Watchable but forgettable — the show is running in place. Season 7 (2000–01) Grade: B- The Wedding Season Monica and Chandler get engaged — the whole season builds to their wedding. The humor becomes broader, more reliant on guest stars (Elliott Gould, Morgan Fairchild).
Essential viewing — the show’s first true classic season. Season 3 (1996–97) Grade: A The High-Water Mark Emotionally richest season. Ross-Rachel’s relationship gets tested by Mark, the copy girl (“We were on a break!” becomes a cultural landmark). Chandler and Monica are still platonic, but their bond deepens. Friends Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 - threesixtyp
A legitimate comeback — the show feels alive again. Season 9 (2002–03) Grade: C+ The Overextended Season Ross and Rachel are co-parenting but not together. The show invents contrived separations: Monica and Chandler try to get pregnant, Joey falls for Rachel again (after she briefly moves in with him), and Charlie (Aisha Tyler) is a wasted love interest. Watchable but forgettable — the show is running in place