Ross and Rachel’s relationship was a complicated one, and it’s easy to forget some moments that happened in between arguments and dating other people.
As the most prominent relationship on Friends, the Ross and Rachel timeline extended throughout the entire run of the beloved sitcom. Their relationship was hinted at from the very beginning, with Rachel joining the group in the pilot episode after running away from her wedding, and Ross making it evident that, after all this time, he still had a crush on her. Although the show featured a number of great romances in its 10-season run, the Ross and Rachel timeline shows the incredible journey that cemented them as an iconic sitcom couple.
This couple was the source of many of the show’s most iconic moments, such as Friends’ “we were on a break” debate, and Ross saying Rachel’s name instead of Emily’s at the altar. Their relationship was so unstable and it’s easy to forget some moments that happened between breakups and rekindling. The first seasons were heavily focused on Ross and Rachel’s “will they, won’t they” situation, their time together, and all the mess that happened after they broke up. Although Ross and Rachel knew each other for years before the events of the pilot episode, their relationship didn’t start until they reunited years later.
Friends: A Complete Timeline Of Ross & Rachel’s Relationship
The Ross and Rachel timeline began when they met in high school. Even though Ross was older, that didn’t stop him from developing a crush on her, though he never really made a move. Rachel lost touch with Ross and Monica until she ran into Monica a year before the Friends pilot episode, and she later moved in with her after running away from her wedding. Although Ross confessed to having a crush on her in the first episode, their relationship blossomed in the fifth episode with the following pivotal events:
”The One With The East German Laundry Detergent” (season 1) – Rachel kisses him as a “thank you” for teaching her how to do laundry.
”The One Where Ross Finds Out” (season 2) – After an argument at the coffee shop, they kiss again.
”The One With The List” (season 2) – Ross makes a list of pros and cons of Julie and Rachel to decide between the two, but after Rachel finds the list, their budding relationship ends.
”The One With The Prom Video” (season 2) – Rachel kisses Ross again after watching a video from their teenage years and they officially become a couple.
Ross and Rachel (Finally) Dating (seasons 2-3)
“The One Where Ross And Rachel… You Know” (season 2) – Ross and Rachel sleep together for the first time at the museum.
”The One Where Old Yeller Dies” (season 2) – Ross and Rachel say “I love you” for the first time.
“The One Where Ross And Rachel Take A Break” (season 3) – After a failed anniversary celebration, they argue over Rachel’s friendship with her coworker, Mark, which reminds her to say they should “take a break.”
“The One With The Morning After” (season 3) – Ross sleeps with Chloe, the girl from the copy place. Rachel wants to get back with him, but after learning what he did, they get into a heated argument and break up for good.
Post Break-Up (seasons 3-6)
“The One At The Beach” (season 3) – Ross is dating Bonnie, Phoebe’s friend. Rachel confesses to Ross she still has feelings for him, and they kiss.
“The One With The Jellyfish” (season 4) – They get back together only to quickly break up when arguing about whether or not they were on a break.
“The One With Joey’s Dirty Day” (season 4) – Ross and Rachel finally get along again, and she asks him to take Emily, her boss’s niece, to the theater so she can go out with Joshua. That’s the beginning of the Ross and Emily relationship.
“The One With All The Haste” (season 4) – Ross and Emily’s romance goes further as they announce their engagement.
“The One With Ross’ Wedding, Part 1” (season 4) – After admitting she’s still in love with Ross, Rachel flies to London to stop the wedding.
“The One With Ross’ Wedding, Part 2” (season 4) – Rachel decides not to tell Ross what she really feels, but he ends up saying her name instead of Emily’s at the altar.
“The One With The Yeti” (season 5) – Ross chooses his friends over Emily and ends his marriage over the phone.
“The One In Vegas, Part 2” (season 5) – Ross and Rachel get incredibly drunk and get married in Vegas.
“The One With Joey’s Porsche” (season 6) – After much trouble, they finally sign for a divorce.
Post-Divorce (seasons 6-7)
“The One With Monica’s Thunder” (season 7) – After dating other people for a while, they almost sleep together again as a “bonus night.”
Ross and Rachel Have a Baby
“The One After ‘I Do’” (season 8) – Rachel confirms she’s pregnant.
“The One With The Red Sweater” (season 8) – It’s revealed that Ross is the father of Rachel’s baby.
“The One Where Rachel Is Late” (season 8) – Rachel gives birth to their daughter, Emma.
“The One Where Monica Sings” (season 9) – Ross and Rachel argue over their dating lives, and Rachel moves back with Joey.
The Cast Has Confirmed That Ross And Rachel Were On A Break
How Did The Confusion Of Ross And Rachel’s “Break” Begin?
Ross and Rachel’s “break” debate ran throughout most of Friends, but the cast confirmed that the couple was “on a break.” During the Friends reunion, interviewer James Corden asked the infamous question to the cast, and they each agreed that, yes, Ross and Rachel were on a break. The break began in season 3 when Ross became insecure about Rachel’s career taking off. She ends up having to work on their anniversary, and Ross tries to surprise her at the office, disrupting Rachel’s busy day, because she’s busy.
Ross blames her attractive coworker Mark, and she proclaims that the two need a break from each other, leaving Ross to bring someone home from the club. He decided not to tell her the next day when she wants to get back together, but the girl in question is roommates with Gunther and the truth comes to light. “The break” obviously means something different to both parties: Rachel probably just wanted space, but Ross took it as a full-blown breakup. But they were unequivocally on one.
David Schwimmer And Jennifer Aniston Were Crushing On Each Other While Filming Friends
How The Friends Actors’ Relationship Resembled Ross And Rachel’s Earlier Moments
During the Friends reunion, David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston revealed that they had crushes on each other while filming the show. Schwimmer was the first to reveal the behind-the-scenes secret, admitting that he had a “major crush on Jen” during the debut season. Aniston confirmed that she was attracted to her co-star, too, although their mutual attraction may not have been at the same time. Schwimmer went on to say:
“At some point, we were both crushing hard on each other, but it was like two ships passing because one of us was always in a relationship and we never crossed that boundary.”
So while nothing happened between the two, it’s interesting to know that Ross and Rachel’s chemistry might’ve been just as palpable behind the scenes. Aniston admitted that the actors just ended up putting all their love and adoration for each other into their onscreen relationship. This tidbit makes Ross and Rachel’s journey all the more interesting when watching it in hindsight.
These on-set missed moments and signals mirror Ross and Rachel’s trajectory perfectly. Rachel and Joey briefly date in season 10, and then it’s all about Ross and Rachel again as she’s offered a job in Paris, and Ross realizes he’s still in love with her. In the series finale, Ross chases after her and tells her that he still loves her. He goes back to his apartment, believing Rachel is on her way to Paris, only to find out that she got off the plane. Ross and Rachel end up together, and it’s assumed they got married at some point, bringing a happy end to their complicated relationship.
How Many Other Partners Do Ross And Rachel Have In Friends?
Which Character Had More Romances On Friends?
Although the Friends finale makes it clear they were meant to be together, both Ross and Rachel had numerous other partners throughout the show. Over the course of Friends, Rachel had 17 boyfriends, including Ross. She started off the series by escaping her wedding to Dr. Barry Farber, and while she and Ross got off to a great start directly afterward, they broke up so many times that there were bound to be people in between. Some of these boyfriends became fan-favorites, like her much younger coworker Tag Jones and the Italian-speaking Paolo. However, she was always meant for Ross.
Ross similarly had a slew of relationships over the course of Friends, and famously, marriages too. Including Rachel, Ross had 12 girlfriends, with three of them being promoted to wives. Carol is by far Ross’ most memorable marriage, as she had a son with him named Ben Geller and moved on to dating her partner Susan directly after coming out to Ross. His second wife was Emily, who had a hard time staying with him after he said the wrong name at the altar. Regardless, these relationships were meant to set up the tension necessary to create Ross and Rachel’s will-they-or-won’t-they dynamic that worked so well throughout Friends’ run.
