You might think it was a happy ending, but it was actually pretty messed up.
I probably don’t need to tell you that Friends recently got re-released on Netflix, bringing a whole new audience to viewers of the classic sitcom.
The ending in particular is regarded as one of the biggest moments in comedy history. Ross got with Rachel, Monica got with Chandler and Phoebe married the guy played by Paul Rudd – but people looking back aren’t happy with how it all wound up for Joey.
In a list on Ranker, titled ‘TV Shows That Had Supposedly Happy Endings (But Were Actually Really Depressing)’, Friends came in second place. Pretty high.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx3EbkcqZ30
“Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) end up together (because of course they do); Monica (Courtney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) have twin girls and embark on a life outside the city; and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) marries Mike (Paul Rudd), who perfectly counterbalances her zaniness,” the list explains.
“Happily ever after for the whole gang, right?
“What about Joey (Matt LeBlanc)? By the end of the series, Joey is in his late 30s, and is totally alone, even though he seems focused on finding true love.
“Viewers get the vibe that Joey’s just along for the ride, so his future doesn’t really matter, but that’s kind of tragic when you think about it.
“To make things worse, Joey – the two-season spin-off that focuses on the struggling actor – sees him in a one-sided relationship with a woman who doesn’t share his desire to get married. Poor guy.”
And Twitter seems to agree:
https://twitter.com/indinpepper/status/968970937130520582
https://twitter.com/emmairvine97/status/967794851390656512
https://twitter.com/catchivs/status/964364858715074560
