Widely attributed as the king of sarcasm, Chandler Bing from Friends is a fan favorite character worldwide. Portrayed by Matthew Perry, he still remains a yardstick for comparing the funniest TV characters, even many years after the series' end.
Throughout Friends' 10-season run, not once did Chandler shy away from unlearning and seeing things in a new light. He eventually learned how to handle critical life decisions with grace, even though he had a difficult childhood with his parents' divorce. Chandler eventually made amends with Nora and Charles Bing and by doing so, he taught fans how relationships were to be nurtured. It's time to recall why Chan Chan Man's story arc outshines the rest of the gang.
There Would Be No Joey Without Chandler
Season 3's "The One with the Flashback" is a collection of events from three years earlier when Chandler was looking for a roommate. He'd already interviewed the guy with the ferrets, the spitter, and the guy who enjoyed saying "Bing" so much he made a noise every time he said it. Joey was the last guy Chandler spoke to and found somewhat okay for his living situation.
Chandler originally wanted to pick a fashion photographer named Eric solely because he would have models over from time to time. But since Mr. Heckles claimed he was Chandler's roommate, Joey moved in and the rest is history. Though Joey was the runner-up to Eric, it took no time for him and Chandler to bond over Baywatch and his mini-fridge of beer. By the end of the night, the two were out of beers, and Chandler borrowed some from Monica. If it wasn't for Chandler, the gang wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet Joey and make friends for life.
He Was A Worthy Life Partner
Sitcoms and movies oftentimes portray an unrealistic image of romantic relationships. This, of course, has a bearing on the way people ultimately perceive love. Chandler and Monica's relationship, however, captured the quintessence of realistic romance. The Chan Chan man had struggled in most of his relationships and feared commitment more than anything else in the world. In "The One with Joey's Award," he admitted he was dangerously dehydrated during the first six months of their relationship.
By the end of the series, Chandler became a better version of himself. He was no longer the hopeless, awkward, and desperate for love guy who'd chased Janice down the street and falsely accused Kathy of cheating on him. He became a worthy life partner whom Monica could trust with her feelings.
He Was A Good Friend
Chandler consistently proved Joey's friendship meant the world to him. He'd help him rehearse for acting parts and often speak words of encouragement to help with cope with the challenging acting business. Chandler did more than just regular roommate stuff, for instance, in "The One with the Boobies," when Joseph Tribbiani, Sr. and his girlfriend, Ronnie stayed at their place, he showed the lady to his room and crashed on the couch with Joey.
Chandler was a good friend to Monica as well. He comforted her when Phoebe moved out and at Ross's wedding in London, which eventually paved the way for their romance. Chandler possessed the essential traits of a good friend.
He Worked Towards A Healthy Relationship With Monica
In "The One with Rachel's Inadvertent Kiss," Chandler and Monica switched places in their relationship, in that he became the rational one and she acted irrationally. At the time, Phoebe had just met her boyfriend, Gary and they were in the beginning phase of their romance. The fact that Phoebe and Gary could barely keep their hands off each other seemed to perturb Monica, so much so that she set out to compete against the two.
After Chandler grew tired of competing for who the hotter couple was, he tried to reason with Monica by talking about the positives of their relationship. This was the first of many times that Chandler persuaded Monica to act sensibly. He took things one day at a time until the day they moved into a house in Westchester and lived happily ever after.
He Was Sensitive In Their Adoption Journey
One of the progressive storylines on Friends, involving Monica and Chandler, dealt with adoption. After struggling with infertility as a couple, they agreed on going ahead with adoption. It was the biggest decision of their lives and Chandler was mindful of every step they took. In "The One with the Birth Mother," Monica and Chandler traveled to Ohio to be interviewed by Erica -- the surrogate mother of their prospective child.
Turns out, there was a slight mix-up at the adoption agency. Erica had apparently picked them because she'd been told Monica was a reverend and Chandler, a doctor. While Monica went along with the lie, in the end, Chandler convinced her to come clean. "But this woman is giving away her child. She deserves to know who it's going to," he said.
He Sang Monica's Praises To Erica, Securing Their Adoption
Chandler knew it would be harder to go along with a lie than to speak an unpleasant truth. It was he who told Erica about his and Monica's actual profession and the mix-up. While trying to reassure her about giving them her baby, he spoke highly of Monica's maternal instincts.
"I really want a kid. And when that day finally comes, I'll learn how to be a good dad. But my wife, she's already there. She's a mother without a baby," he tearfully said. Had it not been for Chandler, Erica may have changed her mind.
His Use Of Sarcasm
Chandler Bing is mostly known for his sarcasm and his well-timed jokes on Friends. While resorting to humor, he definitely taught fans a thing or two about the art of sarcasm.
In "The One with the Birth," when Rachel angered everyone with her inappropriately-timed joke, Chandler let her know she had to prudently pick a moment to crack someone up. His witty one-liners and satirical remarks in and of themselves helped people to understand sarcasm effectively.
He Had A Compelling Character Arc
The only child of a romance-novelist Nora and a burlesque dancer, Charles Bing, Chandler's intimacy issues stemmed from his difficult childhood. His tendency to joke about things began as a coping mechanism for dealing with his parents' divorce and the fact that Nora and Charles failed to respond adequately to his emotional needs.
Notwithstanding the challenges, with time, Chandler was able to recognize and overcome his childhood trauma and he became a loving, trustworthy and supportive friend to his wife, Monica.
He Redefined Masculinity
Chandler spent a lot of time battling gender norms and the culturally acceptable standards of manhood. He was ridiculed because he got pedicures, was unable to grow a mustache or the fact that he owned two copies of Annie the soundtrack.
Despite the mockery, on the flip side, Chandler was so secure in his masculinity that he willingly changed careers mid-way and had his wife take care of their expenses. He even happily brought his co-worker home so he and Monica could interview him as a potential sperm donor. Chandler's well-executed storyline proves he wasn't constricted by the regressive stereotypes of masculinity.
His Character Left A Legacy On TV
Matthew Perry's nuanced performance as Chandler Bing left an indelible mark on the sitcom landscape. He started off as an emotionally stunted man and an unhappy corporate worker. He over-analyzed every little detail in his dates and broke up with women for trivial reasons.
But by the time Friends ended, Chandler's transformation left a positive impact on fans. His story arc tested every strength and weakness of his character. From successfully dealing with unresolved childhood trauma to changing careers -- Chandler Bing gave fans plenty of food for thought.