10 Worst Friends Characters Who Appeared After Season 1

7. Mark Robinson

Friends Janine
NBC

Ugh, this other pr**k.

What makes Mark even more frustrating is that his story started so well. After offering a struggling Rachel a chance to work at Bloomingdale's, Mark appeared to be a genuinely nice guy offering a fellow fashionista (or "fascist", as Joey would say) a break.

Ross' jealousy of Mark, and belief he was only nice to Rachel to get in her pants, provides the catalyst for Ross and Rachel's break-up. At which point Mark reveals that he always fancied Rachel, and would very much like to get in her pants.

Excuse our language here, but for f**k's sake!

This sucked for two reasons. One, it was blatant example of lazy writers reducing a potentially interesting side-character to a one-dimensional horn-dog. Two, Mark's strategy - of being a nice guy to a woman in an effort to undermine her relationship - is toxic beta behaviour 101, and it is infuriating that it worked.

Yes, Mark never does get together with Rachel but he also never gets his comeuppance. When he appears in Series 10, Rachel is delighted to see him and... he offers her a new job at Louis Vuitton.

Plus ça change...

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