This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/03/stop-the-friends-bashing-and-let-me-enjoy-the-endless-re-runs-in-peace
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| The One where Friends is Analysed to Death is not an episode we need to see | The One where Friends is Analysed to Death is not an episode we need to see |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ahead of Friends’ 25th anniversary this month, the website Buzzfeed has published a new viral article arguing that the much-loved show was, in fact, “terrible”. | |
| “Friends, a show about white people being thin and having the pointiest nipples in the continental Americas – and a show that I, at one time, watched and enjoyed – is absolute garbage,” the writer Scaachi Koul quipped. | “Friends, a show about white people being thin and having the pointiest nipples in the continental Americas – and a show that I, at one time, watched and enjoyed – is absolute garbage,” the writer Scaachi Koul quipped. |
| Koul is not alone in feeling this; the show’s new life on Netflix has spawned reams of content dedicated to judging its phenomenon status (including, I apologise, this column). | Koul is not alone in feeling this; the show’s new life on Netflix has spawned reams of content dedicated to judging its phenomenon status (including, I apologise, this column). |
| Friends is prime for valid criticism over how poorly the show has aged, from stripper jokes to a whitewashed New York City. It is frankly bizarre that Monica’s entire backstory was that she used to be fat. Ross should probably have been given a restraining order for breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house. | Friends is prime for valid criticism over how poorly the show has aged, from stripper jokes to a whitewashed New York City. It is frankly bizarre that Monica’s entire backstory was that she used to be fat. Ross should probably have been given a restraining order for breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s house. |
| The age of comfort TV: why people are secretly watching Friends and The Office on a loop | The age of comfort TV: why people are secretly watching Friends and The Office on a loop |
| But complaining about the show’s quality, rather than its politics, seems to miss the point. I love Friends. I watched every episode as it aired, and have rewatched many since. I will undoubtedly do so again. It is also – by any objective, technical standard – not that great. And that’s entirely OK. | But complaining about the show’s quality, rather than its politics, seems to miss the point. I love Friends. I watched every episode as it aired, and have rewatched many since. I will undoubtedly do so again. It is also – by any objective, technical standard – not that great. And that’s entirely OK. |
| Friends’ success has never relied on it being the best of its genre. It’s a classic in part because it doesn’t worry about such things; it offers simplicity, a perfect formula of effortless wellbeing. | Friends’ success has never relied on it being the best of its genre. It’s a classic in part because it doesn’t worry about such things; it offers simplicity, a perfect formula of effortless wellbeing. |
| That’s why all the think pieces questioning whether Friends is as good as Seinfeld are misdirected; the suggestion being that “proving” Friends is inferior is somehow a hot burn. Expecting Chandler Bing to hold up to one of the wittiest comedies of all time is like asking my pyjamas to get the same reception as a Dior dress. One is fluffy comfort and the other world-class, but when I’m 20 minutes into a KFC family bucket, nothing beats my elastic waistband. | That’s why all the think pieces questioning whether Friends is as good as Seinfeld are misdirected; the suggestion being that “proving” Friends is inferior is somehow a hot burn. Expecting Chandler Bing to hold up to one of the wittiest comedies of all time is like asking my pyjamas to get the same reception as a Dior dress. One is fluffy comfort and the other world-class, but when I’m 20 minutes into a KFC family bucket, nothing beats my elastic waistband. |
| Friends’ fans are the noble champions against high art: that on the right day, watching Dirty Dancing can be just as valuable as Citizen Kane. Enjoy the endless re-runs without shame. The One where Friends is Analysed to Death is not an episode any of us need to see. | Friends’ fans are the noble champions against high art: that on the right day, watching Dirty Dancing can be just as valuable as Citizen Kane. Enjoy the endless re-runs without shame. The One where Friends is Analysed to Death is not an episode any of us need to see. |
| Television | Television |
| Opinion | Opinion |
| Friends | Friends |
| comment | comment |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |
Previous version
1
Next version