It seems like a pretty simple question. Why is a show that ended almost a decade ago still playing on a channel no matter what time you turn on your television? The simple answer is that this show is incredible, but I don’t think that an opinion like that is a good enough answer. The reason I believe this show is still so predominant in everyday pop culture is primarily due to the themes it portrays. Everyone can identify with one or multiple characters in this series. One of the easiest ways for these identifications are through the relationships presented on the show:

Phoebe and Mike: Phoebe is perceived as an outcast in the group. Not to the point of her not fitting in with her friends, but she has always been the quirky, hippie, offbeat girl who sang in the coffeehouse about a Smelly Cat. However, the last season brought out a new side of Phoebe. She had rough childhood to say the least so to see her happily married off at the end of the series wasn’t only satisfying for the viewer, it demonstrated an important message. Phoebe’s happy ending shows the viewers that no matter what obstacles you face in life, if you keep a positive attitude and believe in someday, you can find your happy ending.

Chandler and Monica: Chandler and Monica are two best friends who fell in love. What isn’t inspiring about the notion that anyone, even someone you’ve only seen as a friend could turn out to be the one for you. They also have their share of struggles including the biggest one, the fact that they can’t conceive. News this detrimental can destroy a person, however the two of them overcome the obstacles and find their happily ever after and their family.

Ross and Rachel: Last but not least we have Ross and Rachel. A couple that proves that its possible to somehow date for 8 years without actually dating for 6 of those years. We saw Ross pine over Rachel and Rachel pine over Ross. We saw them date. We saw them take a break, which ended in a break up. We saw them countlessly attempt to get back together. We saw them have a baby. Even with all of their history, these two still find a way to end up happy together. This calls out to all the hopeless romantics or maybe those of us who just aren’t ready to let go of their significant other in an on-again-off-again relationship.

So there it is, my take on my favorite series. Even though I adore this series more than anything else to ever grace the small screen, this isn’t the reason I chose to write about it. The series itself isn’t my passion it’s the ideals it holds that inspire me. I’m not some obsessed dude trying to find a wife in the next twenty minutes and run off into the sunset. However, what’s so bad about escaping the stress of everyday life, that doesn’t always end the way you want it to, by entering the world of six friends with similar struggles and watching them conquer these hardships and come out on top. In my opinion, the world would be a better place if we all made a little time for our Friends.