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18 Major Love Interests From 'Friends,' Ranked By How Much We Wish They Were Just On A Break
Vote up the Friends love interests who should have hung around Central Perk longer.
Friends may have been about the titular six friends at the heart of the show, but their romantic entanglements in New York City generated a lot of comedy and drama during the sitcom’s 10-year domination of primetime TV.
Between 1994 and 2004, Friends gave a lot of love interests to Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler, and Joey. Sometimes the friends even dated each other, even as they butted heads or treated each other poorly. Though Monica and Chandler are married with children by the show's end, and Ross and Rachel end on an optimistic note for their tumultuous relationship, the majority of the 10 seasons see the main characters looking for love outside their friend group.
A few of these honorary friends proved that they would always “be there for you,” while others were written off fairly quickly. Which ones were the best? Vote up the love interests from Friends that should have stuck around longer.
- 1
David
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Who He Dated: Phoebe
When They Dated: David (Hank Azaria), affectionately known as “David the Scientist Guy," starts dating Phoebe in Season 1. Although they have strong feelings for each other, it isn't meant to be: David finds out that he's destined to move to Minsk for his research.
How It Ended: David reappears in Phoebe's life in Season 9, back from Minsk and ready to resume a relationship. It's too late by that point, since Phoebe is now in love with Mike (Paul Rudd), whom she eventually marries.
According to Hank Azaria, the show initially planned to have Phoebe and David end up together. But when they wrote Mike into later seasons, “Paul Rudd is so awesome that they sort of found a groove with him,” said Azaria.
Should have stuck around? - 2
Richard Burke
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Who He Dated: Monica
When They Dated: Richard (Tom Selleck) has known Monica for nearly her whole life: he is friends with her parents. But when the two meet as adults in Season 2, they find themselves attracted to one another, dismissing their 21-year age gap. Their relationship quickly turns serious, despite the awkwardness that comes with Richard's friendship with Monica's parents.
How It Ended: Though they care deeply for each other, one major issue arises in their relationship: Monica wants kids, and Richard does not want any additional children. This is one gap they can't reconcile, and the two part ways.
They briefly reconnect in Season 3, before realizing their problem persists. In Season 6, Richard tells Monica that he is ready to start a family with her, but she is already involved with Chandler.
Should have stuck around? - 3
Pete Becker
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Who He Dated: Monica
When They Dated: Pete (Jon Favreau) first meets Monica in Season 3, when she is working at a diner. Pete, a millionaire, tips Monica $20,000, a ludicrous sum, and convinces her to go on an extravagant date in Rome with him. Though Monica initially doubts whether she is truly interested in Pete as a partner, she eventually develops feelings for him.
How It Ended: Things go south for Monica and Pete when he attempts to expand upon his business success with athletic success, setting a goal to become a dominant UFC fighter. Though she attempts to support him in his stubborn desire to achieve this goal with zero natural prowess, Monica quickly finds that it's too hard watching him get beat up each night. She breaks up with him to protect her heart.
Should have stuck around? - 4
Kathy
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Who She Dated: Joey and Chandler
When They Dated: When Chandler first meets Kathy (Paget Brewster) in Season 4, she's waiting in Central Perk for her date: Joey. Chandler is disappointed to find out this person he likes is dating his friend and roommate, so he tries to move on. As Chandler and Kathy spend more time together due to her relationship with Joey, they develop feelings for each other. Unsurprisingly, it puts stress on Chandler and Joey's friendship, especially when Chandler and Kathy kiss. Although Joey's initially furious at Chandler, he forgives his friend and supports the new relationship when Chandler proves his remorse by getting in a box.
How It Ended: When Joey and Kathy end things, she starts dating Chandler. He eventually becomes convinced she is cheating on him with a costar. Enraged, Kathy has the affair to get back at Chandler for his lack of trust, and their relationship ends.
Should have stuck around? - 5
Julie
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Who She Dated: Ross
When They Dated: Julie (Lauren Tom) was in Ross's life before the show even starts. They were friends in grad school, but had not been in touch since then. When Ross travels to China for a dig at the end of Season 1 - while he's also attempting to get over his seemingly unrequited feelings for Rachel - he encounters Julie, and is already in a relationship with her by the time he returns to New York (much to Rachel's annoyance).
How It Ended: Even as Ross is dating Julie, he still pines for Rachel, a fact which contributed to a lot of fan antagonism toward Julie. So when Rachel confesses her feelings for Ross, it eventually leads to him breaking up with Julie.
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Who She Dated: Chandler
When They Dated: The pair's relationship pre-dates the beginning of Season 1. Janice (Maggie Wheeler) grated on Chandler and the group - especially her grimace-inducing laugh - but every attempt he makes to end things with her fails.
How It Ended: Though their relationship ends in Season 1, the couple are off and on for a while. And in Season 3, they're a full-blown couple again, with Chandler conquering some of his fears of commitment to work on a lasting relationship with her. It goes well, until Janice kisses her ex-husband and admits to having feelings for him. They end things for once and for all, but Janice still turns up roughly once per season to get on Chandler's nerves and make fans laugh with her signature exclamation, “Oh. My. God!”
Should have stuck around?
