Happy Thanksgiving Lovers.
As your certified FRIENDS expert and enthusiast, it is a tradition in our household to go back and watch the Thanksgiving episodes of FRIENDS. Every year there are debates and discussions about which are the best and worst and this year I have finally decided to put together a definitive list of the best FRIENDS Thanksgiving Episodes, spanning all 10 Seasons. I know what you are thinking…FINALLY. You’re welcome.
So, here we go….
10. “The One With the List” Season 2. Episode 8
Coming in last, we have the one with the list. We find out that Ross made a list of things that he doesn’t like about Rachel (boooo) and Rachel finds the list which makes their kiss in Central Park the episode prior, completely irrelevant. Monica is tasked to make “Mocholoate” Thanksgiving desserts. Not exactly a free good episode.
9. “The One Where the Underdog Gets Away” Season 1, Episode 9
Although this episode essentially kicks off the FRIENDS tradition of Thanksgiving episodes, it’s not one of its strongest. When each Friend is left stranded for the Thanksgiving holiday, they come together to celebrate and thus start a new tradition. Not a lot going on here, it’s just ok.
8. “The One With the Late Thanksgiving” Season 10, Episode 8
After convincing Monica to host thanksgiving for the final time, each friend shows up late for various reasons. Phoebe and Rachel enter Emma in a baby pageant contest while Ross and Joey skip out to attend a Rangers Game. After getting locked out of the apartment, the “floating heads” have to find a way to break in. At the end of the episode, we find out that Monica and Chandler are getting a baby!
7. “The One Where Ross Got High” Season 6, Episode 9
Monica and Chandler are struggling to tell Jack and Judy Gellar that they are living together when Monica invites her parents over for Thanksgiving. Rachel vows to finally participate in the Thanksgiving meal prep by making an English Trifle. All seems to be going well until Rachel bakes beef, peas and onions into the raspberry custard tart which prompts Ross to admit that the trifle “tastes like feet.” Ross and Monica end up revealing their long-hood childhood secrets to their parents in attempts to one-up the other which forces some pretty hilarious revelations. “Well Hurricane Gloria didn’t break the porch swing, Monica did!”
6. “The One With Chandler in a Box” Season 4, Episode 9
After cheating with Joey’s girlfriend, Chandler must live out his punishment and earn Joey’s forgiveness by spending the entire Thanksgiving in an over-sized box. Also, when Monica hurts her eye and has to be taken to the eye-doctor she meets Richard’s son, invites him over for Thanksgiving and realizes that hitting on her ex-boyfriend’s son is probably not the best idea, even if he is her own age. Yuck.
5. “The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs” Season 7, Episode 8
How hard is it to name all 50 states? Apparently, very. Chandler comes to Thanksgiving with a new game, each person has to name all 50 states within 5 minutes. Unable to list all 50 states, Ross vows to get the entire list before the end of the night, without cheating, or no Thanksgiving dinner. At the same time, Phoebe is watching her friend’s dog that has been hiding away in Monica’s spare guest room when we discover that Chandler hates dogs, causing tension within the group. Rachel also confesses her love to her assistant, not the best plot line, but we will just bypass that real quick.
4.. “The One With the Football” Season 3, Episode 9
In this episode we see Ross and Monica face off against each other in a “not so innocent” game of flag football. Out for revenge, Monica and Ross are fighting to win the historical “Gellar Cup” that they lost as children. In actuality, the trophy is just a troll mailed to a 2x4, but still. The game quickly becomes girls v. boys and chaos ensues.
3. “The One With Rachel’s Sister” Season 9, Episode 8
Probably one of my favorite episodes, not just for Thanksgiving, but ever. Rachel’s sister, Amy, (Christina Applegate) crashes the annual Friends thanksgiving and essentially wreaks havoc on the entire day. Annoyed and pissed off that Rachel and Ross wouldn’t give Amy their baby, Emma, if they ever (knock on wood) die, she takes out her frustration on the entire table. There is also a particularly great scene when Chandler destroys Monica’s fancy plates. Great guest stars and amazing episode.
2. “The One With the Rumor” Season 8, Episode 9
Brad Pitt guest stars…. I mean, need I go on? In this episode, Joey vows to eat an entire turkey by himself and Monica invites Will (Brad Pitt) and old school friend over for the Thanksgiving holiday. During dinner, we realize that Will and Ross had an “I Hate Rachel Green” Club in high school and spend the rest of the dinner reminiscing down memory lane. Chandler attempts to watch football and Phoebe roots for the Green Bay “Mer-Men.”
1. “The One With All the Thanksgiving’s” Season 5, Episode 8
Coming in at number one, we have the all-time un-disputed winner. In this episode, we go back in time to experience everyone’s worst Thanksgivings and we get to see Ross, Chandler, Rachel and Monica donned in their 80s attire meet for Thanksgiving in college. In this iconic episode, we discover that Monica, in an attempt to seduce Chandler, accidentally cut off his toe many years ago in a cooking mis-hap. Hilarious flashbacks and gimmicks, this is truly THE BEST Thanksgiving Episode.
All Seasons and Episodes of FRIENDS are now streaming on HBO Max.
And that’s the sitch.
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