Paul Hyett's Friends Season 6 Reviews THE ONE AFTER VEGAS Well, I have to say it was a lacklustre opening, one of the three storylines in particular really bombing. Oh well, off I go with the review (see end for my personal comments) : It was split in three almost independent stories, with relatively little interaction involving the whole group Firstly, Ross & Rachel's marriage. After their drunken night out in Vegas, they wake up in shock, realizing they're in bed together - but without being aware of the true extent of what happened. The hint was there however, if Rachel had turned round at the wrong time, since Ross had 'Just married' scrawled on his back! It is not until they later meet up with the gang that the real consequences of their overimbibing become clear, when the news is broken to them that they are married! Ross immediately freaks out, as he realizes this will mean his third divorce, although the others point out that they could get an annulment, which wouldn't really count as a marriage at all. Later on, back in New York, Rachel describes it, not as a real marriage, but 'the world's worst hangover'! She wonders if she could have an annulment shower though. Ross assures Rachel that he will deal with getting the marriage annulled, but confesses later to Phoebe that he didn't go through with it. Next, Joey & Phoebe's road trip. Joey's movie has finally died, and he want's to get back to NY ASAP, but Phoebe reminds him he will have to drive her cab back to NY. Joey wants her to go with him, but she is reluctant, but is persuaded after Joey promises her an interesting trip. Everything doesn't go according to plan, of course, and they find the journey very tiring, Joey nearly falling asleep at the wheel. Eventually Joey picks up a hitchhiker, presumably to help drive, which not surprisingly upsets Phoebe. The storyline appears to fizzle out though, with them simply dropping off the hitchhiker, though for some reason, not before she, surely unwisely, gave him her address. Finally, Chandler & Monica. After the shock of seeing Ross & Rachel get married, they realize (separately) that their own plan for a rushed ceremony would be a mistake. Neither wanting to admit to the other their reluctance, they try to find signs that they shouldn't go through with it, only for the signs to point the other way, including a Minister in a lift they are about to use! They finally admit to each other that they don't want to get married yet, though, and they're both OK with that, much to their mutual relief. When they get back to their apartment, Monica has hurt her leg & Chandler inadvertently does a classic 'carrying her over the threshold' move! They realize what they've done, and go back out, then re-enter in a more normal way. To make up for their not getting married, Chandler coyly suggests that they should live together, and Monica agrees immediately (to great reaction from the audience)! She gives him a key, though the apartment is never locked, but they immediately hit a problem when it snaps off on the lock when he tests it! After much struggling, Monica is finally rescued when Joey returns and breaks down the door. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Interesting line from Phoebe about thinking a Vegas marriage 'doesn't count' - wonder what the back-story to that is? The credits - all names with Arquette after them! What happened to the 'unremovable' ink from R&R's faces? I feared that R&R were going to have an early-S4-style blow-up, but fortunately they didn't. The road trip/hitchhiker thing was as pointless as the hand-twin story in the previous episode. Another example of 'evil' Ross - not going through with the annulment? If C&M move in together, what will the living arrangements be for Rachel & Joey? ******************************************************************************** TOW ROSS HUGS RACHEL I'm sorry to say that I didn't find this episode much better than last weeks one. Unusually, there were only two storylines this week, with one very dominant over the other. Firstly, the minor one, Ross & Rachel's annulment. After confessing to Phoebe about failing to obtain the annulment, Ross & Rachel are about to go to the movies when Phoebe catches them and unceremoniously bundles Rachel into a cab to have a private talk with Ross. He admits it's the 'three divorces' idea that is behind his unwillingness, but Phoebe says she's unhappy about being pig-in-the-middle, though relents slightly when she realizes she is 'secrets girl'. Later, in Central Perk, Ross thinks he will be on the scrapheap as a three- divorce man, but Phoebe drags him over to three young women customers for a second opinion. Their views are broadly encouraging, but Ross spoils it by angrily denying he's still in love with Rachel, confirming exactly the opposite! Phoebe confronts him on this and he's goaded into seeing his lawyer to actually get the annulment. Here he runs into a problem though - he needs Rachel's consent to obtain one, but he's already told her it's been done! After one final denial to Phoebe in the hall, he enters the girl's apartment to find an upset Rachel whom he comforts with a hug. From the expression on his face, it's obvious he realizes he IS still in love with her. Now, to Chandler & Monica moving in together. Firstly they tell Joey 'they have some big news', and he jumps to the conclusion Monica is pregnant, but is predictably very upset when he finds out the truth. In denial, he tries to diss Chandler, but can't, admitting 'He's the best roommate ever'. Next, they tell Phoebe & Ross in Central Perk, Phoebe also initially assuming that Monica is pregnant! They both accept the news, though Ross sounds a little ambivalent. Finally, they have the hardest task of all, telling Rachel. To their surprise, she takes the news very well, but only because she doesn't realize she will have to move out, thinking that all three of them will live there together. Monica is puzzled by Rachel's lack of emotion and finally admits that she & Chandler want to live there ALONE together, though not before Rachel ALSO concludes Monica is pregnant, prompting Monica to say she will throw out the baggy top she is wearing! Even THEN, Rachel still doesn't seem too upset, and Monica tries to draw her out by telling her what a big deal it is. Eventually, it emerges that Rachel doesn't believe they are serious due to C&M's previous history of impulses. Monica sadly confirms they are serious and Rachel finally realizes she will have to go, leading to a tearful hug. The epilogue : Joey suggests that as both R&R, and C&M have hooked up, he & Phoebe should also do so. In a typical piece of weirdness she lays out a bizarre scenario as to how this will happen! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Slightly surprising C&M didn't talk to Rachel before making the decision. Sounds like Monica will be 'wearing the trousers' in their relationship! Will Ross actually admit to Rachel he didn't get the annulment because he still loves her? How will the new living arrangements alter the characters interaction? ******************************************************************************** TOW ROSS'S DENIAL An improvement on the first two, I'm glad to say, though still far from a classic. Like last week, only 2 storylines though better balanced this time. Firstly, Ross's denial. Phoebe sets up a campaign to convince Ross that he still loves Rachel. She asks him how Rachel reacted to lack of annulment, guessing rightly that he'd kept quiet. He claimed she was upset at having to move, and said he'd hugged her, whereupon Phoebe asks if he'd smelled her hair, a sign she insists means he still loves her. Phoebe warns Ross that Rachel isn't in the same place he is, he insists otherwise as 'he ISN'T in love with her'! Later when he finds a prospective flat for Rachel, she hugs him again, but Phoebe is watching causing him to end the hug prematurely. P. again insists he has more than friendly feelings towards Rachel. Phoebe then tells Ross not to do anything stupid, advice that falls on deaf ears. He guiltily turns to Phoebe who makes a 'told you so' speech. Later still, after talking to Joey about Rachel living with him, Phoebe overhears and blurts out 'Yes' to Joey asking Ross 'Is that what you really want' (getting back together with Rachel)? Secondly, the moving/living arrangements. At first, Joey offers Rachel Chandler's old room, bur she declines after hearing about 'naked Thursdays'! Later, Chandler & Monica are discussing what to do with Rachel's old room. Monica wants it to be a guest room, and C. wants a games room, but Monica turns this down flat. This arbitrary rejection causes him to walk out in a snit. He reassures Joey that they're still moving in together, as Joey has already placed an ad for a roommate : 'Female, non-smoker, non-ugly'! In Central Park, Ross directs Rachel to a workmates vacant flat, but when that falls through he impulsively suggests she moves in with him! Rachel is fantastically grateful, though it's clear she's unaware of Ross's feelings. Meanwhile, Chandler & Monica apologise to each other for their earlier spat, but end up having an even bigger one about whether Chandler should have his barker- lounger in Monica's apartment. He storms out again, alarming Joey by saying the move is off, as he's already interviewing female room-mates. Rachel overhears and immediately tells Ross that she needn't move in with him any more. Instantly he charges over to (successfully) reconcile C&M, though hardly for the purest of reasons. The ever-smitten Gunther then offers Rachel his apartment, but can't answer when Rachel asks him where he's moving to. Ross then appears and tells Rachel he's got C&M back together, so she can live with him, but she freaks him out when she talks about their dating other people. He then totally panics, trying to scare C&M away from sharing a flat, but merely prompting Chandler to say to Monica 'It scared me out of living with him'! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Lots of transparent motives in today's show : Joey & roommates, Ross (on various occasions), and Gunther too. First song from Phoebe for a while. Ross's mental state is deteriorating even more. Rachel doesn't currently reciprocate Ross's feelings. Phoebe's constant nagging got a little tedious. ******************************************************************************** TOW WHERE JOEY LOSES HIS INSURANCE Perhaps my expectations had been over-hyped by US praise of this episode, but I still felt slightly let down. OK, so it was the best of the 4 so far, but it didn't have me LOL (much) like the best episodes of previous seasons could. Two major & 2 minor storylines this week. Firstly, Phoebe and her psychic. We start off in with Phoebe again having a go at Ross about being in love with Rachel, irritating him so much he even accuses her of being in love with her! Next she tells Rachel that she's still married to Ross, but then passes it off as a joke. She then finishes by telling them her psychic says she's going to die in a week. At one point she says if Joey should die with her, they should haunt the gang. Ironically though, it is her psychic that dies! Next, Ross's new job. He's been asked to give a Paleontology lecture, and he asks to practice with his friends listening, they are unenthusiastic but agree anyway. They soon regret it, and phoebe quips that that will probably be what kills her! After much ribbing, including a suggestion from Joey that 'naked chicks' would liven up the presentation, he says he'll go it alone. Chandler than says 'That's how I did it until I was 19' :) Much later on, Monica & Rachel sneak into Ross's lecture, only to find he's reading it with an English accent! After the lecture they tease him, Monica with a Scottish & Rachel with an Indian accent. In a later lecture he finally admits to his audience that the accent is fake, and that he'll be honest from now on, but his lecture is then ruined anyway. Rachel has just heard from Ross's lawyer that she's still married to Ross, and charges into his lecture & lays into him! The main storyline though, is Joey's insurance. Since he hasn't worked for a while, his health insurance has lapsed, and of course he now starts accidentally injuring himself! First walking into a door, then more seriously, getting a hernia while exercising. He refuses to go to a hospital because of the cost, and goes to several auditions despite his condition. He flunks them, naturally, but finally gets a role playing a dying man! He finally gets his insurance back, though not before having trouble getting his child co-star to cry on cue, which he achieves by showing him his hernia! The moving arrangements were very much on the sidelines this week, but Monica & Rachel had a spat over a pair of candlesticks, which they both thought belonged to them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Ross is in BIG trouble now, Rachel will surely move elsewhere! Rachel will realize that Phoebe knew about the non-annulment How does health insurance work in the US? ******************************************************************************** TOW Joey's Porsche Hooray - at last a great episode! Back to normal with 3 storylines this week Firstly Ross & Rachel's annulment. The episode starts when Rachel charges into C&M's apartment and tells everyone that Ross didn't get the annulment. Phoebe pretends not to know but Ross calls her on it. Rachel asks how long could Ross have hoped to have kept it quiet, 'until the birth of our first secret child?' Ross moans about failed marriages again & Chandler comments 'What part of this did you think was a successful one?' :) Later, Phoebe offers to take in the again homeless Rachel, as her (nonexistent?) roommate is away. When Rachel tackles Ross about why he did nothing, he again cites '3 failed marriages', and says 'You'd understand if you'd had 2' to which Rachel replies 'Thanks to you I'm halfway there'! Next R&R are at his lawyers trying to get the annulment finalised, but Rachel has screwed it up by lying about why they want it, calling Ross a gay, impotent, mentally unstable junkie! The annulment is rejected, meaning they'll have to go through a full divorce. Later still, Rachel is gathering up her stuff from Ross's flat, where she blurts out that she WAS still in love with Ross at the time of his marriage to Emily, and that the Vegas marriage was largely her fault. Ross says that he'd never thought he'd be divorcing Rachel, and they eventually hug & make up (ahhh)! Secondly - Joey's Porsche. Joey finds the keys to a Porsche in CP and decides to look for it. He finds it and pretends it is his to impress the ladies! He revels in the attention this gets him until the real owner turns up. Desperate to keep getting attention he gets himself some Porsche-owners clothes, much to the gang's hilarity, Ross jibing that a Porsche threw up on him! :) Even so, he persists in his pretence, building a car-shaped pile of boxes and covering it up. He's finally caught out though when a guy falls on it, crushing it. Finally, Phoebe's baby-sitting. Frank & Alice want Phoebe to baby-sit the triplets, and Phoebe tricks Chandler & Monica into helping, by at first claiming they will be looking after puppies. Chandler isn't keen and Monica nearly freaks him out when saying 'it will be good practice for looking after (pause) visitor's babies' :) We then get the first look at the triplets in over a year (and they are SO cute). They are in C&M's apartment, and Chandler isn't happy about the more 'icky' side of babysitting. He says they should use a zone defence rather than each looking after one baby, to try and avoid nappy changing! He then brings in an unsuitable toy for the babies to play with, and proceeds to demonstrate WHY its dangerous by getting part of it stuck in his throat. He & Monica then have to go to the casualty department to sort this out, leaving Phoebe in charge of all 3 children. They proceed to crawl around Monica's apartment, wrecking it! Monica is greatly dismayed at this on her return, but Chandler manages to mollify her by telling her the most important thing is that the babies have been well looked after. She then freaks Chandler out though, by mentioning her and Chandler having babies, prompting him to attack Phoebe's mess to distract Monica's attention from that subject! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Clearly Chandler still has big commitment issues! So glad to see Ross & Rachel emerge from this latest skirmish relatively unscathed. At least ONE part of Rachel's annulment description of Ross applies, (to some extent)! ******************************************************************************** TOO The Last Night Another reasonable episode I thought. Two storylines this week, but both pretty much based on the change in living arrangements. Firstly, Chandlers attempts to give Joey money. Chandler is concerned that Joey will not be able to afford to live in his apartment alone, but Joey is too proud to accept a loan from him. He therefore has to devise various ways of losing money to Joey. He starts off by playing him at foosball at $50 a game, knowing Joey will beat him. When he ups the stakes though, Joey manages to lose, so Chandler is forced to invent a new card game, 'Cups' to give Joey his money back. This goes well - for a while. Unfortunately, later on Joey decides to play Ross at Cups and ends up losing all the money he'd won from Chandler. Chandler hears about this, and has to explain to Ross that he was only trying to give Joey money in a way he didn't think was charity. In desperation, Chandler offers Joey $1500 for the china dog, but oddly enough, after failing to spot Chandler's other attempts at charity, Joey notices this one! Chandler does get the last laugh though when he plays Ross at Cups and presumably wins back his money. The other storyline involves Rachel leaving Monica's apartment. Rachel is tardy with her packing, so Monica wants to recruit the gang to help out. They all want to avoid this and make excuses, especially Ross, who lies that he has to look after Ben. He even creates a fake Ben to fool Monica! There is something of a strain in the air between Monica & Rachel which Phoebe accidentally turns into an argument about things which tick each other off. It starts with Rachel commenting about the phone pen, then rapidly escalates to the stage where Monica mocks Rachel's on again/off again relationship with Ross, and Monica having trouble dating so she goes across the hall for a boyfriend. After this, Rachel says she's not moving out, and M&R end up throwing clothes in & out of cases. Finally though, Phoebe intervenes and tricks Monica & Rachel into making up, where they finally realise the underlying cause is their sadness at not being roommates any longer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Something of a sad episode - the end of an era. We learn that Phoebe lives 20 blocks from the others - how far might that be? You might expect Joey to fall for a fake game, but Ross??? ******************************************************************************** TOW Phoebe Runs Just an average episode this week, I thought. Back to the usual three story threads. Firstly, Phoebe's peculiar running. Rachel has just moved into Phoebe's apartment & tells her she is going for a run, and Phoebe wants to join her. Rachel gets a shock though when she sees the way Phoebe runs! She flails her arms about like windmills & hops from foot to foot, causing Rachel great embarrassment. After this, Rachel starts making excuses not to run with her, including fake injuries, but gets busted when Phoebe catches her out. Eventually Rachel admits why she has been avoiding her, and Phoebe says she runs like that as it's more fun. Rachel tries doing the same, and begins to enjoy herself - until she runs backward into a horse! Next, Joey's new roommate. Joey must have thought all his Xmas's have come at once as his new roommate is incredibly HOT - her name is Janine, played by Elle 'The Body' McPherson! After he introduces her to the gang, they question how thorough he was in vetting her. He admits that all he asked was 'When can you move in?' :) Joey immediately sets his sights on dating her, but the gang tells him he can't date his roommate due to the consequences if it didn't work out. He's skeptical though, as he has loads of 'flirting energy'. Eventually though, he sees their point of view, and tries to use girl repelling 'techniques' from Chandler & Ross to stop Janine being interested in him. It all blows up in his face though, as when he confronts her, she tells him she's not interested in him in that way anyhow! She later walks away contemptuously from Ross when he tries hitting on her too. Finally, Chandler's flat-cleaning. He wants to do something nice for her on their first day living together, and decides to clean the apartment while Monica is at work. When Ross sees this though, he warn Chandler that Monica will freak out if anything is even an inch out of place! He enlist Ross's help in straightening out the furniture, but even with the help of photos he can't get it exactly right, and is panicking about what Monica will say. When Monica gets home, he delays her by saying that Ross is naked, and they're checking an ailment he has. This backfires as Monica then lets it slip about a similar problem Chandler had. Eventually Chandler lets Monica in, but Monica STILL notices the changes, whereupon Ross rapidly disappears! Chandler starts off with a groveling apology, but to his relief, Monica is OK about it, saying he needn't feel scared about putting things back wrongly - that's just her thing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : The Phoebe running storyline has to be the most feeble since the 'hand twin' - what WERE the writers thinking? Monica is still working at the restaurant, even though her staff hates her. How long will Elle be in the show - will she eventually succumb to Joey's charms? ******************************************************************************** TOW Ross's Teeth I have to say this episode was BAD, probably the worst since TOW the Cat. None of the three storyline had any great appeal to me, but I'll review them anyway. Firstly, Joey's 'girly' stuff. Chandler makes a visit to his old apartment, and is dismayed to see how much Janine has changed it, especially his bedroom, causing him to exclaim 'It's like a guy never lived here!'. He criticizes Joey for letting Janine dictate the apartment's décor, saying 'be a man', but kow-tow's to Monica as soon as she asks for something! Joey then asks Janine about the 'girly stuff' she's been doing to the apartment, but she befuddles him with her explanation, getting off the hook. Later, Chandler is helping Monica in their apartment, when he realizes she has got HIM doing 'girly stuff' too! He excuses himself, which making a comment about being 2 sachets away from being a lesbian couple!'. He heads over to Joey's, only to find him knitting, and next, to Ross's who is putting on make- up! Chandler finally tells Joey 'he's turning into a woman', after he sees him arranging flowers with Monica. Joey finally puts his foot down with Janine, saying he wants 'girly' items out of the living area, but as it turns out, he claims most of them for his own room! Next, Rachel's job. Phoebe wants to use Bloomingdale's photocopier, but Rachel tells her she doesn't work there anymore, but at Ralph Lauren's, which is news to phoebe. While doing the copying, she meets a guy who says he is Ralph Lauren, and they make out. She tells Rachel, who spreads this juicy rumour to her boss, in order to ingratiate herself. However, it turns out that Phoebe actually fooled around with Kenny the copy guy! Rachel then tries to retract the rumour she spread, but her boss now thinks Rachel herself slept with Ralph to try & take her job. She finally sorts it by pretending that she DID sleep with him, but got dumped, and this makes her boss all sympathetic! Finally, Ross's teeth. Ross wants to be set up on a date with Monica's assistant, leading Rachel to ask if she has a wedding dress! In preparing for the date though, Ross goes wild with teeth whitener causing most of the gang great amusement, but freaking Phoebe out, making her shout Demon! Demon! at him. Ross then spends the first half of his date mumbling, and covering his mouth in various ways, but he is busted when he turns the lights down low - his teeth are glowing luminously! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Has Rachel's change of job been mentioned before? Chandler's still freaked out when his masculinity his challenged, despite his lasting relationship with Monica. Also, What WERE the writers doing with this episode? Were they drunk? ******************************************************************************** TOW Ross Gets High Again, not THAT good, but it did have it's moments. The various storylines were very indistinct this week, so I'll treat the episode as a single block. The episode starts with Monica telling Chandler that her parents are coming to visit. He's quite pleased about this, until Monica tells him she hasn't told her parents about them, since they don't like him. We next see Joey and Ross playing video games, but when Janice come in they pretend they haven't been. She asks them if they want to go to a Thanksgiving party with her and her dancer friends. They are very keen, but have already committed themselves to Monica's party. While Ross is trying to explain this, he comes across as a babbling geek, leading Joey to comment 'I'll never know how you got 3 women to marry you'! :) Monica's parent's then arrive, and chandler immediately starts trying to ingratiate himself to them, but instead keeps putting his foot in his mouth! At the same time as this, Phoebe is telling Rachel that she had a dream about Jack Gellar in which he was a hero figure who rescued her. In a surprising decision, Monica is allowing Rachel to cook the meal and pride of place is a trifle. Unfortunately, the pages of her cookbook got stuck together so she accidentally creates something which is half trifle & half shepherd pie! Chandler is still wondering why Monica's parents hate him, then Ross tells him it was because his parents smelt pot in his college room, and he panicked and blamed Chandler. Meanwhile, Joey is urging Rachel to hurry up with the meal as he wants to sneak off to Janine's party. Ross wants to tell Rachel about her ruined trifle, but when he tries she thinks he is hitting on her, so he backs out off telling her. The gang finally decide to fake enjoying Rachel's trifle to spare her feelings, but when it comes to actually eating it, they chicken out after a bite or two, and make weak excuses to excuse themselves. Everyone except Joey, that is, who actually LIKES Rachel's concoction! Finally the time comes when Ross has to clear the misunderstanding over Chandler, but he again backs down, so Monica is forced to spill the beans, telling her parents that is was Ross, not Chandler that smoked pot in college. This revelation leads an angry Ross to start a series of exchanges in which they each try to outdo the other, culminating in Ross telling Jack & Judy that Monica & Chandler are living together, and Monica telling them that Ross got married & divorced again! Surprisingly though, R&M's parents are pleased that Chandler is in a relationship with their daughter, and he ends up being the 'good guy'. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : The little scene on the landing between R&R gives us fans of them some more hope. Will Joey eat ANYTHING? CCA was looking great in this episode. ******************************************************************************** TOW the Routine A better episode this week IMO, though still not a classic. Just two storylines again. Firstly, Xmas presents. The episode starts with the gang decorating (half) the Xmas tree, Monica doing the other half to her own meticulous standards! Somewhat later, while Monica isn't around, Phoebe and Rachel arrive to hunt for Monica's presents to them. Chandler is there but at first refuses to help, but P & R play on his insecurities until he cracks. They search all round, but don't find the presents, however P & R admit they know about the embarrassing secret Chandler hides in his cupboard. He then waves his arms about, pretending it didn't happen! Later on, Phoebe & Rachel discover some presents but call them crap, but as it turns out, they are Chandlers presents to the gang. Finally though, Rachel discovers Monica's presents in a box by the window which she never realised existed before. Chandler doesn't want to look at his, but Monica discovers them at this point and tells him what it is anyway! Next, the main story - the routine Janine announces that she has got a spot on a news years dance show, which as it turns out, has been a BIG favourite of Ross & Monica's for many years. She invites them, and also Joey, who is happy to finally go out on a 'date' with Janine. Once there, Monica & Ross make great efforts to draw attention to themselves, in order to get a more visible spot for the TV cameras. Joey takes the chance to dance with Janine, and their dancing starts to get sensual, until interrupted by a TV guy who wants Janice to dance with another man, much to Joey's dismay! Joey then sabotages him by soaking the guys pants, and once again is dancing with Janine. Meanwhile Ross & Monica decide to revive their old school dance routine in a Desperate attempt to get noticed, but end up looking total dorks, and the TV guy reckons it'll be good for bloopers! Joey is finally about to kiss Janine during the countdown to midnight, but the producer shouts 'cut' before he can. Later on though, he finally gets to kiss her in a re-enactment of the countdown at their apartment, and he's delighted that his feeling are finally being reciprocated. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : What is Chandlers secret? The chicken & duck reappear after a long absence. What will happen with Joey & Janine now? ******************************************************************************** TOW The Apothecary Table Another moderate episode this week - the standard does seem to be somewhat down on S5. Just the two storylines again this week. Firstly, Joey & Janine. The episode starts with Joey rushing in to tell the gang that he and Janine had just kissed, after their initial surprise they ask 'why are you over here then'! We then see them in Central Perk, and they are now all smoochy. Next, Chandler & Monica ask Joey & Janine out on a double date. They have a great time (or so it seems) and C&M want to go out again the next day, but as soon as C&M are gone, Janine reveals to Joey that she didn't like it. She explains that she found Chandler 'blah' and Monica loud. Joey is very dismayed, but agrees to blow off the next double date, but when he makes an excuse to C&M, his cover is blown when Janine uses a different one. He's then forced to admit Janine doesn't like C&M. Later, he begs C&M to go out with them a second time, citing that they owe him this, for covering up the initial stages of C&M's romance (during which we discover that Chandler had been bribing him to keep quiet). They get back from their 2nd date, and Janine tells Joey it was even worse - but Monica overhears and charges in, ready for a fight! Joey reluctantly persuades Janine to apologise, but she mutters a derogatory remark about Monica under her breath, causing Monica to chase her out. Since she & Joey are now finished, she then moves out. The other storyline involves Rachel's new furniture. Rachel buys herself an apothecary table from Pottery Barn, but then is warned that Phoebe hates mass-produced goods. She then sets up an elaborate charade to trick Phoebe into thinking the table is an antique. She succeeds - for a while, but it turns out that Ross has an identical table and Phoebe will inevitably see it when she visits him. She persuades him to cover it with a sheet to hide it, but then Phoebe spills wine on it, and a desperate Rachel can only come up with the claim that Pottery Barn had plagiarized the design. Later on, Rachel has bought a lot more cheap furniture, but Ross forces her into revealing it's source to Phoebe. The final twist is that Phoebe really wants to buy the matching lamps from Pottery Barn! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : How come Janine hasn't been uncomfortable with C&M before? CCA looks more healthy than she has for a while. ******************************************************************************** TOW the Joke Slightly better than last week, though somewhat farcical in places. Back to the usual 3 storylines this week. Firstly, the Joke. Ross gets a joke published in Playboy, but Chandler claims he invented it. This leads to considerable argument, dragging the others in too. Chandler continues to brood over this joke to Monica, but she has her own obsession to deal with. Finally, they ask Monica to arbitrate over whose joke it is, and they each explain how they invented it, trying to coerce her into picking them - Chandler even (lightheartedly) saying 'I'm your only chance of having a baby'. They don't like what Monica tells them though - that the joke sucks & is offensive. They then both DENY inventing it! Second story - Joey's money problems. Chandler wants to watch a cable show on Joey's TV, but he hasn't been able to pay his bills, and both that and is phone have been cut off. Joey is too proud to take a loan from Chandler though. Later, Gunther offers Joey a job in Central Perk, which he is reluctant to take, and then tries to conceal from the gang. On his second day, he gets an audition, but cannot attend it, since Gunther won't cover for him. Joey is determined to go though, and closes CP for the duration. This gets him fired, AND he also fails the audition, but Rachel (unwitting) uses Gunther's crush on her to get Joey his job back. The final storyline was the girls weird dating question. The girls are reading Ross's Playboy and Monica asks Rachel & Phoebe if they HAD to pick one of the others to date, which would it be? Rachel wisely refuses to answer, but Phoebe says it would be Rachel, causing Monica to obsess about why! Later on, in bed, C&M are brooding about their respective problems, completely unaware of the others obsessions. The next day, Monica challenges Phoebe as to why she'd prefer Rachel to her. She reluctantly admits that she thinks Monica would be 'high maintenance', and that Rachel is more easy-going. This gets twisted into Rachel thinking that Phoebe means she is a pushover, so she storms out. When they come back, they accuse Phoebe of being flaky, which, to their surprise, she readily admits. Later on, in CP, Monica gets Chandler to try and persuade them she is not high- maintenance, but his speech has clearly been written by Monica, and Rachel calls his bluff. He then upsets Monica by telling her she IS a little high- maintenance, but quickly makes up for it for telling her that is one of the things he loves about her. In the epilogue, the guys are asked the 'who would you date' question, which R&J avoid, but C says Joey, presumably opening up a new can of worms! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : ISTM that the Geller obsessive trait is being overplayed in recent episodes. Unlike most of the previous seasons, there seems no underlying theme to the show, leaving it somewhat adrift, and short on strong stories. ******************************************************************************** TOW Rachel's Sister A rather better episode than recent ones IMO. One major storyline and two minor ones this week. Firstly, Joey's Central Perk job. He's come up with a bright idea to get dates - handing out free food to girls he thinks are pretty. This irritates Rachel & Phoebe who see this as sexist, but then he gives Phoebe a free scone, turning her into a giggling schoolgirl! :) His scheme backfires later though, as when Gunther is sharing out the tips, he deducts Joey's handouts, leaving him owing money. Gunther tells him people only get free food on their birthdays, whereupon Joey then resumes handing out free food to girls he likes by pretending it is their birthday. He's finally thwarted though, when Gunther bans him from doing even this. Next, Rachel's sister. The gang are ALL sitting in C&M's apartment when there is a knock on the door, confusing them - Phoebe even counting them to make sure they are all there. :) It turns out to be Rachel's sister, Jill, who has had a disagreement with her father, and she comes to Rachel for 'survival' tips. True to form, Joey immediately tries to hit on her, rapidly rebuffed by Rachel. :) She has as much trouble starting the road to independence as Rachel did in the pilot, using her father's memorized credit card numbers for shopping. She gets busted by Rachel after Ross & Phoebe initially protect her, and Rachel 'confiscates' the items Jill bought. After Rachel leaves, Ross and Jill start to hit it off, and Phoebe goes to warn Rachel about this. Rachel starts off pretending it doesn't bother her, but rapidly begins to freak out - imagining all sorts of bizarre scenarios! When she asks Jill whether she's interested in Ross, she says no, but Rachel's defence of Ross changes her mind, planting a seed that was never there before. Ross then thanks Rachel, complementing her on 'moving on'. Later, as Ross & Jill return from their date, Rachel is spying on them from C&M's apartment, but panics when Ross draws his curtains.... Finally, Monica's seduction of Chandler. Monica is sent home from work with a bad cold, but she denies being ill. To try and prove she's OK, she attempts to seduce Chandler, but he is having none of it, with Monica coughing germs all over the place. Her attempts become increasing desperate, to no avail, until she finally appeals to Chandler's instincts in the most basic way possible. She admits to him that she IS ill, and wants him to smear vapour-rub on her chest. This is too much for Chandler, and he finally cracks! :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Yet again it is confirmed that Rachel is so NOT over Ross, although her reaction is slightly more understandable this time. Chandler held out longer than I would have, illness or not! :) Is it my imagination, or are the Joey/Phoebe hints becoming more numerous? ******************************************************************************** TOW Chandler Can't Cry Fantastic episode this week - probably the best of the season! This was basically a two-parter continued from last week, but last weeks main story was rather swamped by two good new ones. Firstly, Ross & Jill It turns out that Rachel had no need to be concerned about her sister & Ross, as he'd only drawn the curtains to show her his fossil slides! He tells her this in Central Perk, but in a moment of honesty, she admits that the idea of him dating Jill totally freaks her out, and she persuades him not to see her again. Later on, Jill is telling Rachel that Ross dumped her, and she wonders why. In another uncharacteristic piece of honesty, Rachel confesses she asked Ross to stop seeing her. Jill is furious at this, and charges off, planning to seduce Ross to spite her sister. Rachel phones Ross to warn her what she might be up to, which Ross is reluctant to believe. She arrives at Ross's apartment, making sure Rachel sees her, then ostentatiously draws the curtain again. She kisses Ross, but he is uncomfortable and rejects her advances. In C&M's apartment, he later admits that Rachel was right, and that while Jill kissed him, he didn't want a relationship with her because he KNEW that would ruin any future chance he might have with Rachel (ahhh)! Next, 'Phoebes' porn movies. A guy in Central Perk asks for Phoebe's autograph, mystifying Joey, who, when he asks why, is shocked to hear that she is apparently a porn star! Gunther confirms this to a skeptical Joey. He and Ross then hire some of her videos, including one titled 'Buffay the Vampire Layer'! :) The gang start to watch this movie, except for Joey who refuses. Rachel then spots a tattoo and realises that the star is actually Ursula masquerading as Phoebe. At this revelation, Joey charges round and wants to watch it! :) At this moment, Phoebe comes in, sees the video, and yells 'What am I doing'! Phoebe then goes to visit Ursula to stop her using her name, but as usual, Ursula is just not interested in anything Phoebe has to say, in fact she is making more porn at that very moment! Phoebe gets the last laugh though, as she's able to bank Ursula's cheques and tells the porn company to send all further payments to Phoebe's address. Finally, Chandler can't cry. Early in the episode, the gang are watching sad movies, but Chandler is cynical about the sad scenes, and says he's never been able to cry. The gang's negative reaction to this surprises him, especially when Joey tells him he is dead inside. He then tries to read a book in order to become more sensitive, but his attempt to hide this fact from Monica fails, when he accidentally slides it right under the couch to her feet! In an attempt to get emotion out of him, Monica then lays out increasingly sad scenarios, to no avail, finally shouting 'You robot!' and going to her room. Finally though, Chandler is moved to tears by Ross & Rachel's conversation about Ross not wanting to ruin any chance of ever getting back with her. After that, the floodgates are open, and he cries at trivial things. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Yet again we are strung along with Ross & Rachel hints! Those porn movie titles. :) Chandler is becoming less and less concerned about the 'metaphorical tunnel' as time goes on. ******************************************************************************** TO That Might Have Been Wow - the 2nd great episode in a row - have they fired the previous writers? :) Four storylines this week (plus a frame), since it was a double-episode. However, I think it'll be easier to review the episode as a whole rather than the various parts individually. We start with Rachel telling the gang that her ex-fiancée Barry is getting divorced from Mindy, to which the not-really-paying-attention Joey thinks she is talking about Ross! At this, the gang begin to speculate when their lives would have been like under various 'what-if' scenarios : If Rachel had married Barry If Ross hadn't divorced Carol If Joey had not left 'Days Of Our Lives' If Phoebe had been a stockbroker If Monica was still fat. If Chandler had quit his job. The next thing we know, we are transported to this 'alternate universe'! The first thing we discover is that the gang still all hang out together, with the exception of Rachel. We start when Ross runs into Rachel at a newsstand, and they both mention they are married. He invites her to Central Park to meet the others, and Rachel is overwhelmed to discover that TV star Joey (Dr.Drake Remoray) is a friend of theirs. Just as in the real universe Joey's pick-up line is "How're you doin'?", and he immediately tries it on Rachel. :) It turns out that in this universe, it is Chandler down on his luck, and Joey is persuaded to hire him as an assistant by Phoebe, who is a heavy smoking and ruthless stockbroker. Later, in Monica's apartment, Chandler is given a list of trivial and somewhat demeaning tasks by Joey, causing Monica to describe Chandler & Joey's 'bitch'! The next main event is when Phoebe hears that she has lost $13m, causing her to have a mild heart attack. While recovering in hospital, Ross tells her about his marital difficulties, and how he uses 'Karatay' to control his urges. She advises him to try role-playing. Elsewhere, Joey is showing Rachel round the TV studio, when he lays into Chandler for bringing him orange juice with pulp in it. Ross puts Phoebe's suggestions to Carol, but she is unenthusiastic, though finally suggests a threesome might be the answer (no prizes for guessing who she has in mind!) :) Chandler finally manages to sell a story (to Archie comics), but it turns out to be based on how Joey treated him - a fact which an apologetic Joey completely misses! Next, we see Rachel discussing Joey with Monica in CP, during which it emerges that she is a Drake Remoray 'groupie', and more revealingly, that Monica is still a virgin at 30! Back in the hospital, Ross fields a phone call for Phoebe in which he learns that she has been fired - a fact that must be concealed from her to prevent further dangerous stress. We then have the intriguing scenario of Rachel & Joey - he's invited her to his flat, complete with china dog & rain window. They have some drinks, but just when you think something is about to happen, the alcohol overtakes Rachel and she throws up! Elsewhere, Ross's threesome is going well, but not for him - Carol's guest turning out to be none other than Susan, her 'real universe' lover. He's left mostly on the sidelines while C&S make out! In her apartment, Monica is making ineffectual attempts to seduce her boyfriend, Dr Roger, who, to his relief is beeped, and has to leave. A little later she is talking to Chandler, and the subject of her losing her virginity comes up. Half-jokingly, he suggests they should do it, and while the idea first strikes them as unlikely, gradually they change their mind, though not before Chandler mistakes the sofa for Monica, in the dark! :) Finally though, they do have sex, Monica in particular realising what she had been missing all these years. The next day, Phoebe turns up for work, still not realising she had been fired, and being in denial when told, ultimately causing her to have another minor heart attack. Chandler comes over to see Monica, only to be rebuffed slightly, since she still thinks of Dr Roger as her boyfriend. Later that day though, Chandler gets him out of the picture, and Monica realises that Chandler is a much better partner. Ross discusses his failed threesome first with Joey, then with an angry Rachel, who'd caught Barry cheating on her. They both verbally trash their relationships, then Rachel spells out what Ross could/would not accept before - that Carol is gay. The show ends with an apparently fully recovered Phoebe singing in CP, it being one of her protest songs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Where to start? So many possible topics. I hound the heart attack storyline in somewhat questionable taste, especially Chandler making light of it. Plenty of possible discussions on how similar/different the friends were. Nice to see C&M together, even when she was fat though. ******************************************************************************** TOW Unagi Another reasonable episode - unlike last year, it seems to be getting better later in the season. Normal length episode this week & returning to the usual pattern of three stories. Firstly, Joey's lack of money. He starts off in Central Perk asking for excessive tips from the gang, then returning to an old idea of undergoing medical experiments to raise cash. He talks to the gang for so that Gunther has to tick him off for not serving customers. Joey then visits the medical centre, to find that the only scheme available is a study on identical twins. On an audition later in the day, he finds an old acquaintance who he thinks could play his twin, but he bears only a passing resemblance to Joey, though he seems unaware of this. His 'twin' later walks into C&M apartment in an attempt to demonstrate to Joey that he can play his twin, but all he does is alarm Chandler & Monica, though this soon turns to amusement when Joey appears and explains what is going on. Of course, when Joey returns to the medical centre with his very NOT identical twin, he is immediately rejected! Next, the Unagi. Phoebe & Rachel have enrolled in a self defence course, but Ross is skeptical about its value. He cites his study of Karate, and says you need to achieve a state of Unagi. R&P then make several jokes at his expense, pointing out that it is a Japanese sea-food dish! In a attempt to prove his point, Ross jumps out and scares them outside C&M's flat, but fails to do the same to Monica. In retaliation, they sneak into his apartment, and scare the crap out of him! :) In a last attempt to prove how ineffective their self-defence class is, he attempts to return the favour, hiding in R&P's apartment, but they spot him, and kick his ass! Smarting at his ass-kicking, he then visits their self-defence instructor, asking him how to attack women, causing the instructor to think he's a weirdo! Finally, C&M's late Valentines day. They agreed that they should celebrate this 2 weeks late, due to Monica being busy at work on the 14th Feb. They agree to give each other home-made gifts, but this idea causes them both problems. Chandler asks Ross if he has something he could pass off as a gift from him, but all he can come up with is a model rocket from his geekish days! Chandler then rummages through his stuff, toying with Joey's idea of crotchless panties for Monica, but fortunately deciding against it! :) He then finds a tape of mixed songs which he can give to her, but has no time to check its contents before he can give it to Monica. After giving him a sock rabbit which she got from Phoebe, she admits she forgot about the home-made gift idea, and offers to make it up to him in 'other' ways. After only a slight pause, Chandler agrees! :) After a passionate sex session (and a soiled sock puppet!), she has plans to cook him his favourite meal. That night, when he gets home, the apartment is all set up for a romantic meal, and Monica plays Chandler's tape. At first she is delighted that it includes one of her favourite songs, but then - horror of horror's, out blares Janice's foghorn voice - it was a tape she made for Chandler when they were dating! Monica is understandably annoyed, but though Chandler initially calms her, the tape continues, and drops Chandler in it again, causing her to send him to the spare room for the night! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : How lame & unoriginal was the Joey storyline - have they learned nothing from the hand-twin? Chandler should SO have confessed straight away about the tape! What is it with Chandler, sex & socks? :) Was the self-defence instructor so wrong to thing Ross was a loony? ******************************************************************************** TOW Ross Dates A Student Another 'average' episode - usual laughs but nothing outstanding. Firstly, Ross and his secret admirer. Ross is delighted by the glowing assessment of his skills (not all in teaching) by one of his archaeology students. He wonders who it is, and Joey of all people, suggests how he should find out. Rachel mischievously suggests that it might not be a girl! He soon discovers who it was though, when one of his students, an attractive young woman named Elizabeth, asks him out. He is wary, as he knows dating students is frowned upon, but eventually agrees. When he's on the date though, he runs into one of his senior colleagues and has to pretend he's not with her. A day or two later, he is on a second date with her at Central Perk, when the same senior professor walks in causing him to hide. He's finally convinced he should come clean though, and tells the professor who he is dating. This turns out to be a disaster though, as dating a student isn't JUST frowned upon, it's a dismissable offence, and he gets fired! Even so, he is still interested in her, and invites her to his apartment. They both agree they SHOULD break up, but then their hormones take over and they end up making out passionately! Secondly, Joey's audition. Joey is desperate to get a particular audition, and he knows that the movie director was a college friend of Chandlers, so he asks him for help. He agrees after initial resistance, but has to ask her out on a 'business' meal to discuss it. Monica overhears and thinks it's a date, not surprisingly upsetting her! He takes the woman out, but dares not ask her to give Joey an audition, as she says how she hates it when people just see her as a means to help their career. Under pressure from Joey, he's forced to ask her out again, making Monica even more insecure, but he overdoes it, and the director thinks he wants to date her. She tries to let him down gently, but a crafty Chandler exploits the situation to finally get Joey his audition. Even after Chandler's efforts though, Joey manages to forget the audition and has to run to it in a panic! Finally, Phoebe & Rachel's apartment fire. While chatting at Monica's, Rachel receives a phone call that there has been a fire at the apartment she shares with Phoebe. She & the others rush over there, and while the living area is hardly touched, the bedrooms are badly burnt, and a fireman tells them they'll have to live elsewhere for a while. Rachel misunderstands him and thinks he's offering her his place! Monica & Joey offer them their spare rooms. When deciding who should stay where, Phoebe thinks Joey's place is the worse option, and decides to take it though guilt, as she believes the fire was her fault. A later call from the fire department pins the blame on Rachel though, and they switch. As it turns out though, Phoebe rediscovers why she stopped sharing Monica's apartment many years before - her obsessiveness is still strongly in evidence and it drives her nuts. Rachel on the other hand, discovers that living in Joey's apartment has it's advantages, as he doesn't mind if she makes a mess, though she gets somewhat grossed out when he eats food he dropped on the floor! Phoebe tries to move back in with Joey when she sees the fun they are having while throwing wet paper balls at the wall, bur Rachel will have none of it. Phoebe then risks 'death' by taking the soggy paper to Monica's! :) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : It seemed odd that Rachel should have problems living with Monica again, since she didn't leave because of Monica's quirks before. Another annoying Joey scene - his way of remembering Thursday. What will happen with Ross & Elizabeth? Nothing long term, that's fairly obvious since the R&R storyline MUST be kept open. More interesting possibilities created by the new living arrangements, more on Phoebe & Joey possibly?? ******************************************************************************** TOW Joey's Fridge Not a very good episode this week - one of the worst this season IMO. For me there was only one major plus point - Courteney looked absolutely gorgeous! :) None of the 3 storylines were very strong. Firstly though - Joey's fridge. Joey's ancient fridge has broken down, and he doesn't have enough money for a replacement. He first tries to persuade Rachel to go halves as she's now 'his roommate', but she naturally refuses as she's only just moved in. Next he tries asking Chandler to cough up half, but he's having none of it either, since he doesn't live there now. Joey is now starting to get desperate and even pushes Ross against the fridge claiming that he broke it! When he tries Phoebe she neatly turns the tables on him though, saying he owes HER for sending out good audition vibes! Next, Rachel's date. She needs a date for a charity bash, so both Phoebe, and C&M volunteer to find her one. Phoebe picks one of her former massage clients for Rachel, and Chandler finds a workmate for her. However, in the meantime Rachel has found her own date. The three feel let down though, and while singing the praises of their own candidates, scare off Rachel's date. Despite this, Rachel agrees to meet their choices, but she ends up regretting it, as C&M & Phoebe continue to squabble about whose guy should go out with Rach. Once again, the potential dates are scared off and Rachel has to go to the charity dinner alone. Fortunately she has a good time there. Finally, Ross & Elizabeth. Ross finally introduces her to the gang, and after it is pointed out that he & Elizabeth are not supposed to be seen together, they come up with a pathetically feeble 'accidental meeting' premise. After Elizabeth leaves, the others totally take the piss over Ross's date's age. Later on, Ross & Eliz sneak into his office to make out, and she tells him she is going on a trip. Ross totally gets the wrong end of the stick, and thinks she is inviting him to a romantic getaway. He's uncomfortable because he thinks she's going too fast. When he asks her about this though, he's embarrassed to find it is a college trip, and he ineffectively pretends he know that all along. When he talks to the gang later, Joey especially scares him with tales of debauchery on such trips, Joey even getting involved in this at the age of 13! Ross expresses concern about whether Elizabeth will sleep around, then Chandler comes up with the best line of the show : 'maybe you don't marry this one' :) At Elizabeth's place, Ross is upset at the microscopic swimsuit she proposes to take, but daren't tell her directly not to take it, resorting instead to hiding it. At the airport, he's seeing her off, when she is 'accosted' and carried off by a group of fellow students, hardly reassuring Ross about what will happen on her holiday. Finally though, Ross turns up her on her trip, seen by the others on MTV! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : I didn't like the whole scenario of Joey trying to get money from the others - it was inconsistent with his previous pride about such 'charity'. It made him come across mean & demanding. Also, the fridge storyline just fizzled out - I wonder if it'll be resolved next week? ******************************************************************************** TOW Mac & CHEESE I've never really liked clip shows - I always feel cheated. However, having said that, this wasn't as bad as some. Only one storyline, so it'll be a short review. Joey's TV audition, Joey is practicing lines with Phoebe for a part he hopes to get, that of a detective, Mac with a robot partner (named CHEESE), but Phoebe gets over-excited about her own perceived acting ability during their audition rehearsal. When he gets back from the audition, he pretends to Chandler & Ross that he failed, but R&C think he is BS'ing them, which turns out to be true since he is shortlisted for the part. Next we see the chick & duck for the first time in a while, with Chandler apologising to them since Monica won't let them into her apartment! He then takes a phone call rearranging Joey's 2nd audition time, but gets distracted by Monica before he can make a note of it on the magnadoodle. Later that afternoon he's playing foosball with Joey, when Joey gets a call telling him he's lost the part because Chandler forgot to tell him about the new time, so naturally he's pissed off with Chandler. Fortunately for Chandler, he gets off the hook as, while he's bringing Joey 2 pizza's to make up for his mistake, he takes a call for him, that he has another shot at the part. He makes SURE that he writes it down this time! Much later on in the day, Joey comes back pretending he hasn't got the phone message, letting Chandler feel guilty again, but then reveals he DID get the message AND the part! They then have a little skit of faking each other out over how they feel about it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Not much to say really except - can Joey avoid blowing this opportunity too? ******************************************************************************** TOW Ross Meets Elizabeth's Dad This episode was only average IMO, neither of the two main storylines standing out. Firstly, Joey's TV show. Joey is stressed out about his new starring role, since he knows nothing about computers & robots. He also inadvertently drops Chandler in it by letting slip to Monica about the porn on Chandlers PC. Joey doesn't start off his job well either, initially mistaking the robot's controller to be the ACTUAL robot! When he sees the robot itself, he is disappointed, as he expected a lifelike one. Joey doesn't get on with the robot's controller, and wants him fired, only to find out that he is disposable, but the robot & its controller are not! He even gets a call from his agent Estelle offering him an audition for the part he already holds! :) Joey then tries to suck up to the robot's controller, but manages to damage the robot's arm in the process. He finally manages to save his job though, when he promises to teach the controller his techniques on how to chat up women. This has an unforeseen consequence though, when the robot goes 'mad' - as it turns out, the controller is making out at the time while still operating the machine! Next Ross, and Elizabeth's Dad Elizabeth's father, Paul, is in town, and she brings him to meet Ross. When he shows up, it turns out that the part is being played by Bruce Willis! He is not friendly towards Ross, and gives him two minutes for Ross to convince Him he is a good guy. Ross has already primed the gang to talk him up though, which they proceed to do until Rachel appears and blows Ross's scheme. Despite an awkward start, Paul and Rachel get on well - too well in fact, as Ross walks in on them snuggling up on Joey's sofa! She sheepishly claims she's only trying to get him to like Ross, but Ross is freaked out all the same! Ross tries to defend his reaction by saying Rachel making out with Eliz's dad is weird, to which she comes back with, 'you dated my sister'. Ross selfishly comes back with 'this time it's weird for ME'. Later on, Ross, Rachel, Elizabeth & her father are all in a restaurant, and Rachel is trying to sing Ross's praises. Unfortunately, everything she says just makes things worse, letting slip about Ross's various marriages, amongst other things. Elizabeth steps in to save the day though, by standing up for Ross to her dad. The other, minor storyline was Phoebe's book. She claims to have written 14, but only *she* has read them. She proceeds to base her stories characters on Chandler & Monica's spats, even manipulating C&M's reactions. They're not very happy about what Phoebe is doing. She still continues to write about them though and this turns out useful in the end, when C&M are having an argument about movie times, as it turns out that Phoebe's writings solve the argument. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Can't think of any at the moment, except to say how great CCA looks. :) ******************************************************************************** TOW Paul's the Man A good episode, just stopped from being a great episode by one thing - the near Frasier-like cabin farce. Two main, & one minor storyline this week. Firstly, Ross & Elizabeth's weekend away. Ross has made plans for a weekend away with Elizabeth, but they are thrown into chaos when he makes fun of her father, not knowing he's standing right behind him! Paul then forbids Ross to go out with his daughter, blackmailing him with the threat of getting him fired, but Ross decides to go anyway. When they arrive at the cabin, Elizabeth has to go to a local shop for condoms, but while she is out, who should turn up, but Paul & Rachel - also planning a weekend together! Ross frantically hides, but is discovered by Rachel, and when Elizabeth gets back, she has an awkward time explaining to her father why she is there. There than follows a series of scenes where Ross attempts to hide from Paul, ending up with him stuck under the bed. Ross then sees Paul do an absurd macho dance about his dating Rachel, but Ross is finally caught trying to sneak out and fears the worst when Paul says he will get him fired. Ross has a brainwave though - by threatening to reveal Paul's embarrassing scene, he blackmails him into keeping quiet. Next, Joey's picture. Apparently, when Joey starred in 'Days Of Our Lives', he got his picture put on the wall of the local dry-cleaners as a TV star. (yes, seemed weird to me too). Anyway, he goes in with Phoebe to get his picture put back up, since he's starring in a TV show again, but the owner challenges him to prove it. He returns with a tape, but it offends him by portraying his people (Russians) in a poor light, despite Joey pointing out that he already his pictures on the wall who've starred in other anti-Russian movies. Joey returns later, and finds an attractive oriental woman there who says she can get his picture on the wall - they go on a date, but soon after Joey discovers to his & Phoebe's horror that the woman was the owners wife, and this gets him thrown out! Finally, the secret wedding plans. Phoebe has 3 tickets to a museum (or art exhibit?), but Chandler & Joey decline for themselves & Ross, only to find out that it has lesbian pictures & free food! Phoebe, Monica & Rachel end up going on their own. When they get there, it turns out that the place holds weddings, and half- seriously, Monica books it for one, despite a two-year waiting list. Later, Chandler is sitting in their apartment, when the wedding place phone up about a cancellation, freaking Chandler out, since he know nothing about Monica's plans! When Monica arrives home later, Chandler walks out, apparently upset, but it's not until Monica plays back the answerphone message that she realises that Chandler knows what she's done! She goes out frantically looking for him, but it isn't until much later that he returns to the apartment. He then acts as if he still isn't ready for such a commitment, and receives reassurances from Monica that she didn't intend to pressure him. Once Monica leaves though, Phoebe appears and we find out that Chandler is actually planning to propose to Monica! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : For those of you who've seen Moonlighting, Paul's 'I'm the Man' dance was SO David Addison! Who was more at fault, Joey or the dry-cleaners wife? He at least had the excuse the he didn't know she was married. Hated the Ross hiding from Paul scenes - I don't like such farce scenes in Frasier either. CCA gets HOTTER by the week! ******************************************************************************** TOW The Ring Not that good an episode IMO - hoping for better things next week. Again, only 2 main storylines. Firstly, Rachel & Paul. Rachel complains to Phoebe that Paul won't open up to her, to which comes up a pickle-jar metaphor. 'You have to soak their heads then hit them on the table'. :) When Paul arrives, he proves Rachel's point about him being reserved by giving one word answers when asked about his feelings. Later, in Joey's apartment, Rachel is still trying to get Paul to open up, with no apparent success, but suddenly, after being forced to recall childhood incidents, he breaks down completely and starts blubbering! After this has gone on for a while, Rachel goes to ask Monica how to shut him up, and she says she has two ways - the first is sex, and she's never had to use the 2nd way! :) As it turns out, the root of Paul's problem turns out to be that he never got any affection from his father. He asks Chandler if his father ever hugged him, to which C. replied 'Did he hug you?' :). Paul then hugs Chandler & Joey, almost crushing him! Perhaps sensing Rachel's discomfort with his crying, Paul then lists his feelings on a notepad, hoping to control his emotions that way. It seems to help temporarily, and they end up in bed, but he breaks down again, and Rachel finally has enough and dumps him. Next, the Engagement Ring. Chandler & Phoebe are discussing what ring he should get for Monica, only to have Ross & Joey turn up, causing C&P to leave since they don't want to reveal C's intentions yet. This has the side effect of making R&J feel snubbed though. In Central Perk, Ross asks Phoebe what happened, but she covers by claiming Chandler wanted to go to a Knicks game with them. Next, Chandler & Phoebe are ring-shopping, and finally find a ring Chandler thinks is suitable by asking the (male) shop assistant to propose to him to see whether it feels right! :) Unfortunately, he's lent Joey his credit card, so he asks Phoebe to make sure the ring is kept for him until he gets back. This she fails to do, getting distracted by the jewelry & and a civil war musket. When she realises what happened, she charges after the ring's purchaser, only to get trapped by the shops security gates. After the apparent loss of the 'perfect' ring, a distracted Chandler blows off Joey & Ross again, causing them to send him to Coventry. Phoebe however comes up with a plan to save the day, she knows where the purchaser of the ring is going to propose to his girlfriend, and she & Chandler head there to try and swap rings. After a great deal of moral blackmail & BS, they succeed. Chandler finally decides to reveal to the others that he is going to propose to Monica, forcing Joey & Ross to break their silence to congratulate him. He also tells Rachel, who is equally delighted. Joey & Ross get upset again though, when they discover that Chandler told Phoebe first. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : I don't know why the writers are throwing in so many Chandler 'gay' jokes Paul breaking down seemed SO out of character. What happened to Monica, she hardly appeared this week. ******************************************************************************** TOW the Proposal Brilliant episode - possibly the best of the season! Three storylines tonight - though only one that will stick in the memory! ? I think I'll have to run through events chronologically though. We start off as last week ended, with the gang inspecting the ring. Chandler is explaining how he will propose, though Joey thinks he'll mess it up, and the ring has to be rapidly hidden (in various mouths!) when Monica shows up. Next, in Central Perk, Rachel asks who will go to a charity event with her, first asking C&M forgetting about C's proposal meal, in the end though, getting Phoebe & Joey to go with her. Ross is still taking a ribbing over his relationship with Elizabeth, but Monica makes him take a serious look at it, and Ross realises there's no future with Elizabeth. He goes to see her, only to find she and some friends are having a water-balloon fight, convincing him yet further they have little future. At Rachel's charity event, there is a silent auction at which she takes part most unenthusiastically, Joey far more willingly. It turns out though that Joey has made a HUGE mistake, putting in a large bid for a boat in the mistaken impression that he was merely guessing the boat's value. He wins the boat and is landed with a $20K bill that he cannot afford! Meanwhile, Chandler & Monica are at a restaurant, with C. preparing to propose, but turning into a babbling idiot! ? Just as he gets up the nerve, who should walk in but Richard, Monica's old boyfriend - completely ruining the moment! When C&M get back to their apartment, each of the others turn up, thinking that C. has proposed, only to be frantically indicated otherwise by him. Ross confeses that he was wrong about Liz, but not before Monica thinks he's married her already, and Chandler jokes about Ross not even getting married once this year! ? When he finally breaks up with her though, he gets bombarded with water balloons! Back at the auction, Rachel & Joey desperately try to sell the boat to the next highest bidder, only for Rachel's promotion of boat ownership to have Joey want to keep the boat! After the failure of his first proposal attempt, Chandler comes up with another plan to the Monica off the scent - to convince her that he never wants to get married - unfortunately for him, this plan works too well! Richard turns up at Monica's restaurant, and confesses that he still loves her, and wants to marry her, throwing Monica's feelings into total confusion. Later when she sees Chandler again, he makes things even worse - thoroughly convincing her that he's anti-marriage, and she seriously making her consider going back to Richard. While this is going on, Rachel & Phobe are discussing how great it is that C&M are getting engaged, and Phoebe tells her that she has a 'back-up' plan with Joey that they should get married if both of them are still single at 40. Unfortunately she has not bothered to mention to Joey that she's made a similar arrangement with Ross. ? Monica decides to talk to Joey about her doubts over Chandler, and he initially confirms that C. is anti-marriage, but when he hears Richard is back in the picture he cracks, and tells Monica it is all a ruse, but she appears unconvinced. She then goes to see Richardto clarify how he feels, and he admits how hard it was for him to get over her, and she admits the same thing. They nearly kiss, but she breaks away, and goes off to think. Chandler then turns up at Richards door in a flap, and tells him that he was planning to propose to Monica before Richard turned up. Richard backs down, and tells him not to let Monica go as he did. Chanlder then rushes back the the apartment, only for Joey to tell him that Monica has left for her parents house, leaving C. despondant. Chandler mooches into his apartment, only to find it lit by hundreds of candles, and Monica waiting there for him. We then have one of the most moving scenes in the shows history - with both Chandler & Monica in tears as he proposes to her and she accepts!!! Joey, Phoebe & Rachel cannot contain themselves any longer and rush in to congratulate the couple, though for some reason Ross isn't there. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments : Great way to finish the season - really sets it up for wedding storylines next year. What will happen with Joey's boat? More R&R and J&P hints! ********************************************************************************