The Lie Of The Sitcom 'Friends'

The friendships of Friends are something of a marvel. Six vastly different people in their young adulthood with disparate wants, goals, professions, and relationships all closely orbit one another (and a single coffee shop). Whenever they need each other, there’s always someone available to help or comfort them.

Monica, Rachel, Chandler, Ross, Phoebe, and Joey live together and love each other — and eventually find their happily-ever-afters with each other, too. But the cruel lie of Friends and so many shows like it is that in real life, friendships often don’t operate like that at all.