Can Gen Z Relate To A Show That Was Made 20 Years Ago?

Who cannot relate to Friends? The mother of sitcom culture! Six iconic characters, so different. And yet, put them on the orange sofa at the coffee house together and they just fit. And it amazes me how me and my friends relate to all six of them from time to time. From Monica and her 'I KNOW' to Chandler and his sarcastic comments that always make him the victim of awkward interactions. If you got to know them, you would relate too!

Rachel and her impulsiveness and insane zest for work. Phoebe, just for the queen she is. Her wide-toothed smile never gave away her childhood struggles. Ross and his ability to laugh at himself; though in denial (man got his sandwich stolen). And somewhere we all wish we could flirt and love like Joey a little more. 

The Show That My Friends And I Are Relating To These Days

Moments we relate to the most from friends in present times

Season 8

Episode: 8, The One With The Stripper 

Joey to Chandler: It’s been a while, just you and me.

Well well, let me give you context. Phoebe’s loud mouth lavishly announces that Monica had her bachelorette party in the wildest fashion, with strippers and all. Chandler demands the same. So Monica arranges a post-marriage bachelor party for him and Joey. Only she mistakenly invites a hooker instead of a stripper. Poor Mon! And when Chandler and Joey are home alone and the hooker arrives, her actions and demands put the best buds in an uncomfortable situation.

They are in the midst of this mess and Joey suddenly starts smiling. “I have missed this,” he says. He also explains how he is incredibly happy Mon and him are settled but their relationship has kind of isolated him. He does not complain but he reminisces. “I miss hanging out, just you and me.” And our Chan Chan man, like a good friend, reassures him that he can never be replaced. 

We get you, Joey! We too feel insecure when two of our closest friends get into a romantic relationship. You sometimes feel like an unwanted third wheel and a kabab mein haddi. But Kudos to Joey, for accepting his friends’ relationship with maturity. Well not all the time, he has his days. 

Season 8

Episode: 13, The One Where Chandler Takes a Bath 

Phoebe to Joey: “I have had crushes for all three of you, well except for Ross and Chandler. And I’m sure you’ve had that for us.”

Joey: Um… no. Not really

Crushing on friends is a double-edged sword. Joey and Phoebe have been touted by Instagram as the prototype ‘Platonic Soulmates.’ But were they really platonic? They flirted around and had a cute chemistry. They even kissed thrice during the show. But when Phoebe playfully confronts Joey about his liking for her, he denies it saying he has never had a crush on her. But Phoebe what’s that on your face? Why the disappointment when you found out Joey likes Rachel? 

We guess she felt bad because she thought they had a special relationship and if he had to choose someone out of his friends to date, it’d probably be her. But on the other hand, when confronted by Monica asking if she would go for it with Joey, she says no as his friendship is too important for her. So as we quoted, friendly crushes are a double-edged sword. Ho to problem, na ho to major problem! 

Season 5

Ross overdoing it: A trope

From whitening his teeth for a date to going extra on the hair gel and the cologne, from wearing tight leather pants to keeping his marriage with Rachel a secret, I think we all can agree our friend Ross does a little much sometimes. Toooo much, with way too many Os. Remember when he wore tight leather pants to his date that made squeaky noises as he moved? The poor man was sweating like crazy in those. 

We have all done it for our loved ones. Going extra. It’s a way of showing you love and care. Emotions take over our rational brain. Maybe you too must have shifted cities when in love, shared your favourite food, feigned interests to fit theirs, put on a dress and make-up they would like, baked for them and even got a little possessive. That’s what happens in love. Or if you’re Ross, it happens at lunch. “You ATE my sandwich,” haha Ross we love you for that and more than that we thank you for taking anger management classes immediately after that.