Friends’ main couple were Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Ross (David Schwimmer), though that doesn’t mean they were the show’s best couple – and the actual best one made them look even worse. The 1990s saw the rise of various sitcoms, of which some made film history, as is the case forFriends. Despite ending in 2004,Friendscontinues to be quite popular and has reached a wider audience thanks to its arrival in the world of streaming, but this has also brought more attention to its flaws and elements that haven’t aged well.
DespiteFriendssharing the spotlight between Monica (Courteney Cox), Chandler (Matthew Perry), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Rachel, and Ross, the latter two became the main couple of the show, and thus a lot of the attention went to their chaotic relationship. While Ross and Rachel broke up, got back together, broke up again, and more,Friendssaw other couples blossoming, includingMonica and Chandler, who became the show’s best couple and made Ross and Rachel look even worse by doing everything better and differently.
Monica & Chandler Ditched All The Annoying Sitcom Tropes And Were Friends’ Best Couple
Monica & Chandler Proved There Can Be Healthy Couples In Sitcoms
Ross and Rachel kept the drama going inFriendswith the many ups and downs in their relationship– first, it was the uncertainty of it all, as it took a while for Rachel to accept her feelings for Ross and for Ross to be single again, as he had started to move on from his years-long crush on Rachel. Then came the infamous “break”, after which it took them a while to be friends again. After a drunken night together, Rachel got pregnant and she and Ross became parents to a girl, Emma, but they didn’t get back together.
Friends: Ross & Rachel Were On A Break, But That’s Not The Problem
Technically, Ross and Rachel were “on a break” during the much discussed storyline from Friends season 3, but that’s not the point of the conflict.
Ross and Rachel are one of the best examples of the biggest problem with sitcom couples, who are put into a “can’t be together until the show’s end” dynamic to keep the drama going. Monica and Chandler, on the other hand, left all those tiring sitcom tropes aside, and their relationship even happened more organically than Ross and Rachel’s.Monica and Chandler weren’t a couple brought together for dramatic purposeslike Ross and Rachel and, instead, they simply got to be a couple that went through many ups and downs together.
Surely, Monica and Chandler went through some rough patches, especially before they got married, but they proved to have the maturity, emotional intelligence and responsibility, and genuine care for each other that Ross and Rachel didn’t. In the end,Monica and Chandler were a lot more interesting and exciting to watchthan Ross and Rachel, as the audience watched them grow as a couple while the latter were trapped in the same toxic loop until the final episodes ofFriends.
Friends Made Ross & Rachel’s Relationship Too Complicated For Its Own Good
Ross & Rachel’s Relationship Became Tiring
It was clear from the very first episode ofFriendsthat Ross and Rachel were going to be at the front and center, but the show ended up overcomplicating their relationship. The “will they, won’t they” dynamic between them before they got together for the first time was fun, as was finally seeing them together, butthe controversial “break” marked a turning point that only made their relationship tiringand too complicated. Not only was there still something between them, but they were both given mostly disastrous relationships after the “break”, such as Ross and Emily and Rachel and Joey.
Friends: A Complete Timeline of Ross & Rachel’s Relationship
Ross and Rachel’s relationship was a complicated one, and it’s easy to forget some moments that happened in between arguments and dating other people.
Ross and Rachel’s chaotic relationship surely helped keep the drama going inFriendsfor many seasons, but Monica and Chandler were the best couple because they were the opposite of what Ross and Rachel were. Monica and Chandler didn’t need big dramatic storylines and shocking moments to win the audience over and get their attention, and showed viewers what a healthy relationship can look like.
Friends
Friends is a television sitcom that debuted in 1994, revolving around six young New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood. The series highlights their friendship as they support each other through personal and professional challenges, encapsulating the ups and downs of life in a comedic and relatable manner.
