Friends the series, as we all know, is one of the funniest and most popular sitcoms ever. It has undoubtedly been a box office hit from the very start. Rather than seeing it just as a channel for humour, we can learn a lot from the series as well as its characters.
Rachel: We get from her that “It’s not just about the right goal it’s about how you execute it”. In the first few episodes, she has no clue how to start her life and is utterly confused. From her friends’ support, she eventually picks up her life and leads it in the best way possible. She also learns to not be selfish and spoilt like the way she was before meeting them.
Monica: Like every girl, Monica too had a dream of a big fancy wedding, but when her beau chandler offers her such a wedding she declines by saying that a happy marriage is what is more important than a big fancy wedding. She makes us see that you don’t have to give birth to be a good mother and also good things come to those who wait.
Phoebe: Despite her troubled past Phoebe doesn’t care for what others think. The bits and pieces that we learn about Phoebe’s past are quite tragic, even though it is presented in a humorous way. We understand that she fights against odds and leads a normal life. She is an inspiration on her own. No matter what, she never lets her friends down. This can be seen when she braces herself up to confront Rachel about the misbehaviour of Paulo towards her. In one episode, she even misses her date with her love interest, David, for the sake of a promise with Joey. This implies that she never breaks her promise.
Ross: No matter how many times he is teased by everyone for being a dinosaur nerd, he follows his passion and becomes a palaeontologist. For his persistence in his profession, he is even offered a grant which ensures lifetime job security. Even though with great difficulty, he eventually accepts his ex-wife’s choice. He even convinces her to stand up for her true love and takes a courageous decision to give her away at her wedding. He is also mocked throughout the series for being divorced many times. And yet he shows mettle to date and starts to love again.
Chandler: He is ready to be the clown of the group even when he himself suffers from his terrible childhood trauma. He always covers his deep-lying sadness with humour. Chandler is also proof that people can change when he becomes Monica’s ideal guy. Finally, he takes the risk of getting his dream job in advertising towards the end of the show. His age posed as quite a barrier but he learns to shine through his quick wit.
Joey: For him, friendship means everything. Even though he might act immature at times, he knows how to stand up for his friends. When he knew Rachel was pregnant, he was so caring that he even offered to dedicate himself for Rachel and her baby. And also during the first phase of Rachel’s pregnancy, he was completely there for her. He was even ready to sacrifice his lovable plush toy Hugsy for Rachel’s baby Emma.
Throughout the series we see him struggle to become a popular actor, but only achieves it towards the end of the show. This shows his perseverance.
All of them teaches us a valuable lesson at one point or the other. Few morals we can acquire from watching the show are
· “It’s never too late to live your dream”: Chandler finds his dream job towards the end of the show and he is happy that he landed on it. Phoebe finds Mike as her Mr Right in last season.
· “Everyone has their lobster”: Ross and Rachel finally decides to patch things up and make their relationship work. Monica and Chandler enter into a more mature relationship. Phoebe and Mike marry and plans to have babies.
· “You don’t let your friends down no matter what”: The quote says for itself. Whether be it a breakup or losing a job or a divorce, your true friends will always be there for you.
