While Friends is known for its comedic and lighthearted vibe, it didn’t shy away from controversial storylines—one in particular involving two main characters sparked strong reactions from both fans and the cast. The show has cemented its place in television history through numerous achievements and remains one of the most iconic and influential series ever made. Although some aspects haven’t aged perfectly, Friends still enjoys a dedicated fanbase and continues to be widely beloved.
Jennifer Aniston and Matt LeBlanc Had Doubts About Rachel and Joey’s Romance
The idea of a romance between Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Rachel started to develop in Friends Season 8, when Rachel was pregnant and living with Joey. While Joey began to have feelings for Rachel, nothing happened until the two-part Season 9 finale set in Barbados, where they finally gave in to their emotions. By Season 10, they had revealed their relationship to Ross—who reacted poorly.
Although their relationship lasted only three episodes, it stirred significant controversy—even among the cast. According to Dr. Simone Knox, co-author of Friends: A Reading of the Sitcom, Matt LeBlanc was uneasy with the Joey-Rachel pairing. Knox shared insights from executive producer Kevin S. Bright, who confirmed the producers’ concerns when LeBlanc expressed his discomfort.
LeBlanc felt Joey’s loyalty to his friends made such a relationship unlikely, especially since it would hurt Ross. He believed Joey, known as a womanizer and food lover, would never cross that line emotionally.
Jennifer Aniston also had reservations. As Kelsey Miller wrote in I’ll Be There, Aniston saw the Joey-Rachel storyline as something that should be purely physical—a crush rather than genuine love—to keep it light and funny. Otherwise, the plot risked becoming awkward or even unwatchable, as many fans felt.
Better Ways Could Have Made Ross and Rachel’s Story More Engaging
Ross and Rachel’s relationship was often the heart of Friends, but Joey and Rachel’s brief romance ultimately felt like a forced attempt to add drama—and it didn’t quite succeed. Their time together seemed awkward, lacking genuine romantic chemistry, and ended so abruptly that it felt like a missed opportunity. Afterward, Ross and Rachel continued co-parenting their daughter Emma, only reuniting romantically in the series finale, while Joey stayed single.
The co-parenting dynamic between Ross and Rachel offered rich potential for fresh and meaningful storylines as they navigated this new phase. Rather than introducing the Joey-Rachel relationship, the show could have explored these moments more deeply or even brought in brief outside love interests for each of them. This would have better highlighted how important they still were to each other and how neither was quite ready to move on.
Rachel and Joey’s Relationship Highlighted Everything Wrong with Friends’ Final Seasons
No matter how much we love Friends, its final seasons weren’t its strongest, and the Joey-Rachel romance is a clear example. Season 8 balanced Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Monica’s (Courteney Cox) family plans with Rachel’s pregnancy and Joey’s growing feelings for her. While still watchable, this season marked the start of the show’s gradual decline with the awkward Joey-Rachel storyline.
Season 9 continued to follow Chandler and Monica’s journey and Phoebe’s struggles with Mike (Paul Rudd), but the tedious Barbados episodes and the controversial Joey-Rachel kiss dominated the season—in the worst way. Season 10 shifted focus back to Ross and Rachel, despite other important group storylines. Joey and Rachel’s brief relationship became the low point of the series, so it’s reassuring to know that even Matt LeBlanc and Jennifer Aniston weren’t fans of it.
