For ten years, viewers tuned in to watch their favorite friends navigate their lives in New York City. From the pilot to “The Last One” character grew and changed. Relationships developed into something more than friendship, and priorities changed as everyone got older. When it came to an end, Friends had already been suggesting endings for its central characters. From Phoebe’s wedding to Monica and Chandler’s search for a new home for their expanding family, things were falling into place as the show prepared to end. Yet, while some got conclusions fitting to them, not every character got the ending they deserved.
FITTING: MONICA
“The Last One” completes Monica’s desire to have a family. She and Chandler had been married for a few years, and in the series finale, Erica gives birth to their twin babies. With the knowledge that Monica and Chandler would be moving their family into a house in Westchester to watch their children grow up, it seems that Monica got the future she had always wanted. Although there is not a specific mention of Monica and Chandler keeping their jobs in the city or relocating to be closer to home, the finale gives the feeling that everything will work out precisely as Monica hopes it would. She also got rid of Chandler’s old statue, which was a plus for her.
DESERVED MORE: JOEY
Joey may be the main character with the smallest amount of ties to end his story. With no serious relationship or prospect to grow his acting career, Joey is coasting in the final episodes. Although Joey does try to push the character’s career, he deserved to have a more fitting ending. Joey had grown and matured a lot over the ten years, admitting to wanting a serious relationship, something that never comes to fruition after his failed romance with Rachel. Joey became a write off joke in the final season, with no individual storyline to give a solid end.
FITTING: CHANDLER
In the early seasons, Chandler was convinced that he would end up alone as all his friends found partners. He was desperate for love but frightened of commitment. Everything about who Chandler is during the final season opposes his thoughts and feeling at the beginning. Going through possibly the most significant character development in the series, Chandler is excited to be married and start a family with Monica. Chandler’s ending is a testament to how someone’s wants can change over time. Just as Monica got a fitting end, Chandler got his with her.
DESERVED MORE: JANICE
Of all the recurring characters on Friends, Janice may have made the largest impression. Not only was Janice perhaps the loudest guest star, but she was involved with multiple of the main characters. Janice had multiple marriages and a few children by the tenth season. In her last episode, Janice is a prospective buyer of the house next door to where Chandler and Monica plan to live. Wanting to be rid of her, Chandler lies to Janice about remaining feelings, and Janice decides against buying the house. However, it is not clear what happened next for Janice. For a character as prominent as her, Janice deserved a more solid ending.
FITTING: ROSS
Ross was ready to get back together with Rachel at the end of the series. So much so that reaching Rachel is his only real plotline in the finale. Already with a secure career and two children, Ross has everything he wants in New York. It made sense that Ross’ happy ending would be with Rachel, his childhood crush, and the main person Ross really loved. He gets his wish when Rachel arrives in his doorway, having gotten off the plane. As far as fitting endings go, Ross certainly gets his in the last minutes of the finale.
DESERVED MORE: EMILY
While Emily may not have been anyone’s favorite character, she certainly deserved better than what she got. Emily was written out of the show when she and Ross officially declared their marriage to be over. In a future episode, there is a mention that Emily is getting married to someone else. Emily is turned into the villain after her and Ross’ failed ceremony even though the mistake had been Ross’. Although her actions afterward push too far, Emily deserved to have been written off another way. Instead, she was turned into someone out of character.
FITTING: PHOEBE
Phoebe was not the type of character that was driven by the need for a successful career. Phoebe just wanted to be happy. In the last season, Phoebe has a relationship with her brother and his children, which was more than she could say for years of her life. She also gets married to Mike, and they mention the chance of having children in the future. Even if there is the occasional unresolved issue, Phoebe is content with her life by the end. Considering that Phoebe had not had a happy childhood, Phoebe’s ending shows her being close with her friends and comfortable as they all move on to the next phase of their lives.
DESERVED MORE: DAVID
David did not get a fair chance during his time on the show. While David did not appear often, he was meant to be a significant person in Phoebe’s life, which makes his abrupt ending even more problematic. Phoebe had not been over Mike when she brought David to Barbados, and the entire situation is complicated when both men plan to propose to Phoebe. After getting the certainty that her relationship with Mike would progress further, Phoebe gets back together with Mike and gives a brief apology to David. Afterward, David is not seen again. Unfortunately, their relationship did not get more closure.
FITTING: RICHARD
Richard was a recurring character who was featured as Monica’s first serious boyfriend. He was older, sophisticated, and lacked interest in having a baby. While Monica was excited and happy in a relationship with Richard, having a baby was something Monica wanted, and their differences on the subject lead to their break-up. Richard appeared a few more times afterward, but his last time on the show is during “The One With The Proposal, Part 2.” Richard’s last episode is dedicated to him fighting for Monica one last time, as Monica makes the final choice between her ex-boyfriend and Chandler. However, Richard’s last scene shows exactly why his ending is fitting. Richard tells Chandler to fight for Monica and not to let her go, knowing from experience that it was a bad idea. Richard understands that Monica is happy with Chandler, and steps back, even though it is hard, to let them be happy.
DESERVED MORE: RACHEL
Rachel Green did a complete one-eighty from start to finish. Initially unable to do the simplest of tasks, Rachel develops into a successful fashion employee. Although her romantic relationships may not have always been perfect, Rachel was happy regardless, especially after the birth of her daughter, Emma. Yet, while the decision to get off the plane worked out well for Ross, and the idea of a happy ending for the show, it lacks sense regarding Rachel’s character. Rachel had outgrown her job in New York and was ready to make a splash in Paris. Turning down that job not only hurts her character development but suggests many questions about Rachel’s job opportunities in New York. Since Rachel had already turned down keeping her career in New York, it gave the impression that Rachel would be unemployed for a while.
