How can you kick off the subject of this column better than with the series Friends? The title and the series itself are the epitome of what this column is about. Well, I managed to kick off with a different series. With this column I try to put things right. There are enough cross-connections to be made between the different characters.
The central meeting place is Monica's apartment, Courteney Cox portrays her. Monica is organized, competitive and has a strong drive for perfection. She is the sister of Ross, played by David Schwimmer. Ross is an intelligent and somewhat clumsy paleontologist. He is sensitive, loyal and has a strong love for his friends and family. His relationship with Rachel is an important theme in the series. Rachel is fantastically portrayed by Jennifer Aniston. Rachel starts out as a spoiled girl who is dependent on her parents, but grows into an independent and confident woman. She is charming, social and fashion-conscious. The last woman is Phoebe and is played by Lisa Kudrow. Phoebe is an eccentric and spiritual masseuse and musician. She is independent, creative and has a unique perspective on life. Her unconventional behavior and funny songs make her a beloved character.
The last two characters are the starting point for the mutual friendships that become more and more clear during the series. These are Chandler and Joey, played by Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc respectively. Chandler is known for his sarcastic humor and sharp remarks. He is loyal, insecure and has difficulty expressing his feelings. His friendship with Joey is one of the important aspects in this series. Joey is a kind-hearted and somewhat naive actor. He is charming, loyal and has a great love for food. His innocent and sometimes silly behavior often provides comical moments. Chandler and Joey are roommates and best friends. Their friendship is based on humor, loyalty and mutual support. They have many funny and heartwarming moments together.
The next friendship is about the one between Phoebe and Joey. Phoebe and Joey have a unique and playful friendship. They understand each other's eccentricities and have a lot of funny interactions because of this. Their friendship is carefree and full of fun. During the series, these two characters are also a bit of the outsiders of the group, because couples start to form. Although there is sometimes some tension between these two, it remains a unique friendship.
The bond between siblings can be very diverse. In this case, Ross and Monica have a strong bond as brother and sister. They support each other through different stages of life and share many childhood memories. They have developed a hilarious and unorthodox dance routine together that they like to perform during a New Year's Eve party, for example. They also share a strong connection with Rachel. Monica and Rachel are childhood friends who meet again at the beginning of the series. Their friendship is strong and they support each other through thick and thin. They share the apartment and many personal moments. Rachel discovers through Monica that Ross has liked her since high school. Ross and Rachel have a complex relationship that starts as a friendship and develops into a romantic relationship.
There are more combinations to think of, but their friendship as a collective is already a pleasure to watch. That the group once again witnesses a seduction attempt by Joey that always starts with the legendary opening line "How you doin'?". That Chandler gets an explanation from Monica about the erogenous zones of a woman. Or the eternal bickering between Ross and Rachel about their relationship status, better known among fans as "We were on a break!". Because of this group of people, you as a viewer had the idea that you were part of their friendship and therefore sympathized with their daily worries.
