The One with the Thumb

Matthew Perry and Lisa Kudrow are finally given material to stretch their characters out beyond the arena of the group ensemble and both put forth exceptional acting performances that give some layers to the show beyond Cox, Schwimmer and Anniston and indicate the writers are bulking up their characters with individual nuances and traits that would build to a crescendo in season three with their personalities fleshed out. Show really starts to gel from this point on with less focus on the outside and more on the inter-workings of the main characters and their relationships and how they impact the inner circle of friends. Astrof & Sikowitz flesh out a more youthful, less forced and more spontaneous script that flows more naturally than the first two scripts written by the show creators. Nice step forward for the show.

After a substandard episode, the show is back on track.

Plot In A Paragraph: Monica is reluctant to introduce her new boyfriend, Alan, to her friends because they've made fun of all of the previous boyfriends they've met before. To her surprise, they love Alan. Chandler starts smoking again and Phoebe encounters a problem with her bank account, when a bank error in her favour nets her $1,000. She gives the money away to a homeless friend, who in turn buys her a can of soda. When Phoebe opens it, she sees a severed thumb, so the soda company gives her $7,000.

One bit a bit picking and it really is not picking, all of the others faults Chandler picks out, were never seen before, and never were again.

The best episode of "Friends" so far.

Not the most memorable or will ever be considered one of the great episodes but it's a bit of fun and will keep a smile on your face throughout, which is what season 1 friends is all about.

I like the bit with the laugh track so you know what's funny