Out of all of the six characters at the heart of one of the most successful sitcoms of all time, Ross Geller was initially the most relatable guy: just a bloke, slightly geeky, unlucky in love but goodhearted, clever and sweet. Hes that nice guy that always gets friendzoned (just like us!), so we rooted for Ross and Rachel all the way through season one and in season two, he got the girl. Then the problems started insecurity and paranoia set in, ruining the relationship, and finally Ross cheats on Rachel (it doesnt matter whether they were on a break or not, cheating is cheating) with a virtual stranger. What follows is a weird melange of anxiety-related mishaps, more bad marriages and divorces, and generally Ross being a terrible, terrible boyfriend because it turns out that the nice guys that complain about being friendzoned arent relationship material, or really very nice guys at all. Then theres the casual yet weirdly aggressive homophobia. Ross is selfish and acts out when he doesnt get his own way. He has absolutely no respect for or trust in any woman hes involved with, and his character arc in the show (over ten years) goes from science-geek-obsessed-with-Rachel to science-geek-obsessed-with-Rachel. Zero growth, zero maturity. Contrast that with Chandler, the neurotic chatterbox of season one whos a mature, grown-up married man starting a family and a new home by the series finale just like us. Oh, and the friendzone is a myth, boys. Shes just not into you. Deal with it.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
