“And That Is What They Call Closure”: The 10 Best Rachel Episodes of ‘Friends’

It all begins with Rachel fleeing into Central Perk wearing her wedding dress. Rachel’s story of learning to stand on her own two feet was a huge part of the first season, before Rachel-and-Ross became the dominant storyline for, like, ever. Of any of the six main characters, Rachel has the most complete arc throughout the course of the series, and it starts here.

[Stream “The Pilot” on Netflix.]

Rachel’s road to becoming a responsible adult included this episode, where she learned that leaving a semi-domesticated monkey unsupervised while you watch daytime soaps is not a great idea. Rachel’s frenzy to find Marcel plays into the Ross-and-Rachel arc better than most plots did, and her haggling with the animal-control lady is very funny.

[Stream “The One Where the Monkey Gets Away” on Netflix.]

Rachel’s drunken phone call to Ross to tell him she’s finally over him (while she’s on a blind date, no less) is some of the funniest work Aniston’s ever done. It manages to overshadow even Ross and Rachel’s big kiss at episode’s end.

[Stream “The One Where Ross Finds Out” on Netflix.]

This is the episode where Monica and Rachel have the stand-off in the bathroom over the last available condom, and both Aniston and Courteney Cox are great fun. Rachel also makes the mistake of telling Ross that she and Paolo had “animal sex” when they were together, which is some top-notch Rachel obliviousness.

[Stream “The One Where Dr. Ramoray Dies” on Netflix.]

The second season finale sees Rachel sporting a truly ridiculous pink bridemaid’s dress, as well as attempting to get the crowd going with an impromptu rendition of “Copacabana.” Great stuff.

[Stream “The One With Barry and Mindy’s Wedding” on Netflix.]

Rachel’s disastrous series of job interviews where she goes in for a kiss after a misunderstanding, then misinterprets a second gesture as sexual harassment, then finally tries to sell herself as “non-litigious,” is a perfect case of sitcom escalation. It’s Rachel at her absolute best.

[Stream “The One With Rachel’s Inadvertent Kiss” on Netflix.]

Rachel and Monica’s friendship was always one of the best parts of the show, and this episode — where Rachel is moving out so Chandler can move in — manages to be both sentimental and savagely funny. If Rachel and Monica’s friendship is great, the moments when they fight are even better.

[Stream “The One on the Last Night” on Netflix.]

Rachel attempts to make a classic English trifle for Thanksgiving, only to screw up the recipe by including beef, peas, and onions. Aniston plays Rachel’s obliviousness, eagerness, and sweetness as a perfect counterpoint to all the moments where her friends have to choke down such an abomination.

[Stream “The One Where Ross Got High” on Netflix.]

Winona Ryder guest stars as an old sorority sister of Rachel’s, with whom Rachel once shared a drunken makeout session. Or did she. That old Friends homophobic streak rears its ugly head in this episode (and not just in this storyline), but Rachel’s mounting frustration that Phoebe doesn’t think her capable of kissing a girl is very funny.

[Stream “The One With Rachel’s Big Kiss” on Netflix.]

Gotta include the baby episode. But even disregarding the obligatory nature of this milestone episode, Jennifer Aniston’s delivery of “…Okay” when she sees Joey with the engagement ring is pure gold, and it rightly won her the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Emmy.

[Stream “The One Where Rachel Has a Baby” on Netflix.]