Suggestions Needed for Our Next Friends Episode
Added 2023-11-07 22:13:17 +0000 UTCSo we decided that next week we should do a Friends episode, specifically to push back on some revisionist takes on the series that, in light of Matthew Perry's passing, want to remember the show as being more progressive and less homophobic. But what episode should we do? Asking you all because I know there are some people in the Patreon community that have a deeper knowledge of Friends than we do.
We were thinking about maybe doing The One With the Nap Partners (s7e6) because there's a homophobic undercurrent there but it's not on Chandler and that might allow us to make our argument without hammering Perry too hard? And we should do one of the ones with Chandler's parents but those really would be a more trans-focused episode with a trans guest to take a break from the general homophobia and focus instead on the transphobia.
Any suggestions? Drop them in the comments and if you can tell me why you think this one would be worth discussing.
FWIW, here are the Friends episodes we have already done:
- The One Where Nana Dies Twice (s1e8)
- The One With the Lesbian Wedding (s2e11)
- The One With Rachel's Big Kiss (s7e20)
Comments
For what is worth, one of my takeaways from previous GEE episodes about Friends is your respect for all the actors and how well they took to their respective roles, so I think that you're perfectly capable of talking about the show's homophobic approach to Chandler's insecurities, without it coming off as you hammering Matthew Perry. As to your question, whenever I hear the show's creators argue that Friends is not homophobic, but rather poking fun at the character's homophobia, the first thing that comes to my mind is a scene from S07E04: "The One With Rachel's Assistant". In the B plot of that episode, Chandler has told Monica about some embarrassing experience Ross had (puking on himself on roller coaster or something like that), so Ross strikes back by telling Monica about one time when Chandler "kissed a guy". Here we have the show's casual homophobia (and possibly, inadvertent transphobia) in full display, but what makes it particularly egregious in my opinion, is that both the discussion and the scene end with Ross "winning" with this sentence: "Whatever dude, you kissed a guy". There's no rebuke to that, no counterargument, no questioning, no ironic distance, no "poking fun at the character's homophobia". Ross wins because Chandler "kissed a guy" and as we all know, that's the absolute worst thing that can happen to a heterosexual man. Cut to commercial. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5Fy8U3sJoE
Vaand
2023-11-08 05:46:35 +0000 UTCS3 E18 The one with the Hypnosis tape - Monica goes out with a guy who turns out to be a software billionaire. Chandler's stop smoking hypnosis tape has an unexpected side effect (tape is meant for women). Phoebe's brother Frank makes a surprise announcement that he is getting married - to a woman twice his age. S2 E6: The One with the Baby on the Bus - Chandler and Joey baby-sit Ross's son Ben and accidentally lose him. in the ep they get mistaken for a gay couple by Lea Thompson and later pretend to be a couple to get ben back. S1 E12: The One With The Dozen Lasagnas - Joey and Chandler have to buy a new table and bicker like a couple. S9 E6: The One with the Male Nanny: Looking for a new nanny, Ross and Rachel hire a male nanny named Sandy (Freddy Prince Jr). Monica tells Chandler that a guy at work is the funniest guy she has ever met. in the Ep Ross has gay panic with a male nanny - FPjr is quite enjoyable though! S2 E4: The One with Phoebe's Husband - we find out Phoebe was married to a gay ice dancer, who turns out isn't gay. S7 E4: The One with Rachel's Assistant - Chaos ensues when Monica and Chandler decide to share each other's secrets. Rachel gets a promotion and interviews for an assistant. Joey is offered the chance to go back on "Days of Our Lives". one of the secrets is Chandler kissed a guy small part of the episode though S3 E7: The One with the Race Car Bed - in the Ep Joey starts teaching an acting class. When Joey hears one of his students also auditions for the same role he wants, he tries to eliminate him by bad advice to play the boxer gay S3 E4: The One with the Metaphorical Tunnel - Chandler tries to get over his fear of commitment. Phoebe poses as Joey's agent after she forgets to tell him about an audition. Ross panics after seeing Ben play with a Barbie doll and tries to convince him to play with more manly toys. has Carol and Susan in it!
Garrett Sander
2023-11-08 03:47:55 +0000 UTC
