Friends: 25 Greatest Episodes

14. The One Where Paul's The Man (S6E22)

Friends The One Where Paul's The Man
NBC

The Episode

Ross and Elizabeth go for a weekend away at her family's country cabin... but unbeknownst to them, so too do Rachel and Paul. The girls look at a wedding venue, and Monica puts herself and Chandler on the waiting list.

Why It's Great

Chandler's freakout when he gets the call about the Geller-Bing wedding is everything you'd expect, and even sweeter when it turns out it's all a ruse.

The real meat of the episode, though, comes at the cabin, with the series taking a turn into some more overtly slapstick, farcical comedy. Ross hiding under/in places is physical gold, Rachel's diversions are wonderfully sold by Aniston, and there are all kinds of miscommunications and near-misses.

At the centre of all of this is Bruce Willis. He's one of the show's most memorable guest stars, and this episode is why. He perfectly sends up his known image, looking in the mirror and telling himself he's a neat guy, and just a love machine - which Ross then brilliantly mimics. HURGH!

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.