24 Years Ago Today, Friends’ Most Divisive Story Started (& a Key Character Completely Disappeared)

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Despite being a beloved show, Friends had its share of storylines and jokes that didn’t quite hit the mark. From ongoing issues like Ross’s relationship with a student, to one-off gags that fell flat – like Joey’s terrible French – and even actors being quickly written out of the show for budget reasons (remember Gary shooting the bird?), there were moments fans didn’t love. With ten seasons and over two hundred episodes, some missteps were bound to happen.

As a critic, I’ve seen a lot of fan complaints over the years, and the storyline of Joey and Rachel hooking up consistently ranks near the top of the list of things Friends fans disliked. It felt like a real departure from the central Ross and Rachel romance, especially since it started brewing in Season 8 with the episode “The One Where Joey Dates Rachel.” It began innocently enough – a fake date to cheer Rachel up while she was dealing with her pregnancy, complete with a playful attempt at impressing each other. But it ended with Joey admitting he’d caught feelings, and surprisingly, Rachel felt the same way a season later. It just never quite landed with many viewers, myself included.

Why Joey & Rachel’s Romance Was So Divisive Among Friends Fans

Joey developing feelings for Rachel came as a shock to many viewers, especially since most fans hoped she would end up with Ross. It felt like an unwanted detour from the relationship everyone expected. While Joey’s crush itself was actually a sweet part of his character, the real issue was when the show started to suggest they might become a couple.

Looking back, things started feeling a little unnatural around Season 9. I mean, the whole accidental proposal and then her suddenly having feelings after a dream just felt…off. Honestly, the show was starting to lose its spark – and I was really grateful for Paul Rudd to keep things going! It all felt so manufactured, like they were just trying to shock us for ratings. It messed with the group’s chemistry, especially with Ross being thrown into the mix, and it didn’t really make sense considering how many couples they’d already established. Plus, Joey was already becoming a bit of a caricature, and they started doing the same thing to Rachel just to force them together, which really bothered me.

Over time, the pairing of Joey and Rachel has become more popular as people re-evaluate the show. It’s become clear that some parts of Friends haven’t held up well, and Ross’s behavior, in particular, now often comes across as problematic. Because Joey is seen as a kind and uncomplicated love interest for Rachel, and their relationship developed from a real friendship, many viewers now appreciate their connection more than they did when the show originally aired.

What Happened To Ross’ Son, Ben, In Friends?

As a huge Friends fan, I always remember “The One Where Joey Dates Rachel” not just because it started Joey and Rachel’s thing, but it’s also the last time we actually see Ross’ son, Ben! He’s part of that funny scene where Monica, Chandler, and Phoebe are trying to erase the high scores on Ms. Pac-Man, and he walks in right when Phoebe accidentally says a swear word. After that, they mention him here and there, but he never appears on screen again, which is kind of sad when you think about it.

We don’t know for sure why Ben disappeared from the show, but it was probably a combination of things. Cole Sprouse, the actor who played Ben, was becoming more popular, and that may have caused some production challenges. However, the show also began focusing heavily on Rachel’s pregnancy and the birth of Emma, giving the writers a new storyline with Ross and his growing family. This likely led to Ben being left out of episodes, whether intentionally or not.

Some fans believe Ross lost custody of his son, Ben. They point to his increasingly erratic behavior in the later seasons, suggesting Carol successfully fought for sole custody and limited his access. While there’s no real evidence to support this, it would be a surprisingly sad addition to the show’s ending. However, Ben’s sudden absence remains strange, particularly since we never see a single scene of him interacting with his half-sister.

Friends is available to stream on HBO Max.

What are your thoughts on Joey and Rachel’s relationship? Also, what happened to Ben? Share your opinions in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-10 19:42