“So, no one told you life was gonna be this way. Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s DOA. It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear when it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month, or even your year. I’ll be there for you when the rain starts to pour. I’ll be there for you like I’ve been there before. I’ll be there for you ’cause you’re there for me too.”  

The lyrics captured the essence of 90s sitcoms which Friends fanatics sang along to for ten memorable seasons. But twenty-five years later: different generations gather on the same couch to revisit a timeless sitcom featuring a group of six iconic ‘friends’. 

There’s a character for everyone. Monica: the OCD mum of the group, with each of her friends making their way to her dining table for food. Chandler: the funniest of the group, known for his quick wit, sarcasm, and awkwardly situated humour. Rachel: the fashion icon with the greatest character development. Ross: …Well, we all know Ross for his famous line “We were on a break” and his (unhealthy) obsession with dinosaurs. Phoebe: the queen of quirkiness, characterised by her “amazing” singing ability and abnormal childhood. And Joey: The smooth-operating and easy-going friend, renowned for his catchphrase: “How you doin’?”. 

Even though the characters made the show what it is, it was also the simple comedy, cheesy one-liners and the warming themes of love and friendship that truly defined an era in sitcoms. Unlike the jaw-dropping shows of today, Friends did not need suspense or a cliffhanger at the end of every episode for the viewer to continue watching the next episode. Each episode had a life of its own and could be watched out of order. The occasional repeats of certain episodes for when times we’re sad or when times we’re happy were always accessible. There was no pressure of following all the episodes to discover the reveal of the cliffhanger, there were only relatable and comedic characters, uniquely affecting us at different times in the show. 

Friends wasn’t only just entertainment for dinner time, but it had a magical spell on all their fans. No matter how difficult or complex life seemed to be, the iconic friend group was always there to make life seem simpler. Monica summed it up well, “Welcome to the real world, it sucks but you’re going to love it”. After binge-watching all ten seasons, re-watching Friends continues to entertain the audience, perfectly encapsulating the modern audiences’ cravings for easy watches. 

The nostalgia came from the six characters and how each actor brought them to life. Their friend group was something many fans yearned for. Kauffman and Crane, the producers of the show introduced their pitch read more than twenty-five years ago: “It’s about friendship because when you’re single and in the city, your friends are your family.” This central idea remained prominent in our hearts and during the show as we continue to tune into the homely theme song, even today. 

What do you think? Is Friends a series which deserves its Timeless title, or is it cashing in on a wave of nostalgia?