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The Definitive Ranking Of Every Episode Of 'Friends'

Reid Nakamura |
September 23, 2014 | 12:44 a.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

(Twitter/bethmurray77)
(Twitter/bethmurray77)
This week marks the 20th anniversary of the beloved series "Friends." Not every episode of the show was a winner, but an astounding majority of the show's more than 200 episodes were exceptionally great. In celebration of one of TV's most successful sitcoms, here is the definitive ranking of every episode the show ever did:

226. "The One with the Kips” (Season 5, Episode 5)

What Happens: Ross tells Rachel he can’t be friends with her any more.

Ugh. Emily.

225. "The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break” (Season 3, Episode 15) 

What Happens: Ross and Rachel take a break from their relationship and Ross immediately sleeps with Chloe the copy girl.

Ross makes a lot of bad decisions over the course of the series, but this one isn't even fun to watch.

"The One with Joey's Bag" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
"The One with Joey's Bag" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
224. "The One with Joey’s Bag” (Season 5, Episode 13)

What Happens: Phoebe’s grandmother dies and she is surprised to meet her long-lost father at the funeral.

The fact that her father is never even mentioned again after this episode makes it a complete throwaway.

223. "The One with the Tiny T-Shirt” (Season 3, Episode 19)

What Happens: Ross and Rachel try to move on from on another after their break up.

Watching Ross and Rachel try to be friends is somehow less fun than watching them break up.

222. "The One with Joey’s Dirty Day” (Season 4, Episode 14)

What Happens: Joey takes a fishing trip and doesn't have time to shower before rushing in to work.

Emily makes her first appearance, dooming an already unmemorable episode.

"The One with Russ" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
"The One with Russ" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
221. "The One with Russ” (Season 2, Episode 10) 

What Happens: Rachel starts dating a guy disturbingly similar to Ross.

This one is just weird.

220. "The One with Barry and Mindy’s Wedding” (Season 2, Episode 24)

What Happens: Rachel has to serve as Maid of Honor at her ex-fiance's wedding. Monica and Richard break up.

One of the few “Friends” season finales to end without a cliffhanger, the season 2 finale is completely forgettable.

219. "The One Where Phoebe Hates PBS” (Season 5, Episode 4)

What Happens: Ross tries to make up with Emily after their disastrous wedding.

Again: Ugh. Emily.

218. "The One with Joey’s Interview” (Season 8, Episode 19)

What Happens: Joey is interviewed by “Soap Opera Digest”

“Friends” did a number of clip shows during its ten years, but one about Joey’s career was probably the least necessary.

217. "The One with the Invitation” (Season 4, Episode 21)

What Happens: Ross looks back on his relationship with Rachel before his wedding to Emily.

Clip shows are rarely as good as an original episode.

216. "The One with Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E.” (Season 6, Episode 20)

What Happens: Joey and Chandler reflect on their friendship after Chandler ruins Joey’s audition.

See above.

215. "The One with the Dozen Lasagnas” (Season 1, Episode 12) 

What Happens: Rachel breaks up with Paolo after he makes a pass at Phoebe.

As enjoyable as it is to see Paolo leave, it doesn't make up for the fact that he was ever there in the first place.

"The One with Mrs. Bing" (Tumblr/apartmenttwenty)
"The One with Mrs. Bing" (Tumblr/apartmenttwenty)
214. "The One with Mrs. Bing” (Season 1, Episode 11) 

What Happens: Ross gets drunk and kisses Chandler’s mom.

Yet another of Ross’s frustratingly terrible decisions.

213. "The One with the Yeti” (Season 5, Episode 6)

What Happens: Ross bends over backwards to comply with Emily’s demands.

One more time: Ugh. Emily.

212. "The One with the Race Car Bed” (Season 3, Episode 7)

What Happens: Monica is shipped the wrong mattress.

Who even remembers this episode?

211. "The One Where Monica and Richard are Just Friends” (Season 3, Episode 13) 

What Happens: After their break-up Monica and Richard try their hand at a platonic relationship.

Where is Richard’s mustache?

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

What Happens: Rachel tries to decide what to do after Ross says her name at the altar.

Despite marking the start of Monica and Chandler’s relationship, this episode is brought down by Ross and Rachel’s stupidity and Emily’s mere presence.

"The One Where Ross Moves In" (Tumblr/isqueezedrobertplantslemon)
"The One Where Ross Moves In" (Tumblr/isqueezedrobertplantslemon)
209. "The One Where Ross Moves In” (Season 5, Episode 7)

What Happens: After his divorce from Emily, Ross moves in with Joey and Chandler.

Ross is annoying enough as it is, intentionally making him worse was a big mistake.

208. "The One with Chandler’s Work Laugh” (Season 5, Episode 12)

What Happens: Ross sleeps with Janice.

I repeat: Ross sleeps with Janice.

"The One with Two Parts" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
"The One with Two Parts" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
207. "The One with Two Parts” (Season 1, Episodes 16 and 17)

What Happens: Joey date’s Phoebe’s twin sister and Monica and Rachel commit insurance fraud.

Despite an “ER” crossover and some nice moments between Joey and Rachel, this is not the best “Friends” two-part episode.

206. "The One with the Chicken Pox” (Season 2, Episode 23)

What Happens: Phoebe gets chicken pox just before her Navy boyfriend comes back into town.

One of the show’s completely forgettable episodes.

205. "The One with the Breast Milk” (Season 2, Episode 2)

What Happens: Some of the friends freak out when Phoebe and Joey taste Carol’s breast milk.

Joey’s cologne-spritzing cowboy subplot is completely bizarre.

204. "The One with the Worst Best Man Ever” (Season 4, Episode 22)

What Happens: Ross has to decide who his best man will be and Joey loses the wedding ring.

Half an hour of the guys making doing stupid things and blaming other people.

"The One with the Cuffs" (Tumblr/wabisabija)
"The One with the Cuffs" (Tumblr/wabisabija)
203. "The One with the Cuffs” (Season 4, Episode 3)

What Happens: Chandler finds himself handcuffed naked to a chair in Rachel’s boss’s office.

So much inappropriate work behavior.

202. "The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion” (Season 3, Episode 24) 

What Happens: Monica’s rich boyfriend Pete fails at his dream of becoming the Ultimate Fighting Champion.

A cameo appearance by Billy Crystal and Robin Williams remains the best part of the episode.

201. "The One with the Stoned Guy” (Season 1, Episode 15)

What Happens: Monica tries to impress a restaurant owner who is obviously high for the entire meal.

It’s like a “Saturday Night Live” sketch that goes on for too long.

200. "The One with the Baby on the Bus” (Season 2, Episode 6)

What Happens: Joey and Chandler babysit Ben, but accidentally leave him on a bus.

Are we sure they ever got the right baby back?

199. "The One with the Ballroom Dancing” (Season 4, Episode 4)

What Happens: Joey helps the superintendent of their building practice his ballroom dancing in preparation for “The Super Ball.”

A throwaway episode.

"The One Where Emma Cries" (Tumblr/beefcustardthing)
"The One Where Emma Cries" (Tumblr/beefcustardthing)
198. "The One Where Emma Cries” (Season 9, Episode 2)

What Happens: Rachel doesn't know what to do to get Emma to stop crying.

A continuation of the bad Rachel/Joey engagement mix-up story line and the start of the bad Chandler-goes-to-Tulsa story line.

197. "The One with the Monkey” (Season 1, Episode 10) 

What Happens: Ross gets a new roommate who happens to be a monkey named Marcel.

Points for the introduction of David the Scientist Guy, but the addition of Marcel was a mistake.

196. "The One After Vegas” (Season 6, Episode 1)

What Happens: Ross and Rachel have to deal with their drunken decision to get married in Vegas.

The entire episode is like a bad hangover.

195. "The One Without the Ski Trip” (Season 3, Episode 17)

What Happens: The gang divides their time between Ross and Rachel after the break up.

So much bickering.

"The One with the Cat" (Tumblr/watsonista)
"The One with the Cat" (Tumblr/watsonista)
194. "The One with the Cat” (Season 4, Episode 2)

What Happens: Phoebe finds a cat she believes is the reincarnated spirit of her dead mother.

Why is Ross so mean?

193. "The One with George Stephanopoulos” (Season 1, Episode 4)

What Happens: The girls have a slumber party while the guys go to a hockey game.

Ross is sad about his divorce, Rachel is sad about not having money. It’s all so sad. 

192. "The One with Christmas in Tulsa” (Season 9, Episode 10)

What Happens: The gang looks back on past holidays when Chandler is stuck at work in Oklahoma.

Yet another clip show, but at least this one has Christmas.

191. "The One with All the Jealousy” (Season 3, Episode 12)

What Happens: Ross gets suspicious of Rachel’s overly helpful co-worker.

The beginning of the end for Ross and Rachel.

190. "The One with Ross’s New Girlfriend” (Season 2, Episode 1)

What Happens: As soon as Rachel discovers her feelings for Ross, he returns home with a new girlfriend.

Who knew Rachel could be so bitter?

189. "The One Where Ross Can’t Flirt” (Season 5, Episode 19)

What Happens: Ross embarrasses himself when he tries to flirt with the pizza delivery girl.

Poor Ross does the best he can.

188. "The One with the Metaphorical Tunnel” (Season 3, Episode 4)

What Happens: Chandler makes the decision to commit to Janice.

The tag of young Ross dressed up as “Bea” is pure gold. 

187. "The One with the Screamer” (Season 3, Episode 22)

What Happens: Rachel’s date has anger management issues.

It turns out that Ben Stiller can be really scary.

186. "The One with the Bullies” (Season 2, Episode 21)

What Happens: Chandler and Ross get bullied by two guys who claim the orange sofa at Central Perk.

Strangers aren't allowed to sit on the sofa.

185. "The One with Phoebe’s Husband” (Season 2, Episode 4)

What Happens: Phoebe’s gay ice dancer husband comes back into town and asks for a divorce.

Phoebe doesn't deserve to get her heart broken so often.

"The One Where Nana Dies Twice" (Tumblr/apartmenttwenty)
"The One Where Nana Dies Twice" (Tumblr/apartmenttwenty)
184. "The One Where Nana Dies Twice” (Season 1, Episode 8)

What Happens: Monica and Ross’s grandmother passes away and Chandler finds out people assume he’s gay.

It’s hard to count against an episode with appearances by Jack and Judy Geller.

183. "The One Where No One Proposes” (Season 9, Episode 1)

What Happens: Rachel mistakenly thinks Joey wants to marry her and accepts his non-proposal.

The Rachel and Joey romance never should have happened.

182. "The One with the Hypnosis Tape” (Season 3, Episode 18)

What Happens: Monica starts dating a millionaire and Phoebe’s brother shows up with a much older fiancée

Frank and Alice really were a great couple.

181. "The One with the Jam” (Season 3, Episode 3)

What Happens: Monica gives up on men and starts making a lot of jam.

She’s waiting for Chandler, she just doesn't know it yet.

"The One with All the Wedding Dresses" (Tumblr/lukeyhemminq)
"The One with All the Wedding Dresses" (Tumblr/lukeyhemminq)
180. "The One with All the Wedding Dresses” (Season 4, Episode 20)

What Happens: Sad about their lack of relationship prospects, the girls put on wedding dresses to make themselves feel better.

Poor Joshua never stood a chance.

179. "The One with Rachel’s New Dress” (Season 4, Episode 18)

What Happens: Rachel embarrasses herself in front of her boyfriend’s parents and Phoebe struggles to name one of the triplets.

Instead of choosing between “Chandler” and “Joey,” Phoebe should've just gone with “The Hulk.” 

178. "The One Where Chandler Can’t Cry” (Season 6, Episode 14)

What Happens: Phoebe discovers her twin sister has been using her name to do porn.

Siblings don't get worse that Ursula.

177. "The One Where Joey Tells Rachel” (Season 8, Episode 16)

What Happens: Joey admits to Rachel that he is in love with her.

Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc work well together, but the romantic chemistry just isn’t there.

176. "The One Where Rachel Finds Out” (Season 1, Episode 24) 

What Happens: Ross goes to China and Chandler lets it slip that Ross loves Rachel.

It took her way too long to figure it out.

175. "The One with the List” (Season 2, Episode 8)

What Happens: Ross makes pro and con lists to choose between Rachel and Julie.

You really can’t blame Rachel for being so mad.

174. "The One Where They’re Going to Party!” (Season 4, Episode 9)

What Happens: Chandler and Ross’s plan to party with their old college friend falls through.

They are definitely too old to party.

"The One Where Joey Moves Out" (Tumblr/lostxtogether)
"The One Where Joey Moves Out" (Tumblr/lostxtogether)
173. "The One Where Joey Moves Out” (Season 2, Episode 16)

What Happens: After landing a role on “Days of Our Lives,” Joey gets his own apartment.

Joey and Chandler are soul mates.

172. "The One with Rachel’s Dream” (Season 9, Episode 19)

What Happens: Rachel realizes she has feelings for Joey and Phoebe sings at Monica’s restaurant.

Rachel and Joey’s doomed romance dragged on way too long.

171. "The One with the Tea Leaves” (Season 8, Episode 17)

What Happens: Joey and Rachel are awkward around each other after he confesses that he’s in love with her.

This should've been the end of it.

170. "The One with the Vows” (Season 7, Episode 21)

What Happens: Monica and Chandler struggle to write their wedding vows.

Here’s a clip show that actually works.

169. "The One Where Chandler Can’t Remember Which Sister” (Season 3, Episode 11)

What Happens: Chandler gets drunk and kisses one of Joey’s many sisters.

He really deserved that punch to the face.

168. "The One with the Soap Opera Party” (Season 9, Episode 20)

What Happens: The gang finds out Joey has been secretly hosting parties and not inviting them.

The Ross/Rachel/Joey/Charlie love rectangle was a bit too much.

"The One with Rachel's Crush" (Tumblr/towfriendscaps)
"The One with Rachel's Crush" (Tumblr/towfriendscaps)
167. "The One with Rachel’s Crush” (Season 4, Episode 13)

What Happens: Rachel falls for one of her clients at Bloomingdale’s and Chandler and Kathy break up.

After all the drama of Chandler and Kathy getting together, they really didn't last very long.

166. "The One with the Secret Closet” (Season 8, Episode 14)

What Happens: Phoebe discovers Monica makes sex noises when she gets massages and Chandler discovers a closet full of junk in their apartment.

So Monica is secretly messy? What?

165. "The One with Rachel’s Date” (Season 8, Episode 5)

What Happens: Rachel dates one of Joey’s costars and Phoebe dates Monica’s sous-chef.

Spoiler alert: Neither relationship ends well.

164. "The One After Joey and Rachel Kiss” (Season 10, Episode 1)

What Happens: Joey and Rachel struggle to find a way to tell Ross that they’re seeing each other.

Everything about this is a mistake.

163. "The One That Could Have Been” (Season 6, Episodes 15 and 16)

What Happens: The gang wonders if they’d still be friends if their lives had gone differently.

A fun “what if” episode that has no impact on the series at all.

162. "The One with the Ride-Along” (Season 5, Episode 20)

What Happens: The guys face a near-death experience and Rachel and Monica break into Ross’s apartment.

Unfortunately, Emily returns yet again.

161. "The One with the Inappropriate Sister” (Season 5, Episode 10)

What Happens: Ross tries to help Joey get his career on track and Phoebe takes a job collecting money for charity.

It’s always fun to see Phoebe berating people.

160. "The One with the Birthing Video” (Season 8, Episode 15)

What Happens: Chandler watches Rachel’s birthing video and Ross tells Mona that he and Rachel are living together.

Mona wasn't Ross’s best girlfriend.

"The One with Rachel's Sister" (Tumblr/posthawk)
"The One with Rachel's Sister" (Tumblr/posthawk)
159. "The One with Rachel’s Sister” (Season 6, Episode 13)

What Happens: Rachel’s sister gets cut off by their father and Rachel tries to help her make it on her own.

Rachel’s self-absorbed sisters are always good for a laugh.

158. "The One with the Jellyfish” (Season 4, Episode 1)

What Happens: Ross accidentally claims responsibility for everything that went wrong in his relationship with Rachel.

Eighteen pages (front and back) isn't actually that much to read.

157. "The One Where Old Yeller Dies” (Season 2, Episode 20)

What Happens: Joey and Chandler bond with Richard and Phoebe learns her mother would protect her from watching the ends of sad movies.

If Old Yeller doesn't die, it’s a pretty terrible movie, to be honest.

156. "The One with the Candy Hearts” (Season 1, Episode 14)

What Happens: Chandler accidentally ends up on a date with Janice and Ross accidentally ends up on a date with Carol.

Fun fact: This episode is written by Bill Lawrence, the co-creator of Courteney Cox’s current show, “Cougar Town.”

155. "The One Where Dr. Ramoray Dies” (Season 2, Episode 18)

What Happens: Joey upsets the “Days of Our Lives” writers and gets his character killed off the show.

Were the “Friends” writers trying to send a message with this one? 

154. "The One with Monica’s Thunder” (Season 7, Episode 1)

What Happens: Monica is upset that Ross and Rachel kiss the night of her engagement.

The disappointing sequel to “The One Where No One’s Ready.”

153. "The One with the Fertility Test” (Season 9, Episode 21)

What Happens: Monica and Chandler discover they aren't able to conceive a child naturally and Phoebe tries to give Rachel a massage without her knowing.

Turns out Phoebe does a killer Swedish accent.

"The One with the Girl Who Hits Joey" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
"The One with the Girl Who Hits Joey" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
152. "The One with the Girl Who Hits Joey” (Season 5, Episode 15)

What Happens: Ross refuses to chip in for the retirement party for a handyman he’s never met and Chandler is scared to commit to Monica.

Of course everyone likes Phoebe better than Ross.

151. "The One Where Rachel is Late” (Season 8, Episode 22)

What Happens: Rachel’s pregnancy runs on past its due date.

Way past its due date. She was pregnant for a whole year.

150. "The One with the Sharks” (Season 9, Episode 4)

What Happens: Ross causes trouble in Mike and Phoebe’s relationship.

Phoebe dating a kite designer named Vicram isn't that unbelievable.

149. "The One Where Chandler Gets Caught” (Season 10, Episode 10)

What Happens: Chandler and Monica make plans to move out of their apartment.

A clip show that highlights how close the series is to the end of its run.

148. "The One with a Chick and a Duck” (Season 3, Episode 21)

What Happens: Joey and Chandler adopt some fowl.

One of the greatest running gags the show ever did.

147. "The One Where Paul’s the Man” (Season 6, Episode 22)

What Happens: Ross finds himself trapped in a cabin with his girlfriend’s father and his date, Rachel.

Just one of Bruce Willis’s excellent episodes on the show.

146. "The One with Monica’s Boots” (Season 8, Episode 10)

What Happens: Joey’s pregnant sister seeks advice from Rachel.

Rachel probably isn't the best person to ask for advice.

145. "The One with Joey’s Big Break” (Season 5, Episode 22)

What Happens: Joey goes to Las Vegas to shoot a movie and Phoebe is mad at Ross, but can’t remember why.

Phoebe and Ross do make a great pair.

144. "The One with the Boob Job” (Season 9, Episode 16)

What Happens: Joey lends money to Monica and tells Chandler it’s for a boob job.

The disappointing sequel to “The One with Five Steaks and an Eggplant.”

143. "The One with the Cooking Class” (Season 8, Episode 21)

What Happens: Phoebe helps Chandler practice his interview skills.

It’s a miracle anyone ever hired Chandler at all.

"The One with the Sonogram at the End" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered
"The One with the Sonogram at the End" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered
142. "The One with the Sonogram at the End” (Season 1, Episode 2) 

What Happens: Ross has to decide how involved he’ll be with Carol and the baby.

Early proof that “Friends” could pull off both emotional and funny.

141. "The One with the Creepy Holiday Card” (Season 8, Episode 11)

What Happens: Ross tries to avoid having “The Conversation” about how serious his relationship with Mona really is.

He really was a terrible boyfriend to her.

140. "The One with Joey’s Fridge” (Season 6, Episode 19)

What Happens: Joey’s refrigerator breaks and he tries to find someone else to pay for it.

Who wants to spend money on a new fridge?

139. "The One with the Evil Orthodontist” (Season 1, Episode 20)

What Happens: Rachel sleeps with Barry while he’s with Mindy and discovers that he cheated on her with Mindy when they were engaged.

Mindy and Rachel were really bad friends.

"The One Where Rachel Tells Ross" (Tumblr/lcne)
"The One Where Rachel Tells Ross" (Tumblr/lcne)
138. "The One Where Rachel Tells Ross” (Season 8, Episode 3)

What Happens: Rachel tells Ross he’s the father of her baby.

Ross had a lot of babies with women after divorcing them.

137. "The One with the Fake Party” (Season 4, Episode 16)

What Happens: Rachel tries to seduce her client, Joshua.

No person has ever been as oblivious as Joshua.

136. "The One with Chandler’s Dad” (Season 7, Episode 22)

What Happens: Chandler travels to Las Vegas to invite his father, a drag queen, to his wedding.

Kathleen Turner is a great sport.

"The One in Barbados" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
"The One in Barbados" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
135. "The One in Barbados” (Season 9, Episodes 23 and 24)

What Happens: The gang travels to Barbados to hear Ross speak at a conference.

Not the best “Friends” finale, but not the worst, either.

134. "The One with Rachel’s Phone Number” (Season 9, Episode 9)

What Happens: Rachel has a girls’ night out with Phoebe and gives her number to a guy at a bar.

Ross and Mike are best friends.

133. "The One in Vegas” (Season 5, Episodes 23 and 24)

What Happens: Monica and Chandler impulsively decide to get married in Vegas.

Great twist at the end and the second best cliffhanger “Friends” ever did.

132. "The One Where Rachel Quits” (Season 3, Episode 10)

What Happens: Rachel quits her waitressing job at Central Perk and Ross helps a young girl sell cookies for a fundraiser.

Mae Whitman makes one of her many, many guest appearances on popular television series.

131. "The One After the Superbowl” (Season 2, Episodes 12 and 13)

What Happens: Ross tries to track down Marcel while Rachel and Monica fight over Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Fun fact: The episode aired after the Superbowl.

130. "The One with the Halloween Party” (Season 8, Episode 6)

What Happens: Phoebe falls for her sister’s fiance and Chandler and Ross have an arm-wrestling match.

Great costumes all around.

129. "The One with Joey’s Award” (Season 7, Episode 18)

What Happens: Joey feels robbed when he doesn't win a “Soapie.”

I don’t know why more people don’t take advantage of the opportunity to accept an award on another person’s behalf the way Joey does.

128. "The One with Ross’s Denial” (Season 6, Episode 3)

What Happens: Ross invites Rachel to move in with him.

Surprise! Phoebe has a roommate.

127. "The One with the Donor” (Season 9, Episode 22)

What Happens: Chandler brings home a coworker as a potential sperm donor.

John Stamos would make an excellent sperm donor. He does not age.

"The One with All the Haste" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
"The One with All the Haste" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
126. "The One with All the Haste” (Season 4, Episode 19)

What Happens: Rachel and Monica steal their apartment back and Ross proposes to Emily.

The guys and the girls switching apartments was one of the best arcs “Friends” ever did.

125. "The One Where Rachel Goes Back to Work” (Season 9, Episode 11)

What Happens: Rachel returns from maternity leave to find her job threatened by a new coworker.

Rachel and Gavin’s prickly chemistry was fantastic.

124. "The One Where Eddie Moves In” (Season 2, Episode 17)

What Happens: Chandler gets a new roommate and Phoebe makes a music video.

The greatest music video ever made.

123. "The One with the Male Nanny” (Season 9, Episode 6)

What Happens: Ross and Rachel hire a male nanny and Phoebe has to choose between Mike and David.

Firing a nanny because he’s male is definitely discrimination. And probably illegal.

"The One After 'I Do'" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
"The One After 'I Do'" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
122. "The One After ‘I Do’” (Season 8, Episode 1)

What Happens: The girls help Rachel cover up her pregnancy.

It was just a year before when Monica was worried about Rachel stealing her thunder. How far she’s come.

121. "The One Where Rachel Smokes” (Season 5, Episode 18)

What Happens: Rachel tries to get on her boss’s good side by taking smoke breaks with her.

Peer pressure is bad, kids.

120. "The One with the Ick Factor” (Season 1, Episode 22)

What Happens: Monica dates a younger guy and Phoebe fills in for Chandler’s secretary.

This episode is surprisingly prescient given that after two decades, Courteney Cox is starring on a show called “Cougar Town.”

119. "The One in Massapequa” (Season 8, Episode 18)

What Happens: The gang is annoyed by Phoebe’s chipper date when they attend the Geller’s anniversary party.

“Overly cheerful” usually isn't the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Alec Baldwin.

118. "The One Where Monica Sings” (Season 9, Episode 13)

What Happens: Monica accidentally flashes the crowd at a karaoke bar and Ross and Rachel agree to move on from each other.

It’s revealed in this episode that Chandler earned his allowance as a kid by plucking his dad’s eyebrows. Now there’s a flashback we should have seen.

117. "The One with the Free Porn” (Season 4, Episode 17)

What Happens: Phoebe finds out she’s carrying triplets and Emily and Ross decide to try a long-distance relationship.

Phoebe serving as her brother’s surrogate was weird, but unforgettable and wholly original.

"The One Where They All Turn Thirty" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
"The One Where They All Turn Thirty" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
116. "The One Where They All Turn Thirty” (Season 7, Episode 14)

What Happens: At Rachel’s thirtieth birthday party, the gang remembers their own thirtieth birthdays.

Some of the little flashbacks (Ross buying a car he can’t move from its parking spot) worked better than others (Monica gets drunk).

115. "The One with Phoebe’s Ex-Partner” (Season 3, Episode 14)

What Happens: Phoebe’s old singing partner comes back into town after abandoning her years earlier.

Fun fact: Phoebe’s ex-partner is the voice of Tommy on “Rugrats” and a future contestant on NBC’s “The Voice.”

114. "The One Where Ross Meets Elizabeth’s Dad” (Season 6, Episode 21)

What Happens: Ross meets his college-aged girlfriend’s protective father.

Bruce Willis is an intimidating guy.

113. "The One with Joey’s New Brain” (Season 7, Episode 15)

What Happens: Joey’s character on “Days of Our Lives” is revived from his coma after a brain transplant.

Susan Sarandon and Matt LeBlanc make a pretty good-looking couple.

112. "The One with Phoebe’s Rats” (Season 9, Episode 12)

What Happens: Phoebe adopts rat babies and Ross tries to keep Joey from sleeping with his daughter’s nanny.

The fact that Mike doesn't see Phoebe’s rats as a major red flag proves that they’re meant to be.

111. "The One Where the Stripper Cries” (Season 10, Episode 11)

What Happens: Rachel and Monica throw Phoebe a bachelorette party.

Danny DeVito makes a surprisingly good stripper.

"The One with All the Resolutions" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
"The One with All the Resolutions" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
110. "The One with All the Resolutions” (Season 5, Episode 11)

What Happens: The gang makes—and immediately breaks—their New Year’s resolutions.

Phoebe’s method of teaching guitar remains the gold standard.

109. "The One with the Princess Leia Fantasy” (Season 3, Episode 1)

What Happens: Monica wallows after her break up with Richard and Rachel tells Phoebe about Ross’s sex fantasies.

Good thing they’re reviving the “Star Wars” franchise, wouldn't want this episode to become irrelevant.

108. "The One with Ross and Monica’s Cousin” (Season 7, Episode 19)

What Happens: Ross and Monica’s causes waves with her good looks.

There was a brief moment when it looked like Denise Richards was going to succeed in reviving her career.

107. "The One with the Stain” (Season 8, Episode 7)

What Happens: Monica thinks her new maid is stealing from her and Ross tries to help Rachel get an apartment.

Only Monica would go to such lengths to protect her stained old clothes.

106. "The One with Joey’s Porsche” (Season 6, Episode 5)

What Happens: Ross and Rachel try to annul their marriage and Joey pretends to own a Porsche.

Joey’s entire story line was worth it for that tag.

105. "The Pilot” (Season 1, Episode 1)

What Happens: Monica’s best friend from high school runs out on her wedding and moves in with her.

This episode may have been the first, but it wasn't necessarily the best.

104. "The One with the Ring” (Season 6, Episode 23)

What Happens: Chandler enlists Phoebe’s help in buying a wedding ring for Monica.

Chandler and Phoebe was a character pairing that we didn't see often enough.

"The One with the East German Laundry Detergent" (Tumblr/mondlertimeline)
"The One with the East German Laundry Detergent" (Tumblr/mondlertimeline)
103. "The One with the East German Laundry Detergent” (Season 1, Episode 5)

What Happens: Phoebe helps Chandler break up with Janice and Ross and Rachel do laundry together.

Does this count as Ross and Rachel’s first date?

102. "The One with Ross’s Library Book” (Season 7, Episode 7)

What Happens: Ross discovers his book is located in a section of the library students use to hook up.

Just about any episode with Janice is a welcome episode.

101. "The One with the Home Study” (Season 10, Episode 7)

What Happens: A woman from the adoption agency visits Monica and Chandler’s apartment to evaluate them.

A little irrelevant, given that they move out as soon as the babies are born.

100. "The One with Phoebe’s Birthday Dinner” (Season 9, Episode 5)

What Happens: Phoebe is having a birthday dinner but everyone else is preoccupied with other things.

Phoebe flipping out at Ross’s mom is one of the funniest moments of the entire series.

"The One with the Baby Shower" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
"The One with the Baby Shower" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
99. "The One with the Baby Shower” (Season 8, Episode 20)

What Happens: The girls throw Rachel a baby shower and the guys help Joey practice for his audition for host of a game show.

“Let’s play Bamboozled!”

98. "The One with All the Rugby” (Season 4, Episode 15) 

What Happens: Ross tries to impress Emily by playing rugby with her friends.

Monica trying to figure out what the switch in her apartment controls is a riveting mystery.

"The One with the Birth Mother" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
"The One with the Birth Mother" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
97. "The One with the Birth Mother” (Season 10, Episode 9)

What Happens: Chandler and Monica meet the birth mother of their baby under false pretenses.

I would watch a show about Chandler, the doctor and Monica, the Jewish reverend.

96. "The One with Frank Jr.” (Season 3, Episode 5)

What Happens: Phoebe spends time with her newly discovered half-brother and Ross tries to sleep with Isabella Rossellini.

Phoebe has such a sad family life, it’s nice to see her finally have a relative to connect with.

95. "The One Where Chandler Takes a Bath” (Season 8, Episode 13)

What Happens: The rest of the gang finds out about Joey’s feelings for Rachel and Ross and Rachel try to come up with a name for their baby.

“Veto” would be a pretty good name for a baby.

94. "The One with the Dirty Girl” (Season 4, Episode 6)

What Happens: Ross dates a messy woman and Chandler helps Joey buy a gift for his girlfriend.

Monica and Phoebe’s catering business is the great company that never was.

93. "The One Where Ross Dates a Student” (Season 6, Episode 18)

What Happens: Phoebe and Rachel’s apartment burns down, forcing them to move in with Monica and Joey.

Monica’s apartment is clearly the preferable place to live.

92. "The One with the Pediatrician” (Season 9, Episode 3)

What Happens: Rachel tries to find a pediatrician only to discover that Ross is still seeing his.

The fact that Ross still sees his pediatrician somehow makes perfect sense.

"The One Where Estelle Dies" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
"The One Where Estelle Dies" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
91. "The One Where Estelle Dies” (Season 10, Episode 15)

What Happens: Phoebe tries to protect Joey from the fact that his agent died.

The way Chandler’s terror intensifies with each reappearance of Janice really pays off in her final appearance.

90. "The One Where Rachel Has a Baby” (Season 8, Episodes, 23 and 24)

What Happens: Rachel has a baby.

The couples flowing in and out of Rachel’s room while she’s waiting to give birth really make this episode.

89. "The One with Rachel’s Book” (Season 7, Episode 2)

What Happens: Joey discovers Rachel’s erotic novel and Monica plans her wedding.

Monica and Chandler really are a great couple, aren't they?

88. "The One with Monica and Chandler’s Wedding” (Season 7, Episodes 23 and 24)

What Happens: Monica and Chandler get married and Phoebe discovers that one of the girls is pregnant.

The pregnancy story line came at the perfect time to reinvigorate the series.

87. "The One Where Ross Is Fine” (Season 10, Episode 2)

What Happens: Ross tries to convince Rachel and Joey that he’s okay with their relationship.

Drunk Ross is so much more fun than regular Ross.

"The One with the Fake Monica" (Tumblr/cigarzonice)
"The One with the Fake Monica" (Tumblr/cigarzonice)
86. "The One with the Fake Monica” (Season 1, Episode 21)

What Happens: Monica befriends the woman who stole her identity.

Who doesn't worry that their life might not be exciting enough?

85. "The One with the Blind Dates” (Season 9, Episode 14)

What Happens: Phoebe and Joey set up Ross and Rachel on terrible blind dates to try to get them to realize they’re perfect for each other.

A beautifully structured episode pays off enormously by the end.

84. "The One with the Joke” (Season 6, Episode 12)

What Happens: Monica and Rachel fight over which of them would make a better girlfriend for Phoebe and Ross and Chandler fight over who made up a joke.

It turns out that “Playboy” prints jokes. Who knew?

83. "The One with Rachel’s Inadvertent Kiss” (Season 5, Episode 17)

What Happens: Rachel accidentally kisses her potential new boss. 

Good for Rachel for standing up to sexual harassment in the workplace. Imagined or otherwise.

82. "The One with Rachel’s Big Kiss” (Season 7, Episode 20)

What Happens: Phoebe doesn’t believe that Rachel made out with a sorority sister in college.

The far superior sequel to “The One with Rachel’s Inadvertent Kiss.”

81. "The One with Phoebe’s Dad” (Season 2, Episode 9)

What Happens: Phoebe tries to track down her real father, but can’t work up the nerve to knock on his door.

Phoebe’s journey to find her parents has a strange ending, but makes for very entertaining episodes.

80. "The One on the Last Night” (Season 6, Episode 6)

What Happens: Chandler and Rachel both prepare to move out of their apartments.

The relationship between Chandler and Joey never gets the time it deserves after he moves out.

79. "The One with the Lesbian Wedding” (Season 2, Episode 12)

What Happens: Carol and Susan get married with Ross’s support.

It’s amazing to see a same-sex marriage portrayed so nonchalantly in an episode that originally aired in 1996.

"The One with Joey's New Girlfriend" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
"The One with Joey's New Girlfriend" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
78. "The One with Joey’s New Girlfriend” (Season 4 Episode 5)

What Happens: Ross and Rachel try to get back at each other with new dates.

The introduction of Kathy led to some really great episodes between Joey and Chandler.

77. "The One with Ross’s Grant” (Season 10, Episode 6)

What Happens: Ross tries to win a research grant from one of his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriends.

Greg Kinnear!

76. "The One with the Stripper” (Season 8, Episode 8)

What Happens: Monica accidentally hires Chandler a hooker.

Chandler and Joey’s friendship finally gets an episode after a long stretch of neglect.

75. "The One with Ross’s Sandwich” (Season 5, Episode 9)

What Happens: Joey helps Monica and Chandler hide their relationship and Phoebe and Rachel take college classes together.

It would have been fun to see the “Friends” as students.

74. "The One Where Ross Hugs Rachel” (Season 6, Episode 2)

What Happens: Monica and Chandler tell Joey and Rachel that they’re going to move in together.

Having Monica and Chandler move in together was a huge change for the show that gave rise to fun new character pairings.

"The One Where Joey Speaks French" (Tumblr/chexlemeneux)
"The One Where Joey Speaks French" (Tumblr/chexlemeneux)
73. "The One Where Joey Speaks French” (Season 10, Episode 13)

What Happens: Phoebe tries to teach Joey French and Rachel’s father has a heart attack.

It’s always good to be reminded why Ross and Rachel were ever together in the first place.

72. "The One with the Cheap Wedding Dress” (Season 7, Episode 17)

What Happens: Monica gets into a feud with another bride-to-be over a wedding dress.

Watching Monica take down a woman over a dress is so satisfying.

71. "The One at the Beach” (Season 3, Episode 25)

What Happens: The gang travels to the beach where Phoebe meets her birth mother.

It might not have the scenery of London, but this destination episode benefits from trapping all the characters in one place.

70. "The One with Rachel’s Going Away Party” (Season 10, Episode 16)

What Happens: Rachel is about to go to Paris and says her goodbyes to the rest of the gang.

Clear set up for the finale, but it’s still so satisfying to see how far her relationships with everyone have come since entering the group in the first episode.

69. "The One with the Memorial Service” (Season 9, Episode 17)

What Happens: Ross and Chandler fight by posting lies about each other on their college’s alumni website.

Pretending to be dead to see who comes to your funeral is—as it turns out—terrible, but full of laughs.

68. "The One with the Boobies” (Season 1, Episode 13)

What Happens: Chandler accidentally sees Rachel naked which leads to an escalating series of embarrassing moments.

The presence of Joey’s father gives this episode a great ending.

"The One with the Truth About London" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
"The One with the Truth About London" (Tumblr/frie-nds)
67. "The One with the Truth About London” (Season 7, Episode 16)

What Happens: Monica and Chandler tell Joey about how they ended up sleeping together in London.

Based on the practical jokes Rachel taught Ben, she’d be a great mother.

66. "The One with Unagi” (Season 6, Episode 17)

What Happens: Ross teaches Rachel and Phoebe self-defense.

Untold numbers of “Friends” fans use “unagi” as the word for the state of total awareness.

65. "The One with the Engagement Picture” (Season 7, Episode 5)

What Happens: Chandler admits that he can’t take a good picture.

Yet another great episode for Phoebe and Ross when they date two exes.

64. "The One with the Apothecary Table” (Season 6, Episode 11)

What Happens: Rachel tricks Phoebe into thinking their Pottery Barn apothecary table is a real antique.

Rachel and Phoebe made great roommates, didn’t they?

63. "The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs” (Season 7, Episode 8)

What Happens: Chandler lies about being allergic to dogs because he hates them.

One has to wonder how Phoebe could possibly hide a dog in that apartment for so long.

62. "The One with the Thumb” (Season 1, Episode 3)

What Happens: Phoebe gets money she feels she doesn’t deserve and in trying to correct the error, only finds herself with increasingly more money.

The third episode of the series proved just how wacky it could be and get away with it.

61. "The One with All the Kissing” (Season 5, Episode 2)

What Happens: After accidentally kissing Monica in front of the other girls, Chandler tries to cover by kissing them too.

Phoebe’s water breaks in this episode. Babies! Lots of babies!

60. "The One Where Eddie Won’t Go” (Season 2, Episode 19)

What Happens: Chandler learns that this new roommate is crazier than he realized.

The “Be Your Own Windkeeper” sup-plot really makes this episode.

59. "The One with Ross’s Thing” (Season 3, Episode 23)

What Happens: Ross has a strange “skin abnormality” that doctors can’t identify.

The idea that doctors might not be able to diagnose an abnormality is enough to awaken the inner-hypochondriac in anyone.

"The One with the Nap Partners" (Tumblr/thefriendsdiary)
"The One with the Nap Partners" (Tumblr/thefriendsdiary)
58. "The One with the Nap Partners” (Season 7, Episode 6)

What Happens: Ross and Joey discover that they love to nap in each other’s arms.

What a sweet expression of friendship.

57. "The One with the Butt” (Season 1, Episode 6)

What Happens: Joey scores a role as Al Pacino’s butt double in a film.

The song and dance routine from Joey’s musical, “Freud!” is both funny and an accurate representation of his scientific conclusions.

56. "The One Where Rachel’s Sister Babysits” (Season 10, Episode 5)

What Happens: Rachel’s sister Amy babysits Emma, to Ross’s chagrin.

Christina Applegate really sells the clueless and self-absorbed act. It’s no wonder she won an Emmy for the role.

"The One with the Routine" (Tumblr/cheshirecatnom)
"The One with the Routine" (Tumblr/cheshirecatnom)
55. "The One with the Routine” (Season 6, Episode 10)

What Happens: Ross and Monica try to get on “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve.”

Seeing Ross and Monica do “The Routine” as adults is funny. Imagining them doing it as teenagers is even funnier.

54. "The One with the Girl from Poughkeepsie” (Season 4, Episode 10)

What Happens: Monica tries to scare her employees into respecting her.

It’s nice to see Joey stick up for Monica, even if it means losing a paycheck.

53. "The One with Princess Consuela” (Season 10, Episode 14)

What Happens: Phoebe changes her name after her wedding and Joey tries to make peace with the idea of Monica and Chandler moving away.

A lovely Dakota Fanning makes a guest appearance as Joey's unofficial life coach.

52. "The One with Rachel’s Assistant” (Season 7, Episode 4)

What Happens: Rachel hires a new assistant. Monica, Chandler and Ross spill embarrassing secrets about each other.

Fun fact: Chandler accidentally made out with a man once.

51. "The One Where Joey Dates Rachel” (Season 8, Episode 12)

What Happens: Joey takes a pregnant Rachel out on a date to make her feel better.

This is exactly where the Joey-Rachel romance should have ended.

50. "The One Where Phoebe Runs” (Season 6, Episode 7)

What Happens: Phoebe teaches Rachel to let go of her fear of judgment.

You think it doesn’t get better after Phoebe debuts her crazy running style and then Rachel runs into a police horse.

"The One with the Dollhouse" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered
"The One with the Dollhouse" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered
49. "The One with the Dollhouse” (Season 3, Episode 20)

What Happens: Monica inherits a beautiful dollhouse, but won’t let Phoebe play with it.

Phoebe’s dollhouse burning was an epic tragedy.

48. "The One with All the Candy” (Season 7, Episode 9)

What Happens: Monica makes candy to win over the neighbors and Ross teaches Phoebe how to ride a bike.

Monica’s candy really did look good enough to incite a riot.

47. "The One with the Flashback” (Season 3, Episode 6)

What Happens: A look back at the gang before the start of the series.

Even the slightest hint of Chandler and Rachel together is enough to boggle the mind.

46. "The One Where They’re Up All Night” (Season 7, Episode 12)

What Happens: After staying up to view a comet, none of the gang gets to sleep on time.

Lisa Kudrow’s meltdown when she’s yelling at the smoke detector is a stroke of genius.

45. "The One with the Two Parties” (Season 2, Episode 22)

What Happens: Rachel has two simultaneous birthday parties to keep her divorced parents apart.

What a great way to contrast Joey and Chandler with Monica.

44. "The One with the Cake” (Season 10, Episode 4)

What Happens: The guests get impatient at Emma’s first birthday party.

The mere thought of Emma’s face on a penis cake is horrifying. And also hilarious.

"The One with Ross's Inappropriate Song" (Tumblr/xelamanrique)
"The One with Ross's Inappropriate Song" (Tumblr/xelamanrique)
43. "The One with Ross’s Inappropriate Song” (Season 9, Episode 7)

What Happens: Ross sings “Baby Got Back” to make Emma laugh.

Future generations will think he’s singing Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda.”

42. "The One Where Joey Loses His Insurance” (Season 6, Episode 4)

What Happens: Ross pretends to be British in front of his students and Joey tries to act through a hernia.

His accent is laughably poor.

41. "The One with the Late Thanksgiving” (Season 10, Episode 8)

What Happens: No one makes it on time to Monica and Chandler’s Thanksgiving dinner.

The final “Friends” Thanksgiving.

40. "The One Where the Monkey Gets Away” (Season 1, Episode 19)

What Happens: Marcel escapes and the gang has to find him before Animal Control does.

Phoebe getting shot in the butt with a tranquillizer dart is a bucket of laughs.

39. "The One Where Chandler Crosses the Line” (Season 4, Episode 7)

What Happens: Chandler kisses Joey’s girlfriend and Ross debuts his music.

Ross and Phoebe bonding over their misunderstood music is the perfect encapsulation of their friendship.

"The One with Ross's Teeth" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
"The One with Ross's Teeth" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
38. "The One with Ross’s Teeth” (Season 6, Episode 8)

What Happens: Ross accidentally bleaches his teeth freakishly white and tries to find a way to hide them.

It turns out that white teeth can be really, really creepy.

37. "The One with the Holiday Armadillo” (Season 7, Episode 10)

What Happens: Ross tries to get Ben interested in Hanukkah by dressing up as the “Holiday Armadillo.”

The perfect timing of the costume reveals—first the armadillo, then Santa and finally Superman—demonstrate the amazing talent of the “Friends” writing staff.

36. "The One Where Ross Got High” (Season 6, Episode 9)

What Happens: Past secrets get revealed when Ross and Monica’s parents come to visit.

Rachel’s beef trifle sounds truly horrific.

35. "The One Where Rosita Dies” (Season 7, Episode 13)

What Happens: Rachel accidentally breaks Joey’s chair and inadvertently frames Chandler for it.

Rachel and Joey may not have made a good couple, but their antics together sure were amusing.

"The One with the Ball" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
"The One with the Ball" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
34. "The One with the Ball” (Season 5, Episode 21)

What Happens: The gang slowly becomes obsessed with tossing a ball back and forth without letting it touch the ground.

Writing out Phoebe’s boyfriend by having him shoot a bird was unexpected, to say the least.

33. "The One Hundreth”  (Season 5, Episode 3)

What Happens: Phoebe gives birth to her brother’s babies.

Phoebe doesn’t get a lot of emotional storylines, but watching her give up the triplets is absolutely heartbreaking.

32. "The One with All the Cheesecakes” (Season 7, Episode 11)

What Happens: Chandler and Rachel steal cheesecake from a neighbor and find themselves unable to give it up.

Probably the best storyline Chandler and Rachel ever shared.

31. "The One with the Proposal” (Season 6, Episodes 24 and 25)

What Happens: Monica surprises Chandler with a proposal after choosing him over Richard.

No cliffhanger ending, just Monica and Chandler dancing on the night of their proposal. Perfect.

30. "The One with Phoebe’s Uterus” (Season 4, Episode 11)

What Happens: Phoebe decides to serve as her brother’s surrogate and Monica teaches Chandler how to impress in the bedroom.

Monica number the erogenous zones on a woman’s body is an iconic scene from the series.

29. "The One with Ross’s Wedding” (Season 4, Episodes 23 and 24)

What Happens: Rachel rushes to London to tell Ross that she loves him before he gets married.

Ross saying Rachel’s name at the altar is hands-down the best cliffhanger “Friends” ever did.

28. "The One with the Birth” (Season 1, Episode 23)

What Happens: Carol gives birth while Ross and Susan bicker.

This episode contains a surprisingly prophetic sub-plot of Monica and Chandler agreeing to be each other’s back-up spouse.

"The One Where Heckles Dies" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
"The One Where Heckles Dies" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered)
27. "The One Where Heckles Dies” (Season 2, Episode 3)

What Happens: Monica and Rachel’s annoying downstairs neighbor dies and leaves them all his things.

Phoebe shutting down Ross’s condescending attempts to make her believe in evolution is one of the highlights of the series. Phoebe makes Ross a better person, you guys.

26. "The One with Five Steaks and an Eggplant” (Season 2, Episode 5)

What Happens: The gang splits over money issues.

A surprisingly heavy topic for the show to tackle, but it’s handled well when they all come together to console Monica after she’s fired.

25. "The One Where Ross and Rachel… You Know” (Season 2, Episode 15)

What Happens: Ross and Rachel spend their first night together and Monica begins her relationship with Richard.

Richard was so great for Monica, not as great as Chandler, but still.

24. "The One the Morning After” (Season 3, Episode 16)

What Happens: Rachel confronts Ross about Chloe while the others listen in from the bedroom.

The heavy drama in the living room is perfectly balanced by reactions of the others trapped in Monica’s room.

"The One with the Cop" (Tumblr/drake-ramoray
"The One with the Cop" (Tumblr/drake-ramoray
23. "The One with the Cop” (Season 5, Episode 16)

What Happens: Ross buys a new couch and struggles to move it into his building.

Ross shouting “pivot” at Rachel and Chandler has become one of the show’s most iconic moments.

22. "The One with Phoebe’s Cookies” (Season 7, Episode 3)

What Happens: Monica tries to guess the recipe to Phoebe’s grandmother’s chocolate chip cookies.

“Nestlée Toulouse.”

21. "The One with the Rumor” (Season 8, Episode 9)

What Happens: An old friend of Ross’s who hates Rachel joins the gang for Thanksgiving.

They may not have worked out as a couple, but watching Brad Pitt pretend to hate Jennifer Aniston while they were still together was endlessly amusing.

"The One with Ross's Tan" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered
"The One with Ross's Tan" (Tumblr/yourlittleharmonicaishammered
20. "The One with Ross’s Tan” (Season 10, Episode 3)

What Happens: Ross goes to Monica’s spray tanning salon only to accidentally get too tan on one side.

The visual of Ross’s imbalanced tan is a perfect sight gag.

19. "The One with All the Thanksgivings” (Season 5, Episode 8)

What Happens: The gang competes to see who has the worst Thanksgiving story.

Courteney Cox really puts her heart and soul into playing Fat Monica in a way that makes her an absolute joy to watch.

18. "The One with the Mugging” (Season 9, Episode 15)

What Happens: Phoebe discovers that she once mugged Ross when she was a teenager living on the street.

Phoebe and Ross really do have one of the best friendships on the show and this added backstory only makes it better.

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

What Happens: Everyone’s running late trying to get ready for Ross’s awards banquet.

The quintessential bottle episode, “The One Where No One’s Ready” highlights the cast’s strength as an ensemble.

16. "The One with the Red Sweater” (Season 8, Episode 2)

What Happens: Joey and Phoebe try to guess the identity of the father of Rachel’s baby.

Like all great twists, the reveal that Ross is the father makes sense, but still comes as a total shock.

"The One with the Blackout" (Tumblr/beefcustardthing)
"The One with the Blackout" (Tumblr/beefcustardthing)
15. "The One with the Blackout” (Season 1, Episode 7)

What Happens: A blackout in the city traps the gang in Monica and Rachel’s apartment.

Every cast member gets a chance to shine in this stand-out episode.

14. "The One Where Underdog Gets Away” (Season 1, Episode 9)

What Happens: When all their plans fall through, the gang ends up spending Thanksgiving together.

The original “Friends” Thanksgiving episode still stands as one of best.

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

What Happens: Ross finally discovers that Rachel has feelings for him.

Ross and Rachel’s first kiss is possibly the most satisfying kiss to ever grace television.

12. "The One with Rachel’s Other Sister” (Season 9, Episode 8)

What Happens: Rachel’s sister Amy blows into town, upsetting everyone with her utter disinterest in anyone but herself.

Since “Up All Night” proved to be an enormous flop, this stands was Christina Applegate’s best role to date. 

11. "The One with Chandler in a Box” (Season 4, Episode 8)

What Happens: To make up for kissing Joey’s girlfriend, Chandler spends Thanksgiving trapped in a box.

Joey and Chandler were as much a couple as any of the romantic pairings and they had the same ups and downs.

"The One with Phoebe's Wedding" (Tumblr/fridaynightlove)
"The One with Phoebe's Wedding" (Tumblr/fridaynightlove)
10. "The One With Phoebe’s Wedding” (Season 10, Episode 12)

What Happens: Phoebe and Mike get married in the street during a blizzard.

“Friends” is no stranger to weddings, but Phoebe’s is probably the most beautiful.

9. "The One with All the Poker” (Season 1, Episode 18)

What Happens: Tempers flare when the girls ask to join in on the guys’ poker game.

The tension between Ross and Rachel in this episode should have been an indication of how fiery and dramatic their relationship would turn out to be.

8. "The One with the Football” (Season 3, Episode 9)

What Happens: Monica and Ross drag the others into an old football rivalry.

Many of the “Friends” Thanksgiving episodes are among the series’ best, but this one has the right combination of drama and humor to set itself apart.

7. "The One with the Prom Video” (Season 2, Episode 14)

What Happens: An old home movie of prom night shows just how much Ross cares about Rachel.

It took way too long, but the relationship everyone wishes they had is finally born.

6. "The One with the Lottery” (Season 9, Episode 18)

What Happens: Everyone chips in to a lottery pool, but the potential fortune causes strain.

No number of viewings will make the gang’s realization that they missed out on $10,000 any less painful. Or less funny.

"The One with the Giant Poking Device" (Tumblr/this-parachute-is-a-knapsack)
"The One with the Giant Poking Device" (Tumblr/this-parachute-is-a-knapsack)
5. "The One with the Giant Poking Device” (Season 3, Episode 8)

What Happens: Fearing she killed him with a curse, Phoebe tries to make sure Monica’s neighbor, Ugly Naked Guy, is still alive.

Ugly Naked Guy may have left the show in the fifth season, but he’s still one of the best running gags “Friends” ever had.

4. "The Last One” (Season 10, Episodes 17 and 18)

What Happens: Monica and Chandler’s twins are born and Rachel decides not to move to Paris.

Fans spent ten years with the show’s six central characters and demanded an appropriately satisfying conclusion. The “Friends” writers delivered a perfect series finale that puts all others to shame.

"The One Where Everybody Finds Out" (Tumblr/ccikdniita)
"The One Where Everybody Finds Out" (Tumblr/ccikdniita)
3. "The One Where Everybody Finds Out” (Season 5, Episode 14)

What Happens: Phoebe and Rachel try to get Monica and Chandler to admit to their relationship.

“They don’t know we know they know we know!”

2. “The One with the Videotape” (Season 8, Episode 4)

What Happens: Ross and Rachel settle the argument of who came on to whom when Emma was conceived.

The way the episode’s two storylines dovetail into a completely shocking twist ending makes this episode a masterpiece. It should be studied in sitcom writing classes everywhere.

"The One with the Embryos" (Tumblr/paper-snow-a-ghost)
"The One with the Embryos" (Tumblr/paper-snow-a-ghost)
1. “The One with the Embryos” (Season 4, Episode 12)

What Happens: Phoebe is implanted with her brother’s embryos while the others compete in a high stakes trivia contest to see who knows whom better.

From Lisa Kudrow’s stunning monologue to the embryos, to the escalating absurdity of the game’s questions and answers, to the trading of apartments, this episode is absolute perfection.

Reach Staff Reporter Reid Nakamura here.



 

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Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.

 
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