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American television’s iconic coffee house, Central Perk, recently commemorated its love affair with coffee by bringing the coffee company Central Perk to life. The said company’s official website boasts a new collection of artisanal coffees roasted to order, and its official Instagram reads, “Enjoyed best with FRIENDS.”
With this exciting piece of news, Friends loyalists, and even casual fans can now sip their coffee while revisiting their favorite episodes. While Friends‘ classic storylines do require prior knowledge of previous episodes, the show does feature some episodes that focus on an independent storyline, Whether viewers identify as casual fans or beginners, these standalone episodes are easy to follow and thoroughly entertaining.
The One With Mrs. Bing (Season 1, Episode 11)
This episode revolves around Chandler’s mother Nora’s NYC visit, Monica and Phoebe’s fight over a guy in a coma, and Ross’ hatred of Rachel’s lover, Paolo. It gives a backstory of Chandler’s years as an awkward teen, and his complicated relationship with Nora, without needing prior knowledge of the subject.
Nora’s flamboyance is enough to keep viewers hooked until the end, and so is Phoebe and Monica’s fight over the one-off coma guy. Meanwhile, Ross, unable to cope with Rachel’s passing interest, ends up kissing Nora. The episode’s end brings the friends closer as a group. Phoebe and Monica quit fighting over a random guy, and Chandler forgives Ross for kissing his mother and bids her a bittersweet goodbye. The episode perfectly breaks from the main narrative to focus on the quirky secondary character who brings the gang closer.
The One With Phoebe’s Wedding (Season 10, Episode 12)
This is the episode where Phoebe Buffay finally gets her dream wedding, and right on her turf too. It figures in IMDb’s best sitcom wedding episodes, and overall it’s a celebration of love.
Phoebe’s wedding gets snowed in, and her friends come together to throw the ceremony on the snowy streets of NYC. Any fan with a passing knowledge of Friends will find that “The One With Phoebe’s Wedding”is reminiscent of the wedding-themed rom-coms and thus a delightful watch.
“The One with the Football” is a casual peek into the competitive Geller spirit and is one of the best Friends episodes of all time. It’s also the show’s Thanksgiving gem that can be fully appreciated by itself.
The episode establishes the gang as masters of physical comedy, it’s quotable, not to mention the sibling rivalry gives it an edge of reliability. The premise is fairly simple. Ross and Monica postpone Thanksgiving dinner to play a game of “touch” football with their friends. All in all, “The One with the Football,” is the perfect holiday-themed episode that the casual fan base is sure to love.
The One With The Embryos (Season 4, Episode 12)
This is one of the episodes that help casual fans see why Friends is one of the best series of all time. It’s unique on account of the fact that Joey and Chandler act as foil characters against Rachel and Monica all for the gigantic purple-walled apartment.
Phoebe becomes a surrogate for her half-brother and breaks the apartment-swapping tension by announcing she’s pregnant. It boasts great comic writing and timing and lets each friend shine without being too character-centric.
The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs (Season 7, Episode 8)
In this Thanksgiving special, Phoebe sneaks a dog into Monica and Chandler’s apartment, and Chandler’s biggest fear on Friends is revealed when Phoebe admits she’s been looking after her friend’s dog. The gang also bond over Chandler’s 50 states game, and Rachel debates whether she should make a move on her handsome assistant, Tag.
The episode has a simple premise and doesn’t require thorough background knowledge of the characters’ lives for newer viewers to enjoy. It’s comforting and should be seen by the show’s casual fans.
The One Where Monica Gets A Roommate (Season 1, Episode 1)
The Pilot, “The One Where Monica Gets A Roommate” is among the classic Friends episodes that every fan has seen. That said, it also makes a perfect watch for any casual or first-time viewer on account of multiple reasons.
As it’s the first of the arc-heavy series, it’s the ideal hook to sell the concept of six people who split their time between the mother hen, Monica’s apartment, and TV’s favorite fictional coffee shop (Central Perk) to hash things out. Needless to say, viewers do not need prior knowledge because of the self-contained nature of the pilot. It does a stellar job of introducing viewers to Monica and her gang and ends on a good note.
The One Where Ross Got High (Season 6, Episode 9)
Season 6’s “The One Where Ross Got High,” is a Thanksgiving-gone-wrong story that doesn’t need a prior viewing of any other episode to understand. It’s a typical Thanksgiving dinner at Monica’s, except that Rachel has volunteered to make dessert, and Jack and Judy are in the dark about Ross’ divorce and Monica’s relationship, as well as giving Chandler the cold shoulder for unknown reasons.
Ross and Monica’s secret-spilling charade is a decent hook for any casual fan to commit to the episode until the end. Rachel doesn’t realize putting beef in a trifle is a cooking faux pas, forcing the gang to up their acting game, and pretend to like the dessert.
The One With The Baby On The Bus (Season 2, Episode 6)
Though a Joey-Chandler classic, “The One With the Baby on the Bus,” does not overlook any character. It gives the friends adequate time to shine as the ragtag team that has freshly stepped into adulthood and is figuring things out.
The episode is a throwback to the gang’s early days in NYC, and therefore the perfect option for casual fans. The men, Chandler and Joey, plan their day around Ross’ infant, Ben Geller, Phoebe battles jealousy when she’s replaced at Central Perk by a professional singer, and the Geller siblings bond over Ross’ allergic reaction. At the end of the episode, the gang comes together as an interdependent group of adults who enjoy each other’s company.
The One With The Rumor (Season 8, Episode 9)
Brad Pitt’s Will Colbert stirs the pot in this season 8’s annual Thanksgiving-themed episode and melds with the gang as the seventh frenemy. Anyone with a passion knowledge of Friends knows Ross’s obsession with Rachel began in school, and that she was his endgame.
Said episode delves into Ross’s crush on Rachel, and reveals some of yesteryear’s secrets. All in all, it offers a chance for movie buffs and casual fans of the show to see Brad Pitt in a mix with one of the greatest sitcom casts in TV history.
The One Where No One’s Ready (Season 3, Episode 2)
This episode is restricted to the show’s main cast and is entirely shot at Monica and Rachel’s apartment. It is arguably the greatest bottle episode in sitcom history, thanks to its laughter-enticing writing that comes to a neat conclusion within 22 minutes.
The plot centers on an anxious Ross pleading with his non-compliant friends and his girlfriend, Rachel to get ready on time for a black tie event. Monica’s fresh out of a breakup and has the code for her ex’s answering machine. It takes no background knowledge to guess that that premise is dangerous. Meanwhile, Joey and Chandler bicker over a couch, and Ross’ anxiety just keeps spinning out of control. The episode’s writing is self-contained, and thus it’s a must-see for every casual fan.
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