Gunther: The Cautionary Tale of Friends

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ธ.ค. 2024

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  • @thetake
    @thetake  6 ปีที่แล้ว +78

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    • @AliceInWonder98
      @AliceInWonder98 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Why did you guys change your name just curious

    • @LiogCeartas
      @LiogCeartas 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      The Take by ScreenPrism
      Hey
      Can you do a vid about how tv shows meeting up places and changed with the times?
      Before it was just the living room, then turned into bars/restaurants and i swear the 90s was all about the coffee house. from cheers to fraisier and then friends.

    • @ananyamehta4662
      @ananyamehta4662 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Can you do Patrick Melrose?

    • @msfriendsfan4ever788
      @msfriendsfan4ever788 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Will you do Sex and the city next, there is still no video for Charlotte and Samantha, and i want a video for Mike the 7th friend

    • @agathadelacruz6689
      @agathadelacruz6689 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Parks and rec characters pls

  • @lilb783
    @lilb783 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6029

    My man Gunther was just tryna sell coffee and live his life and he gets attacked like this

    • @thisismyusername4569
      @thisismyusername4569 5 ปีที่แล้ว +52

      like same

    • @ms.rstake_1211
      @ms.rstake_1211 5 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      Ikr?

    • @paulamcoldlady9468
      @paulamcoldlady9468 5 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @Michael Freed and Gunter see the others 6 more cools. Is like the comic man of the big bang theory.

    • @tatioliveira8598
      @tatioliveira8598 5 ปีที่แล้ว +89

      I knew there would be a comment like your because IT'S TRUE! Who can say he's not living his life just the way he wanted to? No one got to know him outside the cafe, maybe he does have a happy life in his own way...

    • @rathelmmc3194
      @rathelmmc3194 5 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      @Michael Freed, Friends was about people in their late 20s to their late 30s. You really should change a lot in that age range in all avenues. Gunther had zero growth as a character that was the same age as the other characters. The Takes, take is correct. He is a cautionary character.

  • @seastormsinger
    @seastormsinger 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4989

    I really think we as a society shouldn't be so hard on people who find a simple life (like serving coffee) fulfilling. A good, well run coffee house is a blessing. Gunther's shop is well run, clean, consistent, welcoming and comforting. There is a reason the Friends keep going there.
    Gunther is doing good work. We shouldn't assume he is unfulfilled (well, except about Rachel). Rachel wasn't fulfilled and she was terrible at it as a result. Clearly, that is not the case with Gunther.
    Cheers to Gunther. You and people like you deserve more respect.

    • @hollywoodshopaholic
      @hollywoodshopaholic 6 ปีที่แล้ว +251

      Yeah, if I ran a small business and said business was appreciated enough to attract a bunch of regulars and be consistently full of customers, I’d be pretty ecstatic. It means your establishment is LIKED. Does ScreenPrism know how hard it is to be genuinely liked in this world??
      Hell, I get super excited whenever someone wants to buy something I’m selling online, because it means they like my taste and chose to spend their money on it.

    • @benjaminzeledon7626
      @benjaminzeledon7626 6 ปีที่แล้ว +127

      @@hollywoodshopaholic One of my jobs is basically trying to help struggling bars succeed. Having regulars is a great thing! Especially in a city where you can be replaced within two months. He had a coffee shop in the East Village that lasted over a decade and became a centralized institution. He should be damn proud

    • @eusouagua
      @eusouagua 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Yes and thank you.

    • @nerdstuff1294
      @nerdstuff1294 6 ปีที่แล้ว +118

      Way to miss the point there. The tragedy of Gunther is not that he finds a simple life fulfilling and people are beating up on him because of that. No, the problem is that he is very clearly UNFULFILLED with what he has. It's easy to tell that Gunther is someone who has very little zest for life left in him, and it's not just about Rachel. He doesn't demonstrate any joy or self-confidence, which is something fulfilled people have in abundance. The problem is not his external achievements, it's his internal attitude towards life. He obviously wants more than what he has but he lets fear, inertia, self-doubt or whatever else it might be get in the way of pursuing what HE HIMSELF wants, not what society thinks he should want. He COULD be fulfilled with what he has, but he's obvously not, because HE wants more, but he doesn't go after it.

    • @seastormsinger
      @seastormsinger 6 ปีที่แล้ว +53

      @@nerdstuff1294 I was taking issue with the section where they claimed he was unfulfilled professionally- we really don't have any evidence for that, and the implication that a simple life is inherently unfulfilling and a life serving coffee is synonymous with failure is insultingly incorrect.
      I said "except for Rachel" because the show did make it clear he was unfulfilled romantically because of her.

  • @gonzaloplot3083
    @gonzaloplot3083 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4600

    Steady job, lives in NY, owns his appartment. I wish I had Gunther's life.

    • @trinaq
      @trinaq 6 ปีที่แล้ว +185

      Yes, at least Gunther has that going for him. But he's so afraid of seeking something more that he's stuck in a rut, with no sign of change.

    • @sannh
      @sannh 6 ปีที่แล้ว +177

      He doesn't just have a job, he owns the business.

    • @ClarenceEwing
      @ClarenceEwing 6 ปีที่แล้ว +101

      @@trinaq Despite his obsession with Rachel, maybe he likes working in a coffee shop...?

    • @nataliya_leland
      @nataliya_leland 6 ปีที่แล้ว +57

      @@@sannh wait, no. the owner of the central perk is Terry

    • @chadlofts7926
      @chadlofts7926 6 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      and also the boss.. I've always assumed he owned Central Perk..

  • @DarkwaveMistress
    @DarkwaveMistress 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1907

    Maybe he doesn't realize what he has? He runs a successful business, owns an apartment, is cute, has interesting stories to tell, but he keeps wanting other people's lives. Also, can we stop demeaning servers? We all drink their coffee but we see them as "unfulfilled" and sad.

    • @EarmuffChick
      @EarmuffChick 6 ปีที่แล้ว +69

      Sadae Sparda thank you! Ross is so whiny and annoying; tbh Racheal would’ve been better off with Gunther

    • @hollywoodshopaholic
      @hollywoodshopaholic 6 ปีที่แล้ว +99

      Yeah I was a waitress for a bit and loved it. You get to wear a cute apron and interact with all kinds of people. Also, who doesn’t love being surrounded by good food (and getting free meals in the process)??
      If you take your profession seriously, there is nothing shameful about any occupation or position.

    • @DarkwaveMistress
      @DarkwaveMistress 6 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      @@EarmuffChick Ross is the worst.

    • @DarkwaveMistress
      @DarkwaveMistress 6 ปีที่แล้ว +57

      @@hollywoodshopaholic I've never been a waitress but it seems like a tough job. I respect them a lot. Like you said, it's a respectable job, I hate when people think less of anyone who works hard.

    • @gracehaven5459
      @gracehaven5459 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@EarmuffChick or anyone else for that matter 😅🤷‍♀️

  • @LuCet21
    @LuCet21 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1196

    but... aren't we all Gunther in some way? i see myself more in him then in any of the friends. he is a realistic depiction of... people living a comfortable and simple life.

    • @Sab_MJsMama
      @Sab_MJsMama 6 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      We are aren't Gunther in MANY ways...this platitude has become so trite and condescending...I'm over it. Not to say that being like him is bad it's just who's to say his life sucks?

    • @Juju-nr7cb
      @Juju-nr7cb 6 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      I'm not, i like to step out of my comfort zone and aim for bigger things, sure its scary at first but it did pay off for me and now i have the life i actually wanted, if i didn't do anything about it i'd still be in my room, living with my parents playing video games

  • @benjaminzeledon7626
    @benjaminzeledon7626 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3904

    Wait, so running a successful coffee shop in the East Village for over a decade is a bad thing?

    • @RokuRG
      @RokuRG 5 ปีที่แล้ว +219

      ​@Oh Absolutely Not! What kind of argument is it? It's like saying "oh, youre a millionaire? But you could be a billionaire, so youre not rich". Also, not everyone wants to get married and we dont know if he has friends or not.

    • @peterwonaprize
      @peterwonaprize 5 ปีที่แล้ว +194

      Except Gunther doesn't own the shop. He's only a manager who makes below minimum wage before tips.

    • @jacobgavrilov5989
      @jacobgavrilov5989 5 ปีที่แล้ว +79

      He said in one eps that he makes 4 dollars an hour.

    • @ahripark2593
      @ahripark2593 5 ปีที่แล้ว +96

      But he doesn’t own the shop, he makes $4.00 an hour, he’s not improving his life he’s just at a standstill and he isn’t happy

    • @kateginger
      @kateginger 5 ปีที่แล้ว +81

      @Oh Absolutely Not! we should celebrate mediocrity. Cause that's what most of us are. Dream big, but don't think anyone can become a billionaire. Be thankfull and humple. And be nicer to people who worked hard for a normal life, you sound like you are very young and still don't know how hard life really is.

  • @manthony225
    @manthony225 6 ปีที่แล้ว +940

    I think the character of Gunther serves to embody the viewer's underlying annoyance with the friends and take them down notch on our behalf. These are 6 attractive people who are largely oblivious to those outside their adorable little circle. Gunther is there to say "it's not always about you guys". In one episode we see that he doesn't even have Joey and Chandler's names right.

    • @hollywoodshopaholic
      @hollywoodshopaholic 5 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      Haha agreed

    • @ilovenycsomuch
      @ilovenycsomuch 5 ปีที่แล้ว +99

      Also the episode where they walk in stunned to see that a different group of friends is sitting in their spot lol. It was a very clever way of reminding us that a group of friends wouldn’t always happen to get the spot the like in a coffee shop every time, the world does not revolve around them

    • @lolavedette7566
      @lolavedette7566 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Except Gunther never actually really says this most of the time.

    • @SurahOnline
      @SurahOnline 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Tacoma98 - *EXACTLY!!!!* 👏💯💯💯

    • @PurpleMoon799
      @PurpleMoon799 4 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      @@ilovenycsomuch i like to believe the theory that gunther put up the "reserved" sign on that table for the gang so he could stare at rachel.

  • @PedroMaltaMartins
    @PedroMaltaMartins 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1181

    Gunther may have a relationship problem, but all this thing about careers and being miserable because he didn't search a career is just ridiculous, he may very well be very happy with his life, with still a barrier when it comes to intimate love relationships.

    • @fcv4616
      @fcv4616 6 ปีที่แล้ว +41

      @@Babemovac He doesn't seem to be very happy with his life though. Throughout the series he is portrayed as apathetic, bitter and jealous.

    • @PedroMaltaMartins
      @PedroMaltaMartins 6 ปีที่แล้ว +60

      @@fcv4616 That's because you only see the perspective that serves the story that the writers are telling. If you see a character only thru one lens, you never realize (or capture, in this case) their actual, human complexity...

    • @Jotari
      @Jotari 6 ปีที่แล้ว +71

      He does seem unhappy with life, but he doesn't seem unfulfilled by his job specifically. He's depicted as dedicated to his role as manager and the service he provides. At least he cares way more than Rachel or Joey did.

    • @mankytoes
      @mankytoes 6 ปีที่แล้ว +39

      Agreed, he is the manager. You could argue he's more successful than Joey, who never recovers his career after being killed off Days of Our Lives, and spends most of the series sponging off Chandler, or Phoebe, who seems happy doing lower status work than managing a coffee shop.

    • @erfreak15
      @erfreak15 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Thank you! I was thinking the same thing!

  • @amyclarke6176
    @amyclarke6176 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1820

    Gunther isn’t about what happens is you don’t take risks he’s a story of what happens if those risks don’t succeed.
    Gunther is stable in everything he has done.
    While the friends have very high highs they also have very low lows so while the friends may have risen above where they started they also had to suffer to get there.
    Also it’s suggested from many episodes that Gunther has other friends and family but his interactions with the friends don’t put him in a place where he can become one of the friends. The same way the friends aren’t that close with people from work. They have the same relationship with Gunther. He probably has a friends like relationship with his own friends.
    For me Gunther isn’t a tale about putting yourself out there it’s a story about being so self centred you can’t see anyone else.
    Gunther is interesting but none of the friends find this out.
    If they stoped to talk to him they’d see how interesting he actually is.
    Gunther isn’t always afraid to try and be a friend it’s just he’s been rejected so many times it’s not worth getting hurt again.
    He’s not resentful of their friendship relationship or jobs - he has a job he is happy with etc. He’s resentful of how they treat him. He’s only a human sofa to the friends because they are the only people that treat him like a human sofa.
    I agree with what he represents-the opposites of the friends. But honestly i don’t think he’s upset with his life.
    Gunther isn’t one of the friends he’s one of the audience. Always observing the scenes but never a part of them.
    Gunther isn’t suppose to scare us he’s supposed ground us in reality. Maybe we could quit or ask that girl out but it might not work out.
    Gunther is us and things don’t always work out for us.
    Gunther has to go to work rather than just seemingly never going like the friends. Gunther doesn’t see HIS friends every day. Because that’s how things are for everyday people, people that aren’t the friends, people like us.
    TLDR Gunther isn’t sad. Gunther is reality (for better or worse).The friends are distant to Gunther. Gunther is the audience.

    • @thunderstorminmyblood3705
      @thunderstorminmyblood3705 6 ปีที่แล้ว +114

      THIS THIS THIS!!!! Agree 100%, you made some eye opening points

    • @Melissastu
      @Melissastu 6 ปีที่แล้ว +50

      This is true! very smart analysis:

    • @ewaborawska8832
      @ewaborawska8832 6 ปีที่แล้ว +54

      Exactly! When i saw this title i thought that this will be an analysis of how often people in everyday life, tend to focus on themselves and their cliques rather than open up to get to know someone else. So i'm kinda disappointed. And also i think Gunther have really cool job. He's the manager of very popular coffee place. I worked as a barista for a few years and i loved it.

    • @amyclarke6176
      @amyclarke6176 6 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Kevin thanks for your opinion.
      I probably am projecting but the joy of an audience stand in is we can think about what we’d do if we were Gunther
      You for example might make more of an effort to talk to the friends
      I might not
      Others might start by talking to a single friend ie joey and try to get into the group that way
      I tried to remain subjective as I was giving an analysis but everyone is going to think differently about Gunther based on what they’d do in his situation.

    • @amyclarke6176
      @amyclarke6176 6 ปีที่แล้ว +44

      Ewa Borawska that was one of things that inspired the comment. Both Monica and Gunther are high up in food/drink service industry.(at there respective locations). Because we see Monica’s struggles and how hard she works to get prompted etc she seems to progress more but we don’t see that for Gunther. He could have been promoted (at central perk)and we never knew or he could have a second job (cause affording a New York City apartment as a barista is unlikely) that is more “interesting”. The friends seem great cause it’s their story but to others they are the Gunthers of peoples lives. People that eat at Monica’s restaurant likely treat her the same way the friends treat Gunther.
      We are the friends of our own lives but the Gunther of someone else’s life.
      I think a professional analysis of the friends self centred nature and a look at the benefits and losses of risk life style (friends) vs mediated life style (Gunther) both would be interesting to see but neither were what I got in this video.

  • @nrkgalt
    @nrkgalt 6 ปีที่แล้ว +487

    Ross is his own cautionary tale on romantic relationships, particularly with his 3 divorces.

    • @jdprettynails
      @jdprettynails 5 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      Yep. Step one: say the correct name at your wedding!

    • @josefk7437
      @josefk7437 4 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Ross is even more of a cautionary tale than Gunther. Ross is a crybaby with entitlement issues.

    • @seraphina2293
      @seraphina2293 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Technically I guess his romance with Rachel is a redemption arch

    • @bubblegumbitch2191
      @bubblegumbitch2191 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      “Ross the divorce force”

    • @santos8146
      @santos8146 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      C’mon Ross is a victim of disappointment. He got cheated by his lesbian wife for seven years. That’s how a man behave if he’s trying to put everything behind the past and trying to start a new relationship. He’s a good caring friend in many ways possible except the part of committing to a relationship

  • @honeyluv32690
    @honeyluv32690 3 ปีที่แล้ว +44

    This is a classist take. Gunther never said he didn't like his job at the coffee house. There's nothing wrong with working there all your life. He probably loves it.

    • @lov1na716
      @lov1na716 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      he only makes $4 an hour so I doubt it

  • @maygem8005
    @maygem8005 6 ปีที่แล้ว +236

    With him hiring and firing people, I always thought Gunther was either a manager or the owner. Either way, working in a coffee shop, steady work and living in NYC? He's more put together than the main characters....and far less whiny!

    • @mcgil8891
      @mcgil8891 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Exactly

    • @serenity4eva89
      @serenity4eva89 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      You took the words right out of my mouth! Gunther has his sh*t together... which I guess (based on this take of him) seems weird compared to the chaotic-ness of the Friends 🤷‍♀️

  • @QuietlyCurious
    @QuietlyCurious 6 ปีที่แล้ว +553

    Not all people can be aspirational. In fact, many in the world don't go anywhere. But it doesn't make them tragic or deprive their lives of purpose. The smallest thing, pouring coffee, holds significant purpose. I understand this analysis as seen through the lens of the show (young adults make it and find love!), but please, this is not reflective of authentic living.

    • @eusouagua
      @eusouagua 6 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Thank you.

    • @chocolatemilkhotel96
      @chocolatemilkhotel96 5 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Agreed! For all we know he used to have a fun group of friends out of work. Plus, chandler is technically in the same boat as gunther. He hates his job in the first few seasons and only stays for the money. Its not till the end of the show that he goes into advertisement.

    • @lambchop6278
      @lambchop6278 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Well said. Gunther has a depth to him too, whereas the Friends characters don't. I think that's why I never much liked the show.

    • @mcgil8891
      @mcgil8891 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thank you!

  • @Sarahchamorro
    @Sarahchamorro 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2050

    I feel personally attacked by this video

    • @nclp1751
      @nclp1751 6 ปีที่แล้ว +64

      honestly same. it's kinda scary i identify with this that much.

    • @IsiahChan7052
      @IsiahChan7052 6 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      Same I don't like it.

    • @andrewlopez9697
      @andrewlopez9697 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Aww you poor thing

    • @gracehaven5459
      @gracehaven5459 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Why?🤷‍♀️

    • @mrkingflo_
      @mrkingflo_ 6 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Same. It hurts and at the same time it scares me

  • @Janette388
    @Janette388 6 ปีที่แล้ว +507

    Yea yea...this video talks all about how gunter's job and life was a failure...but who said he hated his job? I mean we don't know what he wanted or liked?

    • @LaurenRauh
      @LaurenRauh 6 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Rogerina the Skywalker dogga not that there’s anything wrong with working at a coffee shop but I feel like I everyone has bigger dreams then that

    • @Janette388
      @Janette388 6 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@LaurenRauh no..but no one knows what was happening in Gunther's mind...just the love that he had for rachel..that's it..yea he complained about his pay and hours but..he was just being gunther...like they said a little bit bitter. maybe he actually liked his job..

    • @LaurenRauh
      @LaurenRauh 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Rogerina the Skywalker dogga that’s true he had an apartment in New York and steady job so maybe he was satisfied with that

    • @Janette388
      @Janette388 6 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @@LaurenRauh yea I mean i get the point of the video and l liked it but..i didn't like that they protayed gunther like just a sad patethic guy I mean I would like to think he had good qualities or good things in his life i think lol

    • @LaurenRauh
      @LaurenRauh 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Rogerina the Skywalker dogga yeah I’d actually like to think Gunther has a wild life we don’t know about actually.

  • @danhill3302
    @danhill3302 6 ปีที่แล้ว +175

    Counterpoint: The Friends were awful to him, other people can put themselves out there too.

  • @peaceablegamer
    @peaceablegamer 6 ปีที่แล้ว +163

    I feel like I should point out- there's nothing wrong with staying at a job that pays the bills, even if youre not ~passionate~ about it. There are ways to be fulfilled with your life outside of your professional sphere

    • @1DROCKS12345
      @1DROCKS12345 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I means that’s basically what chandler does right? He stays at his data processing job or whatever and uses the money to help support joey and in a savings account. It’s only until the job makes him spend a ridiculous amount of time away from Monica that he quits and finds something else.

  • @dorrinadonya4347
    @dorrinadonya4347 5 ปีที่แล้ว +240

    I'd just like to point out that Pheobe was not ambitious either.. and did not really end up anywhere from the beginning of the series to the end professionally, besides working as a massage therapist.
    She did get married, to someone rich. And Joey, whose professional career had ups and downs, continued at the end of the series, to have ups and down. And in the end, he didn't end up with someone - he remained single - just like in the beginning of the series.
    So are not Pheobe and Joey subject to the same perspective of this "stagnation" that Gunther represents?

    • @lolavedette7566
      @lolavedette7566 4 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      No because throughout Phoebe maintains a general optimism about life and so does Joey. Gunther on the other hand has a sunken look on him most of the time. He doesn't come across as fulfilled, mostly bored and resentful. He doesn't value what he has and that's the big difference

    • @CarlosFlores-xb3gx
      @CarlosFlores-xb3gx 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Phoebe & Joey both took a shot at their romantic interests WAY earlier than Gunther.

    • @petlover9696
      @petlover9696 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@CarlosFlores-xb3gxwhich romantic interests are you referring to?

    • @petlover9696
      @petlover9696 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@lolavedette7566how do Phoebe and Joey manage to continue being optimistic? Why do they continue to be optimistic when they could easily become more negative like Gunther?

  • @zbartram08
    @zbartram08 6 ปีที่แล้ว +64

    Did you ever think his bitterness towards the friends was because or the way they treated him? Gunther's story is that of the popular kids in school actively snubbing the uncool ones, it just takes place in an adult environment.

    • @josefk7437
      @josefk7437 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      He is the show's obsessed fanboy.

  • @lloyd8532
    @lloyd8532 6 ปีที่แล้ว +288

    I'll just point that we see him hire and fire people without refering to anyone, closing early if he wants to, ... So Gunther probably owns the place. I'll agree with the other parts, but professionally, he's pretty successful, he's an imigrate which, in he's 20's, owns a popular coffee in the center of Manathan.

    • @peterduttmann717
      @peterduttmann717 6 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      But the owner’s name is actually Terry, he appeared in two episodes in season 1 and 2 . He was quite old though, he could leave the perk to Gunther but I doubt that. He is just a manager and that’s why he can hire and fire people

    • @TheNuyorker
      @TheNuyorker 6 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      I actually always assumed he owned it. But even managing a successful business in NYC is a great position

    • @PurpleMoon799
      @PurpleMoon799 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      wait he was the same age as the group? i always thought he was much older

  • @biazacha
    @biazacha 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1139

    The video was both interesting and a punch in the gut cause I share a good amount of personality traits with Gunther. Oh well.

    • @lollydolly4590
      @lollydolly4590 6 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      Beatriz Zacharias I think we all do :(

    • @raraavis7782
      @raraavis7782 6 ปีที่แล้ว +31

      Beatriz Zacharias
      Yeah. Same here. Wouldn’t call myself ‚repressed and resentful‘ though. Not everyone wants to be in the limelight or have the stress of a ‚career‘.
      I‘m quite happy being in the background and working a steady, unexciting job *shrugs*

    • @PureOrganic
      @PureOrganic 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      It’s something you can change and work on whatever traits it is.

    • @erfreak15
      @erfreak15 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Me, too. :/

    • @amyclarke6176
      @amyclarke6176 6 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      Lauren Webster I commented in more detail but the reason we relate to Gunther is cause he is the stand in for the audience. He’s always on the outside watching but never a part of the scenes. He is reality while the friends can quit there jobs and things work out the reality is that things don’t always work out and you can get stuck somewhere because it’s safe hence Gunther’s situation.
      We relate to Gunther because that’s the point of his character

  • @jelatinosa
    @jelatinosa 6 ปีที่แล้ว +203

    Didn't Gunther own the coffee shop? I much prefer his life to the drama of the Friends. His biggest flaw was obsessing over a self centered, vapid girl because she was pretty. He could have matured over his superficial attraction to her and his life would be great! I would love owning and running a coffee shop in NYC and owning an apartment there. Plus, he seems to have already lived the "exciting" yet less stable part of life. He was on a famous soap opera on tv! What adventures and trials did he have to put himself through to get such a tv role, be able to have his own business and own an apartment in such a city, to be able to live a comfortable stable life at his age. He only had to work on his romantic life and expectations.

    • @hollywoodshopaholic
      @hollywoodshopaholic 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      elines acevedo THIS comment

    • @grayk7455
      @grayk7455 5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Itd be cool to see a spinoff of a younger Gunther living life as an actor on the soap opera and learning to open a business and getting an apartment along with all the relationship struggles he had along the way.

    • @glovesandsteeringwheel8222
      @glovesandsteeringwheel8222 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      He was the manager, not the owner. He made 4 dollars an hour.

    • @okaythen5165
      @okaythen5165 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      But wasn’t that similar to Ross? The Rachel part. He liked her cause she was pretty, then feelings.

  • @wrenpeach6707
    @wrenpeach6707 6 ปีที่แล้ว +213

    I went back to a customer service job after being laid off from a "more respectable" office job, and I lost weight, am happier, and after one year already make almost as much as I did after years at that "better" job. I hate the attitude that a job that looks more impressive to other people means you're somehow a more together person. It's like feeling bad for Peter at the end of Office Space.

    • @toomuchinformation
      @toomuchinformation 6 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I read recently that status is more important than money or even happiness for some people, esp where work is concerned.

    • @chocolatemilkhotel96
      @chocolatemilkhotel96 5 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Yup. Notice how miserable chandler is in his job. He stays only for the money

    • @CarlosFlores-xb3gx
      @CarlosFlores-xb3gx 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@chocolatemilkhotel96 But he wanted to do marketing. Btw I LOVE your profile pic! :)

    • @rubylace9963
      @rubylace9963 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yep, I would rather have a stress-free job where I can leave my work at work.

    • @tasha1357
      @tasha1357 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I love this comment. Thank u so much for writing it. I don’t want a job that’s high stress, high responsibility because it’s very hard on my mental health. But ppl around me don’t understand that because they expect everyone to have a respectable job, office job, high paying. I just want low stress in my life.

  • @ctam31ify
    @ctam31ify 6 ปีที่แล้ว +415

    I always thought Gunther owned the coffee shop. That place was always busy. Gunther is probably rich.

    • @vanferuli3
      @vanferuli3 6 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      The owner it's an old man named Terry

    • @JannieNaoki
      @JannieNaoki 6 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@vanferuli3 i thought his name is Jerry because Rachel called him Jerry the jerk?

    • @2degucitas
      @2degucitas 6 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      I bet he did buy it eventually.

    • @WickedKnightAlbel
      @WickedKnightAlbel 6 ปีที่แล้ว +50

      He literally said in the video "I make $4 an hour"

    • @faycoleman9023
      @faycoleman9023 6 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      @@WickedKnightAlbel he is manager. He is also serving as well because they don't have many people working there. 3 or so at a time. He probably gets servers wage. $4 hr for servers wage isn't bad. He probably makes fairly good tips.

  • @owlface9231
    @owlface9231 6 ปีที่แล้ว +134

    Kind of a snobbish take on Gunther's job.

  • @Hallows4
    @Hallows4 6 ปีที่แล้ว +535

    I’m seeing a fair amount of division in these comments; most appear to either identify with the video or dismiss the premise, but maybe that division is indicative of something bigger. Gunther illustrates how a stable/unchanging life can be good or bad, depending on your personal needs and perspective. If your needs don’t change, maybe you don’t feel the desire to change either. While I think it was a stretch to correlate his unchanging job to his unchanging relationships, not all people are risk-takers, and there can be opportunities to move upwards within your current sphere. The main thing is that you have to WANT to move up.

    • @VARUN20X
      @VARUN20X 6 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Absolutely correct things are never constant in this universe they always change.....its our decision or rather our choice to try to maintain the status quo or do something else.

    • @jhnshep
      @jhnshep 6 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      I find the video somewhat unfair on Gunther. The only thing you could redress Gunther on is his infactuation with Rachel, who from a distance you could say isn't worth the time, but I suppose we're all guilty of pining over someone at somepoint, the show writers took it as a running gag so it went on for ten years. This video sticks with his problem with her for half of it but also points him out as an eg of not following your dreams. As for moving up what does that even mean, He's a coffee shop manager, what next district manager for starbucks or restarting acting. He's made out to be Dutch a largely reserved people, was he born to dutch parents in the states or did he move to the states (he still speaks the lingo) he acted then moved on from that probably worked the coffee shop then becoming manager, does he own it? In anycase 3 lives lived already, he runs a cafe 10 mins from central park, how many nowadays want to do such a thing. Besides only two of the friends fulfill their dreams Ross and Monica, one gets tenure the other has her resto, Rachel wanted to get married and live happily ever after and got stuck working in a job as she puts it 'sorta related to what their interested in' and learns to love it, Joey is still struggling Chandler I can't remember did he find a new job, and Phoebe well Phoebe is Phoebe. Anyhoo screenprism/vox/buzzfeed/school of life have this dangerous way of peddling the idea of following your dream, as if you can't be happy in the job you're in and constructing happiness from that foundation.

    • @jhnshep
      @jhnshep 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@fromtheothersidee111 person within a group - 'see a stranger, it's up to them to come forward' stranger outside the group 'it's up to the group to open up' I dislike those tests as if everything was straight forward, as for mental health, although being cerebral beings not everything is a mental health issue. eg The shy person I think has less of a 'mental health' issue than the guy that steps into the middle of the group and interupts people when talking, however keeping to yourself is seen as a problem. Anyhoo if sigmund freud had a hard time with the human psyche and is currently being doubted I don't think we'll do any better in a comments section of a friends rehash ;-)

    • @jhnshep
      @jhnshep 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@fromtheothersidee111 One could point out he was successful before any of them even became adults :-D also he aint that shy he sticks to his job and stumbles around rachel sorta, but sticks his head in and says something when he wants but stays discreet.

    • @2degucitas
      @2degucitas 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Some people are so used to limiting their dreams, due to early life experience, that the habit sticks. For life.

  • @xstream1234
    @xstream1234 6 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    At least he tells his crush that he loves them. Not a lot of people do it. Early or late, he still did it. I like Gunther.

  • @conversacionesconmipadre
    @conversacionesconmipadre 4 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    I actually love Gunter's life: steady, quiet and so private and mysterious. Not every person needs to be a hustler.

  • @marianatorres2518
    @marianatorres2518 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1544

    You know what's sadder than Gunther's life? Leaving a job in Paris behind to be with a guy you have a toxic relationship with and barely respects you... :v

    • @narizota
      @narizota 5 ปีที่แล้ว +81

      damn right

    • @ms.rstake_1211
      @ms.rstake_1211 5 ปีที่แล้ว +59

      Daaaammmmnnn 😳

    • @samuelputrab.2635
      @samuelputrab.2635 5 ปีที่แล้ว +31

      in all honesty i rlly think Ross might change his ways this time (10 yrs ago lol) around

    • @Rae-qo8lx
      @Rae-qo8lx 5 ปีที่แล้ว +76

      He changed a lot but daaamn louis vuitton. Rachel is someone i dont want to be

    • @morgancha1272
      @morgancha1272 5 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      oof thats so true lmaooo ended Roschel shippers

  • @WhelmedButReady
    @WhelmedButReady 6 ปีที่แล้ว +77

    It gets me everytime when Gunther finally reveals his true feelings to Rachel in The Last One lol. The way how they were all super oblivious for a decade was perfect

    • @trinaq
      @trinaq 6 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      I know, at least Ross put himself out there, with a little "help" from Chandler! As noted, if Gunther had been upfront about his true feelings for Rachel earlier on, she might have still turned him down, but he could have saved himself a lot of heartache and pain, and just moved on.

  • @cellardoor199991
    @cellardoor199991 6 ปีที่แล้ว +43

    I think Gunther is either the manager or the owner of the coffee shop. Which is actually impressive and something to look up to.

    • @talknight2
      @talknight2 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      He's the manager and he made 4$ per hour.

  • @sofiaask2167
    @sofiaask2167 6 ปีที่แล้ว +130

    This was quite condecending

  • @Melissastu
    @Melissastu 6 ปีที่แล้ว +169

    This is a very ellistist video.. this is not because you don't have a fancy job that you are not happy with it! also not evry single person in the world can "just if they take the risk" and become a director or a stylist this is not how life works. Gunther is not perfect this is true but since he his a background character unfortunately we can't know what his passions and hobbies are or who is real love interest is since in 10 seasons he had realtionships and friends ect

    • @TokinMex
      @TokinMex 6 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @Aaron Ploof you must be young

    • @jozsi93
      @jozsi93 6 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @Aaron Ploof Interesting,so if i,let's say want to be the emperor-president of the alpha-centauri galaxy how would i go about achieving that? Oh to be young and naive...

  • @sannh
    @sannh 6 ปีที่แล้ว +68

    WTF are you talking about? Gunther is a successful business owner. He "launched" before the show started.

    • @iona3404
      @iona3404 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Sarah H what? gunther doesnt own the coffee house

    • @personal_utube
      @personal_utube 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@iona3404 true

  • @laurenc2976
    @laurenc2976 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Gunther is the definition of what I call contentment. Some people don't want to reach for the stars. Some of us are quite happy gazing up at them.

  • @trinaq
    @trinaq 6 ปีที่แล้ว +419

    Poor Gunther, he always struck as a strong contender for the role of the "seventh Friend", at least before Mike came along. I never thought too much how he acts as a foil to many of the main Friends, and how he represents what could have happened to them if they hadn't "embraced the fear" that comes with heading into the unknown. Instead, he stays in the background, never pursuing advancement in his career or a long lasting relationship.
    I always felt that there was a more interesting character behind what we saw of him, but none of the "Friends" ever seem to acknowledge him, and see him as a prop of sorts. We can learn a lot from Gunther Central Perk, and push ourselves out there!😃

    • @johnchukwudum673
      @johnchukwudum673 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      @TK Wallace interesting story

    • @paulamcoldlady9468
      @paulamcoldlady9468 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      @TK Wallace If you have a strong friends or family you can “embrace the fear" so easy. Maybe Gunter haven't this people in his life and must pay medicines, food, place to live... I don't know if you knew about concept of to born with a silver spoon and opportunities. No everyone have the equal life and environment. Or he is happy of his life and have more time an enghout money that if he was a killer CEO for example.

    • @paulamcoldlady9468
      @paulamcoldlady9468 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @TK Wallace and “scared" sound to me like an anxiety problem or other mental issues.

  • @entertain7us148
    @entertain7us148 6 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    are you serious an entire video about Gunther? the greatest character in the English canon!??!!? THANK YOUUUU

  • @tropezando
    @tropezando 6 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    "We shouldn't feel superior to the Gunthers in our lives"
    *spends entire video criticizing Gunther*
    Quitting a job and "embracing the fear" is something reserved for people who have money to fall back on. Not everyone has the financial luxury to take risks, you know? And it's such a limited mindset to think that your job defines your success as a person. People are forced to work to live, but it's what they choose do with their free time that shows who they really are.
    Gunther seems pretty okay with his life, so why are we comparing him to other people? Clearly, he doesn't want to be exactly like them or he'd make different choices.

    • @matti.8465
      @matti.8465 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Also he is probably only jealous of the group's friendship, not their lives. He is not downright miserable because he is not a Ross.

    • @pxglee
      @pxglee 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I quit a toxic job to open a store, and due to the covid the business is losing money.
      In foresight, everyone told me i shouldn’t have taken the risk. Just stick with the job i hate till it killed me

  • @applecoreeater
    @applecoreeater 6 ปีที่แล้ว +117

    I disagree. I always figured Gunther owned the coffee shop and enjoys his job. I think he actually likes being in the service industry and being with people. He is a far more interesting person than the show allows him to be. And that's just because he is only framed through the perspective of a bunch of admittedly very self-centred people. Like when the Friends didnt even know Phoebe had a roommate. Basically they can't see beyond their own little bubble and only perceive people as important insofar as they serve their own agenda.
    All the friends are toxic people - ESPECIALLY Ross and Rachel and their relationship with each other.
    If anything Gunther is a warning against pining after solipsistic and selfish people who refuse to see anyone outside their immediate circle as actual people.

    • @TheTwara
      @TheTwara 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Exactly!!

    • @irinabalduzzi3509
      @irinabalduzzi3509 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      So true! They see themselves as superior to Gunther. Thats why in 10 seasons they never even give him the oportunity to show himself (nevertheless be a Friend)

  • @MiracleWinchester
    @MiracleWinchester 6 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    My love for this channel keeps me from giving a thumbs down. I’m so sorry but this essay feels privileged. I would love to have Gunther’s life-more realistic than the FRIENDS’ successes.

  • @jp3813
    @jp3813 5 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    After the recession, I bet many people are envious of Gunther's career.

  • @masungayongiro
    @masungayongiro 6 ปีที่แล้ว +52

    Hey, Gunther is a stand-up guy. He's not sentenced to prison or has a crippling drug habit. Hardly a cautionary tale

    • @vice.nor.virtue
      @vice.nor.virtue 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I had a very crippling drug habit but still have more ambition than Gunther. I'm now working in a beergarden until I get back on my feet, and when i succeed, THINGS WILL BE BETTER THAN GUNTHERS LIFE. As they say in the video, Work Hard, Push Yourself, Stay Humble - at least i'm achieving these character trait right now.

  • @ريم0-ع4ش
    @ريم0-ع4ش 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The fact that what you call a failure is my dream life
    I just realized that I’m a gunther but without a job

  • @Jemini4228
    @Jemini4228 6 ปีที่แล้ว +108

    Gunther is a small business owner and owns residential property in central NYC. Saying that his job must be unfulfilling to him is a bit demeaning to people who are happy in those jobs.
    Romance is a different department but the job one is kinda BS.

    • @moonlily1
      @moonlily1 6 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      People also can be fulfilled in life without a relationship as well. Can we stop talking down to single people as losers? Given that half of marriages end in divorce, there's slim evidence that married people are winning at life or are happier or have their shit more together.

    • @Jemini4228
      @Jemini4228 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@moonlily1 yes. In Gunthers case he obviously isnt because he wants Rachel but generally speaking I absolutely agree.

    • @shahermyonez6647
      @shahermyonez6647 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      He is just manager

    • @ohwellwhateverr
      @ohwellwhateverr 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@moonlily1 Human beings weren’t made to be alone, though. We’re biologically driven to want the security of a partner and kids. (Exceptions to the rule exist, of course)

    • @moonlily1
      @moonlily1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@ohwellwhateverrNot being in a romantic relationship doesn't mean you're alone. Being in a romantic relationship doesn't believe that you have security. And I have no idea in what way kids provide security. If anything, they decrease it.

  • @darkangelholz
    @darkangelholz 6 ปีที่แล้ว +73

    Where Julie got her replacement Ross in the guy Rachel dated in Russ maybe there should be a replacement Rachel for Gunther maybe a Racquel as Paulo would say xxx

  • @blueberry7899
    @blueberry7899 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Owning a business/ being manager of a coffee shop isn't bad. He works hard - he deserves respect for that. Not everyone has to be ambitious or go down the career route. Phoebe is "only" a masseuse and she still finds a way to be fulfilled. I think Gunther's bigger issues stem from his relationship issues.

  • @WindowsXPFrog
    @WindowsXPFrog 6 ปีที่แล้ว +73

    Eh, some people are happy with steady monotonous jobs like this. Not everybody needs to be a CEO or anything.

  • @zan31669
    @zan31669 6 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    We are gunther

  • @lessoriginal
    @lessoriginal 6 ปีที่แล้ว +54

    sure the guy is embittered toward Ross, I mean who isn't that guy is an ass, but that doesn't make him 'the cautionary tale' to anything other than his pining after Rachel. How do we, the audience, know that Gunther is anywhere other than where he wants to be in his life? We often look down upon people who work service industry and retail jobs like that must not be what the want in life and we're better than them for shooting for what we dream, but a lot of people really do enjoy service industry jobs. "Lifers" is used as a derogatory, like it's somehow terrible to want to make management at a Target or McDonalds. Maybe Gunther wants to be a coffee shop manager. Maybe he enjoys making coffee and helping people and meeting people. It's not necessarily a stepping stone in his life that he got stuck on.

    • @moonlitm3285
      @moonlitm3285 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      All of them are asses, Phoebe is manipulative, careless and disregards how her actions affect others. She thinks she is better than the other friends and constantly undermines Ross, Chandler and his relationship with Monica. Joey thinks he is God's gift to women and is a selfish, ungrateful, dim-witted, chronically unemployed man child who frequently mooches of Chandler. He is arrogant and puts down people, in particular Ross and Chandler in terms of women and keeps obsessing about sleeping with his female friends. Rachel is a self-absorbed, callous, whiny, irresponsible, vindictive, self-centred, incompetent women who wants people to do things she wants for her but rarely goes out of her line to help someone or be a good friend compared to the others. She would go to lengths to get what she wants when it's not in her place to and does not care how her actions affect others. She did this behaviour with Ross, Tag and Joey when she liked them. Monica is shrill, overly-loud and controlling but still decent. Chandler is good for the most part except with the excessive sarcasm and jokes which can at times be hurtful.

  • @anastasiarose1430
    @anastasiarose1430 6 ปีที่แล้ว +98

    Oh my God they actually made it

    • @kendralewellyn2654
      @kendralewellyn2654 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      I know, and call me selfish...but I kind of want more Gunther analysis now. Maybe that's just because his character felt like he was missing so much though, in which case, this video sums everything up.

  • @VeronicAM313
    @VeronicAM313 6 ปีที่แล้ว +67

    Whose to say that he didn't have a fulfilling life without having to take risks. I think of Mike from dirty jobs where we meet people who have very odd jobs. Some of them took these jobs knowing that they didn't like it BUT they were able to work on passion projects and hobbies that they liked. I think Gunther probably did that.

    • @fcv4616
      @fcv4616 6 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      But we don't know that, because the show never shows that, only his bitterness, his infatuation for Rachel and his envy towards Ross. He might as well simply have been that.

    • @angie-tq4ew
      @angie-tq4ew 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Good point!

    • @honeynmilk00
      @honeynmilk00 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Don't try to make mask it to make it easier for you. Risks are more than necessary, life is hard, most things aren't just given to you, you have to fight for what you want. Improving requieres you to be consistent and brave, there's no way around it.

    • @VeronicAM313
      @VeronicAM313 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@honeynmilk00 what I'm arguing is that this was putting a guy down that we dont know. We only see part of him because these people aren't talking to him. I myself take lots of risks, but I also have friends who are living the Gunther life and they're happy with it. I saw this video as sticking a nose at my grandmother and no, I'm not accepting.
      I also want to point out that we don't know anything about him because these are so selfish that all they can are themselves, friends and their family. They don't talk to anyone else and we watched how long it took to get a person of color in the group.

    • @VeronicAM313
      @VeronicAM313 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@fcv4616 and I wish the writers had focused on making him a more developed character than what I've seen in clips. I'm going to be honest. When friends was on in the 90's, I hated it because these people seemed selfish, they weren't aware of anything else outside their bubble and after seeing clips, I'm finding I was right. At least with Living Single, the friends did talk to other people and were looking out for each other.

  • @milfsfilms
    @milfsfilms 6 ปีที่แล้ว +124

    *_rachel's true soulmate_*

    • @crazygur1y
      @crazygur1y 6 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Rachel doesn't deserve Gunther lmao

    • @tasha1357
      @tasha1357 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Gunther deserves better

  • @adamscarpetta9543
    @adamscarpetta9543 6 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    I might be the only person in the World who found Friends mediocre (depending on the episode), but Gunther was the only character who seemed to authentically personify the nineties.

  • @Punk_Rocker90
    @Punk_Rocker90 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    He wasn' t just making coffee, he was the owner of Central Perk. He ran a whole bussiness.

  • @VARUN20X
    @VARUN20X 6 ปีที่แล้ว +150

    Personally i feel Rachel never knew that she was selfish to the core.A privileged childhood stunted her growth and she always felt like the world revolved around her.
    Taking advantage of gunthers infatuation with her,being unaware(for couple of seasons) of what monica did for her when she ran away and treating joey and ross as options instead of human beings.
    And leaving someone at the altar is the worst thing possible

    • @rmsgrey
      @rmsgrey 6 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      I dunno - personally, I think I'd rather be left at the altar than have to file for divorce instead of going on my honeymoon - and then having to fight to not share the marital assets...
      Maybe I'd feel differently if either had ever happened to me.

    • @Jotari
      @Jotari 6 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      Barry hooked up with one of her bridesmaids on their honeymoon. I doubt he was all that distraught by her runaway bride act. He was probably thinking of doing the same thing himself.

    • @bellatrixevans
      @bellatrixevans 6 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Rachel never knew Gunther liked her though. I remember that being a running gag on the show, that these guys were oblivious

    • @cellardoor199991
      @cellardoor199991 6 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      Varun Mehra Everything you said is true but Rachel doesn't owe Gunther anything. The Heart Wants What It Wants. You either feel it or you don't. And this coming from a man. Most men are bitter and jealous of these things. I have a full understanding of this.

    • @VARUN20X
      @VARUN20X 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@cellardoor199991 you are absolutely correct but rachel never really considered him not even in the role of friend.Gunther never really fired her even when she was sabotaging his business with her terrible waitressing,he bought her expensive cat and even gave a job to joey on her request.Meanwhile she had a whole thing with joey and his unique brand of sexism

  • @adrianac3258
    @adrianac3258 6 ปีที่แล้ว +145

    This sounds extremely condescending and seems entitled of you guys from "The Take by Screen Prism" he can be happy just as he is .Some times you make it in the career you studied sometimes you don't he has steady job and an apartment in New York in my book he is successful enough.

    • @Sab_MJsMama
      @Sab_MJsMama 6 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Exactly. I think these folks are purporting that because he hasn't become a core part of the group...he's not good enough to be a "Friend" apparently, he's a failure. I don't care if this isn't what this video is trying to say but it sure is heavily implied.

    • @adrianac3258
      @adrianac3258 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@Sab_MJsMama Exactly , he might have a close group of friends that treat him with respect he deserves aside from the "Friends" .He was infatuated with horrible bratty Rachael and understand why he wanted to belong but Ross dealed with a lot of shit with her in the long turn he got a better deal.

    • @tomasjonson9107
      @tomasjonson9107 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      doesn't seem like he is happy as he is; desperate for rachel's attention suggesting struggles in his love life, and he just never seems as happy to do his job as the friends do, who go out of their comfort zones to find a job they love

  • @highsun76
    @highsun76 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I think this is accurate for Gunther's romantic life, but other than that, he seems fulfilled and happy.

  • @katysteinhauer3489
    @katysteinhauer3489 5 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I find this highly offensive to people in the service industry. Gunther seems to love his job and he does it well. Calling him stagnant and looking down on him for not "progressing" is judgemental.

    • @rubylace9963
      @rubylace9963 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Exactly! Gunther was a manager too.. some would be so happy with that.

  • @selalewis9189
    @selalewis9189 6 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    This is a really unhealthy message to interpret, especially in the wake of actor Geoffrey Owens being shamed for working at Trader Joe’s. He said in an interview that once this story goes away, he hopes what people will get from it is that no one kind of job is better than another. Whether your title is CEO, teacher, cashier, it’s all work. And that every job has value.
    When you doubt an individual’s ambition simply because they work at a coffee shop, you’re really telling on yourself about your own insecurities.

    • @moniquedamphousse9682
      @moniquedamphousse9682 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I agree completely with you on this. I always loved working, and no matter which job I had I gave it my best. When I was single, I was a paralegal, and very good at it. Then I married a farmer, moved away from the city and left my job as a paralegal. A few years later I was asked, by the restaurant in our local village, if I would be willing to help them out when they had a rush on. They needed someone to help with dish-washing and busing tables because there was a huge construction crew in the area working on a new bridge over the river. So I took the job to help them out, and I gave it my best. Once the bridge was finished being constructed, which took about 6 months, the restaurant wasn't nearly as busy, so I told the owner that I would be leaving as there really wasn't anything for me to do. The wait staff could take care of my chores at that point. The owner said he was sad to see me go because in the 6 months that I was washing dishes I only broke 1 cup, never lost any cutlery, and was always so polite to the customers. Sometimes I even waited on tables when the wait staff were overwhelmed. I was very flattered that he'd noticed how well I did my job, and I felt proud. Why wouldn't I? No job is demeaning or menial. It's people's attitudes that are demeaning.

  • @staceyvegangirl
    @staceyvegangirl 6 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    What an interesting view on Gunther. I loved how no one else would think about a video analysis about him. You made one and it's incredible!

  • @agentleastlikely
    @agentleastlikely 6 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    1:20 - "But while the Friends go on to fulfill their greater potential..."
    Cue clips of Rachel, Ross, Joey, Chandler and Monica working at their careers and *Phoebe getting married*
    Is getting married fulfilling your greater potential? I'm not saying that marriage can't be a rich and fulfilling experience, but while Chandler and Monica got married, the emphasis here in the video is put on the fact that they were climbing career ladders. Phoebe, however, was content with her work as a massage therapist, and did not strive to climb a career ladder (and fell in love with Mike, a guy with first-hand experience of how pursuing a high-powered career can leave you feeling hollow and unfulfilled anyway). So is this part of the video implying that she instead fulfilled her 'greater potential' by getting married?
    I think Phoebe is the exception to the argument made about careers in this video, which 1:20 inadvertently highlights. And personally speaking, I always found Phoebe to be the most interesting character of the group. Not everyone in life finds a way to monetize their passions, but that doesn't make them unfulfilled as people.

    • @clarat3803
      @clarat3803 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I think it's possibly because Phoebe had had the worst childhood and it showed her becoming a stable woman with a husband and (probably) kids later on with Mike.

  • @tarinipankanti8273
    @tarinipankanti8273 6 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Ok I don’t know if its just me but I never really thought Gunther wanted to be a part of their friend group! I mean clearly he was in love with Rachel and he seemed flattered when he thought Ross wanted him to join but he seemed to despise most of the friends excluding Rachel.

    • @scottieman2
      @scottieman2 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      He likes Rachel and maybe thought Ross was okay.

  • @inspace1061
    @inspace1061 6 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    what if he liked his job.......

  • @scifinerd17
    @scifinerd17 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Gunther’s an example of someone who’s perfectly content with living a simple life and isn’t trying to reach for the stars. I mean he’s got it good. He runs his own business and makes steady income, he owns his own apartment, I’m sure anyone who hasn’t achieved their lifelong dreams would like to be in Gunther’s position.
    His shortcomings stem more from his inability to be more open and make more connections with people. I mean we don’t really know too much about him. In that respect he’s a cautionary tale of making your move too late on a girl you like because you’re afraid of being more sociable.

  • @ChesVlog
    @ChesVlog 6 ปีที่แล้ว +51

    I'm giving this one a thumbs down as it feels too condescending to food servers. Others have already commented what I would've commented.

  • @NotQuiteFirst
    @NotQuiteFirst 6 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    5:30 lol the saddest part is that even in a video solely about Gunther, they get the name of the actor wrong, it's Tyler not Taylor!

  • @helenarosno
    @helenarosno 6 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    Gunther is me, making friends is hard

  • @sandavijithminirathnayake7033
    @sandavijithminirathnayake7033 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Now this motivated me than any other motivational video .. It's almost like Chandler realizing he's in the same track as Mr . Heckles .

  • @chrisreiser1499
    @chrisreiser1499 6 ปีที่แล้ว +50

    I’m betting Gunther owns the coffee shop. A well educated trust fund kid who opens a coffee shop in NY. Doesn’t want people to know he is the owner because he wants real friends. He is not repressed he doesn’t hide himself and the friends characters all are a mess of humanity and can’t see Gunther other than a coffee boy.

    • @CarolinaMillan
      @CarolinaMillan 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Chris Reiser he doesn’t own it, actually in early episodes they show someone who was above Gunther, Terry. In the first Thanksgiving Episode, season 1. Rachel needed extra money to go skiing with her family and she asks Terry for an advance of her salary and he denies it. He doesn’t show up again much. But he’s clearly above Gunther so either the owner or manager

    • @chrisreiser1499
      @chrisreiser1499 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Carolina Millan Gunther didn’t want to go and since he owns Central Perk told his employee to give him an excuse. Nothing better than seeing what the Friends group does when presented with the issue. I’m guessing they all went and it never crossed anyone’s mind to cover him at all. Or include him in something he could afford that’s what real Friends would have done.

  • @Coolygirl031
    @Coolygirl031 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Most ppl don't put themselves out there because they've already tried many times and got burnt too much. U just have to be around ppl that ur comfortable with, make you laugh, have things in common with. Forcing it wont work. Even the most social ppl can feel out of place too sometimes.

  • @Blaze-vy5yp
    @Blaze-vy5yp 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I love FRIENDS and all of the main characters are my favorite, but there's something about Gunther that I can relate to.

  • @ColourMeRed_1990
    @ColourMeRed_1990 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    On the other hand, he has been running a very successful coffee shop business for over a decade. That has to count for something. Just because we don't get to see his personal life doesn't mean he is a cautionary tale.

  • @leeleecassidy7175
    @leeleecassidy7175 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    "Gunther just stays in the background". Yeah, maybe that's because he's, you know, a background character...

  • @sriram3745
    @sriram3745 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Sometimes we need a friend like Gunther who is always there in our place no matter whatever changes in life , how much old we get. He will be there for you when it has been your days, months, 10 years 😀

  • @AxelQC
    @AxelQC 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Moral of the story: don't waste your time pining over a self-centered person who will never give you the time of day.

  • @anouckrosell4186
    @anouckrosell4186 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    When it comes to Rachel, not being passionate about your job is no excuse for being bad at it. She's lucky that Gunther is in love with her, otherwise she would have been fired on her first week. And deciding to be bad at it is being entitled.

  • @TheJuliana0901
    @TheJuliana0901 6 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    ouch. this one hurt

  • @Tilly236
    @Tilly236 6 ปีที่แล้ว +36

    Maybe the job is enough for Gunther? We should appreciate the people who do the menial jobs that serve us. Being emotionally stunted isn't good though.

  • @thebrownman3866
    @thebrownman3866 6 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    This video got depressing real quick

  • @irasoniawati7296
    @irasoniawati7296 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    There are only two possibilities :
    - He is secretly high functional depressed
    - He is happy with his 'boring' and 'normal' life

  • @koalaeucalyptus
    @koalaeucalyptus 6 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Honestly great video; one "but":
    "Through Ross we can see our crush becoming this great love story" >>> EXCEPT, Ross and Rachel's relationship is probably one of the worst examples of how to handle a relationship EVER.

  • @pushon10
    @pushon10 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I love his deep, smooth voice.

  • @spacejam8765
    @spacejam8765 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    James Michael has sadly passed away today age 59.😔

  • @isidorakovic9354
    @isidorakovic9354 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    rest in peace, Gunther, my favorite cautionary tale and the guy who invented lingering

  • @lindapgolan7070
    @lindapgolan7070 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    RIP "Gunther"

  • @amyd8202
    @amyd8202 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Gunther loves his job and has his own place. Nothing wrong with that!

  • @cynicalidealist11
    @cynicalidealist11 6 ปีที่แล้ว +63

    I've never related so much to Gunther wtf

  • @jitendranamdev7699
    @jitendranamdev7699 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    The way you describe a character . I feel like I barely knew them until now. Your analysing skills are just amazing.

  • @sarahwalter7198
    @sarahwalter7198 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I always wanted more of Gunter on the show. He’s hilarious and under appreciated.

    • @BJ-zd2or
      @BJ-zd2or 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I liked Mr. Heckles :3

  • @gokul3037
    @gokul3037 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    RIP Gunther 💔

  • @couch_philosoph3325
    @couch_philosoph3325 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Though his obsession with rachel is rather creepy (and i would have loved to see him grow with a good relationship), i really hated how mean they sometimes were towards him. He would have been a great persona to incorperate more. Also, having a successful coffe house in NYC with very regular customers, is something to be proud of. Thats such a competetive place; you could be replaced within months.

  • @ellalee7
    @ellalee7 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Bro my mans Gunther just tryna live y'all had to attack him like that

  • @TheTwara
    @TheTwara 6 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    Hasn't Gunther already taken his risks?

    • @jdprettynails
      @jdprettynails 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Exactly! Taking risks doesn't guarantee success. Most of the Friend's successes happen through coincidence.
      Monica worked in that shitty cafe until a billionaire had a crush on her and threw her dream job at her.

  • @hnelgren
    @hnelgren 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    When I started watching Friends and realized that I identified with Gunther so heavily, it was a real wake-up call that I needed to put myself out there and take more risks. This video does an awesome job underscoring his character's symbolism and the tragedy of Gunther. Very well done.

  • @doombuggy123
    @doombuggy123 6 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Yeah or maybe leaving the service industry is a PRIVILEGE shared by those able to afford college and that the actual living standards and lifestyles represented in friends are wholly unrealistic to their job descriptions.

  • @lukehunnable
    @lukehunnable 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    The blind spot of this video is that without Gunther's work, resolve and consistency, none of the Friends would have been friends or had the personal and professional growth and stories they had. He and his coffee shop are the reason and conduit for everything.
    So, in a way, he's the most important character and the unsung hero.

  • @clmblades
    @clmblades 6 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Anyone else wish that they do this for that 70 show

  • @QuietlyCurious
    @QuietlyCurious 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Prayers for James Micheal Tyler, who just revealed he has late stage prostate cancer 🙏🙏

  • @floridapeach99
    @floridapeach99 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    5:59 I love the dishes clanking in the background 😂