27 Years Ago Today, This Classic Friends Episode Changed Ross (& It’s a Big Reason He’s So Hated)

by

I’ve noticed Ross Geller always seems to be the Friends character people either really love or really dislike! It’s funny, because everyone has a favorite, and it can even change depending on how I’m feeling or which season I’m watching. With so many episodes, there are bound to be moments that frustrate viewers – and honestly, that’s part of what makes the show so good and relatable. It feels like you’re watching real friends, with all their flaws and good qualities. And Ross? Well, he’s definitely become one of those sitcom characters that a lot of people just love to hate, whether he deserves it or not.

A perfect illustration of this is the Friends episode “The One With Ross’s Sandwich” (Season 5, Episode 9). It’s become iconic, largely thanks to Ross’s over-the-top reaction to someone eating his sandwich – the line “MY SANDWICH” is instantly recognizable. The sandwich itself, featuring a gravy-soaked slice of bread he calls the “moist-maker,” has become a cultural touchstone, with many restaurants offering their own version of it as a seasonal special. The episode centers around Ross struggling with his recent divorce from Emily – his second failed marriage – and he’s clearly not coping well. He sees the sandwich as the only bright spot in his life, making its disappearance all the more devastating – especially since he’d even left a note asking people not to eat it. It’s a relatable moment that reminds us, as the show’s theme song says, that life doesn’t always go as planned.

Why Is Ross Such A Divisive Friends Character?

The episode focusing on Ross’s sandwich marks a turning point for his character. Losing his sandwich—and being reminded of his failed marriage—causes him to become intensely angry and act irrationally. This episode really highlights his anger issues, and those traits become a permanent part of his personality. While Ross had shown possessive tendencies before, like with the situation involving Mark, he was usually seen as the sympathetic character. However, the sandwich episode reveals a much darker and more unpleasant side of him.

I also notice a shift in David Schwimmer’s acting as the show progresses; he really leans into the comedic aspects of his character, and it works brilliantly, even if some viewers don’t love the direction it takes. It’s a pattern with all the main characters on Friends – they become more exaggerated versions of themselves over time. Joey, for example, becomes increasingly silly, though still endearing, and Ross is particularly affected by this trend.

The character of Chandler, or ‘Friends’ as he’s sometimes referred to, often displays anger, a controlling personality, and eccentric behavior – traits that some modern viewers now see as examples of harmful masculinity. It’s not that Chandler is inherently worse than the other characters, but the show tends to emphasize his flaws through larger, more dramatic storylines.

The characters are all realistically flawed, with both positive and negative qualities—Ross, for example, can be kind, humorous, and supportive. However, if you view Ross as possessive, irritating, or harmful, it’s important to remember that while his actions—like getting upset about a small thing—are not his worst offenses (such as withholding an annulment from Rachel), the origins of those problematic behaviors can be seen in those earlier moments.

Friends is available to stream on HBO Max.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/underrated-friends-episodes/embed/#

Read More

2025-12-10 21:11