After rewatching Friends, one glaring detail finally jumped out at me — something the show never really addressed. Even years after it ended, all ten seasons still deliver laughs, heart, and unforgettable New York adventures. Part of what made Friends iconic is its portrayal of life in New York during your 20s and 30s.
Throughout the series, Monica, Chandler, Ross, Joey, Phoebe, and Rachel are constantly running around the city — juggling work, social life, and even childcare. Yet, despite being set in one of the most legendary cities in the world, the show surprisingly overlooks a key element of New York living — and it’s hard not to notice.
Friends Rarely Shows Characters Using the Subway — Despite Living in NYC
While Friends occasionally features subway stations — like Joey spotting his VD poster in season 1’s “The One Where Underdog Gets Away” or Phoebe trailing Malcolm in season 3’s “The One with the Jam” — the main characters are never actually shown riding the subway. It’s a curious omission, especially given Joey and Phoebe’s careers, which would presumably require frequent travel across the city. Mentions of the subway are rare throughout the series.
Instead, the gang seems to rely on cars. Rachel is established as a terrible driver, yet she’s only seen behind the wheel twice. From Phoebe’s grandmother’s taxi to Monica’s inherited Porsche, the characters navigate Manhattan without any real parking or traffic struggles — apart from Ross struggling to park in “The One Where They All Turn Thirty.” For a show set in New York City, this lack of realistic transportation feels like a glaring oversight.
Friends Not Using the Subway Actually Makes Sense
While other New York–based sitcoms, like How I Met Your Mother, found clever ways to show city transit, Friends largely skips subway rides — and for practical reasons. The show was filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, with iconic sets like Central Perk constructed on the lot. Although a few subway station scenes exist, filming inside actual subway cars would have required building entirely new sets, adding significant production complexity.
From a narrative perspective, the characters’ jobs offer another explanation. Episodes like “The One with Five Steaks and an Eggplant” suggest their high-paying careers allow them to take cabs instead, though this reasoning only fits some of the group until Rachel and Joey achieve later career success. While it’s a noticeable absence for a show set in New York, it’s a practical and story-based choice.
