It's hard to imagine what the pop culture landscape would look like if Friends had never existed. The sitcom about six friends in New York City has become a staple of pop culture as it's impossible not to know at least one person who obsesses over it even now. Much of the dialogue is endlessly quotable, there are countless catchphrases, and the situations are always funny no matter how many times someone watches an episode.
The show's 10 seasons may be of mixed quality but it definitely struck a chord with viewers who wanted stories about relatable people trying to live their lives the best that they can, despite messing up all the time. The six main characters are all different from each other, but some are a lot more charming than others.
Ross Geller
Despite the Ross/Rachel love story, it's not that easy to like Ross Geller (David Schwimmer). The character has a tendency to complain a lot and he always looks like someone is out to get him. His default expression is sadness and he definitely mopes around more than he should.
While Ross can be funny, as he's a quirky nerd, he takes some getting used to, and many fans of Friends would put him at the bottom of the list when it comes to their favorite main characters.
Rachel Green
Jennifer Aniston has had many film roles but it's definitely true that her most well-known character is Rachel Green on Friends.
Rachel is an interesting case. On one hand, she's sweet and she charms everyone she meets. On the other, Rachel has so much life learning to do that she can really grate on a viewer. She's boy crazy and sometimes seems desperate, and that's not a good look for anyone. She also complains as much as Ross. The way that the two of them behave when they're supposedly "on a break" is tough to get behind, as it seems like they could have done a better job communicating about the situation and showing some maturity.
Monica Geller
Monica Geller (Courteney Cox) is slightly more likable, as her clean freak personality accounts for a lot of the humor surrounding her character.
Monica has a lot of neuroses, of course, and she should probably learn to relax, but that's why fans of the show love her so much. She reacts to situations in her own unique way. However, she also deals with a lot of adult situations, like when she and Richard (Tom Selleck) wonder if their age difference is too big and if they have to break up because she wants children (which, of course, is exactly what ends up happening). Monica does get on people's nerves, however, as she can be too controlling and she doesn't always think about what other people want or need.
Phoebe Buffay
Lisa Kudrow's Friends character, Phoebe Buffay, is something special. On paper, Phoebe might seem too weird to work as a character, but on the show, she's endearing.
While Phoebe is inconsistent in her friendships, her determination to stay optimistic in the face of adversity is inspiring. She doesn't realize that she's a horrible singer or that she sometimes says odd things that people don't understand. It's hard to think of a TV character who is as fearless and free to be totally themselves as Phoebe is.
Joey Tribbiani
None of the six pals on this show are perfect, least of all Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), who is equal parts nice and ditzy. His quotes are beloved and his dynamic with Chandler is perfect.
Whether talking about his love of food, hitting on everyone he meets, or living with Chandler and being an immature slob, Joey is impossible not to love. He's such a popular character because he's a "go with the flow" kind of person, a sharp contrast to someone like Monica. Joey is a really important part of the friend group and while he's not the most intelligent person around, he tries to be a good person.
Chandler Bing
Fans debate who Chandler's best pal is but no matter the answer, it's fair to say that Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) is the best and most beloved character on Friends.
Chandler has so much going for him, and while he's a bit lost at the beginning of the show, it's charming and humanizes him. He might be on the immature side and he might have trouble committing to women, but by the time he falls for Monica, he learns how to get over that.
Hr always has something hilarious to say, like when he jokes, “I’m not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?” While all of the characters on Friends would be hard to replace, Chandler speaks to the heart and soul of the sitcom. He makes mistakes but keeps his sense of humor, and that's why he's so enjoyable to watch.