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How to watch the hit 90s show Friends in release and chronological order (including the spinoff and secret crossovers!)

Friends: Your guide to enjoying NBC’s hit sitcom in release and chronological order

Guides by Joshua Lapin-Bertone, Contributing writer

Published on Thu Aug 22 2024

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Sometimes you just need to get together with your friends. In this case we’re talking about Ross Geller, Rachel Green, Chandler Bing, Monica Geller, Phoebe Buffay, and Joey Tribbiani. For 10 seasons, these six friends ruled the airwaves, giving NBC huge ratings. Week after week, audiences tuned in to Friends, eager to see what wacky misadventures the gang would get into. And of course, there was the soap opera of Ross and Rachel’s romance.

If you missed out on Friends in ‘90s, and are looking to begin the series, Popverse has you covered! This guide will tell you everything you need to know about the series and how to watch it!

How to watch Friends in release order

Watching Friends in release order is a fairly simple experience. Just start from the first season and work your way through season 10. Then you begin with Joey, which is a relatively short series. It should be noted that Friends: The Reunion is a celebration of the series involving the actors. It’s a behind-the-scenes retrospective, not a new story set within the fictional continuity. However, it’s still a heartwarming special, and the perfect way to cap off your Friends viewing journey.

How to watch Friends in chronological order

The chronological order for Friends is largely the same as the release order. However, the series did contain some flashback episodes which showed us what the characters were up to before the pilot. These flashbacks all had framing sequences set in the modern era, and in some cases were done with the cast watching a videocassette. If you want to watch the flashbacks in chronological order, here’s how to do it….

Season 3 episode 4 'The One with the Jam' (Ross and Monica childhood flashback)
Season 5 episode 8 'The One with All the Thanksgivings' (Chandler childhood flashback)
Season 2 episode 14 'The One with the Prom Video' (1980s prom video)
Season 5 episode 8 'The One with All the Thanksgivings' (1987 flashback)
Season 10 episode 11 'The One Where the Stripper Cries' (1987 flashback)
Season 5 episode 8 'The One with All the Thanksgivings' (1988 flashback)
Season 3 episode 6 'The One with the Flashback' (1993 flashback)

From here, you could start Friends season 1. The rest of the series has occasional short inconsequential flashbacks, but nothing that would disrupt a chronological viewing of the series.

What are the 5 best episodes of Friends?

The question over which Friends episodes are the best is subjective, however we can give you 5 episodes that usually top most of the rankings.

Season 2 episode 7 'The One Where Ross Finds Out' - Chaos ensues when Ross discovers that Rachel has feelings for him. One of the best Ross/Rachel shipper episodes, culminating in a kiss during the final scene.
Season 3 episode 2 'The One Where No One’s Ready' - The gang attempt to get ready for a museum benefit. This episode takes place in realtime and showcases the comedic dynamic between the core cast.
Season 5 episode 14 'The One Where Everybody Finds Out' - The gang discovers Chandler and Monica’s secret relationship. The group decides to use this information and play a series of mind games with Monica and Chandler. The stakes keep getting raised and hilarity ensues.
Season 5 episode 16 'The One with the Cop' - Phoebe finds a cop’s badge, and uses it to trick people into thinking she’s a police officer. While that plot is funny, this episode’s real gem is the subplot where Ross, Chandler, and Rachel attempt to carry a couch upstairs. It contains the iconic “PIVOT” scene.
Season 7 episode 10 'The One with the Holiday Armadillo' - Ross dresses up as an Armadillo to teach his son Ben about their Jewish heritage.

What are the best Ross and Rachel episodes on Friends?

I see you Ross and Rachel shippers. If you’re looking for a playlist of essential Ross and Rachel episodes, Popverse has you covered. Here’s a speedrun of Ross and Rachel’s romantic (but chaotic) on-again, off-again relationship

Season 1 episode 1 'The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate' - Where it all began. Rachel leaves Barry at the altar and moves in with Monica. The episode ends with a cute moment as Ross tells Rachel he’d like to ask her out sometime.
Season 1 episode 5 'The One with the East German Laundry Detergent' - Ross and Rachel have their first kiss (albeit a platonic friendship one) after an adventure at a laundromat.
Season 1 episode 24 'The One Where Rachel Finds Out' - Chandler accidentally tells Rachel about Ross’ feelings for her.
Season 2 episode 7 'The One Where Ross Finds Out' - Ross finds out that Rachel knows about his feelings. The two argue and then share a passionate kiss at Central Perk.
Season 2 episode 8 'The One with the List' - Ross and Rachel’s relationship fails to launch after Rachel discovers a list Ross made comparing her to his ex-girlfriend Julie.
Season 2 episode 14 'The One with the Prom Video' - Rachel discovers a kind act Ross had secretly done for her as a teenager. The two share a passionate kiss and finally become a couple.
Season 2 episode 15 'The One Where Ross and Rachel…You Know' - Ross and Rachel spend the night together for the first time.
Season 3 episode 15 'The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break' - A series of fights leads Ross and Rachel to take a break. In a moment of weakness, Ross sleeps with another woman.
Season 3 episode 16 'The One with the Morning After' - Rachel discovers Ross’ dalliance and the two have a brutal breakup.
Season 3 episode 25 'The One at the Beach' - Ross and Rachel consider getting back together.
Season 4 episode 1 'The One with the Jellyfish' - Ross and Rachel’s reconciliation doesn’t last, and the couple quickly breakup again.
Season 4 episode 21 'The One with the Invitation' - Ross prepares for his wedding to Emily, causing him to look back on his relationship with Rachel.
Season 4 episode 23 and 24 'The One with Ross’ Wedding' - Rachel flies to London to stop Ross’ wedding to Emily. In the end, she decides to let things go. However, Ross shocks everyone by accidentally saying Rachel’s name at the altar.
Season 5 episode 2 'The One with All the Kissing' - Rachel tells Ross that she’s still in love with him. Nothing comes of this, as Ross is still married to Emily.
Season 5 episode 23 and 24 'The One in Vegas' - Ross (now divorced from Emily) and Rachel have a drunken wedding in Vegas.
Season 6 episode 1 'The One After Vegas' - Rachel and Ross agree to annul their Vegas marriage. Ross secretly doesn’t file the paperwork.
Season 6 episode 5 'The One with Joey’s Porsche' - Rachel discovers that Ross lied about the annulment. The judge tells them they aren’t eligible for an annulment due to their prior relationship, forcing the couple to divorce.
Season 7 episode 1 'The One with Monica’s Thunder' - Feeling depressed after Monica and Chandler get engaged, Rachel and Ross almost sleep together. However, the two are interrupted before anything happens.
Season 8 episode 3 'The One Where Rachel Tells…' - Rachel tells Ross that she is pregnant with his child.
Season 8 episode 23 and 24 'The One Where Rachel Has a Baby' - Rachel gives birth to Emma. Ross considers proposing to Rachel.
Season 9 episode 1 'The One Where No One Proposes' - Ross considers proposing to Rachel but a series of misunderstandings plague the group.
Season 10 episode 13 'The One Where Joey Speaks French' - Ross and Rachel almost sleep together in a moment of weakness, leading the couple to discuss the inevitably of their relationship.
Season 10 episode 16 'The One with Rachel’s Going Away Party' - Rachel prepares to move to Paris. She and Ross wind up in bed together.
Season 10 episode 17 and 18 'The Last One' - Ross proclaims his feelings for Rachel, and she decides to stay in New York. The two officially get back together (FINALLY).

Do Ross and Rachel end up together on Friends?

Yes, Ross and Rachel end up together. The road to get there was rough, but Ross and Rachel shippers will be happy to know that the couple got their happy ending. If you’re watching the series and wondering when they first get together, that happens in the season 2 episode “The One with the Prom Video.”

The couple break up and get back together a few times. Ross and Rachel also have a brief Vegas marriage and an unplanned pregnancy. However, the series finale ends with Ross making a grand romantic gesture, following Rachel to the airport to stop her from taking a job in Paris. After some hesitation, Rachel chooses Ross, and the series ends with them together.

Although the couple never appeared on the sequel series Joey, the pilot episode has Joey make a reference to all of his friends being married. This line implies that Ross and Rachel got married shortly after the events of the Friends series finale.

When do Ross and Rachel first kiss on Friends?

It depends on what you consider a first kiss. Ross and Rachel have a friendly platonic kiss in season 1 episode 5 “The One with the East German Laundry Detergent.” At the time romance wasn’t on Rachel’s mind, but Ross was another story.

Their true first kiss was in season 2 episode 7 “The One Where Ross Finds Out.” The passionate encounter happens after a heated argument. The music, the longing looks, and the lighting…everything about the scene came together beautifully. It was one of the greatest moments of the series.

Is Friends a Mad About You spin-off?

Mad About You debuted two years before Friends. Both shows are NBC sitcoms set in New York City. Mad About You also features Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe’s twin sister Ursula. However, the connection was retroactive.

During the production of Friends, the producers noted that Kudrow’s character Phoebe was similar to the ditzy waitress Kudrow played on Mad About You. Since both shows were set in New York City, they decided to make Ursula and Phoebe twins.

This results in a funny moment in the Friends episode “The One with Two Parts” where Helen Hunt and Leila Kenzie reprise their roles from Mad About You. The characters enter Central Perk, and confuse Phoebe for Ursula. Kudrow also played Ursula during numerous episodes of Friends.

In short, while Friends has some connections with Mad About You, it shouldn’t be considered a Mad About You spin-off. You can include the show in your Friends rewatch, but it isn’t essential.

What other shows are set in the same universe as Friends?

The Friends universe goes beyond Central Perk. Most people know that Mad About You and Joey take place in the same universe as Friends, but there are a few other shows that also exist in the same continuity.

Matthew Perry reprised his role as Chandler in the Caroline in the City episode “Caroline and the Folks.” In addition, Lea Thompson appeared as Caroline Duffy in the Friends episode “The One With the Baby on the Bus.”

David Schwimmer appeared as Ross Geller in two episodes of the short-lived NBC sitcom The Single Guy. Lisa Kudrow appeared as Phoebe in a 1996 episode of Hope & Gloria.

One could also assume that Seinfeld takes place in the same fictional universe as Friends. The Mad About You episode “The Apartment” features Michael Richards as Cosmo Kramer. Since Mad About You is set in the same universe as Friends, this would also place Seinfeld in the same continuity.

However, it’s best not to think too much about it, or things start to come apart. For example, Caroline in the City also featured a crossover with Frasier, which is a spin-off of Cheers. Joey can be seen watching Cheers in “The One with Ross’ Wedding,” which raises some questions on how the shared sitcom universe worked.

Our advice is to ignore the discrepancies and enjoy the show.

Where can I watch Friends?

If you want to visit Central Perk, then Max is your best bet. The streaming service contains all 10 seasons of Friends, plus the 2021 reunion special. Joey isn’t currently on any streaming service, but the entire series has been uploaded to the Internet Archive.

Now you have everything you need to begin enjoying Friends! So sit back and relax on your favorite couch. Just remember to PIVOT as you get the couch upstairs.

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Joshua Lapin-Bertone: Joshua is a pop culture writer specializing in comic book media. His work has appeared on the official DC Comics website, the DC Universe subscription service, HBO Max promotional videos, the Batman Universe fansite, and more. In between traveling around the country to cover various comic conventions, Joshua resides in Florida where he binges superhero television and reads obscure comics from yesteryear.