Friends Reunion: The One Where They’re Back Together Again

In May of 2004, over 52 million people tuned in to watch the Friends finale. While the show first aired in 1994, streaming platforms, such as Netflix and HBOMax, have sparked a new generation of Friends fans. On May 27th 2021, viewers young and old from all over the world sat down to watch the cast gather for the first time in 17 years. The “Friends Reunion Special” featured all six of the leading cast members, special guests, and plenty of hysterical memories from filming. It was nostalgic to see the cast together again and watch them play games such as trivia and a fashion show. However, of the most special takeaways from the reunion was seeing the impact the show has had on the world. 

The reunion had a segment where audiences across the globe shared how Friends affected their lives. One fan named Pabitra from India talked about how the show helped him get through the pain of watching his father die of a terminal illness. While his world was falling apart around him, he knew that by watching Friends, he was guaranteed a laugh. The show also helped a woman battle her mental health struggles. Nancy from Ghana opened up about her struggle with depression. Friends ended up being her reason to live. The show’s themes of friendship and togetherness helped pull her out of that dark headspace. The main theme that each person emphasized was how the show made them feel like they had six friends in a time when they could see no end to whatever they were going through. The show is still one of the most popular sitcoms nearly two decades after it ended, so there are certainly more people out there who have found the same comfort in those characters. 

Friends hasn’t only influenced us, normal and non-famous people. It has also brought joy to many celebrities. Along with the special fan segment, the reunion also included a similar celebrity segment where different stars shared how the show has helped them. One of those celebs is the soccer player David Beckham. He spoke about how when he is away from his family at a hotel he tunes into the show. Beckham said, “You know I travel a lot and I’m always in hotels, I’ve always got down time. When I’m missing the kids, when I’m missing the family, I put on Friends because it makes me smile”(HBO Max). Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai also made a cameo. She was joined by someone special, her best friend. The two expressed their love for the series and  their special bond over it. Yousafzai even tweeted, “FRIENDS brought friends together.” The Korean pop band BTS, actresses Mindy Kaling and Reese Witherspoon, and many other fan favorites also made appearances where they talked about what Friends means to them. 

The show has provided fans with many different things over the years. It spanned 236 episodes and the range of characters, story lines, and memorable moments provide an outlet for whatever emotion viewers are looking for. Whether it be a laugh, a good cry, or to feel less alone, your Friends are there for you.