There was something seismic about Friends, whether you were a devotee or fair weather fan. That a reunion was wrangled seventeen years after it ended, is testament to the legacy of this series. Not only was it syndicated in over twenty countries and translated into most known languages, but Friends made megastars of those involved. Only The Big Bang Theory or The Sopranos come close to capturing that global appeal.
Looking in from outside it started as a small pitch about friendship and morphed into a merchandising machine, which saw the cast posing for Rolling Stone magazine. Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry were perfectly cast. These names are burned into the collective unconscious of a generation as Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Rachel, Ross and Chandler.
What this reunion does well is remind audiences why it lasted. An inherent chemistry between these actors is still apparent even in conversation. Easy charm and nostalgia envelopes everyone concerned including erstwhile host James Corden. From beginning to end he enthuses, encourages and asks them a selection of pre-planned questions. This is interspersed with table reads, blooper reels and insight from the creators.
That is where things get interesting as David Crane, Marta Kauffman and Adam Chase open up about casting choices. Their reasons behind certain decisions are slotted in next to anecdotes that genuine fans will find fascinating. For the curious it offers a peek behind the curtain into a creative process which is still talked about. Celebrity fans, past guest stars and a live audience all add to the feeling that something special is happening here.
Aside from the characters they each personified, there is no getting away from how good they really are. Comic timing, measured pathos and a live audience is no day at the beach. Continual rewrites and the need to recreate a moment repeatedly comes with its own pressure. That this polished ensemble made it look easy says much about the skill on display.
From Matt LeBlanc through to Courteney Cox there is no weak link amongst the Friends. Slapstick comedy, concise melodrama and a measurable character arc are all present and correct. Everything is worked out and every inflection considered, in a show that captured lightening in a bottle week after week. For a layman the pleasure comes in seeing how this particular sausage got made, as each actor reflects on moments that resonate with them personally.
For the casual observer there is plenty to enjoy and this reunion offers up some rich rewards. However, whether this was worth the money to get them back together for an hour and forty minutes is debatable. Wealth changes people but thankfully this tight knit group of Friends seem unchanged by their success. If audiences were looking to celebrate anything, maybe they could do worse than starting with that.
Friends: The Reunion will be on Sky One and streaming service NOW TV from May 27th in the UK and on HBO Max in the US.