5 'Friends'​ Plot Holes Even More Awkward Than Ross' Sense Of Humor | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

5 'Friends'​ Plot Holes Even More Awkward Than Ross' Sense Of Humor

They'll be there for you, unless you're Ross's son. Or Chandler.

734
5 'Friends'​ Plot Holes Even More Awkward Than Ross' Sense Of Humor

After winning several Golden Globes, Emmys, People's Choice Awards, and Teen Choice Awards, "Friends" has earned its spot as one of the most loved TV shows of our time. From Joey's up-and-down acting career to Phoebe's past of mugging people on the street to Ross and Rachel's never-ending fight over being on a break, "Friends" never had a shortage of plot twists, laughable moments, or lovable characters. But after binge-watching it for the fourth or fifth time, you start to pick up on a few plot holes that could use some explaining...

1. Where did Ross' son Ben go?

Ben's existence was one of the main plot points of season one, as Ross struggled to ease into parenthood as he felt he was competing with his ex-wife's new partner, Susan. Ross clearly loved his son from the second he found out about his arrival: he refused to move to England with Emily because he didn't want to live away from Ben, and he even dressed up as a "Christmas Armadillo" in a weird attempt to teach his son about Judaism around the holidays. While we all know Ross is an awkward and rather uptight guy, we can't deny he's a great father.

That is, until his son stops showing up for seasons at a time. His last scene is in "The One Where Joey Dates Rachel" in season eight, meaning seasons nine and ten are completely void of Ross' son. This is especially odd because when Ross has another child with Rachel, we never see his two children meet each other. Ben wasn't even invited to Ross' wedding to Emily in season four.

Fans have speculated that sometime around the birth of Ross' second child, Ben's mother had enough of Ross' overbearing and erratic behavior and revoked his visitation rights. Personally, I think it all worked out for the best: Ben did a great job on "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody."

2. Chandler says he loves Monica for the first time... twice

In season five's "The One With All the Thanksgivings," Monica sticks her head inside a turkey and dances around in an attempt to make Chandler feel better. In his laughter, an "I love you" slips out, which he immediately denies as Monica celebrates and repeats it over and over. This cute moment affirms fans' hope that Chandler and Monica's unexpected hookups have turned into a real love connection. However, in "The One Where Everyone Finds Out," the friends send Phoebe to pretend to flirt with Chandler in an attempt to make him admit he's seeing Monica.

Phoebe commits to her role and makes Chandler so uncomfortable that he cracks — when Phoebe asks why he won't kiss her, she shouts "because I'm in love with Monica!" Monica, who was hiding in the bathroom watching this unfold the whole time, jumps out with a look of happy shock on her face. This moment is sweet, but it's not the first time Monica has heard Chandler say his true feelings.

3. Chandler and Monica tie the knot in a church despite Chandler signing up for a romantic wedding in a museum

Monica and Chandler's engagement was quite the rollercoaster. Conspiring with Phoebe to surprise his future wife, Chandler pretends to freak out when a museum worker calls to let Monica know she's been added to the waiting list to get married there. Monica apologizes, but when she leaves Chandler tells Phoebe that he checked out the museum and it was perfect. Chandler's dishonesty about his readiness to get married caused a lot of drama in the following episodes, as his pretending to fear commitment almost drives Monica back to her old boyfriend, Richard. Luckily, the friends patch up the situation and Monica and Chandler spend the rest of their lives together but they don't end up tying the knot at the museum, which caused them so much trouble before their engagement.

4. Rachel doesn't remember Chandler, despite growing up together

Growing up, Rachel was Monica's best friend and Chandler was Ross's. The four of them spent many Thanksgivings together and even accompanied a college-age Chandler to the emergency room when Monica accidentally cut off his toe. Despite always being around the Geller's house at the same time, Rachel seems to have no recollection of Chandler in the first episode of season one. In her wedding dress, Rachel stumbles into the coffee shop where the friends are hanging out and is excited to find her old friend Monica and her brother Ross there. However, she doesn't remember Chandler at all and doesn't say more than two words to him.

5. How did Ross and Rachel get that ink off their faces?

At the end of season five, Ross and Rachel get trashed in a Vegas hotel room, draw all over each other in permanent marker, and get married. Nothing works in their efforts to get the ink off their faces, and so they decide to walk around Las Vegas as a cat and a mustached woman. However, the next morning — the first episode of season six — they arrive at breakfast with completely clean faces and only their marriage as a remnant of the wild night before. How did they get the ink off?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

194328
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

17340
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

459694
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

27683
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments