The year 2014 marks 20 years since the launch of one of the most popular series on American TV and 10 years since its end. Friends was released in September 1994 and even after its end in 2004, the series is still one of the most downloaded on the internet.
An estimated 51.1 million people watched the series finale in the United States, making Friends the fourth most-watched series finale in television history. Second only to MASH (1983), Cheers (1993) and Seinfeld (1998).
“Friends is without a doubt the highest-rated series in American TV history. This was even commented again at Carnival, when the Oscar awards managed to surpass this audience, a fact that no other program had achieved until then (except for sports, such as the Super Bowl)”, recalls film and series critic Felippe Brana. .
Even with the infinite options of current series, the story of the six friends still plays on many open or subscription channels around the world. Ross’s nerdy ways, Chandler’s antics, Joey’s cluelessness, Monica’s cleanliness mania, Rachel’s heartbreaks and Phoebe’s hilarious ideas conquered and still conquer generations.
According to critic Felippe Brana, who is a film and series writer for the website Trend Coffee, Friends was a success mainly because of the reach of the public.
“I’ve always credited the show’s absolute success to three factors: the immediate identification we felt with those six friends and all the experiences they share with us, the show’s script (there’s still no show as funny as Friends) and, perhaps the main one, it is a series that does not age, and this is shown in the success that its reruns at Warners continue to have, even 10 years after its end. Even after memorizing the lines and having done about twenty marathons with every season, I still laugh at the same jokes and get emotional with the same scenes,” he says.
The critic also points out that currently there are more and more series debuting and with each season it becomes increasingly difficult to get the public’s attention amid so many options, but Friends seems to be the perfect formula. “A good series is supported by an agile script that draws attention to extremely charismatic characters and, above all, with an immediate identification with the audience. There is no greater legacy for Friends than being considered, to this day, the greatest comedy series in history, living in the public’s memory,” he concludes.
But more than a story, Friends leaves a legacy of true life lessons. Check out the 13 teachings that the series passes on to the public:
1. We all have a lobster
Phoebe: She’s your lobster! (about Rachel)
Ross: How so?!
Phoebe: Everyone knows lobsters fall in love and stay together forever. And you can see couples of old lobsters in the aquariums pawing…
This dialogue between Ross and Phoebe reminds you that each person has their half that is destined to be theirs. Ross and Rachel, Monica and Chandler, Phoebe and Mike are there to remind us: we all have a lobster, just find it.
2. Condoms only work 97% of the time
This is a classic from the series. After an unwanted pregnancy that happened between Rachel and Ross’s comings and goings even with the use of condoms, the character discovers that condoms only work 97% of the time. In an article published in the journal “Pediatrics”, researchers in California used this episode of “Friends” to address the issue and most young people who watched this episode remembered the message.
3. Before love, friendship
Friends characters had several relationships, but in the end, the ones that worked were those in which the couple, more than boyfriends, were great friends. The lesson is that more than love, a relationship needs affinity, sincerity, complicity, good humor and companionship, that is, the main values of friendship.
4. Friends are the family you choose
Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe and Joey are a family. They say friends are the family you can choose. They are the ones who will support you in difficult times and celebrate your achievements with you. In the episodes of the series, friends usually gather around the one who needs support, help. As the opening song “I’ll be there for you” says.
5. Make amends
Real friends fight! Whether due to mistakes made or even divergence of opinions. In Friends we remember that we are all human, we make mistakes, we have our quirks and our differences. There are not few situations that could have ended the friendship of the six characters of Friends, but they always turn around, because they know that deep down, nothing is more important than their friendship.
6. “We were taking a break” is no excuse
“We were bickering (taking a break) is not an excuse to justify any stupid actions – Okay. Ross? You can’t use this situation to sleep with someone, because ‘we were fighting’. This does not mean a breakup. Never say these words as a way of justifying dark actions!” Rachel’s words apply to all relationships.
7. Don’t be afraid to take risks
The series begins when Rachel ends her marriage and seeks out her friend in New York (Monica). Friends starts because someone took a risk. This is one of the most valuable lessons from Friends, the importance of taking risks. If Ross had never asked to date Rachel, one of the show’s favorite couples might never have gotten together. If Phoebe hadn’t gone out with the random, kinda weirdo actor, she wouldn’t have married Mike. Whoever asks the same questions always gets the same answers. As much as doing something new or out of the ordinary seems daunting in the moment, it’s worth it in the end.
8. Even Monkeys Can Be Stars
Ross had a pet monkey during the first season. Marcel was a fan of the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight. He made a few appearances in other seasons and became a star when, after a brief stay at a zoo, he appeared as a movie star in the episode The One After The Superbowl, which also features guest appearances by Julia Roberts and Jean-Claude Van. Damme.
9. Laughter is the best medicine
The most cliché, but certainly one of the best life lessons from Friends, is that laughter is the best medicine. The characters in their ups and downs have made us laugh for 20 years. The lesson is: No matter how miserable you think your situation is, if you have friends around you who love you and know how to make you laugh, you have it all!
10. Ridiculous people are happier
Like the characters in the series, we all have some degree of madness, some strange behavior, in short, something that is outside the normal norm. Many are so busy hiding that they forget to be happy. The lesson of Friends is that being happy is being yourself, even if it’s ridiculous. The recipe for happiness? Sing in public like Phoebe, dance like Chandler, declare yourself like Ross, fill your hair with tererês like Monica, play soccer like Rachel and speak French like Joey.
11. Laugh at your past
Don’t let them laugh at you, let them laugh with you! Instead of burying high school photos in an attempt to hide your past under lock and key, share your memories and have fun together. As in the scenes that show the past of the friends of Friends. Monica before losing weight, Rachel without plastic surgery and Ross and Chandler with their horrible hairstyles. Without these phases, it wouldn’t be Monica, Rachel, Ross and Chandler. As embarrassing as it may seem, there are phases in your history that helped build your personality.
12. Pivot, pivot, pivot
Another very important lesson is about the best way to move a sofa – PIVOT! In addition to being one of the funniest episodes of the show, the use of the word “pivot” for the movement from a very wide sofa to a narrow set of stairs really brings a certain lightness and grace to a difficult and tense situation.
13. Listen to your heart
Listening to the heart, or intuition, contrary to what it seems is a sensible decision. We usually know what’s best for us deep down, even if layers of rationality try to confuse us, causing us to relativize everything. Friends is full of soul and heart. In several episodes, the characters were faced with situations where they needed to hear what their heart says.