We've been taking an unofficial break from "Friends" since it went off the air in the mid-1990s. But now, in honor of HBO Max's long-awaited "Friends" (opens in new tab) reunion (opens in new tab) - the first gathering of the beloved six-piece in 17 years on that iconic orange couch - Marie Claire celebrates, criticizes, and obsesses over the show that was always there for us They are.

There are a few undeniable facts about "Friends": the apartment was unrealistically large, Emily should have been nicer, the lack of diversity (opens in new tab) was disturbing, and fashion was on point (opens in new tab). opens in new tab). But one special opinion of mine (which will surely lose me friends). Joey and Rachel's storyline was not bad. In fact, it was traceable, and I wholeheartedly endorse it.

Let me get this straight: the show wants us to root for Ross. They set him up as a loser who has been obsessed with popular girls since he was a teenager. Their "will-they-wont-they" and "we were on a break" arcs drive the sitcom's season and serve as one of the show's main emotional beats. Ross and Rachel's chemistry is undeniably palpable (we now know this is probably due to Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer's mutual fondness for each other in real life (opens in new tab)). There is something irrepressibly romantic about her finally seeing the potential in him, who has loved her for years, and her best friend's nerdy brother.

But Ross and Rachel are not a good couple. If they were real-life friends, I would call them toxic behind their backs. Ross is jealous, has little in common with Rachel other than being her friend, and constantly expects Rachel to conform to the perfect Rachel image he created when he was in high school. Fans, in hindsight, have collectively decided that Ross is deeply problematic, but still, we cheered when Rachel stepped off the plane for him. Because he is her lobster. That's why the show's left turn into Joey's territory is so shocking. The writers first stepped into Joey and Rachel's storyline in season 8, when "Joey dates Rachel." He takes Rachel out because Rachel misses the romance of dating. This is so sweet and sets the stage for a series of episodes in which Joey develops feelings for Rachel, one of his best friends, who happens to be pregnant with another best friend's child. It was an opportunity for Joey's character to grow and mature. Ultimately, however, Rachel does not feel the same way. The situation between her, Ross, and the two soon-to-be co-parents is too confusing. The timing was not right. But by the end of Season 9, Rachel begins to have feelings for Joey, who is dating Charlie, who, coincidentally, Ross has a crush on. They simultaneously realize they are dating the wrong person and switch, giving Joey and Rachel a chance to try dating. And so we come to season 10. But I don't think it's right to completely dismiss Joey and Rachel's arc because of the major flaws and lazy scripts throughout the season. Rachel's fondness for Joey makes sense. They have lived together (happily) for years, and he has supported her during her pregnancy and as a new mom in ways that Ross never could.

I think the real question is how the writers approached this storyline. After spending a couple of seasons setting up Joey and Rachel's arc, they ended it in a couple of episodes. Rachel even joked at one point that she dated Joey for a week and ended it right away because the chemistry wasn't there. The show's creators, who support the controversial decision (open in new tab) to have the characters date even though the performers don't like the idea, say they knew all along that Joey and Rachel would have a breakup. 'There are things in life that happen,' David Crain once told Radio Times. 'There are relationships that shouldn't be. Even if you love someone, that's not who you should be with." It took Joey to a more emotional place and allowed Matt (LeBlanc) to play a color he had yet to play in the series. And because the final season was cut short, the writers were forced to drop Joey and rush toward their true end game: loss

But if the show had been able to invest at least one full season in their relationship, perhaps all fans would have reached the same conclusion about this story line might have reached the same conclusion as I did about this storyline: while Ross is too busy pining for the Rachel of the past, Joey falls in love with a woman named Rachel in the present.

But this is really just a moo point, since Rachel ended up with Ross (opens in new tab).