The American sitcom Friends found its way into the hearts of its viewers from the moment it debuted in 1994. As an avid viewer of a variety of content, I can vouch for the fact that Friends isn’t the most hilarious TV show ever created. But what it does manage to do quite well is capture the essence of starting a new life, in a big, new city with a small but dependable group of friends. 

Friends has become a huge part of today’s pop culture, primarily because it is so difficult to ignore. Even if you are not a sitcom guy, it’s an undeniable fact that everyone relates with one character or the other in the show, because the characters are so well executed by the actors. If you are smart, caring and sensitive, you relate with Ross. If you are weird, quirky and mysterious, you would love to hang out with Phoebe. Whatever personality type you have, Friends has got you covered. 

The storyline between Ross and Rachel is also skillfully executed. Billions of guys in the world have gone through the process of meeting a girl and slowly falling for her. The giddy feeling of imagining a relationship with her in your head. Debating whether you should go for it. Getting that push from your friend who is rooting for you two. In the show, we get to witness both sides of the story and feel for the duo as they finally get together in Season 2 Episode 7, The One Where Ross Finds Out. 

Then there’s Chandler, the funny, sarcastic, lovable, self-deprecating friend of the group that everyone can’t help but be charmed by. Matthew Perry displays his skillset while playing Chandler, especially during the Chandler-Kathy-Joey love triangle. When you examine Chandler’s character in depth, it makes perfect sense (spoiler alert!) that Monica ends up with Chandler. 

But I could go on and on about each character and what they signify. Let’s talk about why this traditional sitcom is not just about humor. When I started watching Friends for the first time, I was simply blown away by how well a show could capture an era and how memorable each story arc was. It is commendable there is always something in every plotline that reminds us about their unbreakable bond. 

Take Chandler, for instance. Chandler has screwed up in the worst ways imaginable- kissing Joey’s girlfriend behind his back, sleeping with one of Joey’s sisters (then forgetting which one) and lying about giving Joey’s resume to his employer. Somehow, they always work out an arrangement and find a way to get past it. In a world where such deep bonds are so hard to come by, Friends offers a form of escapism by reminding us that second chances are rare but not extinct. 

Even though the humor in this show is highly subjective, personally, I find it quite refreshing. Everything about the show- its aesthetic filming, the characters, the fashion trends and the script- is just *chef’s kiss*. Pair that with nostalgia about the 90s, and you’ve got yourself an evergreen TV show that will delight generations to come.