Not too many people would claim that the hugely popular sitcom Friends was meant to be realistic. The group of twenty-something friends surviving in New York City seem to have things conspicuously together—from rent-controlled lofts to landing a job in the fashion world with no previous experience. Regardless of its tenuous hold on reality, the TV show has stood the test of time.
And, as many hardcore fans would contend, the show does nail its few somber moments. Plus, it’s also got more than a few believable scenes. These scenes, interspersed with the zany plot points, add a much-needed dose of realism. Looking back, there aren’t too many episodes that highlight these real-life moments—but when they happen, they’re memorable.
Keep reading for a breakdown of some of the most realistic moments in the show’s history.
‘The One with Five Steaks and an Eggplant’
Another highly realistic moment in Friends—which also involves money—comes during a birthday dinner celebration. Of the group of six friends, three are financially stable, and they want to call the shots on where the birthday dinner takes place. After opting for a pricier location, the dinner sours.
From there, uncomfortable conversations about finance derail the celebration. It’s easily one of the most realistic moments in the show’s long duration—especially considering that the group lives in an extraordinarily pricey city and all come from different backgrounds and professions.
‘The One in Vegas’
This episode is one of the most famous for a reason. Not only do Ross and Rachel get married, but Chandler and Monica nearly do the same. Still, that’s not what stands out about this episode in terms of realism. Instead, it’s all about what happens on the casino floor as Joey and Phoebe play blackjack.
This predates the current era of virtual platforms, which many blackjack players prefer to a brick-and-mortar casino experience. They’re more accessible and, if bonuses are available, more affordable for players. But back in the day, many blackjack players stuck to physical casinos, like Joey’s stint in Vegas.
During one game of blackjack, he finds his ‘hand twin’. Convinced this could lead to opportunity in Hollywood, Joey brings over Phoebe and, together, they attempt to win over the dealer. This is clearly a huge mistake, and unsurprisingly, both players are booted from the location for interrupting the game. It’s one of the most believable moments in the episode.
‘The One Where Ross Got High’
Easily one of the show’s most iconic scenes came during a Thanksgiving meal when Rachel is responsible for cooking dessert. Compared to her friends, she has much less ‘real life’ experience—especially not in the kitchen. Her English trifle turns out a bit… disgusting, to put it lightly, mixing beef, custard, and jam.
But it’s not Rachel’s inability to cook dessert that makes this moment real. Instead, it’s about the five others at the table who attempt to eat the dessert and not let Rachel know how terrible it tastes. After all, we’ve all been in a similar situation in which we must choose between sacrificing our taste buds or letting a friend know that they’ve created an abomination.
‘The One with the Ultimate Fighting Champion’
One of the biggest guest cameos on the show came from Robin Williams and Billy Crystal. The pair sit down near the group in Central Perk, their preferred café. From there, Williams and Crystals’ characters start to unravel a wholly scandalous story—one that the group can’t help but desperately listen to.
While Friends misses the bar when it comes to depicting life in NYC at multiple turns, this cameo hit the nail on the head. As an incredibly densely populated city, locals are no strangers to overhearing (and even eavesdropping) the drama unfolding around them. The fact that two men decided to have an incredibly personal conversation in public is actually very realistic, as is the fact that a group of Friends would be hanging on every word someplace nearby.
‘The One with the Morning After’
One of Friends’ most poignant and resonating moments comes after Ross and Rachel go on a break after a bitter fight. It’s motivated by uncertainty surrounding Rachel’s blooming profession—and one of her handsome coworkers. The fight and the breakup are painful to watch, but it’s Ross waking up the next morning with an acquaintance that infuses this episode with a dose of realism.
This is also the genesis of one of Ross’s most iconic lines, ‘We were on a break.’ Though not nearly as funny as ‘pivot!’, this moment comes to heavily define his character in season three. For viewers, it’s a roller coaster of an episode that reminds everyone that love and relationships are rarely a black-and-white affair.
‘The One Where Eddie Won’t Go’
The episodes that cover Joey’s rise to fame as part of the cast of ‘Days of Our Lives’ is a cornerstone of season two. After an emotional departure from his shared apartment with Chandler, Joey elevates his quality of life—only to quickly find that he’s been overspending despite his new role.
At the same time that Joey faces his financial woes, Chandler is instead locked in a bitter battle against his new roommate, Eddie. While Joey’s foray into debt is a classic callback to the instability of a person’s career in their twenties, Chandler’s struggles with Eddie focus on one of the most grueling challenges of living in NYC: finding a sane roommate.
‘The One with the Ball’
Above, we recounted how Joey’s character steps into financial trouble when he starts overspending on a new apartment (and its furnishings). But he isn’t the only character who makes a lasting poor decision. Though Ross was able to step into the shoes of caretaker for the monkey named Marcel, Rachel struggles after spending a pretty penny on an evil, hairless cat.
The urge to find a furry (or hairless, in this case) companion is one that many young people can relate to. But the reality of taking care of that pet, especially in a big city and while busy with a job, is a responsibility that many (Rachel included) slowly tiptoe away from.
‘The One With the Metaphorical Tunnel’
One of the standout elements of Chandler’s character arc in the first few seasons of Friends is his on-again, off-again relationship with Janice. Like many embroiled in relationships in their twenties and thirties, it’s difficult to understand whether things will pan out. Chandler, much like Janice, struggles with this throughout the series.
But things get especially real when Chandler finally manages to tell Janice exactly how he feels and even leaves a drawer empty for her at his apartment. Janice panics and flees as Chandler takes his first step down the ‘metaphorical tunnel of commitment’, then he delivers one of the show’s best lines, “Don’t go. I’ve scared you. I’ve said too much. I’m hopeless and awkward and desperate for love!” It’s one of the show’s most relatable moments.
‘The One with All the Resolutions’
Friends make poor decisions all the time. Fashion is no exception—and Friends has dozens of fashion faux pas moments. But none are as painful and cringeworthy as Ross’s decision to wear leather pants… on a date.
So, what makes this instance so authentic? First, there’s the desire to step out of the box with a bold fashion statement—everyone can relate. Second, there’s the mindless naivete of thinking this decision won’t have consequences. Third, there’s the palpable and relatable fear of something going wrong in a lover’s home… especially the bathroom.
‘The One with the Proposal’
Though Ross and Rachel usually take the cake in terms of high-profile romances, Chandler and Monica’s love story resonates more in terms of realism. Their surprise and slow-burn romance struck a chord with many fans, but the show deviated to offer an even more hard-hitting moment when Monica proposes to Chandler.
The moment resonates with the type of heartfelt and surprising emotion that has marked their entire relationship. It’s especially brought into focus considering Monica’s visit to Richard only moments before she proposes to Chandler. It highlights just how unconventional their love has always been—and also honors Monica’s confident character.