Although Friends is one of the most prolific and popular TV shows of all time, there are still bound to be plenty of great episodes that just don't get as much love as others. And whilst even die-hard Friends fans can be guilty of forgetting some of the less influential storylines, Reddit users have taken to the site to share the episodes that they think deserve more love.
"Underrated" might seem like a strange word to use when discussing perhaps the definitive TV sitcom of the 90s, but even the best shows suffer from "filler" episodes that are often forgotten due to their lack of overall importance, despite the episodes themselves actually being really entertaining.
"The One Where Emma Cries" (S9, E2)
Reddit user mrleakyheart argues that "The One Where Emma Cries" is one of Friends' most underrated episodes, since it's "really funny" and has plenty of hilarious scenes, such as the "Joey/Ross punching scene in the coffee house."
They go on to argue that "David and Matt killed it in this scene," which is definitely true. The later seasons of the show offered plenty of opportunities for the actors to flex their comedic muscles, particularly with David Schwimmer's brilliant use of physical comedy throughout the show.
"The One With All The Cheesecakes" (S7, E11)
According to Redditor coconutlancesweets, 'The One With All The Cheesecakes" is "the most underrated episode" because of the way it handles the "Rachel + Chandler friendship." As many of the commenters go on to note, storylines between Rachel and Chandler are rare, but their on-screen chemistry is some of the funniest to watch.
The original poster shared a clip from the episode, in which Chandler begins to eat the cheesecake that he stole from the delivery area. The scene is full of jokes and hilarious one-liners, which just prove how entertaining the dynamic between these two can be.
"The One With Ross' Tan" (S10, E3)
Redditor lozzif cites "The One With Ross' Tan" as one of the show's most underrated episodes, claiming that "it's just amazing." They go on to explain what's so amazing about this particular episode: "From the sneer on Chandler's face as he’s telling Ross to not check out his sister, to Chandler and Monica’s faces as Ross walks in, then Rachel’s laughter when she sees him."
There's no denying that this is certainly one of Friends' more overtly amusing episodes, as the show often thrives when it puts its characters into entertainingly difficult situations that they struggle to get out of. Ross' situation in this episode is hilarious to watch, and Schwimmer's performance makes it all the more iconic.
"The One With Rachel's Inadvertent Kiss" (S5, E17)
According to Reddit user hpmanuscript, "The One With Rachel's Inadvertent Kiss" deserves much more attention. They claim that "both Rachel's and Joey's storylines are pure gold," and that's why the episode is so entertaining. Here, they're referring to Rachel's kiss with her interviewer and Joey's search for a girl living in Ross' apartment complex.
Whilst it's true that Joey's subplot is a highlight, what's really fun about this episode is seeing Rachel's growth both personally and within the industry. It's the start of her journey with Ralph Lauren, which was one of her best decisions in the series.
"The One With Rachel's Other Sister" (S9, E8)
Redditor joyinfriends claims that "The One With Rachel's Other Sister" is a criminally underrated episode, mostly due to guest star Christina Applegate's memorable presence as the titular sister. They argue that "Applegate was really amazing in the two episodes she was in, perfect comedic timing, and her and the cast worked so well together."
Applegate's performance as Amy Green definitely makes for one of the funniest guest characters on Friends, even though she does only appear twice. She acts as a perfect foil to Rachel, representing everything that the character has learned to change since her introduction in the show's pilot.
"The One With All The Jealousy" (S3, E12)
There's no denying that "The One With All The Jealousy" features some of the most important and defining moments in the progression of Ross & Rachel's relationship, but Redditor jftj5639 argues that it's also "one of the most underrated episodes of all time...all the storylines are hilarious!"
The storylines in question involve Ross sending a barbershop quartet to Rachel's work, Joey having to dance for an audition, and Monica's new relationship with Julio. Each subplot is equally entertaining, and it's one of the few episodes that doesn't feel dominated by one particular storyline.
"The One With All The Poker" (S1, E18)
Although it's one of the defining episodes in establishing the dynamic between Friends' central characters, Reddit user adrhiannon believes that the episode is still underrated since it has "a lot of great comedy", and "it's a good episode for the development of Ross and Rachel as a couple."
They also go on to note that the early episodes of season 1 are some of the best of the entire show, since audiences get to see "all the friends hanging out together" before the relationships and jobs of the later seasons threaten this dynamic.
"The One With Ross' Wedding" (S4, E23)
Although the relationship between Ross and Emily was never really loved by fans, one Reddit user claims that their wedding was one of the best episodes, arguing that "even though it was messy, it was still a masterpiece." They admit that they "don't know why people dislike that episode."
"Ross was clearly in love with Rachel", they add, suggesting that this complex love triangle makes the episode that much more exciting and entertaining to watch. Although Emily may not have been the best match for Ross, their conflict and problems certainly made for some interesting storylines.
"The One With The Birth Mother" (S10, E9)
When it comes to the most important Friends episodes relating to Monica and Chandler's relationship, "The One With The Birth Mother" is definitely up there. Reddit user snow601 argues that "the drama and back and forth between them all... [is] interesting and quite believable."
The story centers around Chandler and Monica as they attempt to find a suitable child for adoption, but have to deal with a glaring mistake from the adoption agency surrounding both of their identities. It's just as funny as it is heartwarming, and really stands out as an emotional highlight of the series.
"The One With Two Parties" (S2, E22)
Redditor kaylynac says they "have always loved [this episode]", but they "never see much love for that episode and truly think it’s one of the best." The episode centers around Rachel's birthday celebrations, at which her friends attempt to keep her struggling parents separate by hosting two different parties.
This Friends episode features several wholesome parenting moments, whilst also doing a lot to develop the relationship between Rachel and her parents. It's an extremely funny episode, but there's also a lot at work beneath the surface to further explore Rachel as a character.