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With HBO Max’s highly anticipated reunion special now available to stream, plenty of fans will be compelled to rewatch and reminisce about its groundbreaking episodes, fan-favorite couples, iconic pieces of furniture — and, for some, its biggest flaws.
Here are some of the most egregious plot holes and inconsistencies on “Friends.”
1.Monica’s apartment number changes from 5 to 20.
Given that Monica’s building doesn’t have just one or two apartments per floor, it makes little sense for her rent-controlled sixth-floor walk-up to be apartment No. 5. It appears that the production crew noticed the same thing because her apartment becomes No. 20 sometime during the first season.
2.Chandler and Joey’s apartment also changes from 4 to 19.
Phoebe also tells a few conflicting stories about her dad. In season two, episode nine, “The One With Phoebe’s Dad,” Phoebe says that her father abandoned her pregnant mother. Later, however, we discover that Frank Buffay didn’t disappear until after Phoebe and her twin sister were born.
3.Ross says his birthday is in December but later says his birthday is October 18.
In season four, episode five, “The One with Joey’s New Girlfriend,” Ross begins to tell Gunther that his birthday is in December. But on season nine, episode two, “The One Where Emma Cries,” he tells Joey his birthday is October 18 while filling out forms at the hospital.
4.Joey, who’s supposed to be the youngest, turns 31 before Rachel even turns 30.
Phoebe is presumably the eldest of the group. Ross and Chandler are the same age since they were roommates throughout college. We also know they’re one year older than Monica and Rachel, since Ross mentions that he was a freshman in college when Rachel was a senior. That would make Joey the youngest. He says he’s 25 years old on season one, episode 23, “The One with the Birth” — after Monica already said she’s 26. But on the season seven premiere, “The One with Monica’s Thunder,” it’s revealed that Joey has already turned 31, multiple episodes before Rachel turns 30
5.Ben disappears after season eight and never meets his half-sister, Emma.
Ross scarcely mentions his son in the show’s final three seasons. Ben’s last appearance in season eight, episode 12, “The One Where Joey Dates Rachel.”Ross and Rachel welcome their daughter, Emma, just 12 episodes later on the seventh season finale. While Emma appears fairly regularly until the show’s end, Ben never gets to meet his half-sister — at least not onscreen.