4. Monica Gets Back with Richard
After, quite literally, a decade of not seeing each other, and now that Little Monica was all grown up, Jack Geller's long-time friend, Dr Richard Burke, saw fit to 'get in there', so to speak. Thus was born Monica's defining relationship of the show so far, back in Season Two. And, let's be honest, it's not as if there is much to choose from. Our favourite obsessive chef has faired pretty badly in the love stakes compared to her companions. In fact didn't a guy lie about being impotent just to get her in the bed IN THE FIRST EPISODE? Yeah, well, unfortunately, it didn't get much better from there on. She had a brief two-episode dalliance with a happy-go-lucky drunk, known as Fun Bobby, who quickly lost the 'Fun' prefix without a barrel-full of booze coursing through his veins. Next she moved onto a college senior, who turned out to be a 'Senior-in-High-School', can you say statutory rape, Monica? Finally, there was Pete Becker: the dotcom millionaire who asked her out by writing her a check for $20,000 and taking her to Rome for a pizza, you know, as you do! However, although Pete was nice enough, Monica spent half their relationship complaining that she wasn't attracted to him, and then basically told him as much. Great confidence booster, I'd imagine! Nevertheless, they then shared one of 'those kisses' and suddenly she liked him. However, the relationship ultimately descended into a ridiculous (even for Friends) 'storyline' which involved Pete fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a cage fighter/wrestler. Even though I love Friends, this was possibility one of the most idiotic story-arcs I've ever seen on a TV show and all it really did was reaffirm Monica's disaster reputation with men. Over the show's short run we've seen Monica date every shade of jerk/loser/immature man-boy variant there could possible be in Manhattan. The only one who showed any real promise was Richard Burke (I mean, it IS Tom Selleck after all!). Monica, although 20 years younger than him, is very much the embodiment of orderliness and obsessiveness, which gives her an almost Grandmother-like quality. So, it really didn't seem too much of a stretch that she would date someone like Richard. In addition. Richard's laidback, nonchalant demeanor gave him a youthful exuberance and also chilled Monica the hell out. The Season Two episode, The One With the Chicken Pox, showed off their relationship perfectly. Their discussion about Monica's obsessive behaviour, such as sleeping on a certain side of the bed, make her feel insecure when Richard doesn't seem to have any similar compulsions. Although it was portrayed humorously, the episode was the first, and possible only, time we see Monica engage with a man on a level deeper than comedy/humiliation value. Personally, I would very surprised if the writers aren't secretly planning to keep Selleck on board for a while longer. Although he has not appeared in Season Four (not yet anyway), Monica invited his son over, on another one of her disaster dates, for Thanksgiving, ultimately becoming creeped out when his kisses resembles his father's too much. Hmm, maybe she should just stick to the original. Is this what the writers are trying to tell us, perhaps? Besides that, earlier on, during Season Three, Monica took an awfully long time to gain 'closure' from their romance - especially for a show which isn't rigorously concerned with continuity. Their pairing is an interesting dynamic to continue to explore, especially as Monica, the younger partner, is eager commit yet the older partner, Richard, is unwilling to 'do it all again'. However, it is undeniable the impression they had left on each other during Season Two and Three and, truthfully Monica's romantic life is in need of some serious development. Take note writers! Enough of saddling our Mother Hen to a string of immature, commitment-phobic (or underage) boys. Seriously, at this point, if this is all they can come up with, they may as well just put her and Chandler together and have done with it!