“Friends” at 25 (Part III): The One with the Thanksgivings

Author’s Note: This is the third part of a five-part series on the legacy of Friends as it reaches its silver anniversary. Click here for Part I, in which I analyze the show’s pop culture legacy. Click here for Part II, in which I delve into what the show meant to me personally. Click here for Part IV, where I rank the 25 best episodes of the show’s run. Click here for Part V, where I rank the best acting performances on the series. For my recap of the reunion special that aired in 2021, click here.

Among the greatest contributions Friends made to television comedy — and popular culture in general — were its annual Thanksgiving episodes. It makes sense that Friends selected a family-oriented holiday such as Thanksgiving as its holiday of choice given that the show was at its core about young adults newly emerging from dysfunctional families to create a slightly more functional one of their own choosing. Some of the most memorable moments of the show’s run took place on the holiday ranging from the hilarious (e.g., Rachel’s traditional English trifle, the touch football game, Rachel’s catfight with her sister) to the deeply heartfelt (e.g., Chandler telling Monica he loves her for the first time, Chandler locking himself in a box as a gesture of apology to Joey, Monica and Chandler finding out they had been selected to adopt a baby).