Last night, I was on Facebook and the people of my newsfeed informed me that the last episode of Friends was on. The nostalgia fiend in me had to tune into the syndicated classic and eight years later, that episode still stirs up the same emotions. From the beginning, we know we are at the crux of the Rachel and Ross saga, and Chandler and Monica are about to become parents. They are all packing up the apartment and it is clear that they are wrapping everything up, both literally and figuratively.
The references made in that episode were all an obvious thank you to the fans. The best lines included “Unless we’re on a break,” and at the end, when they decide to go get coffee, and Chandler sarcastically asks “Where?” These one-liners are still considered parting gifts by any Friends aficionado. Though this review may seem almost a decade late, Friends has had such a cultural impact that last night, there were people who couldn’t go to sleep until they heard Rachel say, “I got off the plane.”
What I found to be most unique about the episode that I had never seen before, nor have I seen since, was the tying of loose ends that seemed to be more like little nods to the audience. Questions that the audience always had and unexpected farewells littered the scenes. What ever happened to the duck and the chick? Answered. How could they afford such a nice apartment? (Although, I really can’t imagine the rent control being that good in that neighborhood. It really was a steal, Chandler.) Who gets the foosball table? All I have to say is, ‘good game, guys.’ So hey, next time you are hanging out with your besties, and there is nothing good on T.V., maybe you should throw on a random season of Friends and take the time to appreciate yours.
