Friends: Every Halloween And Thanksgiving Episode Ranked
1. The One Where Underdog Gets Away
The series' first holiday episode is by far its strongest. Almost every joke in this episode is remembered favorably by fans, from Joey's unfortunate modeling gig to Monica's three types of potatoes.
It's also notable in that pretty much every character besides Phoebe has a unique story arc. Rachel can't afford to go on her usual family vacation because she's not a good enough waitress to earn tips. Joey can't meet women because everyone thinks he has syphilis. Ross wants to connect with his unborn baby, and Monica wants to make everybody happy while hosting her first Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Chandler can't be happy because he associates Thanksgiving with his parents' divorce.
Across all of these storylines, a shared theme emerges as every character is forced to spend Thanksgiving away from family. The episode's focus on new friendships in the absence of old traditions so beautifully encapsulates the soul of the series that it's hard to imagine any other Thanksgiving episode hitting half so close to home.
On top of that, little treats such as an appearance by Susan (one of the show's best recurring guest characters) and the new Carol that we'd eventually come to love help round out an amazing holiday episode. More than that, it may be one of the best episodes of the first season as a whole.