As a TV critic, I must confess that I have never watched an episode of the iconic sitcom “Friends.” Despite its cultural significance and widespread popularity, I have actively avoided the show for years. However, my curiosity was piqued when I discovered that the final unaired episodes of its spinoff, “Joey,” were available to stream on the “Friends” YouTube channel. With zero context and twenty years late to the party, I decided to dive into the “Friends” universe by binge-watching these lost “Joey” episodes.
I started my journey with Season 2, Episode 15 of “Joey,” titled “Joey and the Dad.” In this episode, we see Joey navigating life in Los Angeles, where he has found some success in his acting career. He is surrounded by his family, including his sister Gina and nephew Michael. Despite his womanizing ways, Joey is portrayed as a likable character who is trying to navigate relationships and career opportunities in Hollywood.
As I delved deeper into the unaired episodes of “Joey,” I found myself cringing at the outdated humor and problematic themes that permeated the show. The dialogue was filled with horrendous one-liners, and the characters often engaged in misogynistic behavior that was uncomfortable to watch. Despite Matt LeBlanc’s affable portrayal of Joey, the lackluster writing and uninteresting plotlines made it clear why “Joey” was ultimately pulled off the air due to low ratings.
In the final episodes of the series, we see Joey grappling with his feelings for his friend Alex, while his sister Gina and her fiancé Jimmy navigate their tumultuous relationship. Michael discovers a shocking family secret, and Joey attempts to convince Alex of his readiness for a committed relationship. The series concludes with Joey and Alex becoming a couple, but the ending feels rushed and lacks the emotional impact that one would expect from a series finale.
As a 30-something-year-old Black woman from the South Side of Chicago, I have always found “Friends” to be unrelatable. Growing up watching shows like “Living Single” and “Moesha,” I gravitated towards representation that mirrored my own experiences. The generic and uninspiring nature of “Friends” never appealed to me, and I found the lack of diversity and cultural relevance to be a major deterrent.
While “Friends” may offer a more comprehensive viewing experience than “Joey,” my brief foray into the spinoff series reaffirmed my initial hesitation towards the franchise. The lackluster writing, problematic themes, and underdeveloped characters ultimately solidified my decision to steer clear of the “Friends” universe. As I reflect on my viewing experience, it is evident that “Joey” was a spinoff that should have remained just an idea, rather than a lackluster addition to the “Friends” legacy.
