Season 3, Episode 2, known as, The One Where No One’s Ready, is probably my favorite episode of the series. The middle of season 2 to the middle of season 3 contain, in my opinion, the best episodes Friends has to offer. Don’t get me wrong, I loved so much that happened throughout the rest of the series, but to me, season 2 and 3 were the heyday. It wasn’t just that Ross and Rachel were finally together, but I also believe that is the time when Chandler and Joey were at their best, where their bromance really got to shine, before all that Monica and Chandler nonsense — I know people loved Monica and Chandler together, but I really thought they were better suited with other people. Monica and Richard was where it was at.
What happened?
This episode comes right on the heels of the Monica and Richard break-up, which I was still hoping at the time would’ve worked itself out, and Monica is still sensitive about it. Ross has a museum benefit to attend and all of the friends will be joining him as his guests, but no one is ready. Rachel can’t decide what to wear, Monica is distracted by an old voicemail from Richard that she isn’t convinced is old, Chandler and Joey engage in an all out war over a chair, and Phoebe ‘got the hummus’. The episode happens entirely in Monica’s apartment in real time, with Ross trying desperately to corral everyone out the door in time for the event.
It’s really hard to choose a best line from this episode, because the whole thing is really and truly amazing, but I’m pretty sure Joey wins, because every line he had in that episode was perfect. Here are some of my favorites:
Joey: Wow, what a cool job.
[Imitating the answering machine]
Joey: You have two new messages. Please pass the pie.
Ross: Okay, now hold on. Joey, why can’t you just wear the underwear you’re wearing now?
Joey: Because, I’m not wearing any underwear now.
Ross: Okay, then why do you have to wear underwear tonight?
Joey: It’s a rented tux. Okay? I’m not gonna go commando in another man’s fatigues.
Joey: Here it is, buddy boy. You hide my clothes, I’m wearing everything you own.
Chandler: Oh, my God, that is so not the opposite of taking someone’s underwear.
Joey: Look at me, I’m Chandler, could I *be* wearing any more clothes?
And then Joey starts doing lunges in all of Chandler’s clothing, and I lose it every time. I also really love his childish excitement over getting Ross to drink the glass of fat in Monica’s refrigerator. I’m telling you, amazing Joey episode! Do yourself a favor and watch this episode for the first time or the twentieth. It always puts me in a good mood, so it should do the same for you.
