10 Friends couple, ranked from worst to best

Generous helpings of couples are dished out in lump-sum forms more than ever in TV history on Friends, from sweet to solely regrettable, with some that leave us wondering what on earth the writers might have been thinking. In every sense of relationship dynamics, the show has offered fast affairs and steady love stories. Some future-wrecking couples like Ross and Emily, on the contrary, have been rather predictably on the rocks, while Monica and Chandler so steadily built a life of stability and maturity for themselves. Love and heartbreak characterize many an honest relationship, from jealousy to miscommunication to fear of commitment to growing pains. Some relationships were doomed by timing (Ross & Rachel), and some were just never meant to be (Joey & Rachel).

But who was the best out of the Friends couples? Who was the absolute worst? We are ranking the top ten most significant show relationships from worst to best based on chemistry, long-run status log, and emotional soul guts. Now, we will share our breakdown of what Friends had to show for the good and the bad in the love stories.

10. Ross & Emily

Ross and Emily's relationship was a huge disaster waiting to happen. It started with a whirlwind romance and later turned into a suffocating and toxic marriage. Emily who was insecure assumed control and demanded that Ross cut Rachel out of his life. Of course, Ross harmed things by saying the wrong name at the altar. Most of their relationship takes only a handful of episodes so there's no way that the relationship could build into anything significant.

9. Joey & Rachel

Joey had a crush on Rachel; that was an interesting spin. However, the reality of it turned out a disaster. For Joey, it seemed that he was really into her but the interest never stemmed from romantic sentiments. Their chemistry was great in a platonic way; however, as soon as they began crossing that barrier toward romance, things had to be funny and awkward. Even the show seemed to acknowledge this: It was hilariously cringeworthy, their first attempt to be intimate. Rachel and Joey had a great time together, but the relationship itself was destined for failure.

8. Phoebe & Gary

Upon their first meeting, Phoebe and Gary appear to be a remarkably good match. Gary seems to be a gentleman: older, mature, and a good cop who respects Phoebe—qualities she says are not always to be found in her quirky dating world. But then there was the shocking incident in which he lost his temper and shot a bird outside her home. Gary's impulsive act was meant to be funny, but it brought forth traits that Phoebe could never ignore. For someone like Phoebe, free-spirited yet a peace lover, this was a big no-no.

7. Ross & Julie

Julie was the most wonderful, intelligent, and supporting girlfriend, just what Ross needed as a partner. But their relationship was an example of right place but wrong timing. The full investment was lacking from Ross because he had never gotten over Rachel, and once Rachel cornered herself to admit her feelings for him, it was all over. Credit to Julie, who took it well, proving she was better than a rebound for Ross as she handled it that way.

6. Monica & Richard

Monica and Richard, are probably the most mature and emotional couple in the series. Respect, trust, and a solid attraction defined their relationship. Richard looked at Monica as a woman with whom he shared great affection and never dismissed her as some silly little kid, despite their age difference. But, truly, their biggest challenge was the difference in their life journeys. Monica wanted to marry and have children; Richard wanted no part of it, having done that once already in his life.

5. Chandler & Janice

Chandler and Janice had romantic relationship on and off is probably the most iconic on Friends. Chandler considered her laugh irritating and tried to avoid her all the time. Meanwhile, Janice actually had complete love for him. Much as she with her extravagant personality, was sweet, understanding, and really cared about Chandler in ways that other women in his life did not. They also had some nice moments in their relationship, such as when Janice encouraged him to be more open with his feelings.

4. Phoebe & Mike

Mike Hannigan was perhaps the greatest thing to ever happen to Phoebe. Unlike previous relationships that often seemed to have existed for sheer comic relief, Mike was a deep, sensible love figure and balanced Phoebe's oddness with charm. They had an unusually stable relationship, and always, Mike accepted Phoebe and her ways without judging her. From their disastrously good first meeting (thanks to Joey's last-minute matchmaking) to the sweetly beautiful wedding in the snow, they had some of the steadiest relationships on Friends.

3. Ross & Rachel

Ross and Rachel are the most iconic couple in the history of Friends, but they aren't necessarily the best. They had a lot of ups and downs in their relationship from jealously displayed by Ross to the infamous 'we were on a break' debate. Their chemistry was undeniable; however, the constant breakups became tiring to watch. However, the final reunion in the series finale is still one of the most emotional moments in television history. They were not the healthiest couple but an unforgettable love story.

2. Chandler & Kathy

Kathy and Chandler had one of the most underrated romantic relationships in Friends. Unlike his many flings, this relationship was emotionally deep and had almost real chemistry. Kathy challenged Chandler to be a better, more caring boyfriend, and the relationship felt natural. Guilt hung over their relationship- Kathy had dated Joey during her time with Chandler, whose feelings got quite complicated. Heartbreak was inevitable when Chandler suffered from trust issues and wrongly accused Kathy of cheating. Being a mature relationship by Chandler's standards, their breakup was pretty harsh.

1. Monica & Chandler

True, indeed, Monica and Chandler could have been the best couple on Friends. Their story started out by accident but quickly turned into the best and only stable and well-developed romance of the series. While Ross and Rachel bickered, not worth mentioning now, Monica and Chandler grew together quite normally yet emotionally. Such as one and all, they went through ups and downs;(such as - struggling with infertility, and helping each other through career changes) proving that love is not only meant for passion but also for partnership.