The main will they/won’t they couple of Friends was Ross and Rachel. For 10 seasons and 236 episodes, fans watched them get together, break up, have a baby, and reunite. However, many aspects of their relationship didn’t make much sense.
Ross and Rachel had the typical backstory. He loved her from afar, going back to before she reentered his life on the day of her wedding. Over time, she developed feelings for him, too. However, before they got together, every time one of them wanted to act on their feelings, someone got in the way. It wasn’t smooth sailing once they got together, either. His jealousy and their disagreement over what a “break” really meant led to the end of their relationship. It also kept them from reuniting at the beginning of season 4. In a way, the words “We were on a break” are more synonymous with their relationship than the love they shared.
Because they were part of the same friend group, they remained in each other’s lives after the breakup. After they spent a night together, they had a baby and considered getting back together after her birth. However, things got messy between them after a non-proposal (from Joey). Then, Ross’ jealousy affected Rachel’s life when they were living together just as friends.
In addition to “we were on a break,” fans also associate “I got off the plane” with their relationship. In the series finale, Rachel chose reuniting with Ross and staying in New York over a job in Paris. However, the roads to their relationship and their reunion were messy and filled with problems.
With that said, here are the 30 Things That Make No Sense About Ross and Rachel’s Relationship On Friends.
Rachel Didn’t Stop Phoebe From Setting up Ross and Bonnie
In season 4, Rachel was okay with Phoebe setting Ross up with her friend, Bonnie. However, that was only because the last time she saw Bonnie, Bonnie was bald. She presumably didn’t expect anything to come of a date, but it did. In fact, Ross and Bonnie soon ended up dating.
Rachel should have just told Phoebe not to set Ross up with someone else because she still had feelings for him. Instead, she kept those feelings to herself, except for a few side comments. There was no reason for her to not just tell her friend how she was feeling, even if she wasn’t ready to tell Ross.
Rachel Didn’t See the Similarities Between Ross and Russ
In season 2, before Rachel and Ross got together — but after the pros and cons list — Rachel dated Russ. Russ was pretty much an exact copy of Ross, with only a few minor (just as boring) differences. Considering that this was after Rachel discovered her feelings for Ross, why didn’t she see the similarities sooner? It took too long for her to see what everyone else did in her date.
It might have been a bit understandable for her not to see it when alone with Russ. However, the moment he and Ross were in the same room, she should have seen it, even without one of them speaking.
How Was Rachel’s Letter So Long?
Rachel and Ross were on the verge of getting back together in the season 4 premiere. However, she wanted him to read a letter she wrote him before they took the final step. The letter included things she’d been thinking about regarding them and their relationship.
Somehow, that letter was 18 pages long, front and back — and it looked like she used every single line. How did Rachel come up with that much to say about their relationship? They’d only really known each other for three years at that point, considering that she didn’t pay attention to him when they were younger.
Rachel’s Feelings Were a Mess After She Gave Birth
Rachel could blame the fact that she cried at everything on her hormones after she gave birth to Emma. However, that didn’t explain her reaction to what was happening in her personal life. She thought Joey proposed when he picked up Ross’ ring and went down on one knee. She said yes.
Before that mess even occurred, though, she had been wondering about her and Ross getting back together. She was at least open to the idea of talking about it with him after they sorted out the non-proposal. However, if she’d really been considering a future with Ross again, would it have really been so easy for her to say yes to Joey so quickly?
Ross Had Their Entire Future Planned out Too Early in Their Relationship
In season 2, just six episodes after they got together, Ross revealed he had their future planned. Rachel didn’t know how to hold Ben and explained she wasn’t good with babies.
Ross assured her it would be different with their kids. He told her he wanted them to have two babies, both a boy and a girl. He also thought they’d move to Scarsdale. However, they hadn’t even said “I love you” yet. The fact that Ross had all that planned for them already wasn’t the problem. However, the way he casually told her all of that — and was surprised when she panicked — was.
“A Break” Doesn’t Excuse Ross’ Actions
You don’t have to be a fan of Friends to know the words “we were on a break.” Ross and Rachel fought in season 2, and Rachel suggested they take a “break.” Ross then went to a bar to meet up with Chandler and Joey. When he called Rachel, he heard Mark, who he was jealous of, in the background. Ross then spent the night with another woman. He wasn’t faithful to Rachel, but he claimed that since they “were on a break,” it wasn’t a problem.
Even so, he was with another woman just hours after he and Rachel took this “break” — and it was supposed to be okay because he thought she was with another man?
Why Did Ross Lie About Reading the Letter?
Ross and Rachel almost got back together at the beginning of season 4. They kissed, but she wanted him to read a letter first to understand how she felt about their relationship. He was too tired to read it. (It was 18 pages long, front and back.) However, instead of admitting he hadn’t read it, he said he read it twice.
Why didn’t he just tell her he fell asleep and promise to read it right there, in front of her? He would’ve been better off sitting down to read it that morning than lying about it.
Ross Lied to Rachel About Their Marital Status
After they got married in Las Vegas, Rachel made one big mistake. She left it to Ross to handle the annulment. He found out that they’d have to get a divorce, but he didn’t want to be the guy with three divorces, so he thought it would be fine for them to stay married—without telling Rachel.
There was so much wrong with that. How did Ross think that was okay to do? How did Rachel get over that as easily as she did? He even tried to convince her to stay married once she found out.
The Lack of Build-up to Their Series Finale Reunion
The series was always going to end with Ross and Rachel together. It was inevitable. However, there was very little build-up to the two reuniting in the finale. There was nothing related to their relationship until episode 13 of the final season. Ross went to Long Island with Rachel after her father had a heart attack. While there, they agreed that future romantic interactions weren’t off the table.
Two episodes later, Ross tried to get Rachel to stay in New York. In the penultimate episode of the series, they spent the night together after her going away party, then came the series finale and their reunion.
Rachel Gave up a Great Job for Him
Rachel received a great job offer in the final episodes of season 10, but it meant relocating to Paris. Ross eventually accepted she was leaving, even though he tried to get her to stay. He then went to the airport and told her he loved her. She got back on the plane, but then she decided to stay because she loved him. That meant giving up a great job, which no one ever addressed.
Rachel’s career stopped mattering the moment Ross decided he wanted to be with her again. Then, once the series ended, they were together and no one cared about Rachel’s job. Why did Rachel have to give up her entire career to be with Ross?
Ross Didn’t Support Rachel’s Career When They Dated
In season 3, Ross was jealous when Rachel spent time with her coworker Mark. He insisted on attending a seminar with her so she wouldn’t go with Mark. While there, he talked to her while she was trying to take notes. Then, he fell asleep and kept snoring. After, he complained about the 45-minute lecture, but she countered that she sat through a four-hour lecture for him.
He made fun of her career, arguing that no one would see a fashion-centered Jurassic Park movie. While Rachel was happy she had something that was her own, he was upset about that. That didn’t make him a great friend, let alone boyfriend.
Ross Interrupted Rachel’s Work Day out of Jealousy
When Rachel started her new job in season 3, Ross was jealous of the time she spent with Mark. He didn’t like him answering her phone or them goofing around or working in the same office. To make it clear that she had a boyfriend, Ross sent her enough gifts to cover her desk.
If that wasn’t bad enough, he sent a barbershop quartet to sing about his love for her. (They also sung about him supporting her, which was the exact opposite of what he was doing.) He continuously interrupted her work day. When Rachel confronted him, Ross played the victim card and said it was all from a place of love.
Ross Tried to Get Rachel Her Job Back for Selfish Reasons
In the final season, Rachel lost her job, but she got a better one. However, that other job meant relocating to Paris. Not wanting her to move, Ross did everything he could to bribe her former boss into rehiring her. He didn’t even ask her if she wanted that job back and, instead, just assumed she did. However, it turned out she didn’t. She thought she’d gotten everything out of it that she could.
All Ross had thought about was that he didn’t want her to leave. That was supposed to be a nice move on his part, but instead, it just came across as selfish.
Ross Tried to Dictate Rachel’s Dating Life When They Weren’t Together
While out with Phoebe, Rachel gave her phone number to a man she met at a bar. When the guy called and Ross answered, Ross took a message but didn’t give it to Rachel. However, he had no right to hide it from her. He only told her about it after she confronted him about bringing a strange woman home.
To make it worse, he yelled at her when she pushed the issue. Ross acted like Rachel had done something wrong. He said he was taking care of their baby while she was out at bars, but that wasn’t true. She was single and could give out her number if she wanted.
Rachel Never Should Have Gone to London to Stop Ross’ Wedding
Rachel made both the right and wrong moves when it came to Ross and Emily’s wedding. She was right to initially not go, but she was wrong to fly to London after realizing that she still loved him. She was right not to tell him how she felt after seeing him with Emily, but she was wrong to reconsider after he said her name. However, he and Emily still got married.
There were signs she shouldn’t say anything before she even reached London. She needed to use multiple credit cards to pay for the plane ticket, she had to return home for her passport, and the stranger next to her on the plane told her not to say anything.
Ross’ Pros and Cons List About Rachel and Julie
After Ross kissed Rachel while he was still with Julie, he wrote up a pros and cons list about both. For Rachel’s cons, Ross said she was “spoiled,” “ditsy,” “too into her looks,” and “just a waitress.” Julie had one con: “She’s not Rachel.” While that was sweet, Rachel’s cons and the the idea of making a list in the first place were not.
Ross tried to hide it from Rachel, but she read it. Rather than apologize immediately and excessively, Ross said Chandler left out “a little” before “spoiled.” Ross never should have made that list.
Ross Treated “We Were on a Break” Like a Joke
“We were on a break” was Ross’ defense when he was with another woman hours after he and Rachel fought. As the years went by, however, he turned it into a joke, which never should have happened. After all, his past actions led to his and Rachel’s breakup.
After Chandler proposed as an apology, Ross jokingly did the same to Rachel for that time they “were on a break.” It wasn’t funny. Then, after Rachel got off a plane and decided not to go to Paris for him, he joked again. She focused on the two of them having a future, and he agreed it was the two of them — unless they were on a break.
Why Did They Think Rachel Going on Ross and Emily’s Honeymoon Was a Good Idea?
At Ross and Emily’s wedding, he said Rachel’s name instead of Emily’s. Despite that, Emily still married him. However, she then disappeared, and he ran around looking for her.
When it didn’t look like she was going to show up for their honeymoon flight, Ross invited Rachel to join him. After saying Rachel’s name and given their history, how could he think that was a good idea? Also, how could Rachel think accepting was okay? Both were in the wrong. There is no such thing as going on a vacation that was supposed to be a honeymoon with a friend when that friend is an ex.
Ross Was Going to Stop Being Rachel’s Friend for Emily
After Ross said Rachel’s name at their wedding, Emily stayed in London. He kept trying to get in touch with her and insisted he wanted to make their relationship work. Emily finally agreed, but she didn’t want him to be friends with Rachel anymore. He actually agreed to that condition, but it took him a while to tell Rachel.
Though he ended up refusing to follow through with it, he did still agree to do so. Why wasn’t this a bigger deal to Rachel? It seemed like as soon as Emily was out of the picture, no one remembered this.
Rachel Wanted to Be With Ross When He Was With Someone Else
Rachel had plenty of opportunities to be with Ross when he was single. However, for the most part, she kept wanting to be with him when he was with someone else. There were long periods of time when he was single during which she dismissed him as a potential romantic partner.
She realized she still had feelings for him when he was with Bonnie at the end of season 3. Then, when he was marrying Emily, she considered stopping the wedding to tell him how she felt. This wouldn’t have been so noticeable if not for the years between when they were last together (and last spoke about feelings for each other) and their reunion.
