F•r•i•e•n•d•s Forever
January 19, 2024
Writer: Molly Fischman
Editor: Natalia Pinto
We all undoubtedly have TV shows that define us and become integral to our childhoods. As we grow up, we long to live through the laughter, joy, and comfort these shows once brought us. The theme song becomes our anthem, and the characters become our friends. Chandler Bing from Friends was the comedic constant in my life. Matthew Perry’s recent passing at age 54 shook the world, including me, to its core. His death felt like the loss of a close friend, even though we never met. Through the ten glorious seasons of Friends, the beloved cast member became remembered for his wittiness, big heart, and incomparable ability to make us all laugh. Chandler Bing was truly a friend to us all.
Friends was one of the first sitcoms I can remember watching. Unlike many of the other shows I enjoyed, this was one my whole family could sit down and watch together. I started from the beginning, Season 1 Episode 1, and quickly became obsessed with the simple yet familiar premise of Friends. At its core, the show is about an inseparable group of young adults navigating life and love. This all goes down in the comfort of their next-door apartments and classic downstairs coffee shop in New York City.
Each actor and actress had their quirks and trademark personalities: Monica with her competitiveness and obsession with organization, Rachel as a fashionista with the best hair, Phoebe with her bizarre beliefs and guitar, Joey embracing being a struggling soap opera actor, and Ross as the nerdy paleontologist, hopeless for love. Chandler was a hilarious, self-deprecating cubicle worker. He always had the best one-liners, and nobody really knew what he did for a living. While I loved all the cast members in different ways, I always rooted for Chandler. To me, he was the most multifaceted and complex character in the show. On the surface, he was sarcastic, the first one to make fun of himself, and seemed emotionally distant. But as the show progressed, we saw glimpses of Chandler’s vulnerability underneath, masked by his tumultuous childhood and bizarre relationship with his parents.
Chandler Bing taught me more lessons in Friends than any other character. I related to his social anxiety and tendency to deflect reality with jokes, which is often viewed as a bad thing. However, Chandler showed the importance of humor, and how a laugh can get us through hard times. He showed that maturity and growth are very possible—moving past his abandonment issues to build a family with Monica, Chandler became an excellent husband and father. Most of all, Chandler showed me the irreplaceable importance of friendship. While struggling for so long to find meaningful romantic connections, he was incredibly loyal to his friends, showing how much he valued their bond. Though he was emotionally troubled, Chandler had the biggest heart under his cynicism. In reality, Matthew Perry struggled and was an advocate for addiction and substance abuse. However, perhaps this personal experience brought such emotional depth to the role. Chandler showed me that we all “have our own stuff,” but sometimes, you need to put it aside and be there for your people. Out of all the friends, Chandler felt the most human and complete.
Despite wrapping up in 2003, the show’s popularity has endured over the last 20 years, proving itself to be a classic series that is still relevant today. The passing of Matthew Perry leaves a lasting void, and the sadness felt by many will linger. In the wake of Perry’s death, Chandler Bing’s humor feels like bittersweet medicine— “We laugh so we don’t cry” captures the feeling. The comedic relief Chandler brought helps fans cope with the tragedy, just as laughter was his coping mechanism on the show. Matthew Perry’s legacy lives on through every episode of Friends. Even though he has passed, his talent, humor, and warmth as Chandler Bing will touch fans forever.
