The One Where We Don’t Know What to Expect
As classic TV series Friends celebrates its 25th anniversary, the creators with its six megastars have reunited, confirming an unscripted one-off special that will be released with the official launch of the new streaming service HBO Max in May 2020.
The stars posted a goofy cast picture on Instagram with caption "It's happening…", leaving fans clinging onto the edge of their seats. After decades, Friends deals with issues that are relevant and relatable even today. Facing various circumstances, meeting new people, getting in and out of relationships, encountering obstacles and personal growth are all aspects of our lives that are satirized through the six characters, making them easy to fall in love with. However, having rewatched it in recent years, certain plots, situations and characters in the show come off as highly problematic, with their underlying tones of sexism, prejudice and a lack of diversity.
Although there is ambiguity surrounding the type of show we are going to get, here are a few things worth anticipating, and a few worth moving past.
THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO
Our favourite characters: The raw humour and chemistry between cast members is probably what we are most excited about, the familiarity, like old times, a real treat.
Backstories: We hope to see well-established, strong backstories for each character in the time between where the show left off and where it would start again, supporting a smooth transition and fully developed storylines.
Unexpected plot-twists: Fans are speculating stirring plot-twists such as Joey having an unexpected romantic partner, Rachel choosing to pursue her dreams instead of Ross, and an Ugly Naked Guy face reveal, to name a few.
THINGS TO LEAVE BEHIND
Fragile masculinity and sexism: All ten seasons of the show was laced with sexist jokes, continuous objectification of women and instances of fragile masculinity. Ross's disapproval of the male nanny, the guys' poking fun at Joey's new purse are some examples that demonstrate the rigid, critique-worthy standards of "manliness".
Lack of diversity and inclusivity: In terms of casting, Friends severely lacked diversity. The only people of colour who appeared on the show were Julie and Charlie, an East Asian and Black woman respectively. Furthermore, many were displeased by the poor treatment of Susan and Carol, and Chandler's father, the former's relationship often mocked while the character of Charles Bing was vastly misrepresented.
Controversial content: Monica's relationship with Richard, Ross dating a student and a flawed understanding of both consent and cultural appropriation were all controversial matters that were disturbing and uncomfortable for viewers.
Izma Anwar has a talent for spraining her ankles. Send prayers at [email protected]
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