Well, this is "the last one" of our crazy "Friends" extravaganza. We had such a great time writing and posting stuff about our favourite sitcom plus, we managed to break our unique visitors record on our little website.I still feel like though, that something is missing in order to complete this. I still feel the need to explain why I think "Friends" is important to me so I can reach closure.
One of the main reasons that this show is so important globally, is the fact that it helped many people learn to speak English. You may not realise this if you live in country that has the English language as it's primary one, but, for us that don't, this was one of the shows that helped us on the way.
You'll ask me,
"Why Friends and not Seinfeld?".
Well, the answer is pretty easy. "Friends" was a show in which, the dialogues were easy to understand, not much slag going on, simple words used and all the actors had pretty clear accents. It was the first show that I watched without subtitles on and that fact means a lot to me. If you happen to love learning how to speak other languages, you know how it feels like. I'm sure that there are thousands of people (maybe millions) that learned how to speak/understand English from "Friends".
As mentioned by Phil Solem of The Rembrandts in an interview they did for avclub.com:
“I’ve talked to people who have learned to speak English from that show or the song, it’s crazy.”
So, besides all the jokes, story lines and the love stories, comes this important fact.
One of the main reasons that this show is so important globally, is the fact that it helped many people learn to speak English. You may not realise this if you live in country that has the English language as it's primary one, but, for us that don't, this was one of the shows that helped us on the way.
You'll ask me,
"Why Friends and not Seinfeld?".
Well, the answer is pretty easy. "Friends" was a show in which, the dialogues were easy to understand, not much slag going on, simple words used and all the actors had pretty clear accents. It was the first show that I watched without subtitles on and that fact means a lot to me. If you happen to love learning how to speak other languages, you know how it feels like. I'm sure that there are thousands of people (maybe millions) that learned how to speak/understand English from "Friends".
As mentioned by Phil Solem of The Rembrandts in an interview they did for avclub.com:
“I’ve talked to people who have learned to speak English from that show or the song, it’s crazy.”
So, besides all the jokes, story lines and the love stories, comes this important fact.
Sitcom-y value
Let's talk about "Friends" as a sitcom. What I love about it is, that this show had this magical power which made me feel like I was part of the group. When I was watching the show, I wasn't sitting on my sofa (even though I was), but I was there, in a corner of Central Perk or leaning on the "4th wall" of Monica's house. I remember one summer that I decided to watch all of the episodes on the right order. I watched at least six episodes per night and it was just me, chilling alone in my room and I didn't care cause I felt like Monica, Ross, Chandler and the rest of the gang were there with me.
Simplicity leads to perfection
Another thing that makes this show special, is the fact that the writers didn't have to overcomplicate things in order to keep it interesting. The storyline was well structured and no unrealistic stuff were needed. Look at "How I met your Mother", even though I also like it too, they had to make up sooooo many things in order to make it work and after some point it just wasn't fun anymore. Like, in how many weird situations have they been dragged into? On every episode, you would learn about some new secret pacts that some of the characters had made in the past. A good idea that was used hundreds of times on the show. It was no fun after a while.
Great Theme Song
Who will remember "How I Met Your Mother's" "Paaaa pa pa pa pa pa parrrararam" in ten years from now? Please don't get me wrong, I like "HIMYM", it's just that it is hard for me not to compare. It's been eleven years since the last episode of "Friends" and 21 since the first time that the world heard "I'll be There for you" and I believe that even if you have never watched the show, you'll recognise the song even if I just play you the opening riff on my guitar!
The Flashbacks were actual episodes
I hate it when a show does a "flashback episode" and all you see is, moments from old episodes that "thank you very much can watch anytime I want".
Yep, it was politically correct but, was it really?
Ok, I give you that "Friends" haters and sitcom minimalists. "Friends" indeed was politically correct. But was it really? I believe, that if you look closer, you might be surprised. The show made some political points but you have to be able to translate some of the things that you see. Don't forget that we are talking about the '90's!
Maybe some of the best sitcom characters ever created
We have to acknowledge that "Seinfeld" has the best ones but the fabulous six are up there too! The characters are so well shaped that you feel like you actually know them. I believe that I could guess correctly how any of them would react in everyday situations.
Oh, just like that "Friends" episode!
That phrase. We have all been in everyday situations were we turn to our friends and say, "that was just like that time when Ross, did this and that..."
The Unagi
Martial arts master level stuff!