Friends: Series 9 – Episodes 9-12

Episodes 9 to 12 from the ninth season of the long-running sitcom. ‘The One with Rachel’s Phone Number’ sees Rachel concerned that a potential suitor she met in restaurant will phone when Ross is in. ‘The One with Christmas in Tulsa’ finds Chandler working over the Christmas holidays in Tulsa. To add to his woes, Monica begins to get suspicious when she discovers that Chandler is working with Wendy (Selma Blair). In ‘The One Where Rachel Goes Back to Work’ Rachel visits her work to show off baby Emma but finds herself agreeing to go back to work early – she has met her maternity leave replacement, Gavin (Dermot Mulroney). Meanwhile Pheobe gets a job as an extra on Joey’s drama series and Chandler finds he must get a new job quickly as Monica wants to start a family. Whilst in ‘The One with Phoebe’s Rats’ Pheobe finds a litter of rats in her cupboard and persuades her boyfriend to help look after them. Rachel and co-worker Gavin clash and baby Emma gets a new nanny (Melissa George) – and Ross finds it difficult to keep Joey away.
Nine years is a long time for any group of Friends to stick so closely together, but somehow the gang are still as daftly charming as ever. After the birth of Emma, Rachel comes to terms with being a mother surprisingly well. It’s how everyone else deals with it that makes things interesting. Joey’s accidental proposal creates weird friction between him and Ross, who breaks his finger throwing the show’s first ever punch. Monica becomes desperately broody and attempts all manner of convoluted ways of persuading Chandler (unfortunately he inadvertently bankrupts them in a move to Tulsa). Phoebe, on the other hand, occupies herself in the dating game, holding on to Mike (Paul Rudd) in the longest guest star relationship anyone’s ever had. Other surprise guests this year include Freddie Prinze Jr as an overly sensitive nanny (in the 200th episode), Christina Applegate as another of Rachel’s sisters and Jeff Goldblum playing himself on the set of another movie on which Joey is trying to get a break.
As always the sparks occasionally fly between Rachel and Ross, while the others manage to strain their own relationships to the max. The real reason for watching now is the one-off kooky scenarios in which they–or rather Joey–get into. His endless dating finally sees him stuck for remembering if he’s already slept with a girl; he botches an attempt at eyebrow waxing; and he manages to make Chandler think that Monica wants a breast enhancement. A 10th series and potential movie spin-off were announced well before the year was over, meaning six very rich actors will be supplying the fun for some time yet to come. –Paul Tonks