“I’ll be there for you” is the message of Associates theme track, however 30 years after the present first aired there are some noticeable flaws that make it appear as if that will not totally be the case.
Positive, all of us nonetheless love the hit 90s sitcom, however quite a bit can change in 30 years, and on a re-examination, followers have discovered tons to critique throughout the present. It’s not simply plot holes and continuity errors, there are some larger issues which can be exhausting to look over when rewatching the sequence, irrespective of how nostalgic it might be.
10 Plot Holes
One can’t discuss in regards to the flaws in Associates with out mentioning the numerous plot holes and inconsistencies all through it. After all, any present will endure from the occasional plot gap, however Associates has a whole lot of them. One factor that has at all times stood out was the truth that within the pilot episode, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) supposedly met everybody (besides Monica (Courteney Cox) and Ross (David Schwimmer)) for the primary time.
But, within the Season 3 episode “The One with the Flashback”, we see that she met Chandler (Matthew Perry) a yr earlier than the pilot episode. It’s a complete oversight by the showrunners, and regardless that it made for a humorous episode, it’s maddening to look at. Different particulars equivalent to inconsistent birthdays, ages, and a Bruce Willis cameo create main holes within the Associates universe.
9 Joey’s Character Downfall
One other flaw of the present that many have identified is how Joey’s (Matt LeBlanc) character modified all through the sequence. Once we first meet Joey he’s extraordinarily charismatic and charming. He at all times has a date, and he’s at all times flirting.
However because the present goes on, Joey will get progressively dumber. Granted, Joey was by no means the neatest man, however the present finally made it appear as if he actually had nothing in his mind. He began not even feeling like himself. He abruptly didn’t know what an Adam’s Apple was, referring to it as a “Joey’s Apple”, and claimed to not know how one can use air quotes. It was by no means the suave women’ man we met within the early seasons, and it’s one of many more strange decisions the present made.
8 Joey’s Remedy of Girls
Talking of Joey, his remedy of ladies has at all times been a flaw of the present, however it by way of as we speak’s lens actually brings new consideration to simply how problematic a accomplice he was. In each episode he was taking house somebody new, and whereas that in itself is just not problematic as long as each events are consenting, what’s problematic is how he handled them the following day. He would make these girls really feel as if he was falling in love with them, and that he actually needed one thing with them simply to get them into mattress, after which the following morning he would get Chandler to allow them to down for him. He typically by no means calls once more, one thing we be taught from the occasions he runs into previous lovers all through the present.
To not point out, Joey is at all times objectifying girls. He’s at all times checking them out and having lewd ideas, typically even voicing mentioned ideas out loud to his associates. Positive, he’s charming, and he has a manner with flirting that makes the women swoon, however let’s face it, Joey, as loveable as he’s, is form of a pig!
7 Ross is a Cheater
One thing no one talks about sufficient is how Ross is a cheater. A serial cheater at that. He cheats on Julie (Lauren Tom) and Bonnie (Christine Taylor) by kissing Rachel whereas he is courting them, but it surely’s by no means identified as one thing dangerous as a result of it’s Rachel he cheated with.
But, when Carol (Jane Sibbett) cheated on him, he by no means obtained over it, and nonetheless introduced it up, even when he was in a relationship himself. It’s a complete double customary, and but it’s by no means introduced up as a result of most love him and Rachel collectively, and see any love curiosity in between as nothing however a short lived roadblock. However I’ll say it, Julie and Bonnie didn’t deserve that, Ross. Disgrace on you!
6 Unrealistic Monetary State of affairs
It is a matter that’s introduced up quite a bit these days and for good cause: how on earth had been the buddies affording their residences? Particularly in these early seasons when none of them had been working significantly flashy jobs. Positive, all of them have roommates, however there are nonetheless some fairly swanky residences in Manhattan, no much less. By the top of the present, it makes extra sense for them to be dwelling within the residences they do, however within the early seasons, they make a whole lot of mentions of barely scraping by, so how on earth are they affording such good residences?
The one one who has a secure and well-paying job all all through the present is Chandler, as he’s in IT and is alleged to make a very good sum of money. However Rachel takes some time to get excessive within the ranks of vogue govt, Ross doesn’t change into a paleontology professor till halfway by way of the present, Monica is commonly bouncing between chef jobs, Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) is a masseuse, and it takes a bit for Joey to get a gradual appearing gig that pays him properly. None of this provides as much as the kind of dream life laid out for them on the present.
5 Everyone seems to be a Stereotype
A minor element which will appear simple to miss, is definitely actually noticeable on a rewatch, particularly these days when reveals and films take pleasure in creating well-fleshed out and dynamic characters. However all of the characters on Associates match right into a stereotype of some kind.
Rachel is the favored one, Joey is the flirt, Ross is the nerd, Chandler is the humorous one, Monica is the detail-oriented one, and Phoebe is the black sheep. This, after all, makes for an attention-grabbing dynamic between a pal group, particularly on a sitcom, but it surely additionally signifies that these characters are painfully caught in a field and don’t develop out of all of it that a lot. That’s to not say the characters in Associates had no development in any respect. That may be unfair, however by the top of the present, they kind of deep dived into the stereotypes of every character and actually honed in.
4 Fatphobic Jokes
One of many working “jokes” in Associates is that Monica was obese. It’s constantly introduced up by her family and friends, however by no means in a praising manner, at all times in a unfavourable manner, or as a technique to tease her. Flashbacks typically depict a youthful Monica, by which actress Courteney Cox donned a “fatsuit” and was the butt of the joke for the episode. In “The One with the Promenade Video”, Joey quips “That lady ate Monica!”
Whereas these jokes might have been humorous on the time, they’ve aged so poorly now, and are simply merciless to look at. Particularly after we see flashbacks of Monica deciding she must drop some pounds as a result of Chandler (who she had been crushing on as an adolescent) referred to as her fats. And hey, if Monica is the one making the jokes, then no matter, they’re her jokes to inform, it’s her life and her physique. However coming from her family and friends, those that should love and assist her? It’s exhausting to look at.
3 Sexist and Misogynistic Storylines
Associates has some storylines that haven’t aged properly, however there are some that stick out for being significantly sexist and misogynistic, that make followers flip up their noses. Conveniently, just a few must do with Ross. One instance is the episode “The One with the Metaphorical Tunnel” by which Ross will get uncomfortable as a result of his son desires to play with a Barbie doll. He tries to drive him to as an alternative choose up a GI Joe doll, but it surely’s to no avail and Ross is left defeated and surprisingly uncomfortable all through the episode on the thought of his toddler son taking part in with a Barbie.
This bizarre development continues later within the sequence after he and Rachel have a child collectively and resolve to rent a nanny. One of many candidates is a person named Sandy (Freddie Prinze Jr.). He’s completely good for the job, he has an inventory of referrals, he’s nice with Emma, and he wins Rachel over instantly. However Ross refuses to rent a male nanny, irrespective of how proper he’s for the job.
2 How the Present Dealt with Chandler’s Dad
From the start of the present, we all know that Chandler has a tough and estranged relationship with each of his dad and mom. He repeatedly makes feedback and jokes (as a result of Chandler’s coping mechanism is humor) about how his father had an affair with the pool boy. In Season 7, we lastly meet Chandler’s dad when he and Monica go to his dad’s drag present “Helena Handbasket” with a marriage invite. Once they arrive, we be taught that Chandler’s father is just not solely a drag queen, however a transgender lady (co-creator Marta Kauffman has confirmed this, and thus I can be going by her phrase). Sadly, the present doesn’t even remotely deal with this storyline proper. She is rarely as soon as referred to by her pronouns (one thing Kauffman has since apologized for) and she or he was performed by Kathleen Turner, a girl, but the character was meant to be a transgender lady, and may have been performed by one.
It was all in all a messy storyline that had the potential to essentially break limitations on mainstream tv had it been dealt with proper. Turner, who portrayed the character, mentioned she possible wouldn’t take the position as we speak, and that there was by no means any consideration from the showrunners about hiring a transgender individual or drag queen. Yikes.
1 Lack of Range
The most important flaw of Associates is the dearth of range among the many predominant characters. Each character within the core group is white, and there are hardly ever any individuals of coloration introduced in as visitor stars both. There’s Julie and Charlie (Aisha Tyler), they usually’re nice, and convey a pleasant breath of contemporary air to the present, however they don’t stick round for lengthy, they usually’re not part of the core solid. It was the 90s, and sadly, there wasn’t a whole lot of range among the many casts in reveals at the moment, however it doesn’t make it any much less disappointing.
There are some moments of range in different points. As an illustration, Monica and Ross are Jewish, and the present aired the primary lesbian marriage ceremony on community tv. So, sure, there are moments, however they’re few and much between and total, for a present that spans 10 seasons, the dearth of a lot range is a big flaw that hangs over the present. In a 2022 interview with LA Occasions, Marta Kauffman shared her regret for not together with extra range throughout the sequence. “I’ve realized quite a bit within the final 20 years. Admitting and accepting guilt is just not simple. It’s painful your self within the mirror. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t know higher 25 years in the past.”
