  2 out of 3 - God, that's depressing. Well, with Friends ending yesterday in the US and over here on the 28th of May, T4 are running a competition.
Usually, I pay no attention to these ("Who won Pop Idol? A. Will Young, B. Will Hague, C. Will Shakespeare") but this one got me thinking, because it's right out of High Fidelity. Name your Top 6 Friends Episodes. Ouch. So, after a week of ruminating and congugating, here are the six episodes that I feel are my favourite.
Feel free to insult my choices and pick your own in the comments box below. Season 1 - TOW The Blackout The first episode where, for me, Friends changed from "another US sitcom" to a great comedic series. A blackout causes Chandler to end up stuck in a bank vestibule, or atrium, with a model. Ross acts on Joey's advice to ask Rachel out, resulting in him being attacked by a cat, which causes more problems when the cat's owner shows up.
There are so many great lines in this, with Chandler trying to find ways to look cool and not creepy, as well as Ross's worrying about Rachel (for the record, I liked Season 1 Ross but didn't like him so much in the whole R&R thing, not recovering until his breakdown in Series 5). Favourite Lines: Chandler: 'Gum would be perfection'? 'Gum would be perfection. ' Could have said, 'gum would be nice,' or, 'I'll have a stick,' but no-no-no-no-no. For me, gum is perfection. I loathe myself. = Season 3 - TOW The Football It's Thanksgiving.
A friendly game of touch football takes a nasty turn as Chandler and Joey argue over a Dutch girl and Rachel wants to prove herself at sports. The atmosphere grows tenser as the ultimate prize is unveiled - The Gellar Cup. A great episode that shows the bizarre relationship between Ross and Monica and Joey starts his decent from moron into uber-moron. Favourite Lines: Chandler: Is everybody else seeing a troll doll nailed to a two by four? = Season 4 - TOW The Embryos Phoebe has her brother's embryos implanted. However, this becomes secondary as a bet is made between Chandler and Joey against Monica and Rachel over who knows each other best. The stakes - ownership of Monica and Rachel's apartment and the chick and the duck. The quizmaster - Ross.
I don't feel the need to explain this one too much - it's the quiz one. It rules. Favourite Lines Ross: Correct! What is Chandler Bing's job? Rachel: Oh! Oh gosh, it has something to do with numbers. Monica: And processing! Rachel: Oh, well... and he carries a briefcase! Ross: Ten seconds. You need this or you lose the game. Monica: It's, um, it has something to do with transponding. Rachel: Oh, oh, oh, he's a transpons... transponster!
Monica: That's not even a word! = Season 5 - TOW Ross's Sandwich Ross's decent into madness continues when someone steals his sandwich and he turns to Phoebe for advice. Joey has to explain items that Chandler leaves behind so not to reveal Chandler's relationship with Monica, leading Phoebe and Rachel to believe he is a pervert.
Phoebe and Rachel take a literature course. Ross going nuts is just downright funny and this is the best example, Joey taking the blame is great and Phoebe setting up Rachel makes what could have been a weak "Give them something to do" story a real asset to the episode ("It was just so funny when you started comparing Jane Eyre to Robocop. ") Favourite Lines: Ross: Really? So... so what would you say, Pheebs? Stuff like, uh, "Keep your mitts off my grub? " Chandler: Say, Ross, when you picture Phoebe living on the street, is she surrounded by the entire cast of Annie?
= Season 5 - TOW Everyone Finds Out Rachel and Phoebe discover Chandler and Monica's secret, so Phoebe is sent on a mission to seduce Chandler to expose the affair. This results in Chandler being sent on a counter-mission by Monica to throw them off the scent. In the end everyone finds out, except Ross who has just bought the apartment across the street from Monica... This episode, like TOW The Embryos, is great down to one real thread - Phoebe and Chandler's game of Seduction 'Chicken' ("So, this is my bra").
Plus, Ross goes nuts at the end. Favourite Lines: Phoebe: They thought they could mess with us! They're trying to mess with us? They don't know that we know they know we know! And Joey, you can't say anything! Joey: I couldn't if I wanted too. = Season 8 - TOW The Videotape The fallout of Rachel's pregnancy leads to an argument about who seduced whom.
Luckily, Ross taped the night. Chandler and Monica are worried that a couple they met on honeymoon may be giving them the brush-off. What I like about this one is how a load of seamingling meaningless comments ("Hi, Ken Adams. Nice to meet you") and the two main stories come together for a great denouement. A funny episode due to the sheer embarrassment of both Rachel and Ross. Favourite Lines: Ross:Do you have a minute?
I'd like to talk with you about something I'm really uncomfortable talking about. Joey:Sure. How about, uh, you showering with your mom? Ross:I actually had a topic in mind. 
