Friends has various episodes that were key to the show’s stories, and three decades later, one of its most important episodes is one of the most controversial, too. The world of sitcoms has delivered some of the best TV shows of all time, and among them is Friends. The show broke records during its successful 10-year run, and it’s still one of the most influential sitcoms of all time, with many others trying to either replicate it or take its place.

Although Friends has a simple premise – a group of close friends navigating adulthood and everything that comes with it together –it became popular thanks to its relatability, sense of humor, and engaging storylines. In the latter, Friends knew how to hook the audience with Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel’s (Jennifer Aniston) will-they-won’t-they relationship. While Friends shared the spotlight among all six main characters, Ross and Rachel were the main focus throughout most of the show.

A lot has been said about the Ross and Rachel relationship through the years, with the consensus being that it was a toxic relationship from beginning to end. Still, their chaotic relationship was a big source of the show’s drama and a couple of comedic moments, making way for some of Friends’ most important episodes – and one of them only gets more controversial even 30 years after it originally aired.

“The One With The Prom Video” Officially Started Ross & Rachel’s Relationship

The relationship between Ross and Rachel was established in the first episode of Friends. The pilot revealed that Ross and Rachel had known each other since high school, as Rachel and Monica were friends, and Ross had a big crush on Rachel. With Rachel joining the group, Ross saw a new opportunity to finally date Rachel, but she was oblivious to Ross’ feelings for her. After many ups and downs, Rachel finally understood what was going on and accepted that she also had feelings for Ross, but he was already dating someone else.

Right when it seemed like Ross and Rachel could finally be together, Ross’ “list” ruined his chances, but not for long. In “The One With The Prom Video”, the video showed Monica and Rachel preparing for their high school prom, with Rachel’s date seemingly standing her up. Ross was ready to step in and take her to prom when her date suddenly showed up, leaving him ready and heartbroken. This was enough for Rachel to forget about the list and give a relationship with Ross a chance.

From then on, the Ross and Rachel relationship took most of the focus of Friends, with some peak moments like the infamous “break”, having a daughter together, and Rachel getting off the plane in the finale to go stay with Ross. “The One With The Prom Video” is also the episode that coined the term “lobster” for “soulmates”, with Phoebe saying Rachel is Ross’s lobster. “The One With The Prom Video” is where everything officially began for Ross and Rachel, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing, given how problematic their relationship was.

Why “The One With The Prom Video” Is One Of Friends’ Most Controversial Episodes

Just like Friends has many iconic episodes, it also has many controversial ones. Some of them have been controversial since they first aired, and others have aged quite badly for different reasons. “The One With The Prom Video” falls into the latter category, and it no longer has the intended impact of a “cute” and “romantic” episode.

The episode feels manipulative towards Rachel, who was understandably hurt after Ross’ “list”, and used the “nice guy” trope to make her change her mind. Ross is widely regarded as the worst and most toxic character in Friends, and this episode is one often cited when exploring the character’s worst qualities, mostly how manipulative he is. “The One With The Prom Video”, then, isn’t exactly a sweet moment in Friends history anymore, and instead, it’s now proof of some of the show’s biggest flaws.

“The One With The Prom Video” also has one of many examples of fat-shaming in Friends, as the video shows Monica before she went through a physical transformation. On a less damaging note is a continuity mistake with Chandler being surprised at Monica’s weight in the video. Friends later showed that not only did Chandler meet Monica back then, but his harmful comments about her appearance pushed her to lose weight.

“The One With The Prom Video” changed the course of Friends, and it was the defining episode in Ross and Rachel’s relationship, but it’s also one of the episodes that has aged the worst.

Release Date

1994 – 2004

Showrunner

Marta Kauffman

Directors

Kevin S. Bright, Gary Halvorson, Michael Lembeck, James Burrows, Gail Mancuso, Peter Bonerz, David Schwimmer, Robby Benson, Shelley Jensen, Terry Hughes, Dana De Vally Piazza, Alan Myerson, Pamela Fryman, Steve Zuckerman, Thomas Schlamme, Roger Christiansen, Sheldon Epps, Arlene Sanford, David Steinberg, Joe Regalbuto, Mary Kay Place, Paul Lazarus, Sam Simon, Todd Holland

Writers

Jeff Astrof, Mike Sikowitz, Brian Boyle, Patty Lin, Bill Lawrence, R. Lee Fleming Jr.