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Friends: The Series Finale
Warner Bros. // Unrated // May 11, 2004
List Price: $14.97 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Show
During my lifetime, I've watched a lot of television and have been a fan of many shows, most of which went away without any pomp or circumstance. (Or warning...) But, with Friends I had my first experience with saying goodbye to a truly long-running show. (I remember watching the finale of M.A.S.H., but I only watched that because my Dad controlled the TV.) The series finale of Friends became a media event and that hype was capped with the release of the Friends: The Series Finale DVD only 5 days after the show aired. The ratings prove that the final episode was well-watched, but was it well worth the hype?
(WARNING!: In describing the final episode of Friends, I will be discussing plotlines which have occurred over the course of Season 10. So, if you haven't been watching the show lately, read with caution.) The final episode of Friends represented not only the culmination of the series, but of the final season as well -- thus the episode followed the resolution of several plotlines. Monica (Courteney Cox Arquette) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the child they're going to adopt, and they are at the bedside of the mother, Erica (guest star Anna Farris), when they get an unexpected, and bountiful surprise.
Meanwhile, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) is preparing to leave for her new job in Paris. But, while she was saying an emotional goodbye to Ross (David Schwimmer), they found themselves in bed together. Because of this, Ross is more convinced than ever that Rachel shouldn't leave. Joey has decided to get Monica and Chandler live poultry as a house-warming present, a decision which can only lead to disaster. As Monica and Chandler arrive back at their famous apartment, which they will soon be leaving for a house in the suburbs, they must cope with the fact that they are now parents. This convinces Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) that she and her new husband, Mike (Paul Rudd), should have children. As the friends are coming to grips with the fact that their lives are about to change forever, Ross decides that he can't let Rachel go to Paris, and races to the airport to stop her.
When the final episode of Friends aired on May 6, 2004, it came after months of hype. It also came on the heels of 7-week stretch in which no new episodes of Friends were aired, so fans of the show were hungry for a truly satisfying send off for the show. Did they get it? Not really. Yes, the show has some funny and touching moments, but overall, it feels like any other episode...and not a classic one at that. The episode does offer the long-awaited resolution to the on-again/off-again relationship between Ross and Rachel, but I'm sure there are those who feel that this plotline had been done to death back in 1997. Monica and Chandler's new-found parenthood is interesting, but feels very hollow, and comes across as highly unrealistic. (Moving day = stressful. New baby = stressful. Both at once = suicide hotline.)
The most bizarre element of the show is that Phoebe and Joey essentially get left out in the cold. Aside from her admission that she wants children (and a demonstration of her stunt-driving skills), Phoebe has little to do in this episode and we get no really indication of what her future will be. With the spin-off series Joey already announced, I'd expected this show to lay the groundwork for Joey's future adventures, but we get nothing like that. Instead, we get a silly subplot involving a chick and a duck. To be fair, the goodbye between Joey and Chandler is very bittersweet and perhaps the only real emotion on this show, but it's still obvious that Joey got short-changed.
The Friends: The Series Finale DVD contains two cuts of the show; the version which was seen on broadcast TV, with a running time of 47:30, and an extended version, which runs 50:03. Being just 3 minutes longer, the extended version is the way to go when watching this DVD. This cut contains the same show which was seen by millions with several new jokes inserted. There's nothing new that changes the story or expands any of the characters, but the newly inserted comedic scenes are good and those familiar with the show will spot new lines in the first few seconds.
Video
The Friends: The Series Finale DVD will be there for you on DVD courtesy of Warner Home Video. The show is presented in its original full-frame (1.33:1) broadcast aspect ratio. Given the unprecedented newness of the show, one would expect an impressive transfer and this DVD delivers. The image is sharp and clear, showing essentially no grain and no defects from the source material. The video in the Friends boxed-set releases have often been marred by shimmering and color-bleeding, but we find none of that there. There is some very minor artifacting at times, but the colors look great and, for the most part, the image is stable.
Audio
With this Friends release, Warner delivers their standard Dolby Digital 5.0 mix. This audio track delivers clear and audible dialogue with no signs of hissing or distortion. The stereo effects are OK, and the surround sound channel are basically reserved for musical cues and the cheers of the live studio audience. The audio is certainly serviceable, but it's no different from digital broadcast quality.
Extras
The DVD contains three extra features. The original pilot for Friends is included here so that we can "See how far they've come by revisiting how it all began." The is the exact same episode with the running time of 29:37 which can be found on the Season 1 set and on the "Best of Friends, Vol. 1" DVD. The episode is presented full-frame and while it looks good, it shows more defects than the series finale. "10 Years of Beginnings" offers the opening credits sequences from all 10 seasons, which shows how the cast has matured over the years. These segments can be viewed individually, or one can use the "Play All" feature. Finally, we have the music video for the show's theme song "I'll Be There For You", by The Rembrandts.
Friends 10-year run made it a milestone of network television and the show's consistent quality over the years guarantee it's place in history. The show has garnered millions of fans worldwide and will clearly live on in syndication and through DVD releases. Yet, the series finale is a letdown and doesn't feel like the send-off that this classic show deservers. The Friends: The Series Finale DVD does a fine job of packaging this show, and I'll leave you to argue amongst yourselves whether this release is an instant gift to the show's fans or merely a way to cash in on the hype surrounding the show's last episode.
During my lifetime, I've watched a lot of television and have been a fan of many shows, most of which went away without any pomp or circumstance. (Or warning...) But, with Friends I had my first experience with saying goodbye to a truly long-running show. (I remember watching the finale of M.A.S.H., but I only watched that because my Dad controlled the TV.) The series finale of Friends became a media event and that hype was capped with the release of the Friends: The Series Finale DVD only 5 days after the show aired. The ratings prove that the final episode was well-watched, but was it well worth the hype?
(WARNING!: In describing the final episode of Friends, I will be discussing plotlines which have occurred over the course of Season 10. So, if you haven't been watching the show lately, read with caution.) The final episode of Friends represented not only the culmination of the series, but of the final season as well -- thus the episode followed the resolution of several plotlines. Monica (Courteney Cox Arquette) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the child they're going to adopt, and they are at the bedside of the mother, Erica (guest star Anna Farris), when they get an unexpected, and bountiful surprise.
Meanwhile, Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) is preparing to leave for her new job in Paris. But, while she was saying an emotional goodbye to Ross (David Schwimmer), they found themselves in bed together. Because of this, Ross is more convinced than ever that Rachel shouldn't leave. Joey has decided to get Monica and Chandler live poultry as a house-warming present, a decision which can only lead to disaster. As Monica and Chandler arrive back at their famous apartment, which they will soon be leaving for a house in the suburbs, they must cope with the fact that they are now parents. This convinces Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) that she and her new husband, Mike (Paul Rudd), should have children. As the friends are coming to grips with the fact that their lives are about to change forever, Ross decides that he can't let Rachel go to Paris, and races to the airport to stop her.
When the final episode of Friends aired on May 6, 2004, it came after months of hype. It also came on the heels of 7-week stretch in which no new episodes of Friends were aired, so fans of the show were hungry for a truly satisfying send off for the show. Did they get it? Not really. Yes, the show has some funny and touching moments, but overall, it feels like any other episode...and not a classic one at that. The episode does offer the long-awaited resolution to the on-again/off-again relationship between Ross and Rachel, but I'm sure there are those who feel that this plotline had been done to death back in 1997. Monica and Chandler's new-found parenthood is interesting, but feels very hollow, and comes across as highly unrealistic. (Moving day = stressful. New baby = stressful. Both at once = suicide hotline.)
The most bizarre element of the show is that Phoebe and Joey essentially get left out in the cold. Aside from her admission that she wants children (and a demonstration of her stunt-driving skills), Phoebe has little to do in this episode and we get no really indication of what her future will be. With the spin-off series Joey already announced, I'd expected this show to lay the groundwork for Joey's future adventures, but we get nothing like that. Instead, we get a silly subplot involving a chick and a duck. To be fair, the goodbye between Joey and Chandler is very bittersweet and perhaps the only real emotion on this show, but it's still obvious that Joey got short-changed.
The Friends: The Series Finale DVD contains two cuts of the show; the version which was seen on broadcast TV, with a running time of 47:30, and an extended version, which runs 50:03. Being just 3 minutes longer, the extended version is the way to go when watching this DVD. This cut contains the same show which was seen by millions with several new jokes inserted. There's nothing new that changes the story or expands any of the characters, but the newly inserted comedic scenes are good and those familiar with the show will spot new lines in the first few seconds.
Video
The Friends: The Series Finale DVD will be there for you on DVD courtesy of Warner Home Video. The show is presented in its original full-frame (1.33:1) broadcast aspect ratio. Given the unprecedented newness of the show, one would expect an impressive transfer and this DVD delivers. The image is sharp and clear, showing essentially no grain and no defects from the source material. The video in the Friends boxed-set releases have often been marred by shimmering and color-bleeding, but we find none of that there. There is some very minor artifacting at times, but the colors look great and, for the most part, the image is stable.
Audio
With this Friends release, Warner delivers their standard Dolby Digital 5.0 mix. This audio track delivers clear and audible dialogue with no signs of hissing or distortion. The stereo effects are OK, and the surround sound channel are basically reserved for musical cues and the cheers of the live studio audience. The audio is certainly serviceable, but it's no different from digital broadcast quality.
Extras
The DVD contains three extra features. The original pilot for Friends is included here so that we can "See how far they've come by revisiting how it all began." The is the exact same episode with the running time of 29:37 which can be found on the Season 1 set and on the "Best of Friends, Vol. 1" DVD. The episode is presented full-frame and while it looks good, it shows more defects than the series finale. "10 Years of Beginnings" offers the opening credits sequences from all 10 seasons, which shows how the cast has matured over the years. These segments can be viewed individually, or one can use the "Play All" feature. Finally, we have the music video for the show's theme song "I'll Be There For You", by The Rembrandts.
Friends 10-year run made it a milestone of network television and the show's consistent quality over the years guarantee it's place in history. The show has garnered millions of fans worldwide and will clearly live on in syndication and through DVD releases. Yet, the series finale is a letdown and doesn't feel like the send-off that this classic show deservers. The Friends: The Series Finale DVD does a fine job of packaging this show, and I'll leave you to argue amongst yourselves whether this release is an instant gift to the show's fans or merely a way to cash in on the hype surrounding the show's last episode.
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