A definitive ranking of all 10 Thanksgiving episodes of Friends.

A definitive ranking of all 10 Thanksgiving episodes of Friends.

When it comes to things synonymous with Thanksgiving, turkey and football may take the top spots, but Friends isn’t too far back.

The show’s annual Thanksgiving episodes are nothing short of iconic – trivia, anyone? – but how do they compare to each other? It’s a difficult decision, but we managed to get all ten points Friends Thanksgiving episodes ranked from worst to best.

See whether you agree or disagree with our list below by streaming each one Friends Thanksgiving episode about Max this holiday season.

10. Season 7, Episode 8: “The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs”

Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow on “Friends.”

NBCUniversal via Getty


There is so much about this episode that falls short. First, we learn that Chandler (the late Matthew Perry) hates dogs, which is a real downer. Then Tag (Eddie Cahill) has his car stolen. And there’s a continuity error: Ross (David Schwimmer) says he hates ice cream, but any ice cream Friends The fan might tell you that he ate it on a date with Elizabeth the season before.

It’s still a Friends Thanksgiving, but if you want to skip an episode of your marathon, do this one. Luckily, the season more than made up for the lack of holiday cheer in this episode a few weeks later with “The One with the Holiday Armadillo.”

9. Season 2, Episode 8: “The One with the List”

Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston in “Friends.”

NBCUniversal via Getty


One of the reasons this episode lands so low on the list is that it hardly feels like a Thanksgiving episode. The holiday is mentioned a few times, but that’s it. But it’s a crucial episode in Ross and Rachel’s romantic saga, which is why it doesn’t end up in last place. In it, Ross writes the ill-advised list comparing Julie (Lauren Tom) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston); Rachel and Ross briefly get together; and then the two fight and end things for the first time, which will happen many more times soon.

8. Season 10, Episode 8: “The One with Late Thanksgiving”

From left to right: David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston on “Friends.”
Warner Bros./Everett

There’s just too much tension in there! First of all, Monica (Courteney Cox) says she doesn’t want to host Thanksgiving. What kind of blasphemy is this? Then no one shows up and everyone gets into an argument. However, this episode makes up for it with the announcement that Monica and Chandler are becoming parents – one of the most heartwarming and rewarding moments of the entire series.

7. Season 4, Episode 8: “The One with Chandler in a Box”

From left to right: Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston on “Friends.”

NBCUniversal via Getty


It’s never fun when Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Chandler are arguing, which is one of the reasons this Thanksgiving episode is such a downer. Chandler puts most of it in a box to show Joey how sorry he is for kissing his girlfriend Kathy (Paget Brewster) (everything ultimately ends happily for Chandler, Joey and Kathy).

What keeps this episode at the bottom of the list, however, is the extremely awkward flirtation between Monica and Tim (Michael Vartan), Richard’s (Tom Selleck) son – yes, her much older ex-boyfriend’s child. By the end of the episode, they realize it’s a bad idea, but that doesn’t make it any less vile.

6. Season 9, Episode 8: “The One With Rachel’s Other Sister”

Courteney Cox, Christina Applegate and Matt LeBlanc on “Friends.”
Danny Field/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

We don’t meet any of Rachel’s sisters until season six, and it’s almost ten years before we meet Amy (Christina Applegate, who won an Emmy for her guest appearance), the extremely self-absorbed sister with a sorely missing moral compass.

It’s Applegate’s Amy who steals the show in this episode, particularly because of her anger at not being given guardianship of Emma should Ross and Rachel die early – even though she can’t remember the baby’s name. Plus, Monica’s, well, Monica taste in her wedding china also gets a few laughs.

5. Season 3, Episode 9: “The One with the Football”

From left to right: David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston on “Friends.”

NBCUniversal via Getty


Football is almost as synonymous with Thanksgiving as Friends So it was only a matter of time before the three of them got together. In this episode, we get a glimpse into the Geller family’s past Thanksgivings, including the famous Geller Cup – “a troll doll nailed to a 2-by-4-foot piece.” The gang plays soccer with hilarious results, plus we get to see all the boys making fools of themselves as they try to attack the only person (Susanna Midnight) watching their game.

4. Season 1, Episode 9: “The One Where the Underdog Gets Away”

Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox on “Friends.”

NBC


The very first Friends The Thanksgiving episode is at the top of the list in part because it’s the first and sets the precedent for future great episodes. Even though it’s not such a great Thanksgiving for Rachel, who misses her flight to Vail even though the gang donated to buy her ticket, their show of friendship makes us feel all gooey inside, just like Thanksgiving should be. But perhaps the best part of the episode has nothing to do with Thanksgiving at all: Joey’s face is plastered on a poster to raise awareness for VD.

3. Season 5, Episode 8: “The One with All the Thanksgivings”

Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer and Courteney Cox in “Friends.”

NBCUniversal via Getty


Many Friends You can miss flashback episodes – we’re talking about episodes in which 90 percent of the screen time is filled with excerpts from previous episodes. But those who show us the lives of our friends beforehand Friends you can’t miss it. In this one, we learn what caused Monica to lose weight (Chandler calls her “fat”), why Monica “accidentally” dropped a knife on Chandler’s foot, and what Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) did on Thanksgiving in a previous life .

2. Season 8, Episode 9: “The One with the Rumor”

Clockwise from left: Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow, Brad Pitt and David Schwimmer on “Friends.”
Danny Field/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

There’s one big reason why this film comes in second place: Brad Pitt. Jennifer Aniston’s then-husband is hilarious as Rachel’s old high school enemy, a story made even funnier when you know the two were married off-screen at the time. Notable: Phoebe and Chandler’s attempts to pretend to understand football to get out of the food prep.

1. Season 6, Episode 9: “The One Where Ross Got High”

Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer on “Friends.”

NBCUniversal via Getty


There’s just so much to love about this episode. First there are Jack (Elliott Gould) and Judy Geller (Christina Pickles). Secondly, in the episode, Chandler tries to convince Monica’s parents to like him. Third, Phoebe has a romantic dream about Jacques Cousteau. Fourth, Joey and Ross keep trying to leave to hang out with Joey’s roommate Janine (Elle Macpherson) and her dancer friends. Fifth, Rachel makes half English trifle and half shepherd’s pie and gives us the line “Custard?” Good. Jam? Good. Beef? Good.” Thanks, Rachel.

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