I’ve been a huge fan of Friends since I was thirteen years old. I’ve watched the entire show from beginning to end many times, and the more I watch it, the closer I feel to its beloved characters. I feel like I’ve spent the last seven years of my life growing up with Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross. As the theme song suggests, they’ll be there for you. It’s true. They’ve been there for me through many tough times.
I was devastated to hear the news about the sudden passing of Matthew Perry, who played the awkward, sarcastic, and lovable Chandler Bing. The comedy he provided was always perfect, making Friends even more enjoyable to watch. To commemorate him, I made a list of the six episodes that I think best capture Chandler’s character and Perry’s comedic genius. These are the perfect episodes to watch to remember Perry’s legacy.
- “The One With the Blackout” (Season 1, Episode 7)
While much of New York City loses power, five of the six friends stay in Monica and Rachel’s apartment in the dark. Chandler was at the ATM when the power went out, and the blackout caused the doors to lock, trapping him inside the vestibule. But he was not alone: supermodel Jill Goodacre was also stuck there. One of the funniest moments is when Jill offers Chandler a piece of gum, which he initially declines. Later, he says “On second thought, gum would be perfection.” We then hear Chandler’s thoughts through a voiceover, which tells us how annoyed he is at himself for saying that strange sentence. Chandler tries to blow a bubble in an attempt to get Jill to notice him, but he ultimately ends up making even more of a fool of himself by choking on the gum. This might be Chandler’s best episode ever, and it would be a great one to start with in a Matthew Perry memorial marathon. You might even call it perfection!
- “The One Where Eddie Won’t Go” (Season 2, Episode 19)
In Season 2, Joey makes more money when he starts acting on Days of Our Lives, and he moves out into his own apartment. Soon after, however, he is killed off the show. Meanwhile, Chandler finds a new roommate, Eddie, who turns out to be a little bananas. Eddie does crazy things like watching Chandler sleep and dehydrating fruit and water balloons. Chandler yells at him and demands him to move out, and it is hilarious. Eddie initially agrees to move out, but then he returns. Chandler finally succeeds in getting Eddie to go when he changes the locks and tells him that Joey is his roommate. The episode ends with the touching moment of Joey and Chandler reuniting as roommates again, showcasing both Chandler’s comedy and his amazing friendship with Joey.
- “The One With All the Rugby” (Season 4, Episode 15)
The main plotline of this episode, which features Ross being invited by his girlfriend Emily’s friends from England to play rugby, is already great, but the subplot featuring Chandler makes it even better. He is reunited with his ex-girlfriend Janice, who now drives him crazy, especially with her famous laugh. To get away with her, he tells her that his company is relocating him to Yemen. Janice wants to savor every moment with Chandler, so she helps him pack and goes to the airport with him. Chandler doesn’t actually want to go to Yemen, so he tries to get a fake ticket by paying with a library card, which of course doesn’t work. Since Janice won’t leave until she sees the plane take off, Chandler ends up having to get on the plane, saying, “I’m going to Yemen!”
- “The One On the Last Night” (Season 6, Episode 6)
One of the most loved Friends episodes, “The One On the Last Night” is made even better by Chandler Bing and his night with Joey. On their last night as roommates, Chandler and Joey’s plan is to “do nothing,” but Joey is having trouble paying his bills. He won’t accept charity, so Chandler makes up a fake card game that he plays with Joey to give him money. The game is called “Cups” and no matter what cards Joey has in his hand, he automatically wins. This is another episode that provides excellent comedic moments from Chandler and more emotional moments between him and Joey.
- “The Last One” (Season 10, Episodes 17/18)
This list wouldn’t be complete without including the final episode of the show. While Erica, the woman carrying Monica and Chandler’s adopted children, is giving birth, she and Chandler engage in a hilariously awkward conversation where Chandler wonders if giving birth or getting kicked in the nuts is more painful. At the end, we see the less sarcastic, more caring side of Chandler. He shows the babies their apartment as they prepare to move into their new house. The last line of the show perfectly encapsulates Chandler’s snarky but loving characterization. When the friends decide to go for one last cup of coffee, Chandler asks, “Where?” We all know they are going to Central Perk, the group’s signature hangout spot. “The Last One” is an excellent episode to watch as a reminder of the incredible legacy Matthew Perry left us with. It’s been a few weeks, but I know all of us Friends fans are still in disbelief that one of our six best friends is gone. It will take a while to heal from this devastating loss, but we will always have Chandler’s most hilarious moments to comfort us, just as they have helped us through other difficult times. Chandler Bing will live forever, in Friends, and in our hearts.
Carrie Teti is a Staff Writer. Her email is cteti@fandm.edu.