Remembering the F.R.I.E.N.D.S

What the original Rembrandt could not accomplish on canvas, the group Rembrandt did that gracefully on the hearts and minds of all those teenagers who grew up watching the cult F.R.I.E.N.D.S on television. The melodious title track that ran for a decade on the TV will run for eternity inside us, every time reminiscing us of our salad days and filling our heart with renewed nostalgic musings. The Central Perk- a small coffee bistro in the heart of New York city will outlive in our memory as a busy and vivacious hub which witnessed the making of new friends (Joey and Ross), secret crush of Gunther for Rachael, the blossoming of love for Chandler and Monica and the eccentricities of Phoebe. What started as a simple, easy going story of six friends –each having a different profession and background, attached only by a common thread of friendship went on to make a big impression on the world of sitcoms that would forever change the way we look at the reel and real world.

The first episode starts with Rachael running away from the altar to search for true love, ends up meeting the five friends and finally finds the true love in his childhood friend and secret admirer-Ross who reunites with her finally at the end of the last episode last season-ten years later. The other couple Monica and Chandler had had their share of arguments, fights and love and finally moves out to embark upon a new life. Phoebe finds a wonderful husband in Mike and Joey is left alone-though he seems happy to be (the way we know him). Their journey of ten years presented friendship in the most purest and selfless form where each one is ready to sacrifice for the other and to stand for each other. If the eviction of Joey from Chandler’s room caused many a heartbreaks, his returning back was cheered and celebrated by all and sundry. If the break-up of Ross and Rachael gave sleepless nights to the viewers, their reunion in the final episode could not have ended the sitcom on a better note.

The songs of Phoebe will be remembered as much as her eccentricities, whether it’s the unusual background she hailed from- living on the footpaths after her mother committed suicide and father left or her twin sister Ursella, different from her in all respects. The “smelly cat” and her guitar becomes as much a part of her existence as her friends. The happy go lucky nature of Joey – envied by all and loved by all –tell its own tale. His boyish innocence, childish stupidities and adorable personality won many hearts – on and off the sets. No wonder, Chandler always felt insecure in Joey’s presence. The sweetheart of the sitcom- Rachel could not make coffee but the flavors she added in everybody’s life required no additives. She was a breath of fresh air and suddenly saw her popularity skyrocketing. All the other characters too basked in the limelight and glory and made clean sweeps in the grammy’s on many occasions.

The “How you doin” pick up line of Joey and the childlike enthusiasm of Ross for dinosaurs needs no elaboration. Many popular Hollywood stalwarts like Brad Pitt, Alicia Witherspoon etc made special appearances but none could overshadow the six friends presence. The hilarious mix-up of situations like the one where Ross came to know about the pregnancy of his lesbian wife who decides to raise the child with her girlfriend or the one where Chandler sleeps with Joey’s sister and could recognize which one or the one where Ross kisses Chandler’s mom or the one where Chandler sleeps with Ross’s sister, Monica during Ross’s marriage to second wife Emily which soon breaks up when Ross takes Rachael’s name during the vowing ceremony. Despite all these, they remained the best of friends and provided non-stop entertainment and fun especially at a time when the world was saddened by the 9/11 episode. The freshness and the originality of the concept won numerous hearts and defined an era of Friends.
Though the last episode was very agonizing, knowing the fact that the central Perk will never host those memorable moments again and the viewers will have to take their evening coffee in the absence of the F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Sadly but truly, all good things come to an end. The six friends parted ways to start a new chapter in their life, where they will make some new friends and some new stories. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. provided some of the best years of my life and I’ll always be happy to have covered my own journey at the same time as theirs.