Extremely rare for a sitcom to deal with the dark subject of death, yet Friends takes the subject on head first in its eighth episode. The original creators and writers of the show and the first two episodes are at the helm again, pushing the envelope with the common issues of buying a casket, setting up a funeral and cleaning out their house/apartment and force a family to confront the emotional and physical loss of a loved one and their own mortality. Chandler story line makes up the other part, with Perry once again being given space outside his friend network to feature his stellar acting and witty, comedic charm. Second appearance of Ross and Monica's parents, driving home the emotional impact of a lost loved one with a rather touching moment in the closet. The writers are already taking rather remarkable risks for 1990s network television.
12 Reviews
Perry Again Steals The Show And "The Rachel" Makes It's Debut
slightlymad2216 November 2014
Once again, it's Matthew Perry who is the star of an episode, he made it a hat trick of shows with the last episode and the trend of OK episodes raised to a higher level by Perry's portrayal of Chandler Bing continues.
Plot In A Paragraph: Chandler (Matthew Perry) is shocked to learn people have often thought him gay, when a college tries to set him up on a date with a male co-worker. Meanwhile Ross (David Schwimmer) and Monica (Courtney Cox) morn the loss of their Grandmother.
Elliot Gould returns as Jack Gellar and is as fun as the first time round,
"The Rachel", Jennifer Aniston's popular hairstyle, made its debut in this episode. The cut became very popular among fans, with many of them copying it. It has become Aniston's most iconic hairstyle.
These aren't great episodes, and Ross pining over Rachel is getting old already, but great performances from Perry in particular are lifting them up to a higher rating.
Plot In A Paragraph: Chandler (Matthew Perry) is shocked to learn people have often thought him gay, when a college tries to set him up on a date with a male co-worker. Meanwhile Ross (David Schwimmer) and Monica (Courtney Cox) morn the loss of their Grandmother.
Elliot Gould returns as Jack Gellar and is as fun as the first time round,
"The Rachel", Jennifer Aniston's popular hairstyle, made its debut in this episode. The cut became very popular among fans, with many of them copying it. It has become Aniston's most iconic hairstyle.
These aren't great episodes, and Ross pining over Rachel is getting old already, but great performances from Perry in particular are lifting them up to a higher rating.
The one where Monica's grandma dies
Lady_Targaryen22 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
In this episode, Chandler starts to stay worried when everybody ( his friends, his co-workers,etc) says he looks gay. When he asks what it is, everybody says he has ' a quality'.
Paolo stays in contact with Rachel from Italy, giving her presents and calling her from Rome.
Ross and Monica discover that their grandma is dying, and go to the hospital, where they meet their parents. Once there, their grandma is declared dead, but when they are going to see her, she resurrects for some seconds, making everybody stays terrified.
She dies as fast as she resurrects, and in her funeral, we see Ross high of painkillers (he fell down in an open grave!) and Monica's mother for the first time, looking like her mother, being nice to her.
Paolo stays in contact with Rachel from Italy, giving her presents and calling her from Rome.
Ross and Monica discover that their grandma is dying, and go to the hospital, where they meet their parents. Once there, their grandma is declared dead, but when they are going to see her, she resurrects for some seconds, making everybody stays terrified.
She dies as fast as she resurrects, and in her funeral, we see Ross high of painkillers (he fell down in an open grave!) and Monica's mother for the first time, looking like her mother, being nice to her.
Gay???
alicialperry17 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
After a co-worker thinks that Chandler is gay, he returns home/the girls apartment, where all 6 are hanging out. He appears stressed and confused and asks the others if they thought he was gay when they first met him. While all three girls agree that they actually DID think he was, the two guys both claimed that they did NOT think that.
During later episodes, showing flashbacks, Monica actually had a huge crush on him and became very upset when she overheard him laughing about it and making fun of her weight when she first met him. In my opinion this would indicate that she did NOT think that he was gay.
On the flip side, when they show Chandler interviewing Joey as a potential roommate, Joey states that he wanted it known the he was 'OK with the whole 'gay thing' ". Indicating, again in my opinion, that he actually DID think that Chandler was gay.
During later episodes, showing flashbacks, Monica actually had a huge crush on him and became very upset when she overheard him laughing about it and making fun of her weight when she first met him. In my opinion this would indicate that she did NOT think that he was gay.
On the flip side, when they show Chandler interviewing Joey as a potential roommate, Joey states that he wanted it known the he was 'OK with the whole 'gay thing' ". Indicating, again in my opinion, that he actually DID think that Chandler was gay.
THE BEST SCENE.
shafihapatel30 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
AT FUNERAL: Joey is watching football game in a funeral and he looks so handsome here. Ross falls down the open grave, and gets high on pain killers and tells everyone that he loves them all. Well, Chandler is shocked to know that the people who works with him thinks that he is gay and at funeral Ross tells Chandler I love you buddy if you wanna be gay just be gay while Chandler was talking to a girl. That was so funny.
A memorable episode.
jpapanone8 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Hadn't seen it in 20 years but brought back great memories.
Chandler is such a great character...acted brilliantly by Matthew Perry...given excellent plots. So much material for Perry to have fun with. He's mistaken for gay in this one.
And Elliot Gould's Jack Gellar continues his dominant performance as a comedic actor/character...being given some excellent lines. I think he hits a homerun every at bat he gets.
And some sweet scenes with Ross and Nana memories...especially him as a shoe salesman.
Didn't need Nana to die twice. An unnecessary thing...and definitely not what the episode should be called.
So many great lines and zingers in this one.
"She's not passed... she's...present. She's back."
"What's going on?" "She may have died." "She may have died?" "We're looking into it."
"I have nothing in an evening shoe in the burgundy. I can show you something in a silver that may work.... ... Wait.... I may have something in the back."
"You're overcoat sounds remarkably like Brent Mussberger"
"You're watching a football game at a funeral?" "No. It's the pre-game. I'm gonna watch it at the reception."
"God...what a GREAT day!
What? Weather wise"
"Hi. I'm Andrea. I'm Dorothy's daughter." "Hi I'm Chandler...and I have no idea who Dorothy is"
"I fleel great"
"HEY! CHANDLER! I love you man.
And listen man, if you wanna be gay, be gay. Doesn't matter to me...mmmmmmmm"
Ross to Rachel: "I love you the most." "Well...you know who I love the most? You" "YOU DON'T GET IT!"
"Now I'm depressed!
Even more than I was."
"If I wanted to get a Brian, I could get a Brian.
Hey Brian."
So...I was gonna give this a 7 but most likely an 8.
But after marking down all the memorable dialogue, I think I gotta give this a 9.
It's not a great episode...or great idea.
But they do so much with it.
No knock out punches...just a barrage of jabs and solid headshots. Such a well done episode.
I'm still not sure if I'm gonna do an 8 or 9.
I think an 8 is solid enough.
I'll reserve my 9's and 10's for near perfection.
I think this episode squeezed absolutely everything it could from these storylines. Excellently done on all accounts.
Still shocked that was the 2nd Styles from teen Wolf Too playing Lowell. I checked out the actors and had no idea that was the same guy.
Chandler is such a great character...acted brilliantly by Matthew Perry...given excellent plots. So much material for Perry to have fun with. He's mistaken for gay in this one.
And Elliot Gould's Jack Gellar continues his dominant performance as a comedic actor/character...being given some excellent lines. I think he hits a homerun every at bat he gets.
And some sweet scenes with Ross and Nana memories...especially him as a shoe salesman.
Didn't need Nana to die twice. An unnecessary thing...and definitely not what the episode should be called.
So many great lines and zingers in this one.
"She's not passed... she's...present. She's back."
"What's going on?" "She may have died." "She may have died?" "We're looking into it."
"I have nothing in an evening shoe in the burgundy. I can show you something in a silver that may work.... ... Wait.... I may have something in the back."
"You're overcoat sounds remarkably like Brent Mussberger"
"You're watching a football game at a funeral?" "No. It's the pre-game. I'm gonna watch it at the reception."
"God...what a GREAT day!
What? Weather wise"
"Hi. I'm Andrea. I'm Dorothy's daughter." "Hi I'm Chandler...and I have no idea who Dorothy is"
"I fleel great"
"HEY! CHANDLER! I love you man.
And listen man, if you wanna be gay, be gay. Doesn't matter to me...mmmmmmmm"
Ross to Rachel: "I love you the most." "Well...you know who I love the most? You" "YOU DON'T GET IT!"
"Now I'm depressed!
Even more than I was."
"If I wanted to get a Brian, I could get a Brian.
Hey Brian."
So...I was gonna give this a 7 but most likely an 8.
But after marking down all the memorable dialogue, I think I gotta give this a 9.
It's not a great episode...or great idea.
But they do so much with it.
No knock out punches...just a barrage of jabs and solid headshots. Such a well done episode.
I'm still not sure if I'm gonna do an 8 or 9.
I think an 8 is solid enough.
I'll reserve my 9's and 10's for near perfection.
I think this episode squeezed absolutely everything it could from these storylines. Excellently done on all accounts.
Still shocked that was the 2nd Styles from teen Wolf Too playing Lowell. I checked out the actors and had no idea that was the same guy.
Grsnny
bevo-1367816 December 2020
The One Where Nana Dies Twice
ComedyFan20109 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Best part of this episode is the second plot line. The one about Chandler being confused for being gay and trying to figure out what this quality that everyone talks about it is. ("Is this my hair?" "Yes, thats it Chandler. You have homosexual hair" lol)
The main ploy with Nana dying is kind of boring. Most of the jokes are pretty lame and tired. Which is sad since it had lots of potential. I think the best is when Ross falls into a grave and sees all his friends looking into a grave. A pretty morbid joke, lol. And when he takes the drugs he gets all high and it is pretty funny when he tells Chandler he doesn't care of he is gay
The main ploy with Nana dying is kind of boring. Most of the jokes are pretty lame and tired. Which is sad since it had lots of potential. I think the best is when Ross falls into a grave and sees all his friends looking into a grave. A pretty morbid joke, lol. And when he takes the drugs he gets all high and it is pretty funny when he tells Chandler he doesn't care of he is gay
The One With The Most Hilarious Death
devashishparnami6 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I haven't seen any death on screen with so much wit and laughs. The beginning of this episode itself is beautiful with Chander having a quality which makes him appear gay, and the hospital scene with Ross and Monica's Grandmother passing by. This for sure has been the best funeral ever telecasted on television, it's super hilarious with Joey watching the match and Ross getting high on medicine.
The One Where Everyone Thinks Chandler Is Gay...
taylorkingston31 May 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I like this episode a lot. It's really funny, but really sad as well. Because even though Monica and Ross's grandmother isn't a regular character, it's still sad that she died.
In this episode, Chandler is shocked and crushed to find out that people he works with think he's gay. He asks his friends if they ever thought that, and when he finds out that they also thought he was gay when they first met him, he is crushed all over again. Meanwhile, Monica and Ross's Nana goes to hospital and is pronounced dead. Only to have her not be dead, but then really die.
Overall, I give this episode a 7 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Great.
In this episode, Chandler is shocked and crushed to find out that people he works with think he's gay. He asks his friends if they ever thought that, and when he finds out that they also thought he was gay when they first met him, he is crushed all over again. Meanwhile, Monica and Ross's Nana goes to hospital and is pronounced dead. Only to have her not be dead, but then really die.
Overall, I give this episode a 7 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Great.
Fun episode, but..
achlah10 February 2020
Boring, depressing, dramatic.
jonathanducote14 March 2020
This episode had some high points, but overall, it just fell flat. It was too boring for the most part as the writers tried to tackle some dramatic plot points. I am all for drama in comedy, the show does it VERY well in later seasons, but this episode didn't make me feel sad, thoughtful, etc. I just felt bored. And honestly, some of the writing (this is rare for Friends) was cringy. The only plotline that had any interest to me was Chandler's.
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