Introduction I was going to write, but I didn't. So there.
"The One with the Two Parts"
This is a tangentially connected two part episode, but it's basically two different episodes. Also, the Friends writers really just don't give a shit about episode titles because this is the laziest yet. Ross comes to learn to accept that he is becoming a father. Rachel and Monica experience some good ole sitcom hijinks. Joey tries to go out with Phoebe's twin sister.
In the first part, there's one story completely unrelated to anything else which really makes it seem like two different episodes instead of an hour-long episode. Chandler has to fire Nina, who he wants to date, but doesn't at first because he doesn't want to dip his pen into the company ink.
This is one of those stories that kind of gets so ridiculous, it's funny. Also Chandler is in it, who has made funny stories out of average material. This possibly also works because Chandler has shown trouble consistent with this story in that he couldn't break up with Janice. Then he makes things worse by asking her out instead of firing her. Then he tells her she is getting a raise right before asking her to marry him. "So after the proposal, I kind of unraveled."
The rest of the stories are actually connected even if loosely. Ross needs to attend classes to learn how to raise a baby. It's mildly funny and the real reason for the setup is so that the teacher can tell Ross to imagine his vagina is opening like a flower when he has to play the mother. A really good punchline like that tends to make the previous stories better, especially if they either advance the plot or a character.
This leads to the second part where Ross finally realizes that he's going to be a father and he starts freaking out. The purpose of the monkey really shows up in this two-parter, obvious though it may have seemed. First Ross' inability to control his monkey represents his fear as a parent (not so subtly I may add). I thought this was nicely plotted as they showed the audience by having him change the channel to Spanish, which was both pretty funny and a constant reminder that this monkey is causing problems and reinforcing his fear as a parent.
Why I think this was nicely done is because the monkey stuff comes before he actually becomes afraid that he is going to become a father. When Carol starts hyperventilating about becoming a mother, it freaks Ross out about fatherhood. Then the monkey stuff comes to the surface and he realizes how hard a child would be to raise. He naturally ignores that a monkey would probably be harder, but honestly that's understandable when you are freaking out.
So Jack Gellar Jas a short scene - which is typically funny and well-played by Elliot Gould - to show Ross how he knew when he was going to be a father. He tells the story of how Ross grabbed his finger with his whole hand. So of course, after Marcel swallows Scrabble letters and has to go to the hospital, the monkey grabs Ross' finger. It's kind of corny, but it works somehow. Ross is ready to be a father.
Joey trying to go out with Ursula doesn't really work for me, because it's out-of-character for Joey. It seemed contrived in order to create tension the audience knew wouldn't last. For one, Joey is not that bad of a friend. He is way too oblivious about the fact that Phoebe clearly doesn't want Joey to go out with her or just doesn't care enough. Plus, there are zero scenes showing why Joey cares about Ursula.
I will say when they throw a surprise birthday party for Phoebe, I was affected. The pure joy that it brings Phoebe - even though it was a failed attempt at a surprise - that she was having a party thrown for her is great. Then she gets disappointed when Joey isn't there. That's the kind of thing I'm talking about. Joey is not that much of an asshole.
Then at the end, Phoebe tries to pass off as Ursula and breaks up with Joey. Joey of course talks about how she looks more beautiful than he's ever seen her. Then the writers try to make Joey look good by having him refuse to stop being friends with Phoebe in order to be with Ursula. This would work better if we had any indication why he wants to be with Ursula at all, who's a total bitch in her screen time.
Speaking of which, this episode has not one, but two shameless plugs from other shows. A two-minute appearance by Helen Hunt and another character I don't know from Mad About You. This looks REALLY dated, because i don't think anybody remembers Mad About You existed so when they weirdly cheered for their entry into Central Perk, it's just odd. At least I know who Helen Hunt is, otherwise it'd be really bad.
The other is by George Clooney - before movie star superstardom - and Noah Wyle from ER but not their characters on ER. They play doctors to Rachel and Monica. To be fair, their appearance is at least relevant and they seem to have fun with the roles.
So they set up the latter story by having Monica constantly tell Rachel to take down the lights. She does, but when it's snowing and dark out so she sprains her ankle. It's revealed, unsurprisingly and perfectly in character, that she doesn't have insurance. So she tries to commit insurance fraud and then hijinks ensue.
Whenever friends try to "up" each other in insults, it's usually hilarious. And it is in this case. They change this up by just having the two characters talk about "themselves," nicely set up by the two doctors wondering if these two women are crazy. Then there's the scene where Ross takes the monkey to the hospital and they see Monica and Rachel and there's a lot of double takes and confusion that mostly works.
So yeah, it's a decent episode with one important thing standing out (Ross is going to be a father) and one kind of stupid thing (Joey wants to date Ursula... for some reason). The rest of the stories are more sitcom hilarity.
Grade - B+
"The One with All the Poker"
My theory that putting all the friends in one room makes it a successful episode rings true here. This is a fantastic episode, written by the excellent team of Jeff Astrof and Mike Sikowitz. The episode title says it all. The friends play poker. Also, Rachel tries and fails to get a job and Ross is in love with Rachel. What a simple premise, but what beautiful execution.
This is probably the best episode of the first season. For the first time in a while, the Ross-Rachel relationship gets full notice. Also, the back-and-forth banter between the two is the best chemistry they've shown to date. You can really sense the flirting between the two and that there is something there.
Ross and the boys play poker all the time apparently, a fact that hasn't arisen yet and won't arisen even once in the next 10 seasons. No matter, they capture the spirit of it well in this episode. The women want to play with the boys, but they've never played before.
As soon as Ross (and the other two to a lesser extent) starts talking some serious smack, you just know that the girls are going to win one of the games in this episode. Hell, that doesn't really matter as the ending wasn't a cop-out (as in the girls would dominate which would probably ring false).
Rachel begins the episode applying for a bunch of different jobs - anything but as a waitress. The problem is that she has no resume or experience. She gets really excited for one job, a job that lets her shop essentially. The interview goes very well apparently - though it's easy to imagine the two talking forever with the employer having no intention to actually hire her given her resume.
That leads to the final - and dare I say tense - sequence with Ross and Rachel squaring off. They play it off pretty well. We're reminded of how competitive Ross is throughout this episode, which thankfully holds true for the rest of the series. (Anything that is true for the entire series works better in hindsight; anything the writers completely drop looks worse) Also, the constant references to Monica breaking a plate because of a game of Pictionary is hilarious.
Ross doesn't let her win, but he's clearly happy for her. It's a nice moment and makes you root for Ross-Rachel, something that's important when they drag the storyline out longer than necessary. I think I'm going to have to give this episode a perfect grade, because I can find nothing wrong with it.
Grade - A+
Quotes
"What I'm supposed to be the mommy?" - Susan
"Ok, I'm going to play my sperm card one more time." - Ross
"I wouldn't want to do anything to hurt your... WENUS." - Nina
"We haven't seen an ANUS this bad since the 70s." - Chandler's boss
"You know Ross some scientists are saying that monkeys and babies are actually different." - Chandler
"What the hell are you doing, you scared the crap outta me." - Ross, dropping the cake after getting "SURPRISED" at the party
"Oh God, I am so spoiled" - Monica acting as Rachel
"I use my breasts to get other people's attention." - Monica
"We both do that" - Rachel
"Whoa Rach, we have to settle." - Chandler, about the poker game
"Settle what?" - Rachel
"The Jamestown Colony of Virginia." - Chandler, who's really sarcastic in this episode
"I'm gonna pay for that tonight." - Ross, after he shuts of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and Marcel slams the door
"Do you wanna go to the bathroom or do you want to play poker?" - Monica in competitive nature
"I want to go to the bathroom." - Ross, with the easy choice
"Joey, I'm a little shy." - Ross asking for money
"That's ok Ross, you can ask me" - Joey, not getting it
Playlist
1. "Rip Your Heart Out" - Hopsin ft. Tech N9ne
2. "Latch" - Disclosure ft. Sam Smith
3. "Shining Star" - Earth, Wind & Fire
4. "Never Let You Go" - Third Eye Blind
5. "Alter Ego" - Tame Impala
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