Summary

• Friends' iconic episodes are timeless, hilarious, and filled with memorable moments that showcase the brilliance of the beloved sitcom.
• The best Friends episodes feature emotional storylines, iconic comedy, and standout performances that have solidified its place in TV history.
• Every episode reveals the relatable nature and significance of Friends, with fans globally still connecting to its characters and storylines today.

With over 200 episodes spread across 10 seasons, the best Friends episodes deliver outstanding, hilarious, and timeless stories that show why the series was so popular. The sitcom stands as one of television's most popular, binge-worthy sitcoms, and the extent to which it gripped the worldwide cultural zeitgeist when it first aired in the 1990s and 2000s cannot be overstated. Not even the age of time seems to affect the significance and relatable nature of Friends, with the recent reunion episode only revitalizing things even further. To this day, people are re-watching Friends, referencing characters, events, and lines from the show, and discussing it with other fans.

The brilliance of Friends is that it is so consistently entertaining that every episode has a rewatchable quality, but the best Friends episodes of all time are among the funniest comedy offerings to ever grace the small screen. Whether it's emotional moments such as a wedding, or the excitement of trying to keep a relationship secret, there's something for everyone in each episode, with all the main characters having clear roles. However, certain episodes have become iconic over time, truly standing out and helping the show become the high-quality sitcom everyone knows it as today.

20 "The One With Rachel's Other Sister"

Season 9, Episode 8

While Reese Witherspoon's role as Rachel's younger sister was a memorable one, Christina Applegate stole the show when she was introduced in season 9 as the third Green sister. "The One with Rachel's Other Sister" finds Amy (Applegate) showing up on Thanksgiving hilariously just to borrow a hair straightener only to be forced to spend the holiday with the gang when her married boyfriend chooses to spend it with his wife and kids instead.

She is a glimpse at the kind of vain and meanspirited person Rachel might have become if she had stuck with her old life.

It is rare that a guest actor takes over the show in such a big way, but Applegate commands so much attention in her hilarious role that it earned her an Emmy. She is a glimpse at the kind of vain and meanspirited person Rachel might have become if she had stuck with her old life. It also ignites a funny conversation in the group about who gets custody of Emma if Rachel and Ross were to die.

19 "The One Where No One's Ready"

Season 3, Episode 2

"The One Where No One's Ready" is one of the famous sitcom bottle episodes that has a lot of fun with just having the characters interacting in one room. The episode finds Ross nervously preparing for an important function at his museum and attempting to hurry things along, only to become increasingly frustrated that none of them are getting ready with the urgency he was hoping. This includes Joey and Chandler having a childish argument over who gets to sit in a chair and Rachel going through endless wardrobe choices.

What is fun about the episode is that it's possible to feel the tension and anxiety that Ross feels as he attempts to wrangle his friends and girlfriend for this important occasion. Of course, Ross takes things too far in his frustration leading to a funny response from Rachel. However, Chandler and Joey's rivalry steals the show, especially when Joey wears all of Chandler's clothes in order to get back at him.

18 "The One With All the Cheesecakes"

Season 7, Episode 11

While it is always fun to see the group hanging out together in episodes like "The One Where No One's Ready," some of the best episodes see the six main characters pairing up for their own adventures. Such is the case with "The One With All the Cheesecakes" which finds Rachel and Chandler conspiring over delicious cheesecake that was mistakenly delivered to them, Monica forcing Ross to bring her to their cousin's wedding she wasn't invited to, and the revelation that Joey and Phoebe do a monthly dinner together to discuss the others.

While the likes of Joey and Phoebe are a pairing that is always fun, the highlight of the show comes from Rachel and Chandler, who do not often get storylines with just the two of them. Their escapades of stealing cheesecake from neighbors and then fighting over the dessert is simple but hilarious with the great ending in which Joey finds them pathetically eating the last of the cake off the floor and s them without a second thought.

17 The One With The Holiday Armadillo

Season 7, Episode 10

Friends Christmas episodes are always fun, but "The One With the Holiday Armadillo" ranks as the best of them all. The episode's main storyline revolves around Ross attempting to get his son excited about Hanukkah when Ben is just focused on Christmas. In an attempt to teach him about his Jewish heritage as well, he tries to rent a Santa Claus costume only to be stuck with an armadillo costume instead.

Ross is likely the most underrated character in the ensemble as he can sometimes be seen as too serious, but this is a perfect episode to highlight how funny he is as a man who is constantly humiliated yet keeps trying his best. There is also an enjoyable subplot with Phoebe worrying that Rachel won't want to move back in with her after she's been having so much fun with Joey.

16 "The One With the Morning After"

Season 3, Episode 16

The time Ross sleeps with another woman while he and Rachel are "on a break" is a pivotal moment in the series and in the timeline of Ross and Rachel's relationship. However, as memorable as that is, the episode that follows is even more notable. The installment begins with Ross regretting the incident as he learns Rachel wants to get back together, then goes on a mission to ensure she doesn't find out. However, when she does, the episode becomes a heartbreaking confrontation.

The implications of what Ross did are clear and have high stakes in the show.

The episode is a great example of how the show is able to mix comedy and drama effectively. The implications of what Ross did are clear and have high stakes in the show, but there is a lot of humor in seeing him trying to cover his tracks. Even the fight between Ross and Rachel has its moments of comedy with the rest of the friends trapped in the bedroom during the whole thing.

15 "The One With The Red Sweater"

Season 8, Episode 2

Following the cliffhanger ending of Friends season 7 that reveals Rachel is pregnant, season 8's second episode got to the other pressing question in the matter. The entire episode is all about audiences guessing who the father of Rachel's baby might be, with the only true clue being the red sweater that the father left behind. This ends up being picked up by Ross, which provides an amazing reveal as fans realize he and Rachel got back together for at least a night.

The beauty of this Friends episode is that it is packed with mystery. Friends is a show that is all about comedy in the end, and there are moments of that in this particular episode. However, it's the tension and anticipation of who is at the center of this big secret that makes this particular episode such a standout.

14 "The One With All The Thanksgivings"

Season 5, Episode 8

Every Friends Thanksgiving episode feels like a special event, but the one that stands out is the season 5 installment titled “The One with All the Thanksgivings”, which brings a lot of fantastic comedy and some truly iconic moments from the series. After having their traditional Thanksgiving dinner at Monica’s, the friends start reminiscing about their worst Thanksgiving.

There are several hilarious flashbacks, like Joey putting his head inside a dead turkey and Ross and Chandler’s unforgettable 1980s hairstyles. There is an unfortunate inclusion of jokes about Monica's appearance when she was younger which has aged poorly, including some that Chandler made about her that puts a dark spot over their past together. However, this results in a hilarious accident which is finally revealed to Chandler but the sweet resolution between the couple at the end is a big moment for them.

13 "The One With All The Resolutions"

Season 5, Episode 11

New Year's Eve episodes of the show are often entertaining and "The One With All The Resolutions" was a great example of that. The episode is all about New Year's resolutions, as the title suggests, and the group all struggle to keep them from a very early point in the night. This includes Chandler's attempts to not make snarky comments about his friends as well as Phoebe wanting to pilot a commercial aircraft.

Seeing his struggles with getting them off is a scenario that brings some of the show's best physical comedy.

However, the funniest part of this episode is all about Ross's leather pants. His decision to get them to be a bit different did not work out well for him in the long run. Seeing his struggles with getting them off is a scenario that brings some of the show's best physical comedy, with Ross trying all manner of ideas inside a bathroom during a date. There is also another big moment in the secret about Monica and Chandler coming out which is one of the show's best storylines.

12 "The One With Ross's Sandwich"

Season 5, Episode 9

The main hook of this storyline is all about Ross and the importance of his sacred Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich, known as the moist maker. When someone ends up taking it at work, it leads to Ross exploding in anger and showing a completely different side of his personality. It is a great episode for David Schwimmer to let loose by exploring Ross' hilarious unhinged side.

Meanwhile, Joey is forced to get creative as he tries to hide Chandler and Monica's relationship, including having to pretend he took off and left his underwear in Monica's apartment. He proves what a great friend he is in this episode, which gives the episode a signature heartfelt edge, but the situations he ends up in bring a lot of classically comedic scenes as well creating the perfect balance that the show is known for.

11 "The One In Vegas: Part 2"

Season 5, Episode 24

The best Friends season finales offer fans big laughs and some surprises to end the season. Season 5 wrapped up the group's trip to Las Vegas. The episode features Ross and Rachel's inebriated adventures in Vegas, which involve them getting married. Meanwhile, Phoebe has to deal with competitiveness when it comes to slot machines, which brings out a different side to her character and Joey gets obsessed with the idea that he's found his hand twin.

Seeing the group out of the usual environment is always a fun experience throughout the series just by giving the group some new situations to react to, and this episode delivered in one of the biggest and most interesting settings. Plus, seeing Monica and Chandler almost get married is a brilliant tease that leads to an even bigger laugh with the surprise ending to the episode.