When it came to Friends, the majority of the viewers loved watching the shenanigans of the group unfold. They brought great humor, positivity, and for the most part, they were kind to others and treated people fairly (which is why the characters were so popular).
However, every now and then, the gang were collectively in the wrong, making it impossible to actually be on their side. Even though they are the heroes of the story, the characters everyone is supposed to love, there were certain moments when the gang just made it impossible to like them.
Treatment Of Mr. Heckles
Mr. Heckles is a funny supporting character, and while he can be a little grumpy, all he wants is some peace and quiet. However, the group is so loud that it leads to him having to make a point about it. Yet, instead of trying to be a little quieter, they often stomp away back at him, being even louder.
It's incredibly inconsiderate of them and isn't very mature, and when they go into Mr. Heckles' room after he dies, they quickly learn just how loud they are, proving he was right all along. It is a moment where the group are certainly in the wrong, so people cannot be on their side here.
Money Problems
The episode 'The One With Five Steaks And An Eggplant" is a rare moment when the group gets firmly divided, and the audience is actually left being on the side of nobody. The group is very much split into the "rich" and the "poor" when Ross' birthday celebrations come up.
Rachel, Joey, and Phoebe can't afford a lavish meal and tickets to a concert, and it causes a divide. It's easy to feel sorry for them, but then when the other members pay for their tickets, they still don't want to go. Everyone in this episode is a little selfish and stuck in their own circumstances, not thinking about the bigger picture of their friendship, which is why audiences are left on the side of nobody.
Mocking Janice
Janice is a character that is treated poorly throughout the entire series by different members of the group (mainly Chandler). But when she ends up sleeping with Ross, the worst of the group is clear as they all showcase their disgust at him for doing so.
Despite the fact Janice is nothing but kind to them throughout all of their interactions, the group all shout at Ross, with Joey claiming he's lost his mind. It showcases the group as catty as they moan behind her back, which isn't a good trait in any of them.
Trying To See Each Other Naked
In "The One With The Boobies," Chandler accidentally sees Rachel after she gets out of the shower, and this leads to a cat-and-mouse-style back and forth throughout the episode. Rachel tries to see him naked, which ends up involving Joey, Monica, and Joey's father, who all get seen naked.
While Ross and Phoebe aren't involved in this, they don't stop it either, and Ross actually suggests that Chandler should expose himself to Rachel in order to even out the situation. However, this entire situation is a very strange one that doesn't promote good boundaries at all and is one situation where fans aren't on the gang's side.
Not Involving Gunther
The gang often treats Gunther like an afterthought as if he isn't there. But that's never more clear than when Ross looks to celebrate with his friends. He heads into Central Perk with a bottle of champagne (not even buying from the coffee shop) and he tells Gunther to get him six glasses.
He gets excited about the possibility of joining in, but instead, Ross just points out that he thought Joey was there, completely rejecting him. The rest of the group doesn't invite Gunther in either, which is a low point for all of them.
"I Hate That Guy"
Phoebe has a whole host of boyfriends throughout the series, some of which are great, others which are forgettable. One of those is Roger, who just so happens to be a shrink professionally. He ends up giving his opinions on the various members of the group and they don't like his clinical evaluation.
This leads to them all claiming that they hate him, eventually pushing that message onto Phoebe, who shares the same thoughts. The problem is, the gang all ask for his opinions and thoughts. So they shouldn't really be judging him based on his answers after that point, as they asked for it.
Nobody Is Ready
One of the most famous examples of the group absolutely being in the wrong is when Ross is hoping to take them all to a black-tie benefit at his museum for work. It's something that is clearly a big deal for him, so when nobody is ready on time, or even makes an attempt to be (bar Phoebe), it really frustrates him.
Ross doesn't handle the situation brilliantly either, with his anger getting the best of him, snapping at everybody throughout the situation. However, it's an episode where the gang are in the wrong, which makes it near impossible to be on their side.
Everyone Is Late For Phoebe's Birthday
Another moment where just one character is let down by the entire gang comes on Phoebe's birthday. All she wants is a meal with her friends to celebrate, yet everyone apart from Joey turns up late. Not just a little late either, the other members don't turn up until an hour after it was planned.
On top of that, when they arrive, they are all incredibly rude to people and that is something that leads to Phoebe losing her cool. Therefore, it is impossible to be on the gang's side with this situation.
Monica & Chandler Want To Buy A House
Monica and Chandler wanting to buy a house out of the city make sense. It's the next logical step in their lives, but the way that the entire group handles this situation is a mess. Firstly, Monica and Chandler sneaking around, not telling people to the point where Phoebe and Rachel suspect Chandler's having an affair isn't great.
But the way the rest of the group reacts to the idea of them leaving isn't any better. Sure, they won't be across the hall or in the nearby building, but it's not the end of the world. The gang just doesn't see the bigger picture.
Treatment Of Fun Bobby
The gang isn't always on board with other people's partners, but one person they all love is Fun Bobby. That is until he quits drinking. While they all love his stories when he's an alcoholic, the moment he becomes sober and starts to change, the group all mock him behind his back, calling him dull and boring.
Monica even plans to take tons of mini-bottles of alcohol on their weekend away, despite the fact he's a recovering addict, in order to make him seem more entertaining. While he certainly does change, the group doesn't celebrate the fact that he's quit an addiction, and instead mock him for it, which is certainly not something people can get behind.