Friends’ Thanksgiving Episodes Ranked From Worst to Best

The TV show ‘Friends’ was well-known for its yearly Thanksgiving episodes, which always managed to blend the usual holiday craziness with important story lines. These episodes often featured the six friends in funny and over-the-top situations, like ruined meals or competitive football games. They became some of the most iconic scenes in TV history and really shaped the sitcom world. Here’s a ranking of every ‘Friends’ Thanksgiving episode, based on how well they were received and how funny people found them.

“The One with the List”

Ross is torn between his current girlfriend, Julie, and his feelings for Rachel, and Chandler tries to help him sort things out with a pros and cons list – which backfires when Rachel finds it. Meanwhile, Monica experiments with a fake chocolate called Mockolate while trying to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. The episode is more about romantic drama and hurt feelings than celebrating the holiday itself.

“The One Where Underdog Gets Away”

When everyone’s Thanksgiving plans fall apart, the friends decide to celebrate together. Monica lovingly prepares a feast, but chaos ensues when they try to watch the parade’s Underdog balloon from the rooftop – they end up locked out and the dinner is spoiled! Despite the mishap, they share a cozy meal of grilled cheese sandwiches, strengthening their bond and establishing the warm, funny dynamic that defines the show.

“The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs”

In this episode, Chandler’s surprising fear of dogs is exposed when Phoebe secretly brings one into their apartment. Meanwhile, Rachel considers whether to pursue a romantic relationship with her assistant, Tag, while he’s at dinner. Ross gets hilariously frustrated trying to list all fifty states in a game, ultimately missing out on his Thanksgiving turkey. While the episode is remembered for the funny bit with Chandler and the dog, it’s sometimes considered one of the weaker ones due to some inconsistencies in the storyline.

“The One with the Late Thanksgiving”

Monica hesitantly agrees to host dinner, but gets very upset when her guests are all late. Meanwhile, Ross and Joey go to a hockey game, and Rachel and Phoebe secretly enter Emma in a baby pageant. The friends attempt to apologize to Monica for their tardiness, awkwardly doing so through the slightly open door. This episode, the last in the holiday series, combines the group’s usual silliness with the heartwarming news that Monica and Chandler have received an offer to adopt a child.

“The One with the Football”

While the Thanksgiving turkey is cooking, the friends decide to play a game of touch football. The game quickly turns competitive, especially for Ross and Monica, who are determined to win the Geller Cup – a childhood trophy. Meanwhile, Joey and Chandler try to impress a woman watching the game. The competition brings out the siblings’ childish behavior, and the football game ends in a tie, with neither Ross nor Monica willing to concede.

“The One with Rachel’s Other Sister”

When Rachel’s Thanksgiving plans fall through, she invites her sister Amy, who tends to think only of herself. Amy proceeds to upset everyone with her blunt and insensitive remarks, and she can’t even remember details about her niece, Emma. Things get even more awkward when the group starts discussing who would raise Emma if something happened to Ross and Rachel. Christina Applegate’s portrayal of Amy is particularly funny and causes a lot of friction within the group.

“The One with Chandler in a Box”

Okay, so this episode is wild! It all started because I messed up – Chandler kissed Joey’s girlfriend, Kathy, and really hurt him. As a way to make it up, Chandler actually lived in a shipping crate! It was so he could prove how much he values their friendship. Meanwhile, Monica invited this guy Tim Burke to dinner, and it turned out he had a connection to her ex, Richard, which was super awkward. It’s a funny episode because it’s both really emotional – dealing with betrayal and past relationships – but also totally silly with the whole box thing. It somehow worked to bring everything to a head and resolve the drama!

“The One with All the Thanksgivings”

To lift Ross’s spirits, the friends reminisce about their most disastrous Thanksgivings. We see flashbacks explaining how Chandler lost a toe and the reason behind Monica’s college weight loss. The episode reaches a hilarious peak when Monica dances with a raw turkey balanced on her head, and a significant turning point occurs as Chandler unintentionally blurts out ‘I love you’ to Monica for the very first time.

“The One with the Rumor”

Brad Pitt appears as Will Colbert, a high school friend of Ross and Monica. He reveals that he and Ross started a club dedicated to disliking Rachel and even spread a mean rumor about her. This surprising news causes a lot of funny arguments between Rachel and her old tormentor. Many fans love this episode because of Brad Pitt’s appearance and the great dynamic between the actors.

“The One Where Ross Got High”

During dinner with Monica’s parents, she and Chandler desperately try to keep their relationship a secret. Meanwhile, Ross is forced to explain why his parents don’t like Chandler, revealing a story about a college lie involving marijuana. Adding to the chaos, Rachel mistakenly creates a bizarre dessert – a combination of English trifle and shepherd’s pie – due to a mishap with her cookbook. The episode culminates in a hilariously messy reveal of all these secrets, a scene often hailed as one of the show’s best.

Please share your own ranking of these classic episodes in the comments.

2025-11-27 17:49