The One Where F.R.I.E.N.D.S. leaves Netflix India

Some stories don’t end when the screen fades to black.

They stay...with their laughter echoing in quiet rooms, with familiar faces that feel like family, and with emotions that resurface every time you return. FRIENDS is one such story for me, and watching it leave Netflix feels like watching a piece of home quietly pack up and go.

Very few people will even come close to understanding me on how big a FRIENDS fan I truly am.

I’ve watched the series countless times...on loop. Yet, every single time I reach the last episode, there’s that familiar sadness. And just like clockwork, the very next day, when I start again with Season 1, Episode 1, happiness quietly returns.

FRIENDS is as comforting to me as a warm cup of tea is to my husband, who loves his tea. After watching any new series, returning to FRIENDS feels like returning home—to known faces, familiar voices, and laughter that never feels old.

What amazes me even today is how brilliantly written the script is, especially considering it was written decades ago. The writing isnt just funny; it is sensitive, adaptable, and far ahead of its time. The makers even shaped storylines around the actors’ real lives.

For instance, when Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe) was pregnant in real life, the show beautifully incorporated it by making Phoebe a surrogate mother to her brother’s triplets. 

The whole series was handled with warmth and zero judgment...something that wasn’t common on television back then.

In fact, what stands out most is that no one in FRIENDS was perfect. And that’s exactly what made it perfect. All three female leads...Rachel, Monica, and Phoebe, became mothers through unconventional paths. Not the “regular” fairytale routes, but real, layered, complicated journeys. And yet, the show portrayed it in the best possible way...quietly reminding us that life doesn’t always go as planned, problems will come your way, and the only thing left to do is find a solution, move on, and continue to live… happily.

Each character is so uniquely crafted, yet almost every girl will find parts of herself in Rachel, Phoebe, and Monica. I know I do. I can be cranky like Rachel, love hosting and having a little upper hand like Monica, and carry a streak of craziness like Phoebe.

When I’m stressed—FRIENDS.

When I’m happy—FRIENDS.

My love doesn’t stop at just watching. I’ve joined countless FRIENDS fan clubs across social media. I’ve read endlessly about the lives of the six actors—what they’re doing now. How much creative input they had in shaping their characters in the series. Also the iconic scenes where the director didn’t call cut and the actors carried on, making the moment even more hilarious. Knowing that some of the best scenes were impromptu makes me enjoy them even more than before.

I know every corner of that purple apartment.

I know about the funny white dog that actually belonged to Jennifer Aniston.

I know almost every dialogue by heart.

And yet, I’m not bored. Not even a little.

Watching FRIENDS on Netflix was special. Netflix made it feel personal—easy rewinds of favourite scenes, instant access to comfort whenever I needed it. Watching it anywhere else just won’t feel the same.

For those who never watched FRIENDS or could not connect with it..., it was just a show.

For the rest of us...

FRIENDS didn’t just make us laugh; it taught us how to love imperfectly, live honestly, and find family beyond blood.

And no matter where it streams, or if it streams at all, FRIENDS will always live where it truly belongs .....as a timeless part of our lives.

💜

Sharon.