In Friends, Monica and Richard get serious fairly quickly and share great chemistry. However, their age gap and its implications set them up to fail.
While Monica didn’t ultimately end up with Richard in Friends, their age gap remains a point of contention among many fans. Monica’s relationship history is not super extensive by any means, but rather just short-lived flings or first dates. Throughout the course of the popular show, she only really has a couple of serious relationships, one of which being with Richard.
Monica and Richard’s romance is one of the first long-term relationships fans see on the show, starting in season 2. While catering Richard’s party, which he throws for his fellow ophthalmologists, Monica catches his attention. Instead of catering the event, like she was hired to do, Monica appears to be attracted to him and spends most of her time there chatting with him. This sparks the beginning of their romance, which lasted for quite a while in the hit sitcom.
Monica Was 26 & Richard Was 47 When They Began Dating
When Monica and Richard start dating, there’s a 21-year age gap between them, with Richard being 47 and Monica only being 26. This created a number of complications. For instance, Richard is already divorced once, a father of two, and even a grandfather. Monica, on the other hand, is still figuring out her career at this point in the show. Being in such vastly different points in their lives, with varying life and family goals, ultimately dooms Monica and Richard’s relationship.
Other elements of the story made their age gap too difficult to ignore. Joey and Chandler view Richard as a father figure more than a peer, which is a bit awkward, considering that Monica is one of their closest friends. Plus, Monica attended high school with Richard’s daughter, making the age difference even more unsettling since it highlights that she’s young enough to be his child.
The Age Gap Was Not The Biggest Issue In Monica & Richard’s Relationship
Despite the unusual dynamics the age gap causes, it’s not the main issue. While it’s unconventional, Monica and Richard are both consenting adults when they get together. However, the most unsettling part is that Richard has a history with the Geller family prior to their relationship. It’s established that he’s a close friend of Monica’s parents and was around while Monica was growing up. Monica even confesses she peed in Richard’s pool as a child. The implication that Richard was in Monica’s life since she was a baby and witnessed her growing up makes their romantic and sexual relationship more uncomfortable to think about.
Additionally, her parents’ insinuation that Richard’s younger girlfriend (who they don’t know is Monica at the time) is a “twinkie” that’s equivalent to Jack Geller’s midlife crisis Porsche also indicates that the relationship probably would never be accepted by Monica’s family. It’s hard to imagine a world where the Gellers would be okay with one of their best friends dating their daughter, especially because of his presence during her childhood. So, although Friends gives Monica a fulfilling relationship with Chandler, her romance with Richard and the implications of their age gap is unforgettable and made their breakup inevitable.
