Friends’ Monica and Chandler were a central pairing for the iconic sitcom, but some episodes were more monumental for their relationship than others.
The best Monica and Chandler episodes of Friends feature some of the greatest moments in one of the most beloved sitcom couples of all time. Despite their glaringly obvious differences in earlier seasons, the timeline of Monica and Chandler’s developing relationship in Friends saw the two characters, who had always been set in their ways, change for the better together. As the pair evolved from friends to future husband and wife, Monica and Chandler’s romance was a key element to Friends’ success.
Even with Friends’ full cast of interesting characters, Monica and Chandler were endearing both separately and together. The two getting together halfway through the show’s lifespan allowed for the characters to develop individually, rather than having their relationship be the biggest story-driven element about them. While Ross and Rachel’s will-they-won’t-they romance was intertwined with their character arcs from the pilot to the finale, Monica and Chandler’s relationship provided a necessary balance with a more gradual, stable course. Although the pair share numerous important moments throughout Friends’ 10 seasons, there are some regarding their romance that stand out more than others.
9
“The One With Ross’s Wedding: Part 2” (Season 4, Episode 24)
Monica and Chandler’s relationship is first established the night before Ross’ wedding to Emily in Friends season 4, episode 24, “The One with Ross’s Wedding: Part 2.” After feeling downtrodden by a comment about her age, Monica seeks out Joey to drown her sorrows but instead finds Chandler. Originally, Monica and Chandler didn’t last, but the writers decided to keep their storyline going after seeing the audience’s reception of the pair. Interestingly, Monica and Chandler are insistent that their hookup in London is a one-time thing, which doesn’t last very long once they return to New York.
8
“The One In Vegas” (Season 5, Episode 24)
In Friends’ season 5 finale, “The One in Vegas,” Monica and Chandler decide to get married on a whim while visiting Joey. Despite there being no proposal, the couple decides to be spontaneous after seeing “signs” from their gambling in Vegas. Although their plans fail, the episode shows the development of Chandler’s character since season 1. Chandler previously struggled with commitment issues, which often resulted in his previous relationships’ demise. Monica was known for her planning skills and need to have control over situations, so seeing her throw away the idea of a fairytale wedding to marry Chandler in Vegas revealed a new side to her character.
7
“The One After Vegas” (Season 6, Episode 1)
After their failed attempt to get married in Vegas, Monica asks Chandler to move in with her following their return to New York. Despite just being across the hall from one another, “The One After Vegas” not only shows Monica and Chandler’s relationship getting more serious, but also provides a sweet insight into their individual friendships with Rachel and Joey. Monica and Chandler moving in together shifts the format of Friends for the better and is one of few sitcoms to successfully pull it off.
6
“The One With The Proposal” (Season 6, Episode 24)
After moving in together, Monica and Chandler are engaged by the end of Friends season 6. Of course, their engagement doesn’t come simply, and “The One With The Proposal” sees Monica weigh up her life options at the reappearance of her ex Richard (Tom Selleck). Her frustrations also grow as Chandler insists that he doesn’t want to get married, which he only does to try to keep her from finding out about his proposal. Even when Richard offers everything Monica wants, she still wants to be with Chandler because she loves him. As Monica finds out that Chandler’s odd behavior is linked to his plans to propose, she decides to beat him to it, with both characters ultimately proposing to each other.
5
“The One With All The Thanksgivings” (Season 5, Episode 8)
Friends season 5, episode 8, “The One with All the Thanksgivings,” provides some insightful flashbacks to the gang’s stories, and shows Monica and Chandler when they first met as teenagers. As the gang retells their stories, Monica and Chandler discover new details about one particular Thanksgiving they spent together in the Geller household, which led to Chandler losing his little toe. In an attempt to make it up to Chandler, Monica puts the uncooked turkey on her head, a reference to Joey getting it stuck on his own head one year. Despite finding out he lost his toe because he once called her fat, Chandler unintentionally confesses his love for Monica in this episode.
4
“The One With The Fertility Test” (Season 9, Episode 21)
Friends season 9 spends significant time on Monica and Chandler’s fertility journey, and their attempts to keep smiling after the birth of Ross and Rachel’s daughter, Emma. Finding out that they were both infertile, the couple decided to continue to stand by one another, proving that a family doesn’t require children. Their sweet exchange is considered one of the most heartfelt moments in Friends, as they reevaluate the next step in their future together. By the end of season 9, Monica and Chandler decide to pursue adoption, but “The One with the Fertility Test” really shows the strength in their relationship and how they always keep the other afloat.
3
“The One At The Beach” (Season 3, Episode 25)
Before they became a couple, there were earlier moments that could be considered as a setup for Monica and Chandler’s romance. While visiting Phoebe’s biological mother in Friends’ season 3 finale, the gang visits the beach, where Chandler begins to question Monica on why she doesn’t consider him boyfriend material. Chandler then spends the majority of their trip trying to convince Monica otherwise, even though he doesn’t appear to be serious. Despite not being able to turn Monica’s head, Chandler still helps her when she is stung by a jellyfish, to the point that he begrudgingly urinates on her to try and soothe her pain.
2
“The One Where Everybody Finds Out” (Season 5, Episode 14)
Throughout Friends season 5, each member of the gang starts to slowly find out about Monica and Chandler’s secret relationship, starting with Joey. In “The One Where Everybody Finds Out”, Rachel and Phoebe decide to mess with the pair for hiding their relationship, much to Joey’s dismay. In order to do so, Phoebe pretends to seduce Chandler, but eventually calls his bluff. This moment leads Chandler to confess his love for Monica again, forgetting he’d already done so once. The episode is a huge turning point for Chandler, who manages to overcome his commitment issues not only in private but also publicly to his friends.
1
“The One With Monica And Chandler’s Wedding” (Season 7, Episode 24)
Among the most important episodes for Chandler and Monica’s relationship in Friends is their wedding, which occurs over season 7’s two-part finale. Though Chandler nearly gets cold feed and goes missing prior to the ceremony, he shows up and further proves his commitment and love to Monica – doing away with decades of fear regarding relationships and marriage itself. Following their wedding, Chandler and Monica continue to reaffirm their stability, love, and commitment as they enter the next chapter of their lives in Friends.
