5 extra special ‘Friends' Christmas episodes

There are so many exceptional Friends' episodes to choose from on HBO Max, and it may seem like a daunting decision to find the right one. Whatever mood one may find themselves in, there is almost certainly an entry in their impressive library that will undoubtedly do the trick. Among all the fantastic award-winning installments the top-rated NBC series developed, few compare to the side-splitting heartfelt yuletide installments. Throughout the show’s very substantial run, several Christmas episodes made their way to the small screen, and of all the options to get one in the spirit of the season, here are five of the best holiday-themed chapters of the Friends franchise.

"The One with the Girl from Poughkeepsie" - Season 4, Episode 10

Christmas doesn’t always end up going down in a traditional fashion for some, and many have different experiences over the holidays. The fourth season’s Christmas affair, "The One with the Girl From Poughkeepsie," is an excellent yuletide entry that will offer a nice break from the chaos of it all to watch others brilliantly fall on their faces.

In this exciting endeavor, Ross can’t choose between two women, while his future love Rachel has Chandler set her up for a fling, only for him to botch it in glorious fashion. Then there’s Monica, who tries to gain respect by firing Joey, which doesn’t go as planned. Friends is the gift that keeps on giving, offering fans some bliss this Christmas.

"The One with the Inappropriate Sister" - Season5, Episode 10

Many people can agree that there have been times when they've have had to visit relatives or the family of their significant others, and some of the members are less than ideal to be around. The Friends Christmas episode "The One with the Inappropriate Sister" will make anyone feel a lot better about whatever less than ideal relatives or in-laws they may find themselves stuck with during the holidays.

Ross wreaking havoc in Joey and Chandler’s life is great, and watching Rachel experience the cringeworthy downward spiral towards the revelation that her boyfriend Danny’s relationship with his sister is anything but ordinary is all well and good. But the real highlight is watching the revival of "Street Phoebe," to spread joy all over the city, which works so well it manages to recreate that special feeling every time someone plays the fun-filled Friends episode.

"The One with Phoebe's Dad" - Season 2, Episode 9

The infamous Friends Christmas episode "The One with Phoebe’s Dad" has a lot of tremendous things going for it and offers up a powerful holiday message with an ample amount of gut-busting laughs, making it a classic yuletide affair that should be in everyone’s Xmas rotation. Joey and Chandler waiting to the last minute to buy gas station presents for everyone is a sure fired way to bring in the laughs, and watching Rachel, Ross, and Monica sweat it out in an unexpected Noel-themed summer party is just downright delightful every time.

But Phoebe’s picture frame model dad turning out to be a pharmacist upstate ends up being a beautiful example of the thing that makes the legendary show so special, the friendship. The way Joey and Chandler stick by Phoebe and offer their oddball friend the support she needs is a wonderful reminder of what is really important around this special time of year.

"The One where Rachel Quits" - Season 3, Episode 10

"The One Where Rachel Quits" ends up being another great Noel-centric episode within Friends' great legacy and it is no wonder why this episode has a special place in fans’ hearts. Ross’s attempts to make a Brown Bird’s dream of winning a Space Camp trip and fails to outsell any of the competition. The end result is a heartfelt DIY space camp that Joey and Chandler turned their apartment into, which isn’t a perfect consolation prize but does provide one of the show’s top-tier touching moments.

This Friends third season entry also proves the power of Christmas miracles as Rachel ends up quitting her waitress position at the Central Perk and gets a job in fashion. The reality check is spectacular when its unveiled Rachel’s new gig is just making coffee, solidifying the series as a solid go-to for anyone looking for something entertaining to watch.

"The One with the Holiday Armadillo" - Season 7, Episode 10

A lot of people have their own traditions when it comes to Christmas, and having someone dress up as Santa Claus is a pretty traditional move. But after so many seasons, one thing that was proven by the series is that Friends marches to the beat of its own drum, especially when it comes to the season seven Christmas episode “The One with the Holiday Armadillo.”

Phoebe’s get rid of Rachel's gifts are deeply funny, and Joey’s reactions are some of the character’s finest moments, especially when he rocks the Superman costume. Chandler covers the Santa aspect, and Ross ushers in anew era of noel-centric costumes with the infamous Tex-Mex friend of Old Saint Nick called the Holiday Armadillo. The episode is so unique and wild for a Xmas affair that it’s no surprise many fans revere it as one of their favorites out of all the rest.

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