Friends

10 Best Episodes of Friends - Season 8

Friends is a popular NBC television show that first aired on September 23, 1994. It follows the lives of six young adults living in New York City as they navigate their way through life. The show aired for 11 seasons and quickly became a fan favorite. Friends has been praised for its witty dialogue and lovable characters. After all these years, fans still debate which episodes rank among the best. In this article, we will look at some of the best Friends episodes that have been ranked by fans.

Throughout its 11-season run, Friends had numerous classic episodes that were beloved by fans. From Rachel's iconic hair cut to the birth of Ross and Rachel's baby, the show has provided viewers with some of the most memorable moments in television history. Some of the best episodes of Friends include "The One With the Prom Video", "The One Where Ross Finds Out", and "The One With the Morning After".

Despite its age, Friends still remains one of the most beloved television shows of all time. It has been praised for its lovable characters and witty dialogue, and fans have ranked some of the show's best episodes. From Ross's proposal to Rachel to the birth of their baby, these episodes are sure to leave you with a smile on your face.

Written by Sophie and last updated on may 04, 2024.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

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Friends - S8E21

#15 - The One with the Cooking Class (Season 8 - Episode 21)

Monica's restaurant gets a bad review in the Post. After confronting the critic who wrote it, she decides to join a cooking class, with Joey in tow. Meanwhile, Rachel gets jealous when Ross hits it off with a woman at the baby department store. And Chandler prepares for a job interview after Phoebe tells him that he makes a bad first impression.

The episode was rated 7.79 from 1341 votes.

Friends - S8E1

#14 - The One After "I Do" (Season 8 - Episode 1)

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The excitement of Monica and Chandler's wedding is diminished by the news that someone may be pregnant. Chandler's hopes of not embarrassing Monica on the dance floor are ruined by his slippery new shoes, and Ross' attempts to flirt with an attractive wedding guest.

The episode was rated 7.81 from 1518 votes.

Friends - S8E6

#13 - The One with the Halloween Party (Season 8 - Episode 6)

Monica and Chandler decide to throw a costumed Halloween party. Meanwhile, Phoebe runs into Ursula, who's preparing to get married soon, and as a courtesy invites her and her fiancΓ© to the party. When they finally meet, Phoebe takes an instant liking to him, but soon she discovers that he knows nothing about the "real" Ursula.

The episode was rated 7.82 from 1483 votes.

Friends - S8E15

#12 - The One with the Birthing Video (Season 8 - Episode 15)

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During Valentine's Day, Chandler and Monica discover the miracle of birth by watching an extremely graphic video. Ross hides the fact that Rachel is now living with him from Mona, which only gets him into more trouble. Meanwhile, Phoebe tries to help with Joey's depression caused by his feelings for Rachel by lending him the world's happiest dog.

The episode was rated 7.84 from 1358 votes.

Friends - S8E22

#11 - The One Where Rachel Is Late (Season 8 - Episode 22)

Monica and Phoebe bet on when Rachel's baby will be born as the due date comes and goes as Rachel becomes extremely irritable. Meanwhile, Joey invites Chandler to his big movie premiere and he manages to fall asleep during it. Also, Ross attempts to help Rachel speed things along by trying every possible method suggested by the doctor, except one.

The episode was rated 7.86 from 1326 votes.

Friends - S8E12

#10 - The One Where Joey Dates Rachel (Season 8 - Episode 12)

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Phoebe gets Monica and Chandler a Ms. Pacman arcade game for a wedding present, which leads to some heavy competition between Monica, Phoebe, and, surprisingly, Chandler. Ross gets to teach an advanced class because of a retiring professor, but soon learns that its on the other side of town, and he doesn't have enough time to get there. Meanwhile, Joey takes Rachel to dinner on a pretend date and they have a great time together, however, at the end of the night things take an unexpected turn.

The episode was rated 7.88 from 1410 votes.

Friends - S8E16

#9 - The One Where Joey Tells Rachel (Season 8 - Episode 16)

After Joey reveals to Ross that he's in love with Rachel, Ross has a hard time accepting this revelation. However, after giving it some thought, he convinces Joey to tell Rachel how he feels. So he does exactly that by taking Rachel out to dinner, however, her reaction to the news isn't quite what he expected. Meanwhile, Phoebe claims that she has met Monica's soulmate which makes Chandler really anxious.

The episode was rated 7.89 from 1342 votes.

Friends - S8E8

#8 - The One with the Stripper (Season 8 - Episode 8)

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Chandler finds out that Monica had a bachelorette party with a stripper, even though they promised not to have bachelor/bachelorette parties. Monica feels bad about it, so she organizes a bachelor party including a stripper for Chandler, however, the only one excited about it seems to be Joey. Meanwhile, Rachel prepares to have dinner with her dad and tell him that she's pregnant and it doesn't go particularly well for either of the involved parties.

The episode was rated 7.91 from 1428 votes.

Friends - S8E3

#7 - The One Where Rachel Tells... (Season 8 - Episode 3)

Chandler and Monica prepare to leave for their honeymoon as Rachel prepares to tell Ross that he's the father of her baby. While traveling, Monica and Chandler become jealous of another honeymooning couple who get bumped to first class on the airplane. Meanwhile, Joey and Phoebe scheme to get inside the newlyweds' apartment after discovering that they don't have a key.

The episode was rated 7.95 from 1517 votes.

Friends - S8E13

#6 - The One Where Chandler Takes a Bath (Season 8 - Episode 13)

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Monica turns Chandler on to the concept of taking a bath to relax, complete with scented oils and candles. Ross and Rachel toss baby names back and forth while deciding whether to learn the baby's sex. Meanwhile, Joey struggles with his feelings for Rachel.

The episode was rated 7.95 from 1427 votes.

Friends - S8E23

#5 - The One Where Rachel Has a Baby (Season 8 - Episode 23)

Ross and Rachel go to the hospital to have their baby, but it's a long labor. They get stuck in a semi-private room, and many other couples come and go before Rachel is ready to deliver - the last couple being Janice and her new husband. Meanwhile, Chandler and Monica decide to start trying to have a baby, but can't find an empty hospital room where they wouldn't be disturbed. Also, Phoebe meets a handsome stranger and "recruits" Dr. Drake Ramoray to gather some personal information about him. After Rachel gives birth to her little baby girl, she must confront relationship issues around her. So does Ross, who gets an engagement ring from his mother, while she urges him to propose to Rachel. The things, however, take an interesting turn.

The episode was rated 8.02 from 2515 votes.

Friends - S8E2

#4 - The One with the Red Sweater (Season 8 - Episode 2)

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Speculation regarding the father of Rachel's baby leads to a misunderstanding when Joey discovers a red sweater left behind in a one-night stand Rachel had. Meanwhile, Chandler and Ross search for the disposable cameras left behind at the wedding and Monica goes on a present-opening binge.

The episode was rated 8.03 from 1568 votes.

Friends - S8E4

#3 - The One with the Videotape (Season 8 - Episode 4)

Monica and Chandler return from their honeymoon with stories of a couple that they met on the flight back, but soon discover that the couple gave them a wrong number. Meanwhile, Ross and Rachel tell everyone about the night they were together, however, their stories differ as to who made the first move. While Ross emphatically defends his side of the story, he accidentally reveals that he has the encounter on videotape. Unsurprisingly, everyone wants to see it.

The episode was rated 8.07 from 1551 votes.

Friends - S8E24

#2 - The One Where Rachel Has A Baby: Part 2 (Season 8 - Episode 24)

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The Friends episode "The One Where Rachel Has A Baby: Part 2" follows Rachel as she must confront relationship issues after giving birth to her baby. This episode is beloved by fans, as it is both emotional and funny. The ending of the episode is often criticized, as it features the Joey proposal which many fans feel is unnecessary and does not contribute to the show's construct. Despite this, Friends still remains a beloved show.

The episode evokes strong reactions in fans, as many feel two opposite emotions: excitement for the next episode and sadness at the knowledge that there are only two seasons left of the show. Fans of Friends watch the show multiple times, still finding the same joy and laughter in each episode. Even with critiques of the Joey proposal, Friends remains an iconic show that will live on in the hearts of fans.

The episode was rated 8.09 from 1053 votes.

Friends - S8E9

#1 - The One with the Rumor (Season 8 - Episode 9)

In the episode "The One With The Rumor," Monica invites an old friend from high school, Will (played by Brad Pitt), over for Thanksgiving dinner. Will and Monica had a secret rivalry in high school and Monica is determined to prove her superiority. Meanwhile, Joey vows to eat an entire turkey by himself. He attempts to do so, but fails when he can't finish the last bite.

Joey is a fan favorite due to his silly nature and easy-going attitude. His failed attempt to eat a whole turkey is sure to bring a laugh from viewers. Additionally, the introduction of Brad Pitt's character, Will, as a rival to Rachel is a nice twist. It was likely more surprising when the episode first aired, but is still enjoyable today.

The episode was rated 8.12 from 1542 votes.

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