10 Things That Date Friends Terribly

1. The World Trade Centre

More than coffee, more than The Rembrants, what Friends had at its very heart was New York, and when the city suffered the tragic attacks of September 11 2001, the show naturally had to make adjustments. A script set to air a month after had a terrorism joke smartly removed, but references to the twin towers are littered throughout the seasons that had aired prior.

Ross and Joey, following their trip to London, even head down to a bar near there to get their hands on another pint of Bodington's. There's still a lot of establishing shots scattered throughout the earlier seasons where the Twin Towers are suddenly, sharply, brought into focus. At the time of going to air they were a symbol of America's stature on the global economic stage, but now they mean something entirely different. It's subjective of course, and what their image means to New York residents will be entirely different to what they mean to international fans of the show, but still catching a glimpse of them as episodes skip between scenes is a sobering reminder of how the world can change so suddenly.

The sight of the World Trade Centre and the emotions it stirs doesn't make the show any less funny, instead it shows you precisely why it's one of the most warmly loved and fondly remembered things on TV today. The world has changed immeasurably since its episodes first aired, so much so that parts of it are almost unrecognisable now, but the stories and the characters remain relevant even today. Any other things that have dated Friends? Share them down in the comments.