Over the course of 10 seasons, the main characters on Friends get into some interesting relationships. Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, and Joey each get their turn to experience love and heartache through a series of flings and relationships, some more memorable than others.
While every couple on the show has their funny moments, it’s clear that some fit together beautifully. Others are more painful to watch thanks to their awkwardness and cringe-factor. Being hard-core fans of the show, we decided to rank the relationships that appear on the show from those that work to those that don’t work.
Keep reading to find out our ranking of the relationships of the main cast of Friends, ranked from the couples who were a little stupid to those who are clearly soulmates.
15 Joey And Rachel Are Kind Of Stupid
A lot of Friends fans will agree that the silliest relationship on the show was Rachel and Joey, who get together briefly in the final season. Of course, there are a few fans who liked these two together, but for most people, it just feels wrong to see these two friends be romantic together, especially given Rachel’s history with Ross.
14 Kathy Is A Terrible Girlfriend To Chandler
Chandler can be sarcastic and cold but he’s still one of the most endearing characters on the show and we only want the best for him. That’s why it’s so hard for us to see him go through all the pain he endures during the Kathy saga. Ultimately, Chandler means very little to Kathy, which is heartbreaking for him and for us.
13 We Can’t Approve Of Rachel And Mark Because It Leads To The Break
Even though Mark might have some positive qualities as a character, we just can’t condone the inkling of a relationship between him and Rachel. Although Ross is unreasonably jealous of Mark, his presence is still one of the factors that result in Ross and Rachel going on a break. And we all know how that ends up.
12 Charlie And Joey Are Totally Mismatched
Charlie has a lot of impressive qualities, but she is the worst possible partner for Joey. Even though these two might be physically attracted to each other at first, they don’t have a single thing in common and are never once on the same page. Charlie also isn’t a great partner for Ross, dumping him as soon as her ex wants her back.
11 Ross And Carol Have An Unhappy Marriage
Carol is actually one of our favorite Friends characters because she is a good friend to Ross, even after their marriage doesn’t work out, she’s a loving mother, and she’s a fully fleshed out LGBT character. But in terms of their romantic relationship, Ross and Carol are the worst. Neither has what it takes to make the other happy.
10 Chandler And Janice Could Never Be Happy
Oh my god! In later seasons, it’s totally clear that Janice is the wrong girl for Chandler since her character becomes a joke rather than someone to be taken seriously. But there is a time when Chandler genuinely thinks of Janice as a real love interest and we can’t understand why.
9 Ross And Emily Aren't Meant To Be
To be fair to Emily, it would be devastating to have your fiancé utter someone else’s name in front of everyone you know at your wedding. But it doesn’t matter at the end of the day, because these two just aren’t right for each other and never had the potential to last.
8 Richard Is Charming But Can't Give Monica What She Wants
Many Friends fans are smitten with Richard, while others find him totally creepy. We think that, at the end of the day, Richard is the wrong guy for Monica because he can never give her what she wants most: a family. Although these two are attracted to each other, they just want different things and are therefore incompatible.
7 Janine Nearly Turns Joey Into A Jerk
Together, Janine and Joey are certainly a very good-looking couple. But, attractiveness doesn’t automatically result in a happily ever after. Because Janine doesn’t like the other friends, she brings out the worst in Joey, nearly convincing him to blow them off and making him lie about her whereabouts. Sorry, Janine. These guys are a packaged deal.
6 Ross And Julie’s Relationship Isn’t Fair On Julie
We shudder when we think of Ross and Julie’s relationship, and that’s not a reflection of Julie at all. Instead, it’s a reflection of how terrible Rachel is towards Julie when she dates Ross, and how she doesn’t deserve any of the mean things that Rachel does to her. Poor Julie!
5 If It Weren’t For Minsk, David Would Have Ended Up With Phoebe
Let’s be honest: if David were never called to work in Minsk, he probably would have lived happily ever after with Phoebe. There’s undeniable chemistry between these two. David falls for Phoebe the second he lays eyes on her and always treats her properly (he’s even polite when Mike hijacks his proposal).
4 At Least Tag Makes Rachel Briefly Happy
There are a lot of reasons why Tag and Rachel didn’t work out. These two ultimately don’t make the best couple because they’re at different points in their lives and there’s also the messiness of them being co-workers who are romantically involved. But, at least Tag briefly makes Rachel happy when he dates her.
3 Rachel And Ross Are Lobsters (Although Their Relationship Is A Little Toxic)
The relationship between Rachel and Ross has attracted a lot of criticism over the years. Throughout the show’s run, these two make a lot of mistakes and hurt each other in a lot of ways. Neither one of them is perfect, and their relationship is a little toxic. But it’s clear that despite it all, they’re still lobsters who are meant to be.
2 Mike Accepts Phoebe For Who She Is
Mike doesn’t appear until the later seasons of Friends, but he’s still one of our favorite characters. He is superior to all of Phoebe’s other love interests, including David, because of the way he accepts her for who she is and encourages her to be herself. At the same time, he doesn’t let her walk all over him. They strike the perfect balance together!
1 Monica And Chandler Are Soulmates
It should come as no surprise that the best relationship on Friends, in our opinion, is the one shared by Monica and Chandler. These two begin as friends, have a fling, fall in love, and realize that they want to spend the rest of their lives together. There’s no denying that they’re soulmates!
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