale was satisfying but sacrificed their characters development, and somehow How I Met Your Mother managed to give us a horrible ending and STILL ruin all the characters development. I guess good on Friends for at least getting one thing right
I wouldn't say ALL of their development. Marshall and Lilly were fine. Ted was always insane. I liked seeing Barney as a dad. It's really just Robin and the mom who got screwed over.
@Kristine Antoinette Thank you for hitting the nail on its head! It was very satisfying seeing that electrifying chemistry/romance happening between Rachel and Ross again. The kind of which you had been longing for basically since season 3. However, it remains bittersweet, for their relationship having been written down and the writers regressing them to such an extent during that same period that their final reunion felt hollow and inorganic because of it. Referring to Ross and his continuing mental/social breakdown, while Rachel was just being given too many lucky breaks in terms of her career and messing up Ross' social life later on in the show. It just ends up leaving you with this vague sense of frustration. Demonstrating that there was no need for Friends to sacrifice their own character development for anything. Using the universal negative reception of the Rachel/Joey fling as a point of reference further. The need for a spin-off would not even have been necessary.
that's weird...because you can't both dislike the finales of the two shows...its either,loving Friends finale and hating HIMYM...or liking the HIMYM and disliking Friends...which one are you??I've always been the latter...
@@GlorianaLovejoy, yeah! Come on, he might have not accepted to do that one thing in the bedroom, but let's face it: Phoebe would end the series as Princess Consuela Banana Hammock if it wasn't for our dear Crap Bag.
@@CharlieZanna, as a friend, yes. As a romantic partner, not at all. I love and I think it's really important that the group of friends didn't worked only as a step towards romantic relationships.
@Carlos Henrique We're with you all the way: 1) Sacrificing Rachel for Ross, knowing what she means to him and being the father of Emma; 2) Giving Chandler his blessing to date Kathy after kissing her behind his back; 3) Keeping Monica/Chandler a secret from the rest, as to not spoil the romance by awkwardness from the rest of the group; 4) Encouraging Rachel to tell Ross how she really feels about him when he was together with Julie for 2 weeks, knowing that he had been in love with her for 10 years and counting. The list goes on.
Joey really had the kindest heart and was definitely the most loyal and trustworthy friend. But he couldn’t get past that simple place to enter into the world of complex relationships, commitments and responsibilities...
The whole ross and rachel finale seemed rushed. Rachel was always so passionate about her job, she would always stand her ground and continue fighting for her dreams and she decides to drop everything for ross so quickly? I'm not saying that you can't choose love over career but why would she want to have a toxic relationship all over again. Their romance was so problematic that this whole happily ever after thing seemed stupid. If friends had more seasons i'm sure they would break up again.
Exactly. It would've been much better if they had spent the whole last season working on their relationship and maybe then having the question of the job, whether she'd take it, whether they'd be able to work that out, etc. They had so many moments that it doesn't feel like finally getting back together would be their happily ever after.
yeaaaaaaah!!!!! they were so damn toxic it's such a pity writers destroyed Rachel's arc for a rushed stupid fling that was more fake than Monica's boobs when she was a waitress in that 50s restaurant
They were a couple for such a short time. And it was not the best relationship. Ross as much as I do love him. Was jealous of Rachel's job. Once she was not a waitress anymore. She couldn't dedicate every free second to him. When she had a job she was passionate about and wanted to build. He could not take it. He canceled many dates because of his job. But once Rachel did that he could not take it I just don't see the soul mate aspect of them. Best friends yes. Parents to Emma yes. But should mates? No Rachel all of sudden being ok with going back in her career for a relationship that never worked was ridiculous
I have a lot of problems with this video. I've heard these takes before and I always saw it as a cynic's view of how things should play out rather than what would actually serve the characters best. Phoebe: There's nothing wrong with wanting to settle down to normalcy after spending your entire life as an eccentric outsider (even amongst your best friends). To me, this is her most realistic endpoint to a character like her's. The point was that they're all supposed to have grown up by the end. Her regular marriage and longing for a normal life in the final season was Phoebe's arc reaching its natural conclusion. Monica & Chandler: I can't see how anyone could be dissatisfied with their finale. They were arguably the best part of the show once they got together. Chandler grew past his commitment insecurities and fears of being someone destined to never have a happily ever after. Meanwhile, Monica learned to accept the imperfections that come with love and life as a whole. You can't always plan it out or see it coming. Sometimes, what you want in life just falls right in your lap(Chandler) or you gotta find a new angle (kids through adoption). Ross & Rachel: Okay, here we go. Yes, Ross was indeed selfish in their initial relationship with all of his jealous insecurities. However, Rachel was also not in the best frame of mind in how she viewed Ross when they first got together. Ross saw Rachel as his ultimate prize, not in a trophy way, but in a fragile sense. He couldn't fathom the idea of Rachel having more important aspects/responsibilities other than a relationship because he was still viewing her as his teenage crush, and a woman with no direction that needed saving. Likewise with Rachel, she also had a more idealized view of Ross that was far beyond realistic expectations. Ross is as flawed an individual as anyone else. But in the first 3 seasons, outside of the infamous list, Rachel never has a moment of viewing Ross on the level of unfinished as everybody else. She seemed to tiptoe around his emotions as much as he did with hers. (Remember when she got a tattoo and was scared to tell Ross like she was a kid and he was her father? She's a grown woman with control of her own body. That storyline always felt out of place and in the wrong decade to me.) They doted on each other like high schoolers, both were living in a fantasy. This builds to the ultimate crescendo when Ross finally shows Rachel how human he his by cheating on her. And even though the act itself is inexcusable, when Rachel said she used to see Ross as someone who "would never hurt her," that mindset was equally problematic. Because as we all know, it's the ones you love the most that can cause you the most pain. They needed to break up in that moment. But in the seven years after following that, Ross and Rachel both grew together as people and learned to love each other for their flaws as much as their strengths. They spent a long time as friends and had seen the most embarrassing and noble aspects of each other's character. Not only were they no longer doting on each other or crushing from afar, they were openly mocking each other and were arguably each's harshest critics. All of this is to say that by the end of the show, they have an entirely different dynamic than what they had in the beginning. Ross saw Rachel as a strong, smart, career-driven woman. And Rachel saw Ross as a goofy, sensitive, insecure at times know-it-all who had a genuinely kind and caring heart at the core of every reckless thing he does. Much like Monica and Chandler's relationship, they rebuilt theirs from a point of friendship and went from the ground up. With the only difference being that they maintained a clear attraction to each other whether they were on, off or just hooking up in between their different relationships. This all leads to the finale, where it is clear by this point that both are just hesitant and afraid to really give their relationship another serious try. It was devastating enough the first time and now they a kid to worry about disappointing as well should it not work out. But in the end, they both knew that they were happiest whenever they were together(speaking about S4 onward) than they were whenever they were apart. This is the seminal point that most people miss when they talk about the finale. Rachel LOVED ROSS TOO!!!! She felt the same way he did with all the uneasiness and anxiety about moving to Paris and leaving Ross behind. As she said, the more she thought about leaving Ross it made her "not want to go." Because deep down SHE WANTED TO BE WITH ROSS!!!! I agree that she made a sacrifice and gave up a huge career opportunity by not taking the job in Paris. But if there was anything that show exemplified in Rachel Green, it's that she was a talented enough to keep ascending up the ladder in her profession. She was talented enough to incite a bidding war for her abilities after all. I'm certain another job of that magnitude would've come down the pipeline eventually. Lastly, regarding the finale and sacrifices, ROSS HAD A SON WHO LIVED IN NEW YORK!!!!!! He refused to move to London and make his marriage work with Emily because he couldn't neglect his responsibilities in raising Ben. That's the number one reason why he pleaded with her to stay and not just hop on the plane right beside her. Joey: Yep, right on the money with that one.
Oh wow, am I seeing this right? A nuanced and intelligent analysis of Ross and Rachel? Do those still exist?? The fact that your comment is not at the top makes me lose faith in humanity, but I'm so glad you wrote this and I thank you. The hate towards this couple is getting absolutely ridiculous. They are one of the best and biggest parts of Friends and an unforgettable tv couple. I love the way their relationship evolved throughout the years - which you described so well - and I could have never imagined a Friends finale without them reuniting for good. Heck, even the actors themselves loved them and wanted them to be together! I will love these two for ever and always, flaws and all. Oh and yes, what you said about Rachel and her job is also spot on. Who said everything was lost now that she decided not to go to Paris?? I'm sure she got to live her dreams regardless.
agree with literally everything said omg wooowww such a great ross and rachel analysis👏👏👏 but btw i’m pretty sure ross DOES end up going to paris with rachel, which is great for them but all in problematic with the whole ‘wouldn’t move to london for emily cause of ben but will for Rachel’ but in the end, he loves rachel far more than he loved emily and Ben does have susan and carol🤷♀️ (i could be wrong tho but i’m pretty sure they do move to paris💕)
I don't disagree with you, but I just don't see enough growth from Ross to not be scared for Rachel that she's getting back into a toxic relationship. We see this even in the last seasons like when Ross doesn't give Rachel the guy's phone number from the bar, or the returned jealousy when she runs into Mark. Him being controlling and jealous didn't change. And while Ross may be proud of Rachel's career growth on a friendship level, is he going to be supportive still on a relationship level? Can he now handle that Ross won't be her whole life? Does she just become a stay at home mom depending on Ross as he always wanted, or does she go out and continue her job? Do they stay in the city or follow Monica and Chandler to the suburbs? Going to the suburbs would be a great idea to be with Monica, Chandler, and the kids. I don't find any fault in that. But I just hate that she chose a guy over her career.
Marriage is mundane? Just because two of the characters got married and had children doesn't mean that life has become mundane. Chandler and Monica can still have their dream careers if the two of them, with patience, work out a plan to achieve their goals while married. They may have to modify their goals but they can find a way to reach what they hoped to achieve before "mawige". Phoebe, if she has the support of a husband who cares to help develop her hidden talents, could have a really fulfilling life. It seems that Phoebe wants stability in her life. She started finding it with her friends and in that period of time she fell in love. She doesn't want the chaos from her previous life. Ross and Rachel, on the other hand.....
I like to think that Rachel and Ross went to Paris together because she should have definitely have gone either way. And I also like to think that Phoebe had a great ending because Mike didn’t hold her back , he made her see sense without ha ring to tell her how to stuff and he never was ashamed of following her wherever she would go. Idk I really liked Phoebe and Mike together.
I assumed Rachel had gone to Paris anyway. I mean, her daughter is already there; and they had a long distance relationship or something. It's only recently I'm realizing that's an unconventional interpretation
Sierra I agree but that would be a great development for his character, I really hated how he was and trusting Rachel in a long distance relationship would have en great. I don’t think following Rachel would have been imposible, I mean, he was ready to live in London for Emily!
@@Peytonkmc I agree. When they had the kid together, I was ready for them to get back together (despite having been super tired of them before!!). I thought, they've grown up; I think they can make this work in a healthy way! Then Mark shows up again, and I'm like okay Ross; this is your chance to prove you've matured! And... it was better than last time, but yikes. The parallel between Rachel at Ross' wedding and Ross at Rachel's new job is extremely illuminating and important: while they both go crazy over each other and drive/fly to be together, Rachel realizes that since she loves Ross, she needs to let him make his decisions and live with that. Ross, on the other hand, decides that if he loves Rachel, he should be with her. That's his problem throughout the series, and it's SO frustrating that he NEVER improves in that regard.
I agree, I loved monica's and chandler's ending, obviously, I also think phoebe had a very happy ending as she found someone who loves her exactly for what she is and joey never really showed interest in marriage or kids, he's still acting which is what he showed passion in, therefore I think it's the happiest ending for him too.
That's extremely valid, life is a roller-coaster composed of Happy/Sad moments, and we're only here for a limited amount of time, so we might as well make the most of it while we can! 💗
the fact that Rachel gave up working for Louis Vuitton in Paris (a dream job for her) to keep her messed up, on and off, frankly unbalanced relationship with Ross - will forever be one of the worst endings for a female character.
True and false. Yes, they had problems, but they loved each other, and maybe they could make it work in the end. About her moving to LV in Paris, that is a job, a job that A: Can fire you, and won't really respect you that much B: And most important, Rachel felt bored at her New York job because she "accomplished everything she could", what makes you think that feeling won't repeat in Paris? Then she will have always the regret of Ross, plus let's not forget there is a kid in between.
Yes, but Rachel will never be fully happy. There will always be loneliness within her because Ross is her other half lives across the world from her had she went to Paris.
I'm coming to the conclusion is that what we really can't get over is the fact that a show like this is over. In 2004, when this ended, couples were more important than the individual pursuit of a career (even in Sex and the City), and again we're seeing something being evaluated by today's societal standards or ideals (more feminist, more egalitarian, yes, but also a bit unrealistic - in real life, statistically men still make more money, still call the shots, the USA hasn't even managed to elect a female president, and that is really meaningful). So the ending was appropriate for that time and to be honest, as a big fan, I never felt it was happy, it was sad to see them leave their flats in NYC. Maybe in real life they wouldn't be able to afford the rent in the city anymore, but it's very realistic in the sense that one day that lifestyle was gone...
Couldn’t agree more. I don’t think she made a step down with Ross, she still would have worked in a managing position in ralph lauren and finally be happy in a relationship. She got everything
Brilliant take! I also couldn't agree more. This piece really does judge the end of a show in 2004 by today's standards. I think all of the 'friends' show that you have to grow up at some point. The decisions they make are very grown up and I think the show really demonstrates that. Rachel staying is the responsible thing to do. She knows Ross had another child and can't just move to Paris, and by staying she allows her daughter to grow up with her father which is the adult thing to do.
I'm experiencing this now with my friends group. I have the Chandler/Monica couple who are about to have a kid and have their careers, the Rachel/Ross couple who have a kid and are settled in their jobs, a few Joeys who are single and kind of immature, and I'm the Phoebe who's seeking out a meaningful career path and about to settle down with my Crapbag ❤️ Great video. The tragedy of the end of the 20's really is so true 😔
Yes! I agree with everything you have said! I’m the Rachel of my group of friends....some of my friends have settled down already and all and some are Joeys’. It’s really kind of sad in a way the end of the 20’s for people. I’m already halfway through my 20’s...I honestly don’t want them to end. The 20’s are really the extended teenage years...for me at least. Most of my girlfriends already have kids I’m the only one childless by choice, have never really settled down with anyone and have gotten freaked out in the past at the prospect of something serious. Now....I’m searching. I’m caught between being Rachel/Joey and maybe wanting the ending Monica and Chandler get.
And yes in your 20’s you struggle. Life hits you hard. Lol and funnily I do have a roommate now my friend Steph who happens to be more like Monica. Ironically.
Daisy A. I’ve stayed in touch with some from high school and others I have acquired throughout the years. I don’t have a large group of friends by any means....it’s normal to find yourself with less people after high school/ college. People tend to change with time and outgrow faster than others. It’s normal.
Why? Because she chose the love of her life over her career? I think that’s the beauty of it. She loved Ross more than she loved her dream job. I like to think these two learned from the ten years they were together as friends and lovers and everything in between, and became a better couple because of it.
Their relationship was THE MOST toxic disgusting manipulative relationship EVER. He was not in love with her he was OBSESSED with her ever since she was Monica's friend. He hates the fact the she has to work and never respects her decisions.
Mike was awesome for Phoebe, he supported and understood her zaniness. He balanced her out and she balanced him out making them stronger together. Getting married doesn't mean Phoebe stops being Phoebe with all her talents. Marriage does not equal death. Phoebe grows as a person and decides what she wants is marriage to someone she loves... that's not a sin.
Thinking about it, if they wanted to do a better job of convincing us RE Ross and Rachel's longevity they should not have had Ross repeat the same pattern as before. He should still have the love realisation but decide and vocalise that he screwed up before and he's not gonna get in the way of Rachel gaining her dreams again. Then have Rachel be the one to come to him and say unprompted that she loves him and wants him to come to Paris. And he goes. Something like that. As it stands, it feels like going backwards.
Ross would never leave due to Ben his son. It was the reason Emily was going to move to New York. Before it got screwed up. It would of been interest to have a episode where Rachel did go to Paris, but missed Ross & went back to him.
Ross should have gone to Europe if she mattered so much to him. Sure, he's got tenure in NYU; that's just leverage when negotiating for a position in Paris.
@Francisco Leyva Martin Lmao, I've seen you reply to many comments with the exact same thing. You must be super bored to get so pressed over a fictional character.
I usually agree with the takes of this channel however I can't agree with this one. I moved away from the city in which i grew up to pursue my dream of getting a phd in a smaller city. It was the right decision. I had to leave my boyfriend there and we ended up in a long distance relationship. However, now that I am a bit older and have the opportunity to get my dream job, all I want is to move back in with my boyfriend and get married to start my life with him. I think there is a turning point in each person's life and taking the more traditional rout isn't necessarily a bad thing. At some point most people look for a settled life and want to be surrounded by those they love.
@Who Dis? Well said and your words totally ring true. Just because you leave for the big city, doesn't mean you have to leave everything behind, including someone who may be your soulmate.
Who Dis? I think the reason it rubbed me the wrong way was Rachel and ross's history! If Ross was this perfect (or even slightly flawed) soulmate, Rachel's choice would just be sweet, but for the reason the take mentioned it wasn't great for their characters. Ross got jealous of Rachel in the past and their relationship was always messy off and on
Ok you only wrote this 4 hours ago so there is still time: do you actually have an offer from your dream job that you're thinking of turning down, or you would have to move to the big city to try your luck??!!
@@Design____ByS actually I don't need to move. I have a standing offer for a postdoc position at my institute but I think I am done with putting my ambitions ahead of my personal life. My bf is still doing his phd and I can't ask him to move right now. He was supportive when I moved away to pursue my dream. He even tried to find a job close to my university but he had no luck. Now it's my turn to be supportive.
Phoebe's ending is wonderful! She keeps with the love of his friends and with the love of a the guy that embraces all her quickerness. She is still a free woman because she is free to do whatever she wants (as always) while she is in an well-grounded and healthy relationship. I don't think marrying is a prison for a person like her, as the analysis implies (specially because she has an unstable family record). And let Mondler moving to the suburbs... It's not a big deal.
Yeah I agree. Like another commenter stated, they are upset that Phoebe isn’t the same throughout yet they are upset at Joey for staying the same. Like in the beginning Joey was talking about how in the future he would have a wife, but now he is content with his life now. Also moving to the suburb is not that bad. Especially if it is close to where you work yet far enough from all the craziness. Was the finale sad? Yes it was. It was bittersweet, but that is how real life is! It is bittersweet and our priorities change as we grow up! Just because you might get new friends who share in similar interests, it doesn’t always mean you let go of the ones you had.
My question tho: Do you really have to give up (your friends) to grow up? Of course you will spend less time with them at some point but I refuse to believe that that‘s how it works. I wouldn’t want to give up my social life to give my all into just one thing, raising children or chasing your career. I‘ve seen adults who don’t have any friends mostly because they have a partner. I can’t imagine that being healthy.
I’m part of a tightly close group of seven friends who roots back to high school (it was 1996-2001 for us). Five of us are now parents, and everyone of us is married/living with a partner. We’re 40/41 years old, and of course we see each other much less than back when we were in our 20’s and early 30’s (just like the “Friends” characters); however, when we are together (all of is, or in small groups), you can see the love and the care for one another is still there. On some level, maybe even more than before, with all the drama of being young and feeling ourselves “immortal and indestructible” (academic and love rivalries, friendship and loyalty drama, various silly stuff typical of young and juvenile people).
"many of them start _real_ families and move on" this is so archaic and conservative. Family can be whatever you want it to be. Also Rachel saying she needs to stop having fun? It makes it sound like life ends _if_ you have children. That sucks, all around.
Disclaimer: I wasn't going to comment this again but last time I pissed off a guy named Chris with it so now I'm just gonna copy paste this comment regardless of if I get noticed by The Take or not ❤️ *Please talk about close platonic relationships between women and men in film and television and the pressure inflicted on them to have a romantic relationship instead!* Examples: Natasha and Steve from the MCU, Morgan and Garcia from Criminal Minds, Ellie and Paul from The half of it, etc. How society views platonic relationships as just a building step for a romantic relationship instead, and somewhat forces us to view them as such to the point we can even start to confuse our own feelings when we're faced with similar situations and believe we're ~in love~ with the other person. Like, yes we love them but not in that way. Add in: I know they kinda touched on the topic in the Phoebe and Joey vid but I think a more in depth vid with different variations would be great xx
Totally! For example, when I first saw the trailer for The Kissing Booth, I thought Joey King's character was going to end up with her best friend, like, I automatically assumed she would, for no good reason other than thinking "oh, it must be the friends-to-lovers trope"
I always believed that there was a part of Phoebe's personality that was used as a defense mechanism to protect her from being further hurt by people and life. Then along comes a heart-fluttering handsome guy who tells her that he loves and understands her and will take her any way he can get her. And then he promises that he will never hurt her, nor will he abandon her. For the absolute first time in her WHOLE life, Pheobe can take down her walls and experience life from the other side. Of all the characters on the show, Pheobe got the fairytale. And she deserved it. And as spacious as the apartment is, Chandler and Monica had a boy and a girl and only two bedrooms. Eventually, they would have to get a bigger apartment or a house.
I find the ending on the whole tragic, cause they started the show with the premise of finding your group and having people there for you. The ending on the show played into the stereotype of nuclear family units. it would have rocked if they had found a way to send the characters to their next step, but .. together as the family they have become. for me, that was the biggest disservice.
This show is so iconic. I grew up watching it (I'm 23) and recently I found out my 13 yo little cousin loves it too. It transcends generarions. Now that I'm a young adult, I'm actually relating to it on a whole new level. I think its universal message is probably one of the reasons for its longevity.
i feel bad for joey just imagine. he lives across the hall ,his roomate chandler is gone . this friends next door moved out . imagine you get use to all the noice and just going next door to vent now you wake up the next day and its nothing but silence, im sure his friends would stop by every now and then . but everyones married with kids, at some point they would just stop coming around. imagine looking at a room then a door and being like once i walk out theres no stepping back in . kinda sucks cause i bet they also stopped meeting up and central perk
I rarely disagree with The Take, but this just rubs me the wrong way. I don’t deny that there’s some truth to this video’s premise, but on the surface it just seems like wholesale pessimism. The other videos which analyzed each Friend individually came away with a lot more positive notions, even if things didn’t work out completely perfect. While it’s certainly fair to come away with different conclusions about something years later, this feels artificial to me, like someone wanted opposing conclusions just for their own sake. Does anyone else agree with me?
Yes. Who ever put this together equates adulthood with bad. Stability with bad. Career is more important. Motherhood is not fulfilling. Married with bad.....👎
Yeah i agree with you. When I watched this finale 16 + years ago I pictured them all being happy in the future and settling down as adults. That's actually what happens in real life-you grow up and your life changes.
I disagree with the Ross and Rachel part. Just because Rachel chose love over her carrier doesn't mean it's worse. It just means she set other priorities. And just because she didn't go to Paris she can still chase a carrier in NYC. Plus when Ross tells Rachel to go, he really is supportive and tells her to go and realizing he can't live without her is a good kind of selfish I think. He didn't force her and first Rachel even turns him down, but by admitting that he still loves her, she comes to the realisation that she wants that too. The same goes for phoebe. Just because some peoples priorities are more "common" than always striving for more or staying an individual even if it's at the expense of a safe space, does bit make sense to me.
I think this always depends on the priorities of every individual. In my case, I agree with you, I will always prioritize people (I mean, my family, my children, my love) over career. I used to have what I thought it was the job of my life, I gave everything to my company, my time, my energy.... Then I quitted and I realised after a month everyone had already forgotten me. Everyone is replaceable in theses big corporates. But I'm not replaceable for my close friends and family. So yeah, again, career will come always on second place.
Thank you so much for this comment! Idk why choosing career over love is considered cool these days, I mean it's a personal choice. I would have still liked the ending if she went to Paris but they tried to show that if the love is true it can truly overcome all the fears and toxicity. They both became more mature and realised running away and ending things again and again is stupid instead of being with each other. They saw what's more worthy.
@@ronjag158 Literally tho. It’s just odd why other people tolerate their relationship or love them both. I know they’re “iconic,” but, just no.... you know????
“Living Single, the show Friends most closely resembled” actually the show that caused Friends to be created in the first place because the show runner didn’t feel Living Single would appeal to white people
@Elizabeth N Friends resembled Seinfeld even closer. But hey, that's what you get when your single and living in the Big Apple. Fortune had it that Friends was a comedic *ensemble* where each of the 6 main characters were equally as important. Then, they all had each an individual storyline, challenges and character developments. Add the drama etc. and Friends was very much different than Living Single. A show, which could be said was ripping off Seinfeld as well. I should add further that the creators/producers themselves came to explicitly admit that Friends was inspired by their own time/experiences back in the 70s/80s, when they left College and went living in Greenwich Village to try and make a living. E.g. depending on your friends being your family. Some of the storylines in Friends, including Monica and Paul in the Pilot episode, reflects the originality and reflection of the creators/producers too. Those are facts. Not yours.
I cringed at the comment that the characters moved on from the "friends family" to a "real family." Don't discount families that don't fit the heteronormative 2 parents and 3.5 kids. It's incredible disrespectful to many who have found their families outside that box.
So true. I chose to remain single and childfree and I have a great group of friends. Even friends from college who are married with kids I am still friends with. Yea, I don't see them as much, but I still check in. But growing up this show was extremely toxic for me because their end goal was always married with kids to the point of obsession and I didn't really know how to come to terms that I just didn't want that. The show was on the air when I was ages 14-24 and I watched as a teen so it definitely had an impact of telling me what I "should" want in life.
You’re right…. Monica, Phoebe, & Rachel could have had better career ending, especially since this show is about their careers. I still love it because of nostalgia
No matter how huge of a role our close friends play in our lives, everything changes when people start their own families or move ahead with their careers,things change so much! This is so sad but true 💔
They give you "happily ever after"ending (Friends), and you say it's too unrealistic. They give you true ending (HIMYM), you say it's too cruel and doesn't match the characters. Oh come on!
To me Rachel's story is the only tragic one. She gave up everything for a relationship that we all knew would never last, because Ross had not changed one bit and only emotionally blackmailed her to stay. Phoebe, Chandler, Monica and Joey are fine in the end and with good outlook for their future.
i as a fan didn’t care if they ended up together, also feel like it’s hard to call them on again off again, were only really together once before finale
The reunion of Ross and Rachel was forced and hollow. Especially going into season 10 and the whole cringey Rachel/Joey vs Ross/Charlie plot behind you. The actors, like Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc, hated it too. No surprise. You get what you. If you have mediocre writers, you get mediocre writing that translates into mediocre character development and mediocre consistency.
I wanna say something about Ross... Yes, Rachel had to give up her dream in Paris, but we need to understand something here, as we're all being very unfair to Ross. Careers are not as important as relationships. Going to Paris would've been really nice for Rachel for a while, but, it's very likely that she would've found it to be just another city, doing her job which she could happily do in New York. Also, you fail to mention how selfish Rachel's decision was to move to Paris, whilst having a daughter with Ross. She wasn't only taking away herself and Emma from Ross, but from her family and surrogate family, her friends, but most importantly, she was denying Emma the privelege to grow up with her blood relatives. So, Rachel was no peach when it came to selfishness. In the end, perhaps Rachel moving to Paris was a subconscious ploy to get Ross to step up and do exactly what she actually wanted him to do, as seen earlier in the season... to marry her and step up and set Ego aside. Both had to set their ego aside so they can be the best they could for each other and for their daughter, and Ross asking Rachel to stay close so they could be a family was the RIGHT thing to do. Who cares if she worked in Paris, New York is just as big a fashion city.
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I would comment this out in the open but I wanted y'all to see it: in your friend character analysis videos you talk about rachel NOT going to paris as a completely different thing, but in this video you make that the reason of her "tragic" ending. HMMMMMMM
The Ross and Rachel storyline of her getting off the plane doesn’t mean she’s giving up her dreams. She just chose to get back together with him. And honestly their characters seemed like they would’ve moved together possibly for her to pursue her dream. Their storyline stayed open ended for interpretation of what they would decide to do so to me it doesn’t seem like she gave up on her dreams. As for Phoebe her story her story line of getting married to mike seemed appropriate he appreciates her for who she is so I’m sorry but The Take creators seem off with their analysis on why the ending is sad. Yeah it’s sad but not for their reasons they say in this video. I think they need to re-evaluate how they analyze shows or characters moving forward they have been disappointing me.
I agree with the majority of this. But phoebe seemed genuinely happy to have the stability and family she craved with a man who loved her for exactly who she was. It wasn’t a bad ending for her. For Monica, having kids was always her dream and sometimes that does mean leaving behind a career. Which isn’t bad. It’s her choice.
Fucking feminist point of view lol.
Oh @thetake. Yet another analysis of Friends. What's next, another Deep Dive on How I Met your mother? You have over forty videos on these shows, but not ONE deep dive on the original show these shows were based on, Living Single. I wonder why that is? I'm assuming it's due to a combination of a lack of diversity on your staff and the fact that How I Met Your Mother and Friends was more reflective of the American zetgeist, while Living Single's biggest impact outside of being the original archtype for the two shows you love to over analyze can be found in the black community. I'm not saying you're doing it on purpose, I'm just writing this to make you aware of what you're lacking on "The Take". Where is your analysis on Martin? Or My Wife and Kids? Need something more contemporary? How about Blackish, Grownish, Abbot Elementary (though I think you may have done a video on that show, I'll have to check). All I'm saying is. If you can deep dive those shows of the 90s and 00s, it would be great to see you put in that effort on other programs that had cast members that were a little more diverse.
I don't mind Joey's ending. Marriage and kids aren't for everyone, and there's nothing wrong with not choosing that path. He's still acting, and when Phoebe points out that he's in his 30s and never had a serious relationship (after just realizing that about herself), he's happy about that realization. In the earlier seasons he would talk about a future wife, but I think this shows that he enjoys being unmarried and doesn't need a serious relationship to feel fulfilled, and that maybe he's moved on for what people are "supposed" to do to what he actually wants
That's exactly what I think.
Im 27 about to be 28, and people always make it seem like is sad that I live alone, and not seek a serious relationship. I went to college, graduated and saw all my friends slowly disappear one by one or just not being the same. Some marry and had kids, and stop hanging as often or talking the way they used to. Some moved to other places, and dont get to see them often, some just dont have the time. And is understandable, but they always see you with this face of you never grew up, or sadness. But I have my house, cars, live alone with a dog. See women not often, but enough that you dont feel like dying from lack of sex 🤣 but truly I just enjoy not having to change schedules, and plans for others. Waking up and sleeping whenever I want without someone moving, snoring, or breathing next to me. I enjoy eating at whatever time, I enjoy going out or to a trip whenever I want, I enjoy that my decisions and finances only afect me, I enjoy watching and buying whatever I want. I like kids but dont want them, the responsibility, time, finances stress, sleep deprivation, diapers, and freedom changes scare me and dont want them. I respect people who have kids, they are the pure form of innocence honesty that we lack more day by day. They also are funny(some)... but its not for me, and it does feel some kind of awkward whenever people, family, friends, etc. try to advice you to change your lifestyle, to get a gf/wife, or feel sad for you. Happiness has a different definition for everyone, just focus on feeling good with yourself, helping when you can, and not being an asshole. My definition of happiness is freedoms, and a simple life. I wish that everyones reaches their happiness❤
@@whyisgamora5435 It's not just that. It's the fact that Joey was a street-smart guy, with his own quips, wit and intelligence to stand out from the rest in season 1, and then, by the show's end in season 10 being written *down* as this one dimensional character being in serious need of a supervisor. Appearing in several episodes as if he had a Lobotomy to describe his stupidity and display of child-like behaviour/manners. Then, add the fact that Joey was 36 at the time, it was pretty damning to see him appearing so helpless. E.g. mopey, pathetic and unable to maintain one proper relationship or job.
@@dvchel Exactly my thoughts. Joey in Season 1 was... capable :D And witty, he was cooking and stuff, the way he handled the situation when he found out about his cheating father etc. And later on it's only get worse, like he was dropped as a baby or something. I still love him as a character but I don't think it was fair.
@@KrissieG Yes! I had forgotten about that season 1 episode wherein he dealt with his cheating father. I usually use Joey's _"Stealth Heterosexual"_ joke in that same season (Episode 8) as the common point of reference. Pointing out to readers how much the writers had been dumbing him down over the seasons. The way he dealt with Chandler and Kathy in season 4 was pretty much the last moment of Joey being believable and nuanced to a certain extent within the Sitcom universe. After that the regression got increasingly worse, until Rachel's pregnancy that is, which sadly didn't progress afterwards to complete him.
Same here personally. I grew up in a small, conservative, religious area so the assumption is that if you were single by a certain age they would "pray for you" and assume you were unhappy and something was wrong with you. But truth be told my mom has four siblings: of the five siblings four of them have been married and had children. Those four have also experienced major depression and/or substance abuse problems, as well as never having "successful" careers. Meanwhile, my aunt who never married nor had children who everyone "pitties" works for the government and makes more money than the other four put together. She enjoys her life and uses this money to travel the world in her spare time with friends and learning new cultures and languages and has also engaged in all of her "bucket list" items in one form or another by the time she was in her 50s. She is one of the happiest, carefree, most open minded individuals I have ever known in my life and if that makes her a failure then I'll be damned 😅🤣
I've always imagined what it must have been like for Joey to return to that apartment that night. It almost brings me to tears.
I didn't even think about that, and now I'm even sadder! :
Me too
@@animefallenangel Don't worry, he has Hugsy. ;)
Poor Jo 😭😭😭😭
That's really sad! I couldn't live without them even a single day!
While I agree with Rachel's ending being bad, Phoebe's end was something she needed dearly. Nothing is wrong with wanting a normal life after all she went through in her life, she wanted stability and for the first time to not be "the weird one" and just because is not eccentric and zany doesn't mean is boring and bland
agreed
The narrator obviously forgot Phoebe's wedding vows. She needs to watch it again to understand Phoebe's happy ending.
When normal looks like Paul Rudd normal ain’t bad
Agreed. She even said in her vows that she felt like she never had a real family until she met him. And she married an amazing, supportive guy who loves her for who she is. Her ending was perfect IMO.
@Bichi Allen Well, after watching Ross/Rachel in the Pilot episode, and then, the very dramatic season 3 breakup and later the final reunion, it's easy to conclude the ending felt hollow and staged. Purely, because the prelude had been rather average, in addition to keeping Ross and Rachel apart for far too long. Using the contrived plot of Rachel/Joey vs Ross/Charlie as point of reference, or Ross' many divorces etc. There was lots of potential right there.
Narratively Ross should have gone WITH Rachel to Paris. It would have allowed Rachel to live out her dream and would have shown that Ross would have grown enough to sacrifice his own ego for a commited partnership. It would be the perfect resolution to the original argument they had.
Yes EXACTLY!
Why not assume they did? That’s what I do.
THIS
It would have been the perfect way to show he finally grew into someone who deserves her. And the fact that Ben was even a consideration was ridiculous, he barely ever saw that child and he was being very well raised by his two moms. Nobody would have been traumatized with him moving abroad.
I think the writers' original plan, was for them to have a romantic weekend in Paris or something that, but it didn't fit into one or possibly two episodes.
Rachel and Ross would leave their friends
"Phoebe lost her originality and quirkiness towards the end of the show"
Phoebe, in the Finale:
- Tries to create a musical to depict Ross's situation;
- Speeds around NYC on a fake cab;
- Screams "Rachel" at the top of her lungs in the middle of an airport;
- literally causes a flight delay that ultimately culminates in Ross and Rachel getting back together
Seriously, stop trying.
Yeah, I was kind of confused at that part. Like Mike loves her for her quirkiness, and uniqueness. He wouldn’t have her any other way. Just because she is looking forward to spending her life with the man she loves and getting children doesn’t mean that she is any less as unique as she was before. She stills is an individual who doesn’t care what other people think about her, hence why she screamed out Rachel’s name to get her attention in the airport when Ross had a cap on his volume due to social rules.
Phoebe does what she wants, she’s a badass, like Monica said, that’s still her.
Don't forget about Phoebe's "scary" getting out of frame pictures.
She still phobee but she obviously matured and mellow out because of mike.
Phoebe became more annoying in the final season. They made her a little too crazy
Mike wasn’t a ‘bland guy’, he had his own colours and more importantly he loved phoebe for being unconventional and unique in her own way
It's just the Paul Rudd hate that apparently exists
Yeah sometimes eccentric personalities like having a steady and calm presence in their life. It grounds them.
@@redhorsepapi What? Who hates Paul Rudd??
Also I feel like Phoebe's quirks came from a life of neglect and trauma and her resistance to "normal" was due to resisting healing as it was a reminder to what she never had before. As she healed from her life of instability and trauma because of support and consistency she stopped resisting finally having the things she grew up without.
Honestly anyone will look bland compared to Phoebe. That's how awesome she is.
Jeeeez, Pheobe finding the love of her life is boring? Let me tell you as someone from a broken home, that has been through some staff, I'm eternally grateful for a husband who accepts me and my wierdness. Creating a stable home feels great and secure. I didn't feel Phoebe sacrificed her personally for a relationship.
he loved her how she as, i doubt she would be become boring
I agree. It’s pretty clear that Mike loves Phoebe exactly for who she is. He even said in his wedding vows that he loves that she’s “wonderfully weird.” I highly doubt her quirky personality would disappear altogether just because she’s married. If anything, I think she’d continue being weird, only now with her husband!
And think a prove for that is her changing her name not to her husbands name, but to princess consuela bananahamic 👍🤣
I feel as though She has been embraced by someone
As someone who is and has lived a life just like Phoebe's I completely disagree with the video too. I'm exhausted and having these traits in this society takes its toll, surviving is actually a great achievement and having that kind of stability and family becomes everything, even necessary if we are to work or create
So Pheobe getting married means she won’t have anything to offer to the world anymore? Just because she’s married, doesn’t mean she can’t be herself...
Also, Phoebe has never had stability, it is what she has missed out on, it was nice to see her story end with her finding that.
Exactly, especially with Mike who has always been so suportive of her? She had the best ending imo.
X Y I don’t think that’s what they were tryna say. Most feminist promote supporting all women, including those who choose to get married. If anything, they were being a bit anti feminist
@@godsstrongestmagicalgirl5217 i think they kind of misunderstood pheobe's marriage situation. if she was with someone that kind of forced her to suppress who she really was, then yeah marriage would be the wrong thing for her. but mike is someone who is extremely supportive of who she is, so she married the right person.
@X Y then why did they talk well of chandler and monica's marriage?
So, in a way, it’s a realistic ending. Unfortunately, it’s extremely rare to stay super close with your friends after your 30s
I was just thinking that too. Personally I just talk to my friends online occasionally now but in our 20s and earlier 30s they were like family. Made me realize your family is your family and your friends are your friends
No no no! I al about to be 30 and I really don’t want that to happen. I have moved with my partner and we are planning to get married but I don’t want to drift away from my friends…that’s so sad
I am still very close with my best friend from high school and we see each other at least once a month. We are in our 40’s.
I'm still very close to my high school friends too.@@rebecca8525 I'm sure you'll agree that "very close" means something different in your 40s in comparison to your 20s. Specially after kids come along.
I mean, in terms of frequency of seeing each other
Everyone commenting on the sad story but only the real ones know that mon and chandler get divorced, phoebe marries chandler for the money and divorces him, Rachel and joey have beautiful kids, Ross is killed by phoebe, eventually joey breaks it up with Rachel and now phoebe has the money and joey has the beautiful kids. There are no other endings
😂😂😂😂 only true fans understand the joke! Lol
underrated comment
Phoebe's finale.
And then they run off to Mexico
I really liked the whole video, but Phoebe getting married isn’t really a bad ending for her, she ended up happy and that doesn’t mean she isn’t going to be a free spirit anymore. As someone in the comments pointed out, that just means she’s going to have someone by her side. What is sad is as you said about giving her very little to do on the finale, besides drive Ross to the airport and high key selfishly ruin Rachel’s dream. The rest is really accurate and what truly makes the ending tragic
I agree with you. Marriage does not mean killing your free spirit or not reaching full potential. It means just sharing a life with someone important who, as Mike, loves that spirit you have.
yeah and phoebe also said something like her being a soccer mom would be the "not normal" thing for her cuz she's been "weird" for her whole life
I think it was a different The Take episode that had a neat (and more optimistic) perspective on how Phoebe's story concluded: basically being the "soccer mom" was the craziest thing for her to do
Haley Ferru oh yeah i saw it too, that’s why i was confused when they said this about her
It was more about her "greed" than "dream".
She was ready to leave all her friends and separate her daughter from her father just because she got a high paying job in Paris, even though she already got an offer again from Ralph Lauren.
I actually agree with their interpretation of Ross and Rachel's ending. Sure, they reconcile, but how long is that realistically going to last? They essentially end up where they started, with no indication that either have even changed. Plus, it annoyed me that Emma was hardly mentioned, and Ross was apparently totally cool with Rachel taking his child to another part of the world, where he'd hardly be able to see her. 😢
Yeah, it’s almost cliche to talk about how Ross and Rachel have not aged well at all. If the show was made today, Ross and Rachel would most definitely not be endgame. Rachel would likely be single, Ross would have been paid dust, and Joey would have probably had more of a chance with Rachel.
@@tariqthomas9090 i agree with you but Joye and Rachel seriously i hate that
I don't think they ended up where they started, both of them have grown and matured a lot together, their relationship is so much more than it was. In the beginning, it was just passion like a teenager romance, and in the last seasons, they've created an honest and truthful friendship that became the base of their new start. I do believe that they will put up together because the biggest problem was that they were both very selfish. In the end, I think that this was the only thing that has changed about them
@@Vii905 NO but Joey and Rachel was an attempt to inject some pep into the show without moving out of the circle, probably because the relationships Ross had had were so awful, both storywise and in the show.
I agree-- especially the resentment part. Rachel has such growth and then he comes in and sets her back
I just imagine Ross and Rachel constantly breaking-up, divorcing, remarrying, never breaking their cycle.
Their probably broken up after 10 minutes they got together
@@Charles_200 That's the rumor that has been going around on the internet. Pretty much like that Rachel/Joey were in fact more meant for each other ... if you exclude Joey's brazen stupidity at times that is.
The first time I watched through the show I *could not* believe that people were rooting for Rachel and Ross to end up together. I always pictured her much happier with a guy like Joey. It would have been a fantastic ending for both of them. Joey, the ladies man, finds happiness in a single mom with a child, who isn’t necessarily planning for something super serious immediately., which works great for Rachel who found true meaning in her work! And Rachel ending up with a guy that is the furthest from Barry and her future with him? Joey is kind and loving and honest and they had space to learn and grow together at their own pace. They are also just adorably similar in personality, which doesn’t always have to work, but with those two I can just see it. They are chaotic and flawed but in their friendship that rarely was an issue. They understood each other so well because they were similar. Ross yearns for a wife. A happy family where he works and his wife is a devoted mom. Nothing wrong with it, but he needed Rachel to be someone so different. This is literally established the first time they date. Ross can’t handle Rachel not having time for him. They both want different things.
One must imagine Sisyphus on a break
Yeah they have a pretty toxic relationship
Joey's whole storyline was sad. He was sexually abused for years by his family tailor, starting in childhood. Adult survivors of sexual abuse often display many of Joey's traits, such as difficulties with intimacy or commitment, compulsive or risky sexual behavior, and measuring their self worth on the superficial opinions of others (he becomes an actor), and avoidant attachment.
Damn, good observation
The fact they made that a joke was so disturbing. There was no follow up, no genuine comfort for Joey when he realized that. It's such an horrifying ordeal
And sleeping with girls
And never calling them back
So sad
@@samiai8905 I really don't think it was as horrible as some may think... I experienced something similar with my middle aged male violin teacher during private sessions when I was a little girl. I had no idea what was happening. Didn't really get traumatized or anything.
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse I found that disturbing.
I'm not happy with how "married and kids" is a bad ending for creative quirky people? That's what I've been told my whole life as a high-achieving woman, and it's only now it my late 20's that I'm discovering ..... that's kind of what I want? And that's not a disappointing thing? I'm allowed that?
Yes you are! I agree with you 100%
Not according to those types who like to analyse films/series/literature on youtube and have a very idealised black-and-white perspective on life, that has nothing to do with reality LOL
I think The Take's complaint is that Phoebe's ending is under-developed. She has her big ending (getting married) earlier in the final season and all the show does is suggest that she will also have kids. While I think the video does a bad job of explaining their beef, I agree with it: Phoebe's quirky individuality is missing from her ending. While getting married and having children isn't wrong for her, it falls short of the character she is. Yes, she increasingly craved normalcy as she got older, but she was still a fun-loving, wild person. Why not have her and Mike get discovered as "Banana Hammock and Crap Bag"? Or suggest that Phoebe decides to take Rachel's place in Paris for a while (totally plausible and something she would do).
Its because this video is trying too hard to reach for some political context in an episode that wasn't made to be viewed through a political lense. Thats why this analysis feels a bit disconnected. This youtube channel is clearly politically left leaning(nothing wrong with that, its just relevant to mention for the point I'm making) and recently it seems that leftish commentary looks down on strong women deciding that they want to get married/start a family. Personally I think we should support women/men who decide to start a family, or who decide to focus on their career, because both are postive things that we should celebrate.
More power to you
Phoebe's "end" isn't really a bad, every eclectic person needs a calm phase, the good thing about her "end" is that she found a partner in her shenanigans, a good balance for her, she is bringing life to the sheltered man's life. She will still have adventures.
It is not an end for phoebe, it is just a phase.
A phoebe spinoff would actually have been so amazing.
Yup, for Phoebe a normal life was always her dream, it's what's new and colorful for her.
Yes, this is what she actually wanted and also Mike is super supportive of her
Yeah. You can be married to a nice "normal" guy and still be an individual.
I’m confused by this video, didn’t this same channel conclude Phoebes choice of a more traditional life as a positive thing and part of her arc?
Right? What I liked about Mike was, he could go along with Phoebe's wild side, but he was good at pulling her back when she went too far. He didn't get mad or criticize her; he just understood her well enough to make her see his perspective.
Also, I kinda resent this idea that marriage is safe and boring. Why couldn't Phoebe continue to have adventures while also being in a relationship? Also this idea that being in a relationship is somehow self-sacrifice. While I agree that Ross and Rachel's situation was kind of fucked up, deciding that a relationship is not giving up your hopes and dreams for someone else.
Joey regressed during the show, he startedas a less sophisticated but streetwise, commonsensical guy and turned into a complete dunce
The word is flanderization.
@@LEFT4BASS I know, it applies to all of them
Cunnysmythe tends to happen on most shows over time.
This is something that really bothers me!!! He was smart during earlier seasons and so much more fun! That's why seasons 1-3 are my favourites!
Dint that happen to all the characters? They were all reduced to comical beings by the end of it. Except for Rachel I guess.
Phoebe married a musician who loves her just as she is. Not in Sprite of her quirks but because of them, so that sounds pretty good to me
Sprite? 😂
Mike didn't love her for who she is.
He tried to shape her in to his own view of what she should be.
@@Vanessinha91Pucca How so?
@@Vanessinha91Pucca No he called out on Phoebe's absurdity, who name themselves "princess consuela banana hammock"
Chandler was my favorite from the beginning and grew the most. He was also the kindest of the six.
The ending that broke my rotten little heart was when a group of friends left a Rent-Controlled apartment in NYC.
I really disagree with Phoebe's ending being tragic. Her settling down and becoming more "vanilla" is another way of saying that she grew up. She became a more mature, stable version of her wonderful quirky self. Her desire to settle down with Mike is a direct result of her friends loving her unconditionally for years. Marriage isn't a tragedy when it's to someone who loves you for exactly who you are, and Phoebe had grown into someone who could accept that level of love. It also does not cancel what is important to her, namely her concern for the environment, animals, and world peace. Now she will be able to pass those values onto the children she is excited to have. Her story is not a tragedy because she is whole-heartedly happy.
EXACTLYYYY!! 👏👏👏👏🤗🎊🎉
she became more "vanilla" with Mike, but she did NOT give up her individuality. Remember the box of rats? Mike is justifiably freaked out at first, but once he sees Phoebe likes animals & wants to take care of them, he's like aight sure. And he helps her. Only once the problem begins getting out of hand does he suggest getting rid of them. Another thing is Phoebe donating the wedding money to the children's charity. Very unusual thing to do, but he's like sure, let's make a positive difference. Then he supports her when she realizes she wants something fairytale-like after her shitty upbringing, willingly humiliating himself by asking for the money back for her. I don't remember other things right now, but basically this was a great ending for Phoebe! Regular, normal happy wedding with an unconventional twist. Her wild personality was tamed into a way that was not lesser, just more healthy and happy for her.
Yeah, she is still herself, she didn't change from her quirky self. It is just shown with more mildness now. It's more balanced now. She didn't change her personality, it just matured little
by little over time. She is never gonna change who she is. She is Phoebe
this was an amazing reply and take thank you!!!! wonderfully put
I also disliked Rachel’s ending. Rachel should have gone to Paris. Doubt that Ralph Lauren would re hire her and get a job as so well paid as LV. Good luck! (As Chandler’s highschool ex said).
I personally felt it would have been more powerful for him to have gone to Paris and meet her there to stay. It would have at least shown he's willing to relinquish some of his power, and be willing to make some sacrifices in order to be with her. Just imagine if he had done it and had said he was willing to do what it takes to be with her and to let her follow her dreams... wow 🤯
But no...
@@gracehaven5459 Yeah, but he has a son in NY. He can't abandon Ben, who needs his father.
@@IrinNovy he can fly Ben out to see him 🤷♀️ it's not like he isn't doing well and can't afford it, he didn't see him that much anymore anyways the character hadn't been in the show for several seasons by that point
@@IrinNovy There's even fan theory that Ross lost custody of him because of his erratic behavior the latter few seasons. Cole Sprouse believes it too
Grace Haven come on, that’s not the same. Ben has school and a life, flying out would only be an option two or three times a year. That’s not enough to have an actual relationship with your dad- and concerning that theory... I doubt it. Ben wasn’t living with him anyway and Ross and Carol are still pretty close, I don’t know why his slight anger issues (over a sandwich) would keep him from seeing his son a few times a week.
For the sake of Ross and Rachel’s relationship I also would’ve liked to see him move to Paris with her- at least that would’ve been some kind of indication that things changed since they first dated. I was happy they ended up together, but in the end, none of the issues they had the first time around actually got solved. Ross is still just as jealous, maybe even more so. Still, with Ben in the picture, moving away wouldn’t have made sense for Ross.
Phoebe had such a beautiful ending. She made the choice to get married after she found a guy who accepted and loved her free spirit just as she was! After a life of such hardship and tragedy, of course you would want a loving and stable life.
Apparently marriage and having kids and starting a family is bad. All they care about is all women spending their 20s and 30s trying to follow models and rich 'single' women hoping they could be like them too when the world is just not built like that.
So you want Phoebe to stay exactly the same throughout but Joeys sad ending is that he stays the same throughout?
they should have ended up together 😂
Glad I'm not the only one who noticed that lmao
Thank you for that.
I also noticed this! lol
Female - decides to settle down with a family after marriage = internally misogynistic, brainwashed, limited.
Male - decides to be free and explore the world despite not having serious relationships with women = bad, undeserving, "he needs a woman in his life"
Well I think the thing is Phoebe had a character arc. She knew what she wanted the whole time then realized what she needed and she got it by the end of the series. Did Joey have that? I feel like they dropped the ball with him. Not that he had to have the same ending as everyone else where he got a happily ever after with someone. The whole ending felt bitter sweet because everyone was going into a different phase in their life. I don’t recognize and changes in Joey between the beginning and end of the show. Joeys ending just felt bitter. Or at least that’s how it felt to me.
I’m only 21 so take this with a grain of salt but I think the ending wasn’t supposed to be happy but bittersweet. We start with them as 20 somethings trying to figure out their lives. Going through divorce, unemployment, relationships, and so much more. However it ends with them as 30 somethings who clearly learned a lot from their 20s. And I think that the end cements that they are grown with life experience under their belts. They are leaving behind their 20s and early 30s. This feels like a place they grew up almost because in my experience so far 20s is like the preteen years of adulthood.
Edit:
Phoebe wanting to get married isn’t bad. It also shows how Phoebe has changed. It was clear she was and is eccentric. Marriage didn’t always seem to fight with Phoebe. If s1 Phoebe got married it’d be ridiculous. That’s not who she was. At the end she was able to find safety and love in someone who was very similar to her friends. She wanted that stability
.
Also I always interpreted Rachel’s ending as she ran away from Barry because she was supposed to marry him. She never made a decision for herself in her life. At the end of the series, she had did everything she set out to do. She wanted to be independent and make her own decisions. She wanted to do the things she loved. I think she realized she was fulfilled and no longer needed to prove to herself she wasn’t that frightened 25 year old girl begging Monica for an out. She was very successful and was a great mom. She realized she always loved Ross. She was ready to try to make things work with him.
What made Rachel and Ross’s issue is they both put each other on a ridiculous pedestal. He believed because Rachel being very pretty he thought everything that followed would be perfect. Rachel believed because Ross was this very timid and nice guy he’d never hurt her. They seriously needed to wait. They had growing pains to work out in the beginning.
Yesssss!!!! Thank you! Completely agree ❤️
I agree with you, and you are very mature for your age!
Yaaaaa dude completely agree with you this vid depressed me
But after reading this comment ,i am happy thanks man ur analytics skills are amazing
Have some PLAAATINUMM
I really agree with your take on Rachel! Just because Ross has his problems in the relationship doesn’t make Rachel’s decision to choose the relationship any less worthy. She has grown to be an adult and know exactly what she wants, and every relationship has their own toxic elements with everyone’s weaknesses. People that choose to stay deal with it and grow out of it together. I think her choice is looked down because she gave up a career choice, but our culture today over glorifies careers. There are people who are happier with relationships than they are with work, and they shouldn’t be looked down upon.
I think you're very wise and emotionally intelligent my guy!! That's awesome, not as many people as you'd think are like you 🤘🏻
Phoebe married Paul Rudd. She got the best ending.
Exactly she has the best ending than the rest of her friends
I don't care if the internet doesn't like Friends anymore, it still made me laugh multiple times and the fashion alone is enough for me to like it
Precisely, it's my go to comfort show, and even though I've seen each episode thousands of times, it never fails to make me feel better! 💯💖
@@trinaq same! I love having it run in the background sometimes while I do something else but still chuckling at some of the jokes
It's a nostalgia blast for me, my opinion isn't going to change due to some random haters
I love the show, it makes me feel good 🙂 But I do recognize that there are few problematic elements. It doesn't have to be one or the other.
Same thing with The big bang theory. People DESPISE it because apparently it's misogynistic...? I love it anyway, I think it's the point of the show, that group of people who are bit anti social eventually grow and develop more mature and healthy relationships. And I don't think it's offensive to nerds, almost everyone is a nerd nowadays, who the Hell actually thinks that nerds are just socially awkward, women hating creepos...? If that is still a prevalent stereotype, I haven't met a single person who actually believes it.
@@atinity6749 nah sis TBBT is truly awful, sorry.
I understand why people wanted joey to have a romantic relationship as well. He is deeply loving and very loyal and those qualities are of course valuable.but lets face it, Joey never liked the idea of commitment he never had a serious relationship until rachel and even than he was keeping it kinda casual. He never wanted to have romance he just wanted to have fun with life and he did. I see why viewers are bummed but you can't force a man to start something that he just doesn't want. Being single isn't tragic.
Joey is not deeply loyal, once he sleeps with a woman, he never calls her back. That’s not loyal and I always wanted Joey to be in a proper rleationship
@@Josama0214 I think it is more him being deeply loyal to his friends rather than girls he sleeps with. Would it be interesting to have Joey in a good, fulfilling relationship? Sure, but at the same time it would be too clean and perfect; which is exactly what the writers didn’t want otherwise they would have just have Phoebe and Joey together at the end. You don’t have to be in a relationship to be fulfilled in life, and the things that fulfill him at that point of his life were his friends and being with them.
What I don’t like is he didn’t have a character arc. Every good character arc has a want and a need. The character is pursuing their want until they finally learn what their need is and get that in the end. What did Joey get? I feel like they dropped the ball with his character.
And the thing with him not getting a love interest by the end was that they were building up to it. Then they stuffed it under the rug and didn’t give an explanation. Not that characters can’t regress but, you have to give an explanation for it.
I like Phoebes ending, not only is she happy but she also brings out a more wild side to Mike. They bring a very nice dynamic of balance.
Honestly I always felt the worst for Phoebe in the finale. Rachel (in one of her worst moments) mentions how Phoebe "lifts right out" of the group. Monica and Ross were related, so that kept them and Chandler and Rachel in each other's circles, and Chandler even mentions having a place for Joey in his and Monica's house. So he wouldn't be cut out. But Phoebe really had no permanent ties, and out of all of them I could see her losing touch with everyone eventually. I was really glad she had Mike by the end.
And I'm really getting sick of people implying that marriage and a family is a bad ending for a woman. It's not, as long as it's what she wants. Phoebe didn't have to give up anything to be with Mike, and she got someone who loved and wanted a family with her in the end. I couldn't think of a better ending for Phoebe than that. What would have been terrible is for her to see all her other friends move away, or just move on and her being in exactly the same spot she was in in the pilot, only this time ten years older and alone.
I can’t believe y’all used a tiny clip of Monica getting her eyes checked by her ex’s son because the narrator said “looking closer”, why is this so funny to me??
Haha, that's a genius spot of editing work, right there! 😎👌
also the bit w ross telling people to keep the sound down for when 'possibilities narrow'
Yes that killed me, too!! Also, "What you eat" and then it's Ross with the cotton candy *LOL*
Her ex's son, but also kind of her ex???
The one point I don't agree with is the one about Phoebe and her marriage.
Every relationship is different, every couple has a different dynamic, and getting married doesn't suddenly change who someone is as a person. Marriage is just a more professional term for dating and it wouldn't stop Phoebe from being a free spirit, she'll just have someone by her side.
It also shows how Phoebe grew from being a quirky free spirit with no shackles on life to a free spirit who understands the value of an anchor for stability. If she didn't choose to get married then she would be exactly like Joey, someone who didn't grow or change as a person
(We've also seen throughout the show that she's been hypocritical about her beliefs and values if she can get something out of it, regardless of the fact she doesn't like what she's doing)
I feel similarly. We could debate endlessly about which Friends character changed the most over the course of the show, but Phoebe definitely came the farthest over the course of her whole life. She had just about the most turbulent childhood a kid could have, and while her quirky personality is a big part of who she is, there's also a case to be made that her zany ways were necessary to handle a life where stability was long denied to her. I doubt any of the other friends could have handled growing up in her world as well as did.
In a way, I've often felt like Phoebe was the most mature and well-adjusted of the group in her own odd way. As she grew older she really did have the opportunity to choose any kind of life she wanted, and deciding to come back down a few levels and commit to a life with someone was a big change for someone who'd spent about three decades being a free spirit. Yeah, everyone around her may be more "boring" than she is, but who's more interesting than Phoebe anyways?
For the record, getting married does not equate to growing or changing as a person. People can do that with or without a spouse...and quite frankly, stay stagnant with or without a spouse.
Finally!!!! Rachel's ending is so sad, it stucks her arc of someone growing and putting herself first
I was so mad about her ending when I first saw it
Why? I feel like people here haven't watched the show. Is her career really her priority? Is Paris really this exciting opportunity when she has been at a high level in New York? Rachel isn't this naive young waitress anymore.
@@KrayonFisher yeah it is when she was offered more money to say she still wanted the new exciting career like literally a few episodes earlier. I'm sorry but she wanted to go and only stayed because it was the safer option. Not necessarily because it's what she really wanted. Especially if she had more time to think it through.
@@hippygirl1386 It's not a new career, it's just a promotion. Perhaps people here have not experienced moving for jobs, but your work doesn't significantly change as you move up the corporate ladder.
If anything, it is the move to Paris that's new and exciting, not her job promotion.
@@KrayonFisher idk exactly where ur getting ur info from but Rachel clearly says she had done everything she could in her current position and this new job which is at a different company so not technically just a promotion will allow her to experience new things. Maybe u dont know much about the fashion industry but working for Ralph Lauren in New York is a drastically different from working with Louis Vuitton in Paris. Trust me on this one it's not the same at all. Not just because of the change in location.
I’m so glad other people saw Rachel’s sadness and how uneven Ross’ jealousy was. He had so many chances to grow beyond that and he proved his 2 Dimensional again and again
Rachel did the same thing when she went for Ross' girlfriend after they broke up simply because she loved him. And after she broke up Ross and his girlfriend they didn't even end up together. Then she told Ross that she loved him after his sham of a marriage as if that would suffice anything. She only told him because she was selfish in wanting him for herself. She did the same thing with Joey, trying to steal Joey away from Charlie simply because she suddenly started to like him and wanted him. She doesn't learn and didn't even take responsibility for her actions.
I'm not Justifying Ross' actions but Rachel has got problems as well
@@anisaafsar4528 Rachel has a lot of problems, yes. I personally feel that Ross' issues are worse, but that's an individual perspective and I wouldn't argue with someone who thought otherwise. To me, it feels like being in a relationship with Ross is always destructive. Rachel is emotionally irresponsible and sometimes vindictive, but these bad traits come when she is in a bad place, almost as a defense. That is not justifying her behaviour, but I find it that she has a better grasp at what one must do to have a healthy relationship.
People try to hard to find ways for them being together. I don't doubt they love each other, but love is not nearly enough. I don't think they could be happy as a couple, and Rachel traveling to Paris was such a perfect setup for them to get the distance they needed to grow apart so they could meet again in a more mature context, as friends or lovers.
@@tlf2818 Yh personally I wish they didn't end up together because my guess is if they carried on with the show it wouldn't have ended well
@@anisaafsar4528 but they weren't continuing on with it
They brought out the worst in each other.
Just because they grew and started new chapters in their lives doesn't mean their friendship is over. People grow up and find new purposes in their lives but true friends, like the group, will never just end like that.
Yes who knows maybe they were having get togethers and all
I am sooo glad that someone finally put it in words properly that ross was soo wrong in doing that
airport gesture.
I always felt bad that Rachel had to leave the job in Paris. And i am all about being with a person you love but that relationship was just toxic and really not worth leaving a dream job.
She didn't have to leave the job in Paris. She chose to get off the plane and go back to Ross. It's a shame the writers couldn't go with their original plan of Ross and Emma moving to Paris too and R&R falling in love again there.
I only agree with the words "I am all about being with a person you love" but the rest eh it somehow sounds like someone who may not truly know a single damn thing about Romance like has nobody ever heard that love is blind and that love conquers all:(also I think from a Romantic POV nobody would give a damn about logic rationality and "toxicity"):so really therefore the ending may have practically been meant to be a symbolically "fairytale" like ending maybe at least for 5 of the 6 main characters
Mona Bohamad2 indeed love conquers all , so why don’t we see Ross giving up his career and follow Rachel to Paris instead?
Because (as he clearly says in the show) he can't leave his son
@@septesix do you realise he can't left his son parents and sister's two new born childrens🤷🏾♀️🤦
I always considered the Friends finale to be one of best tv endings for its time. The show is about the importance of family and how it evolves over time. These six characters were family to each other, but they eventually created their own individual ones (except Joey).
I think it’s very poignant for Joey to have the loneliest ending considering he grew the least out of everyone, while Chandler and Monica get the most rewarding one. If nothing else, Chandler, Monica, Ross, and Rachel will always be connected.
That's accurate, it was a happy go lucky sitcom, albeit with some dramatic, heartbreaking moments, that celebrated the merits of friendship, and how platonic love can be JUST as rewarding as romantic love! 💞
If you reached the end of Friends without checking the Yellow Pages for someone who would whack Chandler and Monica, you're a better person than I am.
Why not joey as well?
I’m sure Joey has a room at Mon&Chan’s
@@natalyamartirosyan That just leaves Phoebe then?
I'm rewriting their endings 😁
Rachel: stays on the plane and becomes an international top businesswoman
Ross: continues doing what he loves (his job) and meets a woman at the museum who he falls for (finally moving on from Rachel)
Phoebe: becomes a travelling (not all the time so there is some stability) folk singer/guitarist with her funky band mates while her husband supports her
Monica and Chandler: stay in Manhattan where they raise their kids
Joey: still lives across from Monica and Chandler, so he stays close to his friends and helps raise their kids. He also learns how much he loves being with kids and becomes a fun loving elementary school teacher
You = what a amazing ending , Rachel in Paris and Ross in New York City and finally move on 👏👏👏
I like everything but I don't see Joey as an elementary school teacher. He's an actor.
@@Design____ByS i know but that didn't work out lol i liked the idea of him being a teacher even tho he is the "dumb one"
@@Design____ByS he can act like a teacher. (Ok, you're probably right)
Yea not bad! One tweak: Joey teaches *theatre* to elementary school kids, but we find he actually decided to study and becomes an ACTUAL teacher ... but his credential is from a barely accredited online source so... but hey *growth* and its funny :)
I love these deeper looks at favorite TV characters and I really loved the video about Ross being a toxic friend. However, this video feels like a very 20-something bitter person reading really heavily into the finale. "All my friends are getting married and leaving me behind", and unable to see the joy in marriage, parenthood etc.
"Ross won't leave his son" is said like that is a negative thing. It isn't, really. The voice of this video just comes across as immature and fearful of the wrong things. The end of the video sort of acknowledges this, but the premise of the video is more negative than the actual experience of the things it is trying to point out as tragic.
totally true, i think the woman in this video really has a problem against ross, as she's been harsh on him in previous videos too, i have 3 kids with my ex and ive had big job opportunities abroad but wont take them as it would mean leaving them, so i sympathise with ross
Phoebe is the one who wants to be married, she's the one who wants more normal things in her life, her ending definitely is the best she can get. I always think Phoebe getting married is the best thing throughout the last season, so happy to see her having the life she wants.
Rachel should have went to Paris and never gotten back with Ross.
agreed
AGREE!!!!!!!
@@Caneladorada which would've made for a shitty crappy unromantic ending
Knowing Rachel she would’ve left Paris after a month to go back to Ralph Lauren anyway. She’s amazing at her job and adventurous don’t get me wrong but as soon as she had to take care of Emma solo, learn a new language and a new job in a place with no friends or family. Yeah she would’ve been back in NY so fast, Paris would’ve made sense for her pre-Emma. Post having a baby there’s zero chance she sticks out that Paris job
I think she realized that as well on the plane and that her life with Ross and Emma would be the only place she could be safe and happy
how were ross and rachel ever gonna share custody across two continents
Ross will forget about that toddler as soon as he makes a new one
We never did see him interact with Ben much after Emma was born
In reality as a palantheologist he could have found a job in Paris....or mary her and move there...ben is grown and abscent in the last seasons
@@AD-jq7ow I believe Ben is mentioned as the reason he can't
@@spectre9340 he most likely took care of ben outside of the episodes why does everyone think just because ben wasn't on screen ross forgot about him
@@vanguardplays3418 cos he almost never mentions him 😭
I think you missed something important with Mike, he virtually rejected his own family to be with Phoebe. His uptight parents went to their wedding in the middle of the street with some hippie playing the bongos. They met each other halfway. I think that was great. Maybe Phoebe over corrected a little to balance her past, but Mike knew what he was getting into. He accepted Princess Consuela Bananahammock.
About Joey, it’s not a sad ending, it’s just the truth that your growth doesn’t have to be parallel with your friends. He’s taking more time to grow, he’s enjoying his bachelor life for longer. That happens, is not a tragedy. He’s like a D List celebrity living in New York. Not a glamorous ending, but not that bad either.
People don’t have kids or get married at the same time as their friends. Sometimes you feel left behind, sometimes things just fall into place and everything is perfect. If anything. Joey just continuing his life is very realistic.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
I actually relate with Phoebe... Having a weird life and wanting to be normal... We all deserve that opportunity
Only those in their twenties or early 30's would see this as sad. It ended well for all. Choosing a loving family/committed relationship over a lucrative career is the most mature move anyone can make. It is making room for the inevitable stage-which is aging and passing on the wisdom you've gained, and nurturing the next generation. (If in doubt, ask old people in their deathbed- no one fondly thinks of boardroom meetings-it's all about relationship and family)
Like Joey, Not everyone can be married, but choosing a life path that leans towards caring for others is true maturity. Joey is single, but he is the kind of friend that you can rely on, that is why Monica and Chandler choose to keep a room for him. Plus knowing his sensitive side, his story is not finished yet.
So true! Marriage is not for everyone, but for those who aspire to it, a career should not be more important. Rachel did not have to stay with Ross. She obviously realized he meant more than a career. If her career was really more important she would not have stayed.
It's funny how the Friends finale was satisfying but sacrificed their characters development, and somehow How I Met Your Mother managed to give us a horrible ending and STILL ruin all the characters development. I guess good on Friends for at least getting one thing right
ouch
I wouldn't say ALL of their development.
Marshall and Lilly were fine.
Ted was always insane.
I liked seeing Barney as a dad.
It's really just Robin and the mom who got screwed over.
@Kristine Antoinette Thank you for hitting the nail on its head! It was very satisfying seeing that electrifying chemistry/romance happening between Rachel and Ross again. The kind of which you had been longing for basically since season 3.
However, it remains bittersweet, for their relationship having been written down and the writers regressing them to such an extent during that same period that their final reunion felt hollow and inorganic because of it. Referring to Ross and his continuing mental/social breakdown, while Rachel was just being given too many lucky breaks in terms of her career and messing up Ross' social life later on in the show. It just ends up leaving you with this vague sense of frustration.
Demonstrating that there was no need for Friends to sacrifice their own character development for anything. Using the universal negative reception of the Rachel/Joey fling as a point of reference further. The need for a spin-off would not even have been necessary.
that's weird...because you can't both dislike the finales of the two shows...its either,loving Friends finale and hating HIMYM...or liking the HIMYM and disliking Friends...which one are you??I've always been the latter...
@@immacentaur8793 I don't know I hate the finales of both Friends and HIMYM 🤷
You lost me at saying Mike is "bland". WTF? (Still love the channel, though.)
I know, right? They clearly forgot his unmatched talent at "air piano".
@@GlorianaLovejoy, yeah! Come on, he might have not accepted to do that one thing in the bedroom, but let's face it: Phoebe would end the series as Princess Consuela Banana Hammock if it wasn't for our dear Crap Bag.
He is. Joey was her perfect soulmate imho.
@@CharlieZanna, as a friend, yes. As a romantic partner, not at all. I love and I think it's really important that the group of friends didn't worked only as a step towards romantic relationships.
Joey was an amazing friend and he deserved a better ending
@Carlos Henrique We're with you all the way: 1) Sacrificing Rachel for Ross, knowing what she means to him and being the father of Emma; 2) Giving Chandler his blessing to date Kathy after kissing her behind his back; 3) Keeping Monica/Chandler a secret from the rest, as to not spoil the romance by awkwardness from the rest of the group; 4) Encouraging Rachel to tell Ross how she really feels about him when he was together with Julie for 2 weeks, knowing that he had been in love with her for 10 years and counting. The list goes on.
Joey really had the kindest heart and was definitely the most loyal and trustworthy friend. But he couldn’t get past that simple place to enter into the world of complex relationships, commitments and responsibilities...
Life is Change, Change is Life. The show couldn't have ended better.
The whole ross and rachel finale seemed rushed. Rachel was always so passionate about her job, she would always stand her ground and continue fighting for her dreams and she decides to drop everything for ross so quickly? I'm not saying that you can't choose love over career but why would she want to have a toxic relationship all over again. Their romance was so problematic that this whole happily ever after thing seemed stupid. If friends had more seasons i'm sure they would break up again.
Exactly. It would've been much better if they had spent the whole last season working on their relationship and maybe then having the question of the job, whether she'd take it, whether they'd be able to work that out, etc. They had so many moments that it doesn't feel like finally getting back together would be their happily ever after.
yeaaaaaaah!!!!! they were so damn toxic it's such a pity writers destroyed Rachel's arc for a rushed stupid fling that was more fake than Monica's boobs when she was a waitress in that 50s restaurant
Why was it so necessary to put them back together? They’d been apart for like 6 years, if it was really meant to be why the long gap 🙄
They were a couple for such a short time. And it was not the best relationship.
Ross as much as I do love him. Was jealous of Rachel's job. Once she was not a waitress anymore. She couldn't dedicate every free second to him.
When she had a job she was passionate about and wanted to build. He could not take it.
He canceled many dates because of his job.
But once Rachel did that he could not take it
I just don't see the soul mate aspect of them. Best friends yes. Parents to Emma yes. But should mates? No
Rachel all of sudden being ok with going back in her career for a relationship that never worked was ridiculous
@@liv97497 yup
Why the friends ending is actually sad?
Because that's the nature of life.
Yup
True. Real life is sadder.
I have a lot of problems with this video. I've heard these takes before and I always saw it as a cynic's view of how things should play out rather than what would actually serve the characters best.
Phoebe: There's nothing wrong with wanting to settle down to normalcy after spending your entire life as an eccentric outsider (even amongst your best friends). To me, this is her most realistic endpoint to a character like her's. The point was that they're all supposed to have grown up by the end. Her regular marriage and longing for a normal life in the final season was Phoebe's arc reaching its natural conclusion.
Monica & Chandler: I can't see how anyone could be dissatisfied with their finale. They were arguably the best part of the show once they got together. Chandler grew past his commitment insecurities and fears of being someone destined to never have a happily ever after. Meanwhile, Monica learned to accept the imperfections that come with love and life as a whole. You can't always plan it out or see it coming. Sometimes, what you want in life just falls right in your lap(Chandler) or you gotta find a new angle (kids through adoption).
Ross & Rachel: Okay, here we go. Yes, Ross was indeed selfish in their initial relationship with all of his jealous insecurities. However, Rachel was also not in the best frame of mind in how she viewed Ross when they first got together. Ross saw Rachel as his ultimate prize, not in a trophy way, but in a fragile sense. He couldn't fathom the idea of Rachel having more important aspects/responsibilities other than a relationship because he was still viewing her as his teenage crush, and a woman with no direction that needed saving. Likewise with Rachel, she also had a more idealized view of Ross that was far beyond realistic expectations. Ross is as flawed an individual as anyone else. But in the first 3 seasons, outside of the infamous list, Rachel never has a moment of viewing Ross on the level of unfinished as everybody else. She seemed to tiptoe around his emotions as much as he did with hers. (Remember when she got a tattoo and was scared to tell Ross like she was a kid and he was her father? She's a grown woman with control of her own body. That storyline always felt out of place and in the wrong decade to me.) They doted on each other like high schoolers, both were living in a fantasy. This builds to the ultimate crescendo when Ross finally shows Rachel how human he his by cheating on her. And even though the act itself is inexcusable, when Rachel said she used to see Ross as someone who "would never hurt her," that mindset was equally problematic. Because as we all know, it's the ones you love the most that can cause you the most pain.
They needed to break up in that moment. But in the seven years after following that, Ross and Rachel both grew together as people and learned to love each other for their flaws as much as their strengths. They spent a long time as friends and had seen the most embarrassing and noble aspects of each other's character. Not only were they no longer doting on each other or crushing from afar, they were openly mocking each other and were arguably each's harshest critics. All of this is to say that by the end of the show, they have an entirely different dynamic than what they had in the beginning. Ross saw Rachel as a strong, smart, career-driven woman. And Rachel saw Ross as a goofy, sensitive, insecure at times know-it-all who had a genuinely kind and caring heart at the core of every reckless thing he does. Much like Monica and Chandler's relationship, they rebuilt theirs from a point of friendship and went from the ground up. With the only difference being that they maintained a clear attraction to each other whether they were on, off or just hooking up in between their different relationships.
This all leads to the finale, where it is clear by this point that both are just hesitant and afraid to really give their relationship another serious try. It was devastating enough the first time and now they a kid to worry about disappointing as well should it not work out. But in the end, they both knew that they were happiest whenever they were together(speaking about S4 onward) than they were whenever they were apart. This is the seminal point that most people miss when they talk about the finale. Rachel LOVED ROSS TOO!!!! She felt the same way he did with all the uneasiness and anxiety about moving to Paris and leaving Ross behind. As she said, the more she thought about leaving Ross it made her "not want to go." Because deep down SHE WANTED TO BE WITH ROSS!!!! I agree that she made a sacrifice and gave up a huge career opportunity by not taking the job in Paris. But if there was anything that show exemplified in Rachel Green, it's that she was a talented enough to keep ascending up the ladder in her profession. She was talented enough to incite a bidding war for her abilities after all. I'm certain another job of that magnitude would've come down the pipeline eventually. Lastly, regarding the finale and sacrifices, ROSS HAD A SON WHO LIVED IN NEW YORK!!!!!! He refused to move to London and make his marriage work with Emily because he couldn't neglect his responsibilities in raising Ben. That's the number one reason why he pleaded with her to stay and not just hop on the plane right beside her.
Joey: Yep, right on the money with that one.
Oh wow, am I seeing this right? A nuanced and intelligent analysis of Ross and Rachel? Do those still exist?? The fact that your comment is not at the top makes me lose faith in humanity, but I'm so glad you wrote this and I thank you. The hate towards this couple is getting absolutely ridiculous. They are one of the best and biggest parts of Friends and an unforgettable tv couple. I love the way their relationship evolved throughout the years - which you described so well - and I could have never imagined a Friends finale without them reuniting for good. Heck, even the actors themselves loved them and wanted them to be together! I will love these two for ever and always, flaws and all. Oh and yes, what you said about Rachel and her job is also spot on. Who said everything was lost now that she decided not to go to Paris?? I'm sure she got to live her dreams regardless.
This is the best analysis on Ross and Rachel that I have ever seen!!
agree with literally everything said omg wooowww such a great ross and rachel analysis👏👏👏 but btw i’m pretty sure ross DOES end up going to paris with rachel, which is great for them but all in problematic with the whole ‘wouldn’t move to london for emily cause of ben but will for Rachel’ but in the end, he loves rachel far more than he loved emily and Ben does have susan and carol🤷♀️ (i could be wrong tho but i’m pretty sure they do move to paris💕)
I don't disagree with you, but I just don't see enough growth from Ross to not be scared for Rachel that she's getting back into a toxic relationship. We see this even in the last seasons like when Ross doesn't give Rachel the guy's phone number from the bar, or the returned jealousy when she runs into Mark. Him being controlling and jealous didn't change. And while Ross may be proud of Rachel's career growth on a friendship level, is he going to be supportive still on a relationship level? Can he now handle that Ross won't be her whole life? Does she just become a stay at home mom depending on Ross as he always wanted, or does she go out and continue her job? Do they stay in the city or follow Monica and Chandler to the suburbs? Going to the suburbs would be a great idea to be with Monica, Chandler, and the kids. I don't find any fault in that. But I just hate that she chose a guy over her career.
@@cassiehartleyy8849 It's open to put your own interpretation in depending on your own life goals.
Marriage is mundane? Just because two of the characters got married and had children doesn't mean that life has become mundane. Chandler and Monica can still have their dream careers if the two of them, with patience, work out a plan to achieve their goals while married. They may have to modify their goals but they can find a way to reach what they hoped to achieve before "mawige".
Phoebe, if she has the support of a husband who cares to help develop her hidden talents, could have a really fulfilling life. It seems that Phoebe wants stability in her life. She started finding it with her friends and in that period of time she fell in love. She doesn't want the chaos from her previous life.
Ross and Rachel, on the other hand.....
What actually depressing is this video, not the ending of Friends
I like to think that Rachel and Ross went to Paris together because she should have definitely have gone either way. And I also like to think that Phoebe had a great ending because Mike didn’t hold her back , he made her see sense without ha ring to tell her how to stuff and he never was ashamed of following her wherever she would go. Idk I really liked Phoebe and Mike together.
I assumed Rachel had gone to Paris anyway. I mean, her daughter is already there; and they had a long distance relationship or something. It's only recently I'm realizing that's an unconventional interpretation
No way Ross would be ok with that though, the insecure selfish child that he is
@@sierra8077 stop being so dramatic
Sierra I agree but that would be a great development for his character, I really hated how he was and trusting Rachel in a long distance relationship would have en great. I don’t think following Rachel would have been imposible, I mean, he was ready to live in London for Emily!
@@Peytonkmc I agree. When they had the kid together, I was ready for them to get back together (despite having been super tired of them before!!). I thought, they've grown up; I think they can make this work in a healthy way! Then Mark shows up again, and I'm like okay Ross; this is your chance to prove you've matured! And... it was better than last time, but yikes. The parallel between Rachel at Ross' wedding and Ross at Rachel's new job is extremely illuminating and important: while they both go crazy over each other and drive/fly to be together, Rachel realizes that since she loves Ross, she needs to let him make his decisions and live with that. Ross, on the other hand, decides that if he loves Rachel, he should be with her. That's his problem throughout the series, and it's SO frustrating that he NEVER improves in that regard.
i agree with the ross and rachel ending, but I really do think that the rest of them end up in the right place!
Even joey?
I agree, I loved monica's and chandler's ending, obviously, I also think phoebe had a very happy ending as she found someone who loves her exactly for what she is and joey never really showed interest in marriage or kids, he's still acting which is what he showed passion in, therefore I think it's the happiest ending for him too.
Almost everything is as sad as it is happy, in hindsight. It's the contrast that most often brings life to things.
That's extremely valid, life is a roller-coaster composed of Happy/Sad moments, and we're only here for a limited amount of time, so we might as well make the most of it while we can! 💗
It's funny how while others' sad endings are definite, Joey's sad ending is an entire show 😂😂😂
We don't "have to start dating the right people or end up alone". It is possible to continue being very close with friends throughout life.
Exactly this
the fact that Rachel gave up working for Louis Vuitton in Paris (a dream job for her) to keep her messed up, on and off, frankly unbalanced relationship with Ross - will forever be one of the worst endings for a female character.
Lol not really
True and false. Yes, they had problems, but they loved each other, and maybe they could make it work in the end.
About her moving to LV in Paris, that is a job, a job that
A: Can fire you, and won't really respect you that much
B: And most important, Rachel felt bored at her New York job because she "accomplished everything she could", what makes you think that feeling won't repeat in Paris? Then she will have always the regret of Ross, plus let's not forget there is a kid in between.
I agree... i hated that
Yes, but Rachel will never be fully happy. There will always be loneliness within her because Ross is her other half lives across the world from her had she went to Paris.
Yeah, because moving with emma to another continent would be so good wouldn't it
I'm coming to the conclusion is that what we really can't get over is the fact that a show like this is over. In 2004, when this ended, couples were more important than the individual pursuit of a career (even in Sex and the City), and again we're seeing something being evaluated by today's societal standards or ideals (more feminist, more egalitarian, yes, but also a bit unrealistic - in real life, statistically men still make more money, still call the shots, the USA hasn't even managed to elect a female president, and that is really meaningful). So the ending was appropriate for that time and to be honest, as a big fan, I never felt it was happy, it was sad to see them leave their flats in NYC. Maybe in real life they wouldn't be able to afford the rent in the city anymore, but it's very realistic in the sense that one day that lifestyle was gone...
Couldn’t agree more. I don’t think she made a step down with Ross, she still would have worked in a managing position in ralph lauren and finally be happy in a relationship. She got everything
Brilliant take! I also couldn't agree more. This piece really does judge the end of a show in 2004 by today's standards. I think all of the 'friends' show that you have to grow up at some point. The decisions they make are very grown up and I think the show really demonstrates that. Rachel staying is the responsible thing to do. She knows Ross had another child and can't just move to Paris, and by staying she allows her daughter to grow up with her father which is the adult thing to do.
You put this perfectly, thank you
So true
@@jules_knowles except haters would probably totally disagree but I'm not one of them
I'm experiencing this now with my friends group. I have the Chandler/Monica couple who are about to have a kid and have their careers, the Rachel/Ross couple who have a kid and are settled in their jobs, a few Joeys who are single and kind of immature, and I'm the Phoebe who's seeking out a meaningful career path and about to settle down with my Crapbag ❤️
Great video. The tragedy of the end of the 20's really is so true 😔
I'm 23 rn n take everything so seriously. But this video thru friends have made me realize how wrong I have been
Yes! I agree with everything you have said! I’m the Rachel of my group of friends....some of my friends have settled down already and all and some are Joeys’. It’s really kind of sad in a way the end of the 20’s for people. I’m already halfway through my 20’s...I honestly don’t want them to end. The 20’s are really the extended teenage years...for me at least. Most of my girlfriends already have kids I’m the only one childless by choice, have never really settled down with anyone and have gotten freaked out in the past at the prospect of something serious. Now....I’m searching. I’m caught between being Rachel/Joey and maybe wanting the ending Monica and Chandler get.
And yes in your 20’s you struggle. Life hits you hard. Lol and funnily I do have a roommate now my friend Steph who happens to be more like Monica. Ironically.
Ok but how do y’all get friends?
Daisy A. I’ve stayed in touch with some from high school and others I have acquired throughout the years. I don’t have a large group of friends by any means....it’s normal to find yourself with less people after high school/ college. People tend to change with time and outgrow faster than others. It’s normal.
The older I get the more annoyed I am with Racheal’s decision.
@Alan James why always a women has to sacrifice???!!
Why? Because she chose the love of her life over her career? I think that’s the beauty of it. She loved Ross more than she loved her dream job. I like to think these two learned from the ten years they were together as friends and lovers and everything in between, and became a better couple because of it.
@@rachelgreene8658 Always women?? You dumb?
Their relationship was THE MOST toxic disgusting manipulative relationship EVER. He was not in love with her he was OBSESSED with her ever since she was Monica's friend. He hates the fact the she has to work and never respects her decisions.
@@rachelgreene8658 Ross was the one who sacrificed always whether they are together or not
Mike was awesome for Phoebe, he supported and understood her zaniness. He balanced her out and she balanced him out making them stronger together. Getting married doesn't mean Phoebe stops being Phoebe with all her talents. Marriage does not equal death. Phoebe grows as a person and decides what she wants is marriage to someone she loves... that's not a sin.
Thinking about it, if they wanted to do a better job of convincing us RE Ross and Rachel's longevity they should not have had Ross repeat the same pattern as before. He should still have the love realisation but decide and vocalise that he screwed up before and he's not gonna get in the way of Rachel gaining her dreams again. Then have Rachel be the one to come to him and say unprompted that she loves him and wants him to come to Paris. And he goes. Something like that. As it stands, it feels like going backwards.
Ross would never leave due to Ben his son. It was the reason Emily was going to move to New York. Before it got screwed up. It would of been interest to have a episode where Rachel did go to Paris, but missed Ross & went back to him.
We was STILL jealous about Mark and actually used the phrase: " You can't go to dinner with him". Do you think he's changed one bit?
Rachel should have gone to Europe.
Ross should have gone to Europe if she mattered so much to him. Sure, he's got tenure in NYU; that's just leverage when negotiating for a position in Paris.
@@tyrant-den884 Nah. Ross should have rotted in his unfulfilling life. He didn't deserve Rachel... or anyone really.
Thanks for saying this, George
@Francisco Leyva Martin Lmao, I've seen you reply to many comments with the exact same thing. You must be super bored to get so pressed over a fictional character.
@@iratakeuchi3031 nobody "deserves" anyone anyways
I usually agree with the takes of this channel however I can't agree with this one.
I moved away from the city in which i grew up to pursue my dream of getting a phd in a smaller city. It was the right decision. I had to leave my boyfriend there and we ended up in a long distance relationship. However, now that I am a bit older and have the opportunity to get my dream job, all I want is to move back in with my boyfriend and get married to start my life with him. I think there is a turning point in each person's life and taking the more traditional rout isn't necessarily a bad thing. At some point most people look for a settled life and want to be surrounded by those they love.
@Who Dis? Well said and your words totally ring true. Just because you leave for the big city, doesn't mean you have to leave everything behind, including someone who may be your soulmate.
Who Dis? I think the reason it rubbed me the wrong way was Rachel and ross's history! If Ross was this perfect (or even slightly flawed) soulmate, Rachel's choice would just be sweet, but for the reason the take mentioned it wasn't great for their characters. Ross got jealous of Rachel in the past and their relationship was always messy off and on
Ok you only wrote this 4 hours ago so there is still time: do you actually have an offer from your dream job that you're thinking of turning down, or you would have to move to the big city to try your luck??!!
Yeah, your last sentence just not right either.
@@Design____ByS actually I don't need to move. I have a standing offer for a postdoc position at my institute but I think I am done with putting my ambitions ahead of my personal life. My bf is still doing his phd and I can't ask him to move right now. He was supportive when I moved away to pursue my dream. He even tried to find a job close to my university but he had no luck. Now it's my turn to be supportive.
Phoebe's ending is wonderful! She keeps with the love of his friends and with the love of a the guy that embraces all her quickerness. She is still a free woman because she is free to do whatever she wants (as always) while she is in an well-grounded and healthy relationship. I don't think marrying is a prison for a person like her, as the analysis implies (specially because she has an unstable family record).
And let Mondler moving to the suburbs... It's not a big deal.
Yeah I agree. Like another commenter stated, they are upset that Phoebe isn’t the same throughout yet they are upset at Joey for staying the same. Like in the beginning Joey was talking about how in the future he would have a wife, but now he is content with his life now.
Also moving to the suburb is not that bad. Especially if it is close to where you work yet far enough from all the craziness.
Was the finale sad? Yes it was. It was bittersweet, but that is how real life is! It is bittersweet and our priorities change as we grow up!
Just because you might get new friends who share in similar interests, it doesn’t always mean you let go of the ones you had.
My question tho: Do you really have to give up (your friends) to grow up?
Of course you will spend less time with them at some point but I refuse to believe that that‘s how it works. I wouldn’t want to give up my social life to give my all into just one thing, raising children or chasing your career.
I‘ve seen adults who don’t have any friends mostly because they have a partner. I can’t imagine that being healthy.
You‘re right. It is definitly not.
Except that some people won‘t even spend less time with their friends.
I’m part of a tightly close group of seven friends who roots back to high school (it was 1996-2001 for us). Five of us are now parents, and everyone of us is married/living with a partner. We’re 40/41 years old, and of course we see each other much less than back when we were in our 20’s and early 30’s (just like the “Friends” characters); however, when we are together (all of is, or in small groups), you can see the love and the care for one another is still there. On some level, maybe even more than before, with all the drama of being young and feeling ourselves “immortal and indestructible” (academic and love rivalries, friendship and loyalty drama, various silly stuff typical of young and juvenile people).
"many of them start _real_ families and move on" this is so archaic and conservative. Family can be whatever you want it to be. Also Rachel saying she needs to stop having fun? It makes it sound like life ends _if_ you have children. That sucks, all around.
Or that you can't have fun after you reach your 30s. This is actually what bothers me the most.
@jermaine tobin what do you mean?
Seriously it felt like some other channel was pretending to be The Take.
Delighted to know that the guy who freaked out at the plane having no phalange is Dean Pelton from Community!
It's delightful!
Disclaimer: I wasn't going to comment this again but last time I pissed off a guy named Chris with it so now I'm just gonna copy paste this comment regardless of if I get noticed by The Take or not ❤️
*Please talk about close platonic relationships between women and men in film and television and the pressure inflicted on them to have a romantic relationship instead!*
Examples: Natasha and Steve from the MCU, Morgan and Garcia from Criminal Minds, Ellie and Paul from The half of it, etc.
How society views platonic relationships as just a building step for a romantic relationship instead, and somewhat forces us to view them as such to the point we can even start to confuse our own feelings when we're faced with similar situations and believe we're ~in love~ with the other person. Like, yes we love them but not in that way.
Add in: I know they kinda touched on the topic in the Phoebe and Joey vid but I think a more in depth vid with different variations would be great xx
That actually would be an amazing video. I still have problems with that trope.
Omg yes ! We need that ! That trope is super frustrating like a relationship always has to be your end goal 🙄 friendship is so valuable
@Shy sis u threw that shade at Chris lolllll 😂💀
Totally! For example, when I first saw the trailer for The Kissing Booth, I thought Joey King's character was going to end up with her best friend, like, I automatically assumed she would, for no good reason other than thinking "oh, it must be the friends-to-lovers trope"
@@bharathi2128 he was an arsehole, had to do it 😂
I always believed that there was a part of Phoebe's personality that was used as a defense mechanism to protect her from being further hurt by people and life. Then along comes a heart-fluttering handsome guy who tells her that he loves and understands her and will take her any way he can get her. And then he promises that he will never hurt her, nor will he abandon her. For the absolute first time in her WHOLE life, Pheobe can take down her walls and experience life from the other side. Of all the characters on the show, Pheobe got the fairytale. And she deserved it.
And as spacious as the apartment is, Chandler and Monica had a boy and a girl and only two bedrooms. Eventually, they would have to get a bigger apartment or a house.
It made NO sense that none of the other friends took over that fabulous, rent-controlled apartment.
I find the ending on the whole tragic, cause they started the show with the premise of finding your group and having people there for you. The ending on the show played into the stereotype of nuclear family units. it would have rocked if they had found a way to send the characters to their next step, but .. together as the family they have become. for me, that was the biggest disservice.
Show ended 15 years ago and videos still coming out this shows how great it was
This show is so iconic. I grew up watching it (I'm 23) and recently I found out my 13 yo little cousin loves it too. It transcends generarions. Now that I'm a young adult, I'm actually relating to it on a whole new level. I think its universal message is probably one of the reasons for its longevity.
The ending was sad because they sequel Joey, was right around the corner
lmao
i feel bad for joey just imagine. he lives across the hall ,his roomate chandler is gone . this friends next door moved out . imagine you get use to all the noice and just going next door to vent now you wake up the next day and its nothing but silence, im sure his friends would stop by every now and then . but everyones married with kids, at some point they would just stop coming around. imagine looking at a room then a door and being like once i walk out theres no stepping back in . kinda sucks cause i bet they also stopped meeting up and central perk
This farewell has nothing on the farewell we had to say to Matthew. 😢
I rarely disagree with The Take, but this just rubs me the wrong way. I don’t deny that there’s some truth to this video’s premise, but on the surface it just seems like wholesale pessimism. The other videos which analyzed each Friend individually came away with a lot more positive notions, even if things didn’t work out completely perfect. While it’s certainly fair to come away with different conclusions about something years later, this feels artificial to me, like someone wanted opposing conclusions just for their own sake. Does anyone else agree with me?
Yes. Who ever put this together equates adulthood with bad. Stability with bad. Career is more important. Motherhood is not fulfilling. Married with bad.....👎
Yeah i agree with you. When I watched this finale 16 + years ago I pictured them all being happy in the future and settling down as adults. That's actually what happens in real life-you grow up and your life changes.
I disagree with the take almost everytime I watch. Though your opinion on this video is 💯
This video actually pissed me off. It felt like trying to forcefit their shit into it and not using actual analysis and creativity in it
Agreed
I disagree with the Ross and Rachel part. Just because Rachel chose love over her carrier doesn't mean it's worse. It just means she set other priorities. And just because she didn't go to Paris she can still chase a carrier in NYC. Plus when Ross tells Rachel to go, he really is supportive and tells her to go and realizing he can't live without her is a good kind of selfish I think. He didn't force her and first Rachel even turns him down, but by admitting that he still loves her, she comes to the realisation that she wants that too.
The same goes for phoebe. Just because some peoples priorities are more "common" than always striving for more or staying an individual even if it's at the expense of a safe space, does bit make sense to me.
I think this always depends on the priorities of every individual. In my case, I agree with you, I will always prioritize people (I mean, my family, my children, my love) over career. I used to have what I thought it was the job of my life, I gave everything to my company, my time, my energy.... Then I quitted and I realised after a month everyone had already forgotten me. Everyone is replaceable in theses big corporates. But I'm not replaceable for my close friends and family.
So yeah, again, career will come always on second place.
Couldn't agree more. The fact that women are chastised for choosing marriage over career is awful
Thank you so much for this comment! Idk why choosing career over love is considered cool these days, I mean it's a personal choice. I would have still liked the ending if she went to Paris but they tried to show that if the love is true it can truly overcome all the fears and toxicity. They both became more mature and realised running away and ending things again and again is stupid instead of being with each other. They saw what's more worthy.
Ross and Rachel turned out to be the sad ending, she should have gone to Paris
she deserved better
@@ayanomar1408 yea she did
@@Caneladorada sure if people want a shitty crappy and unromantic ending
I was so disappointed when I first saw her abandon her dreams to relive the toxic relationship patterns she had already gone through all over again.
@@ronjag158 Literally tho. It’s just odd why other people tolerate their relationship or love them both. I know they’re “iconic,” but, just no.... you know????
Imagine labeling marriage and choosing family as mundane and unfulfilling endings.
Does The Take have something against marriage? Being married doesn't rob a woman of her individuality 🙄 Grow up.
I think u have missed the point.
I thought the same. Friends ending was perfect for me. They are just over analysing everything
“Living Single, the show Friends most closely resembled” actually the show that caused Friends to be created in the first place because the show runner didn’t feel Living Single would appeal to white people
Elizabeth N right lol
THIS!!! THANK YOU!!!!! 🙏🏽
@Elizabeth N Friends resembled Seinfeld even closer. But hey, that's what you get when your single and living in the Big Apple. Fortune had it that Friends was a comedic *ensemble* where each of the 6 main characters were equally as important. Then, they all had each an individual storyline, challenges and character developments. Add the drama etc. and Friends was very much different than Living Single. A show, which could be said was ripping off Seinfeld as well.
I should add further that the creators/producers themselves came to explicitly admit that Friends was inspired by their own time/experiences back in the 70s/80s, when they left College and went living in Greenwich Village to try and make a living. E.g. depending on your friends being your family. Some of the storylines in Friends, including Monica and Paul in the Pilot episode, reflects the originality and reflection of the creators/producers too. Those are facts. Not yours.
Thank you. I was hoping someone would call them out for this
@@dvchel The creators have actually said that Friends was inspired by Living Single.
I cringed at the comment that the characters moved on from the "friends family" to a "real family." Don't discount families that don't fit the heteronormative 2 parents and 3.5 kids. It's incredible disrespectful to many who have found their families outside that box.
True. They sould have used "traditional" instead of "real".
+1
The friends friends were a family.
So true. I chose to remain single and childfree and I have a great group of friends. Even friends from college who are married with kids I am still friends with. Yea, I don't see them as much, but I still check in. But growing up this show was extremely toxic for me because their end goal was always married with kids to the point of obsession and I didn't really know how to come to terms that I just didn't want that. The show was on the air when I was ages 14-24 and I watched as a teen so it definitely had an impact of telling me what I "should" want in life.
God yeah ! I was looking for comments like that ! So we HAVE to do
that or else we will end up alone and sad ?? What an awful statement !
I feel melancholic and questioning my current lifestyle after watching this video.
Thank god I stopped half way through. I think I’m just gonna stick with my version of the ending, the happy, nice one.
You’re right…. Monica, Phoebe, & Rachel could have had better career ending, especially since this show is about their careers. I still love it because of nostalgia
The sad thing is that joey will go back to his apartment knowing he doesn't have any friends in the building
Can you do a Samantha Jones analysis (SATC) next?
I've been begging for this exact one in like every comment section lol! She was an incredible inspiration to me
WE NEED THIS!!!!
No matter how huge of a role our close friends play in our lives, everything changes when people start their own families or move ahead with their careers,things change so much!
This is so sad but true 💔
Agree! This video really did touch me! And I’m already in my mid 20’s and agree 💯 I can’t deny anything of what they said.
Phoebe's ending was perfect for her! Just because she's married doesn't mean she can't be her eccentric true self!
They give you "happily ever after"ending (Friends), and you say it's too unrealistic. They give you true ending (HIMYM), you say it's too cruel and doesn't match the characters. Oh come on!
To me Rachel's story is the only tragic one. She gave up everything for a relationship that we all knew would never last, because Ross had not changed one bit and only emotionally blackmailed her to stay.
Phoebe, Chandler, Monica and Joey are fine in the end and with good outlook for their future.
Ross and Rachel spent to much tima apart and were so toxic to each other that in the end no one cared if they would end up together or not
You could not BE more wrong! When the show actually ended in 2004 a lot of people cared. Watching the show on streaming in 2020 is very different.
i as a fan didn’t care if they ended up together, also feel like it’s hard to call them on again off again, were only really together once before finale
It's like there's a rule that when a show is ending the characters have to part ways. It's depressing.
For me I thought it was rushed especially the ending of Ross and Rachel
I agree!
The reunion of Ross and Rachel was forced and hollow. Especially going into season 10 and the whole cringey Rachel/Joey vs Ross/Charlie plot behind you. The actors, like Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc, hated it too. No surprise. You get what you. If you have mediocre writers, you get mediocre writing that translates into mediocre character development and mediocre consistency.
We deserved a better Ross and Rachel ending. Writers should have scrapped the whole "moving to Paris" thing.
I've also felt this way to
I wanna say something about Ross... Yes, Rachel had to give up her dream in Paris, but we need to understand something here, as we're all being very unfair to Ross. Careers are not as important as relationships. Going to Paris would've been really nice for Rachel for a while, but, it's very likely that she would've found it to be just another city, doing her job which she could happily do in New York.
Also, you fail to mention how selfish Rachel's decision was to move to Paris, whilst having a daughter with Ross. She wasn't only taking away herself and Emma from Ross, but from her family and surrogate family, her friends, but most importantly, she was denying Emma the privelege to grow up with her blood relatives. So, Rachel was no peach when it came to selfishness. In the end, perhaps Rachel moving to Paris was a subconscious ploy to get Ross to step up and do exactly what she actually wanted him to do, as seen earlier in the season... to marry her and step up and set Ego aside.
Both had to set their ego aside so they can be the best they could for each other and for their daughter, and Ross asking Rachel to stay close so they could be a family was the RIGHT thing to do. Who cares if she worked in Paris, New York is just as big a fashion city.