On May 13th, I finished watching the 236th and final episode of Friends. Honestly speaking, finishing the show felt like a big accomplishment, especially since it is so culturally significant (and popular amongst Millennials).
Amazingly, what I saw on-screen felt similar, despite so many aspects of my life being different: San Jose vs NYC, 2020’s vs late 90’s / early 00’s, Asian-American minority, numerous health issues, software engineering career, living at home w/parents, etc.
I suppose I could still relate well to the characters due to their age. The late 20’s and early 30’s are a time for feeling confused about life. What to do in terms of career, dating is all a blur. There are simply so many decisions that need to be made. The show does a good job demonstrating ways these difficulties can be overcome. (Hey, if I ever need dating advice, I’ll just re-watch the antics of Joey on-screen.)
Now the big question is…would I recommend Friends to my own friends? The answer is no. First off, many of them have already watched it. Secondly, it is just too long. In order to truly get into the show you have to consume a lot of filler; if someone can barely find enough time for a short weekend lunch + boba break, then they don’t have 86+ hours (236 episodes x 22min) to kill.
