Friends: How It Changed From Season 1 To 10 (For Better Or Worse)

Friends was undeniably a generation-defining show that still garners buzz to this day. The series premiered on September 22, 1994, and concluded with ten seasons on May 6, 2004. This decade was one of the most significant in TV history, and the major success of a simple sitcom surrounding an ordinary group of 20-somethings living in New York has since become a timeless comedy.

Today, Friends and its iconic six main characters are still relevant and beloved worldwide. Fans often binge-watch this show over and over, and somehow, the jokes and memorable storylines have yet to grow old. Over ten seasons, this series obviously went through some changes throughout its years on the air. Let’s take a look at some of the most significant and memorable.

The Humor Matured With The Characters

When Friends premiered, the series was known for focusing on six twenty-somethings who were just learning how to navigate their independent lives. For example, Rachel had to deal with the embarrassment of running out on her wedding and Monica still had issues with her relationship with her parents.

The show and cast were a lot younger when it first started airing, and the humor (appropriately) was much different than what fans became accustomed to in later seasons. Friends really found its footing during Season 3, which is when the characters began to mature, develop, and grow into themselves. The show’s humor adjusted to this change as well, turning in more mature laughs and situations than before.

Phoebe’s Quirkiness Was Toned Down

Phoebe’s very first scene in Friends depicted her cleansing Ross’s aura while he complained to the gang about his failed marriage with Carol. Phoebe’s quirks and eccentricity was really driven home in the first few seasons of Friends, likely to make sure that the character was easily remembered. To the show’s credit, this worked.

But as time went on and Friends became more successful, Phoebe’s exaggerated idiosyncrasy was notably toned down. She always had her lovable quirks, but she became more of a real person in the series’ later seasons which made her more endearing.

Rachel’s Everchanging Fashion Sense

The characters of Friends certainly changed a lot during the show’s decade on the air, but it’s arguable that no one changed in appearance more than Rachel Green. While most characters kept the same style throughout the series’ entirety, Rachel’s fashion and hairstyle evolved with every season.

Rachel may have been considered one of the more boring one-dimensional characters on the show, but her everchanging style ages with the series, giving fans a true sense of what was trendy and not back then.

The Quality Began To Dip In Season 8

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment that Friends started to show its age, but it was likely sometime around the series’ eighth season. After Chandler and Monica’s wedding – which took place in the seventh season finale and was arguably the biggest moment on the show – Friends seemed lack in the storyline department.

Maybe it was because the writers were running out of steam, or maybe it’s because Season 7 was its peak. One thing is for sure: it was in Season 8 where some of the most infamous, widely-hated storylines can be found. For example, Rachel and Joey’s short-lived romance is one of the most well-known and poorly remembered plots of this run.

The Amount Of Out-Of-Character Moments Increased

At the same time that the quality of Friends began to go downhill, the characters started to act rather out-of-character at times. The last few seasons of Friends hold a bad reputation with fans today due to some of the bad character decisions and unrealistic storylines that these later episodes are infamous for.

One of the most notorious Friends storylines was when Chandler went to Tulsa early in Season 9. This was something that happened largely due to some issues actor Matthew Perry was exhibiting behind the scenes, but the arc itself is rather unflattering on Chandler’s part and made for some out-of-character moments that really stuck out.

The Dynamic Between Rachel & Joey Turned Romantic

Friends changed a lot over the years, but one thing that stayed the same was the close friendships within the main gang. This was true up until Season 8, when the series’ writers made the now disreputable decision to create a storyline where Joey begins to fall in love with Rachel.

This was an arc that started in Season 8 but was not completely finished until later in Season 10. This storyline was not only unnecessary, but it brought to the table so much inflated drama that fans were not fond of. Joey and Rachel’s friendship used to be an endearing aspect of Friends, but the contrived romance changed the way viewers perceived it.

Ross Became More Likable, Then Less Likable Again

It goes without saying that Ross Gellar is remembered today as being the least likable Friend. While Chandler is almost universally known as “the favorite,” Ross is the majority of fans’ least liked for a variety of different reasons.

Ross starts the series moping about his failed marriage, and he doesn’t stop feeling sorry for himself any time soon. Ross is shown to have much more of a sense of humor by Season 5 and thus, he became much more likable for a few seasons. However, by Season 9, Ross regained his unpleasantness when he took issue with Rachel hiring a male nanny. This weirdly inconsistent personality of his is arguably hard to like, whether now or in the show’s prime.

The Celebrity Cameos Became One-Dimensional

Friends had some memorable guest stars in its ten seasons, although many of the favorites appeared in the earlier seasons. As time went on, its worth noting that the quality of Friends’ supporting characters and one-time guest stars began to significantly decrease.

Early on, the series enjoyed one-episode appearances by Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Susan Sarandon, and George Clooney, to name just a few. But in later seasons, these guest stars became flatter and less memorable, as some were either poorly written or the star just appeared as themselves rather than a memorable one-off character.

The Number Of Inside Jokes Increased

This sitcom is one that is well-known for its plethora of inside jokes. This is something that could only be achieved by the series’ longevity, since, as the show went on, the audience got to know the characters as though they were real people.

Every character had their usual schtick and that got more prominent with time. Each main character is well-known for a specific trait that makes them still lovable today, and these quirks were arguably increased in visibility with each passing season.

Joey & Chandler’s Friendship Got Infantilized

The core group’s friendship was the crux of the show, and the friendships they had with each other evolved and changed over time. Dynamics shifted and developed in different ways, and some friendships were more popular and loved than others.

Joey and Chandler had a close friendship from the beginning. They were always one of the more preeminent dynamics of the show but as the series went on, the nature of their relationship slowly changed. What was once a friendship between non-blood brothers slowly morphed into a dependency. By the end of Friends, Joey was almost treated as Monica and Chandler’s child rather than just their friend.