Unfriended

COVID had just rushed into our lives and given us time—time that we had to fill. The names Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey, and Phoebe would once again become household names thanks to Netflix. Yes, you guessed it. I’m talking about the wildly popular TV show Friends. My parents grew up watching it, along with pretty much the entire population in the 1990s. I had extra hours to fill at the time, so why not? I can unabashedly say that I am not a fan at all. #Friends #Unfriended #Covid

To start with, this show was annoying to a level I hadn’t seen before. Every character was made into a cliched archetype. Chandler, the comedian? No, he just thought his one-liners were funny. Monica took uptightness to a new level. I felt my anxiety rise when she talked. Joey was the hot, stupid guy. Rachel, the beautiful yet inept girl next door. Next, Ross is the smart guy who always has women's troubles. Then there is Phoebe, the hippie new-age woman who just seems to be tolerated and doesn’t fit in. I will say that of all the characters, I liked Phoebe the most. She was interesting and funny. Her "Smelly Cat" song was hysterical! It gets stuck in your head. #Smellycat #RossandRachel #TheRachel 

Then there are the storylines. They were boring for the most part. Ross had been in love with Rachel for years, and she had no idea. How she didn’t know was crazy. It was obvious. The entire show was about Ross and Rachel. You knew they would end up together. It just took an agonizingly long time. The others were just sprinkled in for flavor it seemed. #Love #RossandRachel

It was a different time. Some of what would be considered groundbreaking topics didn’t age well. They covered gay marriage and transgenderism, which in its day was unprecedented. I realize that hindsight can give a differing opinion. We can’t judge harshly because of when this was filmed. They didn’t understand that, in thirty years, it could prove problematic. This show is very loved and has a rabid fanbase. I am not in that audience, but everyone has their own favorites. #Hindsight #LGBTQ+

In the end, we all have different tastes in what we like to watch. I am not dissing Friends; it’s just not my type of show. If you love it, great! I’ll be over here rewatching Modern Family and the Big Bang Theory. #Modernfamily #Rewatching