Friends (TV Series) The One with the Giant Poking Device (1996) User Reviews

The One with the Giant Poking Device

[Lady_Targaryen · 8/10 · 13 May 2008]

Phoebe is afraid to go to the dentist, because every time she does, someone dies by coincidence. She stays the biggest part of the episode complaining about her toothache.

Monica and Rachel take care of Ben, but Monica, while playing with him, bumps his head really hard on the roof. They try to cover the bump on his head in the hope of Ross not discuss with them.

When Chandler decides to give an expensive birthday gift, Joey finally tells him about Janice kissing her ex husband. Chandler talks to Janice about the situation, and she tells him that she likes him and her ex husband. Chandler decides to leave Janice in order to let her(Janice's) kid with both parents together.

The One with the Giant Poking Device

[ComedyFan2010 · 7/10 · 25 June 2011]

I kind of found the story of Phoebe not wanting to go to the dentist because people die more silly than funny, but I liked how it lead to the story of Ugly Naked guy not moving and them building a giant pocking device and poking him

We also get a bit of dramatic touch in this episode as well when Chandler finds out that Janice isn't sure if she loves him or her husband more. Matthew Perry did a great job. And the final scene of him and Phoebe singing together was pretty funny

I did like watching Monica and Rachel trying to cover up that Ben got a bump on his head and Ross than fooling Monica

The One Where Phoebe Doesn't Want To Go To The Dentist...

[taylorkingston · 9/10 · 31 May 2015]

I love this episode. It's so funny. Just the idea that Phoebe thinks she's killing people because people she knew happened to die whilst she was in the dentist. It's just hilarious.

In this episode, Phoebe's tooth hurts but she refuses to go to the dentist, because she believes she kills people. She explains that every time she's been to the dentist, some she knew died. After everyone convinces her to go, she comes back and calls everyone she knows to make sure they're not dead. Everyone sees Ugly Naked Guy across the street in his hammock, not moving. So they fashion a large poking device, to see if he's alive or not.

Overall, I give this episode a 9 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Amazing.

Matthew Perry Is Great Here

[slightlymad22 · 17 December 2014]

Matthew Perry's best moment so far this season Plot In A Paragraph: After Joey sees Janice kissing her ex-husband, he struggles over whether to tell Chandler, when Chandler says he is going to buy her an expensive present, he decides to tell him. Phoebe doesn't want to go to the dentist because every time she does, someone dies. Monica accidentally bumps Bens head really hard and tries to cover the bump on his head.

Although Perry's appearance has changed a lot throughout this season so far (he is noticeably thinner than earlier in the season) it is not affecting his acting chops, as his scene with Janice at the end was brilliant.

Monka bang?

[erintk3 · 8/10 · 14 September 2018]

Spoilers for end of series....

Where Ben keeps saying Monica bang it sounds suspicially similar to Monica bing... coincidence??

The One With Ugly Madness

[devashishparnami · 10/10 · 24 February 2018]

Phoebe doesn't want to go to the dentist because every time she does, someone dies. Monica plays the airplane game with Ben and bumps his head really hard and Rachel and Monica try to cover the bump on his head. Joey sees Janice kissing her ex-husband and tells Chandler. Phoebe is checking if she killed someone by going to the dentist and finds that Ugly Naked Guy hasn't moved since the morning. They build a massive poking device out of chopsticks to poke him and see if his alive or just taking a nap. Chandler leaves Janice so she can go back to her husband and child. Ugly Naked Guy is alive!

Ouch

[bevo-13678 · 10/10 · 6 April 2021]

I like the bit where there was a giant poking device.

Monica bang

[arnaut-44532 · 10/10 · 5 May 2021]

Phoebe being Phoebe doesnt want to go to the dentist because she thinks thats why people die. Rachel babysitting Ben with Monica is cute and funny after he hits his head. Monica bang, hm, are they trying to tell us something? Joey and Chandler had both funny and sirius scenes together and this episode reminded me why I love Chandler so much. Also him singing at the end with Phoebe was cute, sad and funny at the same time. Beauty of friends is exactly that. :)

Good fun all round

[studioAT · 6/10 · 12 May 2017]

I thought this was a fun episode, with all three stories working.

I liked that there was a story line involving Rachel and Monica, and also that Ross being a parent was still central to the show. It would become less so as time went on.

Despite the well documented personal problems he was going through at the time (and his weight loss is visible here) Matthew Perry gives a great performance, showing what a good dramatic actor he is too. I loved his 'what would you do?' scene with Matt Le Blanc.

A good episode overall.