Friends loyalists often lament the missed potential in a Phoebe and Joey relationship. While writers consistently maintained the on again off again connection between Ross and Rachel, after Chandler and Monica began their romance, it seemed only natural the last two single friends who hadn't yet "taken it up a notch" ought to give it a try.
Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow have itted in interviews that they had pitched the idea of Joey and Phoebe secretly being friends with benefits all along, but the producers said no. Nevertheless, there were several moments where one or both of them considered doing exactly that.
The One With Barry And Mindy's Wedding
"Good, very good. Firm but tender. I'd recommend you to a friend."
In this seminal episode, Joey auditions for a part in a Warren Beatty movie and the role requires him to kiss another man. Fearing he might fall short in that regard, he pesters the rest of the gang to help him practice and Phoebe steps up like the good friend she is and plants a wet one on Joey, giving him her seal of approval.
Exclusively platonic friends don't usually break standard social boundaries like this, so it's one of the first times we see indications that Phoebe and Joey already have a base attraction to each other. In the early seasons of Friends, both Phoebe and Joey are much more cavalier about life in general, their characters in initial development, and so their lackadaisical attitude about crossing lines is understandable.
The One Where They All Turn 30
"That's one thing you can cross off your list."
During a flashback episode centered on Rachel's 30th birthday, the whole gang recalls how they each turned 30 themselves. Phoebe's flashback involved her discovering she was actually a year older than she thought, thanks to Ursula hoarding her birth certificate. She mourns all the things she'd wanted to do by 30, including having "the perfect kiss," and of course, Joey ends up giving her exactly that outside Central Perk.
The fact Joey feels comfortable enough to ease her lamented opportunity by taking the initiative is proof enough of their continued quiet potential, but Phoebe's obvious enthusiasm to accept it is the frosting on the cake.
The One With The Red Sweater
"Hey lady. Your day's over, it's my turn."
In this episode, Joey inadvertently believes Phoebe is pregnant and promptly proposes marriage to her, to which she enthusiastically says yes and kisses him once again to seal the deal. Joey ends up retracting the offer when he discovers it's Rachel that's truly pregnant and promptly proposes to her instead, though Phoebe of course forgives him nonetheless.
The casual nature of Phoebe's immediate willingness to marry Joey, coupled with his immediate impulse to offer her traditional security clearly implies their ongoing bond. While the cavalier prospect of marrying Joey for tradition's sake is played for laughs, it's yet another occasion where it's evident Phoebe considers being a couple with Joey.
The One Where Ross Hugs Rachel
"Oh, we do, but not just yet."
Phoebe's questionable psychic powers come into play when after ruminating on Ross and Rachel and Chandler and Monica all getting together, Joey point-blank asks Phoebe whether they ought to hook up as well. She relays how she'll first marry Chandler for his money first and Joey will marry Rachel to have beautiful kids, after which they'll ditch the others and finally settle down.
This is likely the sole example of Joey outright publicly posing the option of ramping things up with Phoebe. His direct approach yet again indicates their on again - off again considerations of one another. Her lack of surprise at his brazenness is a coy yet confident affirmation that one day she believes they will indeed do so.
The One With Rachel's Crush
"Hey. How you doin'?"
Rachel doesn't know how to ask her new client Joshua out on a date as she's never had to ask any guy out before, it's always been done for her. Joey coaches her by giving her instructions on how to use his iconic catchphrase, which Rachel finds a doubtful method. He demonstrates by using it on Phoebe, who flirtatiously giggles in response.
Interestingly, this is the first Friends episode where Joey coins his most well-known quote. Perhaps it's no coincidence that the writers thought the first woman he applies it to ought to be Phoebe. In any case, Phoebe's reactions to Joey's well-known bravado are a patent sign of her early established roots in considering Joey as a potential.
The One Where Chandler Takes A Bath
"You know, I mean, on the one hand ... mother may I?"
Before Chandler and Monica figure out Joey's crush is on Rachel, they first think he's attracted to Phoebe. High jinks ensue as they try to determine who he's talking about and Phoebe ends up in a sticky situation when Joey keeps touting his Rachel crush over and over to her.
It was a testament to fans' ongoing wish lists when Phoebe truly considered her options and while she ultimately decided she wouldn't want to risk their friendship, it was clear cut her attraction to Joey was a real thing, first when sharing with Monica and again when Joey unknowingly hurts her feelings in his issions of attraction toward Rachel.
The One Where Ross Finds Out
"I said, excellent butt ... great rack."
In this early episode, Phoebe is perplexed because she's dating a guy who doesn't seem to want to sleep with her. Joey finds this ridiculous and scoffs, telling her about the first time he met her and what he ended up telling Chandler about his initial impressions of Phoebe.
She coyly responds by claiming she's officially offended but that it was a sweet sentiment. One of the first early examples of Joey's attraction to her, this scene was a direct reference to a ive yet graphic come-on from Joey to Phoebe, and in classic Joey style, it's hard to get more succinct than that.
The One With Two Parts (Part 2)
"Um, twin thing."
In this two-parter, Phoebe gets increasingly agitated with Joey dating her twin sister, Ursula, knowing how she'll inevitably end up hurting her friend, which she eventually does. Phoebe tries to soften the blow to Joey after her sister asks her to break it off for her by showing up at the coffeehouse posing as Ursula, where she "breaks up" with him and they kiss goodbye.
What's most interesting to note in this scene is how Phoebe is so plainly and visibly blown away after the kiss, at which point Joey figures out it's Phoebe after all. Not unlike the "sacrifice" Joey makes later in the series for Phoebe's perfect kiss, here it's Phoebe who goes the extra mile for him, but it's her visceral reaction to the kiss that's most foreboding.
The One With The Ride-Along
"When the revolution comes, I will have to destroy you all. Not you, Joey."
Generally regarded as one of Friends' best episodes, Phoebe's new policeman boyfriend, Gary (Michael Rappaport) takes the guys on a ride-along where Joey throws himself on Ross after hearing a car backfire and thinking it was a gunshot. Back at the coffeehouse, the gang discusses how each of them might hold up under fire and Phoebe claims despite her being a pacifist, she'd have to dismiss all of them should the need arise, omitting as usual her special connection to Joey.
The writers seem to go out of their way to maintain Phoebe and Joey's exclusivity and whether it's relayed in casual asides or main storylines, it's clear Phoebe and Joey always make exceptions for each other.
The One With All The Cheesecakes
"You know, boyfriends and girlfriends come and go, but this is for life!"
Despite the gang's assurances that getting busy tends to trump platonic plans, Phoebe's hopping mad anyway when Joey breaks plans with her to go on a date, despite the fact she'll fudge that same rule when her old flame David (Hank Azaria) unexpectedly comes to town. Her level of anger and perceived betrayal is nearly overwhelming in Phoebe's scathing monologue about the importance of friendship and connection.
While not necessarily an overt example of their sexual dynamic, it's still indicative of the love Phoebe has for Joey when she makes it plain she cherishes him above nearly all else.