Ross and Rachel are one of the most iconic couples in television history. The fact that some couples are called each other’s ‘lobsters‘ is because Ross and Rachel’s coupling made that a huge part in pop culture. Everyone believed (believes actually), that they were always meant to be, so much so, that when Rachel and Joey got together, the makers of FRIENDS had to deal with a lot of hate.
To be honest, even during my multiple re-runs of the series, I get a little uncomfortable watching Joey and Rachel make out. Ross + Rachel is completely ingrained in the heads of every FRIENDS fan.
But, recently, my mind was blown and my eyes were opened because of a Twitter thread by @kaneandgriffin. She completely demolished Ross and Rachel as a couple and every point she presented made absolute sense!
Her reasons as to why Joey was the better partner to Rachel is so spot on that I can’t believe I looked through it during the innumerable times I’ve watched this show.
Let’s begin –
1/ In Defense of Rachel and Joey: A Thread
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
2/ I’m loving this “let’s yell about TV plots point we hate” thing that’s happening EXCEPT that it started about Rachel and Joey on Friends
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
5/ A lot of people think it was weird or that it came out of nowhere, BUT I AM HERE TO TELL YOU WHY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENDGAME
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
6/ ARGUMENT #1: Ross Never Saw Rachel As a Friend, But Joey Did.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
7/ From the moment the Friends first meet Rachel, Ross immediately sees her as a romantic prospect. He’s never gotten over his crush on her
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
9/ But this is presented as Joey’s standard greeting to every hot woman ever, not specific to Rachel.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
On the genuineness of Joey’s feelings –
27/ Joey’s feelings for Rachel were born out of genuine friendship. They were roommates. SHE WAS PREGNANT.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
30/ He has to LEARN to see Rachel as a romantic prospect because she’s always been a friend first. Which was NEVER true for Ross.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
31/ It’s not until he takes her on a fake date (because she’s pregnant and misses going on fancy dates) when it actually clicks.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
On Rachel’s career –
36/ ARGUMENT #2: Rachel Deserved Someone Who Understood Why Her Career Was Important to Her.
(MY DUDES I AM JUST! GETTING! STARTED!)
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
40/ Over and over Ross trivialized her passions, even though I would argue that Rachel’s career was always her most interesting arc.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
49/ Joey knows what it feels like to be grasping for your big break. But name ONE THING Ross ever did to unselfishly help Rachel’s career.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
52/ Every step up the ladder towards career success that Rachel takes is interpreted as a step AWAY from him. It’s SO. FUCKED. UP.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
On Rachel and Ross exhausting each other –
63/ ARGUMENT #3: Joey and Rachel Make Each Other Better, Ross and Rachel Make Each Other Worse
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
69/ He happily lets Rachel and Emma move back in with him, despite how much having a baby around disrupts his lifestyle.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
77/ Rachel has been uptight all her life and Joey teaches her how to chill the fuck out. He brings out a sillier side of her.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
78/ Meanwhile, let’s discuss how few moments exist in the “Friends” canon where Ross and Rachel are EVER that chill and cute together.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
79/ Everything is ALWAYS fraught. Fighting, jealousy, possessiveness, drama. Their relationship looks EXHAUSTING.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
80/ And it’s not just Ross, tbh (although like … it’s mostly Ross). But he makes HER worse too. She’s harsher and more tightly-wound.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
And finally –
93/ The bottom line is, the Rachel Ross fell in love with was a teenage fantasy he never outgrew that may have been an illusion all along.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
95/ Whereas Joey fell in love with a bright, funny, competent single mother he’d been friends with for 7 years and knew inside-out already.
— hello new people (@kaneandgriffin) August 8, 2017
Read the entire thread here, she has made many more points that might convince you, if these ones didn’t.
I view everything differently now.
In conclusion though, I just have to say this –
Monica and Chandler > any other couple in FRIENDS.
