5 Friends episodes you'll always feel like skipping when you re-watch the classic sitcom 

While Friends is one of the most popular sitcoms ever made, not all episodes are equally entertaining or important. The show aired on NBC from 1994 to 2004 and has been entertaining audiences since then. It follows Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Rachel, and Joey as they maneuver life, love, and careers in New York City.

However, some episodes haven’t aged well, making you want to skip them. That’s either because they don't add anything to the show's broader plot or have storylines that are not entertaining enough.

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5 Friends episodes you will feel like skipping when you re-watch the show

If you rewatch Friends, you can always skip these five episodes:

The One After Joey and Rachel Kiss (Season 10, Episode 1)

This episode follows the group’s messy return from Barbados. Joey and Rachel are now seeing each other, but they still haven’t told Ross. Things take a turn when Ross walks in on them mid-kiss. To make matters worse, he’s now dating Charlie, who used to date Joey. It’s a tangled mess of friends dating each other’s exes that just doesn’t feel right.

Meanwhile, Phoebe finds herself in an awkward situation when Mike reveals he has a girlfriend and needs to break up with her. Due to a mix-up, Phoebe ends up face-to-face with the girlfriend. Their meeting is stiff and uncomfortable to watch.

This episode tries to balance drama and humor but doesn’t really succeed. The Joey-Rachel romance had already been shaky, and this installment only adds to the awkwardness.

The One Where They’re Up All Night (Season 7, Episode 12)

If you’re doing a full rewatch of Friends, this one doesn’t add much. The group gathers on the roof to spot a comet. Most of them leave early, but Joey and Ross stay behind and get locked out. Their attempts to escape are mildly funny but forgettable.

Meanwhile, Monica and Chandler try to enjoy some quiet time together, Phoebe is stuck dealing with a never-ending fire alarm, and Rachel and Tag head to the office to finish up paperwork.

While nothing about this episode is truly bad, nothing stands out either. It’s filler content with no major plot points. You won’t miss anything by skipping it.

The One With The Yeti (Season 5, Episode 6)

After the chaos of Ross and Emily’s wedding, Emily sets impossible demands for Ross to stay together. She even wants him to sell furniture that Rachel once used. Ross agrees and plans to move into a new place arranged by Emily’s cousin. It’s frustrating to watch him bend over backward for someone who no longer seems to care.

Elsewhere, Monica and Rachel run into a very hairy man in their building’s storage room and assume he’s a threat. They spray him with bug spray, only to discover he’s their new neighbor, Danny. Rachel later dates him, but he adds little to the show.

This episode falls flat. Danny is one of the least interesting side characters in Friends, and the whole “Yeti” situation is weirder than it is funny. The only real takeaway is that Ross and Emily finally break up—something that becomes clear in the next episode anyway.

The One With The Fake Party (Season 4, Episode 16)

Rachel’s crush on Joshua takes an odd turn here. Even though he says he’s not ready for a relationship, she throws a fake goodbye party for Emily just to invite him. What follows is a string of desperate attempts to impress him—like wearing her old cheerleader uniform and removing her bra to flirt.

It’s hard to watch her go through so much embarrassment. While Friends usually balances humor with heart, this episode leans too far into awkwardness. Rachel’s desperation feels forced and out of character, and the storyline lacks its usual charm.

The One Where Nana Dies Twice (Season 1, Episode 8)

Even the early Friends episodes aren’t immune to being a little dull. In this one, Ross and Monica deal with the death of their grandmother, and the group attends the funeral. Ross has a few humorous moments—falling into a grave and rambling on pain meds—but they don’t really land.

Chandler’s subplot revolves around his coworkers assuming he’s gay, a premise that hasn’t aged well and lacks depth. Overall, the episode feels slow and underwhelming. It offers little character development or plot progression.

Friends is a beloved sitcom, but even the best shows have episodes you can skip. Whether it’s due to awkward storylines or just being plain filler, these five episodes can be skipped when you revisit the series.

Friends is streaming on Netflix.

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