Friends: 25 Greatest Episodes

10. The One The Morning After (S3E16)

Friends The One The Morning After
NBC

The Episode

Ross tries to stop Rachel from finding out he slept with Chloe, which obviously doesn't work. When the breakup really starts happening, the rest of the gang are trapped in Monica's bedroom.

Why It's Great

"We were on a break."

This episode, the follow-up to The One Where Ross and Rachel Take A Break, gives us the most iconic quote in Friends history. That itself is great, but this instalment is much more than just those five words.

Ross' attempts at hiding the truth are doomed to fail, but that doesn't stop his futile efforts at following the trail any less funny, nor the ultimate pay-off less dramatic. From there we're stuck inside the apartment, blending the ridiculous hilarity of those stuck in the bedroom with the heartfelt scenes in the kitchen.

It's an excellent display of the show's ability to balance tone, as it manages to tickle your funnybone while punching you in the feels. The bedroom stuff will have you laughing out loud, but the Ross and Rachel scenes (with Jennifer Aniston on particularly great form) will leave you in tears.

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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.