Friends
- Thread starter Charley
- Start date
I enjoyed the reunion, I couldn't stop smiling all through that introduction where they walk into the set one by one. You can tell they obviously share a strong bond and friendship, but it always feels like they either don't enjoy talking about it in public or maybe it's not the kind fo friendship people expect it'll be, so they're scared to disappoint? They seemed very pleased to emphasize this was basically the last time they'll ever be doing a reunion or anything big related to the show.
With that in mind, it's a shame time was wasted on things such as the celebrity cameos, the international segment, that runway... and I love gaga but it was so random in the context of the show. I understand why they did it, but I'd rather they filled that time with more behind the scenes stories and footage, or longer time spent talking to the show's guest stars (it didn't feel right that Jack and Judy only got to say hello from the audience seats, having Janice sit on the edge of the sofa and barely even interact with Chandler, not having Gunther interact with Rachel).
It was so interesting seeing how they worked in real time while filming back then, learning that Monica and Chandler's relationship grew from the live audience feedback, what went on behind the scenes in The One Where No One's Ready... they should have leaned into that some more!
With that in mind, it's a shame time was wasted on things such as the celebrity cameos, the international segment, that runway... and I love gaga but it was so random in the context of the show. I understand why they did it, but I'd rather they filled that time with more behind the scenes stories and footage, or longer time spent talking to the show's guest stars (it didn't feel right that Jack and Judy only got to say hello from the audience seats, having Janice sit on the edge of the sofa and barely even interact with Chandler, not having Gunther interact with Rachel).
It was so interesting seeing how they worked in real time while filming back then, learning that Monica and Chandler's relationship grew from the live audience feedback, what went on behind the scenes in The One Where No One's Ready... they should have leaned into that some more!
Last edited:
I reckon there's loads that was edited out. Its a shame as I'd have preferred more of that than rent-a-celebs opinions.
SockMonkey
Staff member
Maybe that explains Matthew Perry?
I was watching that Lady Gaga thing and expecting it to be like a skit. Especially when Lisa said she was going to get into Phoebe mode or whatever. But then it wasn't that at all. I genuinely expected Gaga to be singing and Lisa as Phoebe to like "Yeah, you just don't get smelly cat and totally ruined that whole song." and Gaga to be all offended as Lisa walks off.
It was weird wasn't it, I expected it to be like the episode with Chrissy Hynde, but it was a kinda half baked version, like they needed to get to the 'thank you for being different' ending...
I wished they'd asked the writers where the characters would be now. Sure they asked the Friends, but their answers were pretty boring and generic "we'd still be married with kids"
I enjoyed the reunion more than I thought I would. Yes the jumping from section to section was a bit messy but it never lingered on anything too long to have it be boring as a result. Could have done without the random celebrities telling us their favourite episodes, that should have been a whole section with the cast members only. The backstage tidbits that we got from the makers & cast were the highlight and it was touching to see them altogether. Matt LeBlanc is hilarious and definitely made me laugh the most throughout.
I’m glad we got this, it was a fun watch. And even James Corden didn’t manage to ruin it, and that’s the biggest compliment he’ll ever get from me.
I’m glad we got this, it was a fun watch. And even James Corden didn’t manage to ruin it, and that’s the biggest compliment he’ll ever get from me.
I found it weird Rachel and Ross didn't mention Emma at all; in fact they said they might have kids, as if they didn't have one already.
I preferred Susan and Carol's answer to this question! During the Friends red carpet event, which I don't recommend viewing at all, but it was worth it for the little reunion at 53:35:
The opening with them seeing the set again and the table reads were the best parts, as well as the unseen footage. The rest could get binned.
Lisa Kudrow's laugh though is a true gift.
Lisa Kudrow's laugh though is a true gift.
Yes! I was thinking about that today... the complete erasure of Ben and Emma.
Perhaps the editor didn't think it fit with the "its about when you're friends are your family" theme...
RainOnFire
Staff member
They really managed to overcomplicate something that should've been so simple.
The celebs, the international fans, the fashion show, the Smelly Cat performance.... why? Just why? I loved seeing the behind-the-scenes footage from the finale, hearing about the audition process, etc. And of course the stuff with just the six of them. We needed more of that.
What the fuck do David Beckham and Kit Harington have to do with Friends? Why not let Maggie Wheeler/Tom Selleck/James Tyler share their favourite episodes instead, or even the Friends themselves? I feel like we heard David and Kit talk more in their segments than Matthew Perry did in the entire special.
At the end of the day, we got to see the six of them together, and that'll have to be enough. A lot of it was lovely, but overall it felt like a wasted opportunity and I'm left feeling more frustrated and let down than anything else.
The celebs, the international fans, the fashion show, the Smelly Cat performance.... why? Just why? I loved seeing the behind-the-scenes footage from the finale, hearing about the audition process, etc. And of course the stuff with just the six of them. We needed more of that.
What the fuck do David Beckham and Kit Harington have to do with Friends? Why not let Maggie Wheeler/Tom Selleck/James Tyler share their favourite episodes instead, or even the Friends themselves? I feel like we heard David and Kit talk more in their segments than Matthew Perry did in the entire special.
At the end of the day, we got to see the six of them together, and that'll have to be enough. A lot of it was lovely, but overall it felt like a wasted opportunity and I'm left feeling more frustrated and let down than anything else.
It felt like the reunion was geared towards younger fans for the most part who streamed the show the past decade. Felt like they failed to really acknowledge and recognize the older/original fans who made the show a phenomenon in the first place and were watching on network television every single week.
Agreed. It really should have been split into 2 separate reunion projects
Mvnl
Staff member
Yeah and I even felt they went a bit overboard with the 'show highlight' clips. But that's probably because the show has been on repeat for like 30 years straight so it doesn't feel nostalgic to see any of that again
Mvnl
Staff member
I also noticed I wasn't really invested while I LOVE pop group reunion documentaries and I can't pinpoint if that's cause this was more of a 'wasn't it great' than 'the real story' or.. because with pop acts I am invested in the 'people' and here.. I was invested in the characters but not in the cast?
(I think it just might be because how overproduced it was. Had they done one on one interviews with great questions it could have been a completely different beast)
(I think it just might be because how overproduced it was. Had they done one on one interviews with great questions it could have been a completely different beast)
She/Her/Queen
I find it utterly hilarious as well that they finally got them together on a couch to do an interview and yet it was padded with unnecessary shit. I mean, the YT press interviews they're doing for this are even more entertaining than the actual product that they're trying to promote. Cause you know, we wanna hear what they have to say.
Just take the beginning scenes of them walking into the set and call it a day.
Just take the beginning scenes of them walking into the set and call it a day.
Last edited:
he/him
It was cute. The celebrity guests who weren't involved in the show were largely unnecessary and someone like David Beckham giving us a blow-by-blow account of his favourite episode was a waste of time. The behind the scenes moments from the past, and present with the cast on set again, as well as the table reads interspersed with the episodes themselves were my highlights. It's a shame people like James, Elliott and Christina, Maggie Wheeler and Tom Selleck were given such little air time - their involvement felt like real blink and you'll miss it moments when all of them were such memorable characters and whose airtime in this would've been more appreciated by the viewer than BTS or Kit Harrington. Not to discredit the reunion at all (because despite the faults it really was a lovely way to send 2 hours and it has done everything it set out to do) but it did leave me feeling confident in the fact that refusing to revive the show for a new series, movie or a one-off episode has been the right decision all along.
Last edited:
