Monica (Courteney Cox) and Richard (Tom Selleck) staying together in Friends would have led to a better ending for the two. The 10-season-long sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman follows six friends in New York City who support each other through their 20s and early 30s. Throughout the series, the group navigates both their professional and personal lives, as they deal with various romantic mishaps. Some of these last one episode, whereas others are fundamental to the Friends story: Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Ross (David Schwimmer), or Monica and Richard.
Richard has known Monica all her life, as he is her parents' best friend. However, after Monica graduates from high school, they lose contact, only meeting again in season 2, when Monica and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) are catering for Richard's party. The reconnection creates instant sparks, and Monica has to juggle between the intimidating 21 year age gap and the undeniable chemistry between them. When Monica realizes Richard is a grandfather, she gets cold feet. But then they decide to take their time with it, and their relationship becomes one of the most emblematic ones in Friends. Monica's relationship with Richard seems ideal in almost every way, except for the fact that Richard doesn't want any more children. In "The One With Barry And Mindy's Wedding," Monica makes the painful decision of freeing Richard from a relationship that would force him to have children.
Although the couple ultimately separated, Richard actually had all the qualities that Monica was looking for in a partner: he was mature, caring, supportive, and committed. Commitment is very important to Monica as she tells Chandler that she doesn't believe in soulmates; just in two people working hard at their relationship. Richard is a handsome man (as confirmed by both Rachel and Phoebe) with a style that inspires (and intimidates) Chandler and Joey. And the fact that he was more of a father figure than a peer to the group meant much more for Monica. She had always lacked her parents' approval, who always seemed to prefer Ross. Richard's love and admiration for Monica also stood in as the validation she never got from her family. Monica and Richard clicked on so many levels, it almost seems absurd that their relationship ended on the same day Richard said, "If kids are what it takes to be with you, then kids it is." Monica and Richard would have probably been better off staying together, as Richard was willing to make the big compromise to keep the otherwise perfect relationship going.
In Friends season 6, Richard comes back and tells Monica he is now ready to offer her everything she wanted. Monica is now with Chandler and, ironically enough, the latter keeps talking against marriage as he is trying to keep his plans to propose to Monica a secret. Monica balances between her two love interests, seeking arguments for and against them. She says Richard has a mature person apartment (and everyone knows how much Monica cares about her own apartment) and she remembers all his qualities. However, she also states that she is happy with Chandler now. Richard sees this and realizes Chandler is prepared to offer Monica the life she wants, so he backs out of the competition, telling Chandler to go get her and never let her go. This moment shows Richard as the better man for Monica, who truly only has her happiness in mind.
When Chandler and Monica get together in the Friends season 4 finale, it is a surprise for them as well as for the audience - even for the writers, who didn't plan for Monica and Chandler's relationship to last. Chandler had big commitment issues and was immature, hiding his emotions behind a thick wall of sarcasm. Monica and Chander worked hard - "sometimes very hard" - at their relationship, which is what eventually made them a strong pair. However, Monica and Richard had a much smoother relationship, hinting that the two staying together would have been a better ending for them.