--- title: "Friends: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/friends/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/friends" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Friends (1994): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 7 reviews: 5 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics like Friends, and the praise settles on the ensemble. The leads are credited with an easy chemistry that carries the writing through its thinner patches, and the sharper reviews argue the series is at its best when it stays close to its subject: twentysomethings in dead-end jobs, dating badly and growing up slowly. Several critics writing years after the fact find it has worn well, and one or two argue it was more forward-looking on women and gay parents than its reputation now allows. The reservations divide by era. The two reviews of the 1994 pilot are the coolest, Variety in particular finding the cast livelier than the scripts and asking for funnier writing. The later dissent comes from /Film, which finds the show comforting but insular and dated, sealed off from anything happening outside its apartments. Even admirers concede a soap-opera drift in the later seasons. The spread is moderate, and nobody dislikes it. ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 May 2004. The critic bids farewell to the series upon its conclusion, calling it one of the greatest and most influential American sitcoms for its consistent humor, sharp writing, fine acting, and focus on friendship and empathy among the characters. They note its glossy, mainstream appeal and enduring catchphrases while acknowledging some dips in quality and soap-opera elements in later seasons. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/friends-seasons-1-10-review/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 January 2014. The critic finds Friends the best-ever show about twentysomethings, praising its realistic depiction of dead-end jobs, dating struggles, and quarter-life crises. It singles out the show's universal appeal and character growth through career and relationship ups and downs. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/jan/08/friends-20-years-best-show-twentysomethings) ## The Times — Benji Wilson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2014. The critic highlights Friends' enduring popularity 20 years on, praising its durability across generations and the cast's collective pay negotiations that influenced the industry. It notes the show's massive syndication success. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/friends-for-ever-3sl35vl5xlh) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Miles Beller Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 22 September 1994. The critic praises the sustaining humor and capable handling of the ensemble comedy about young adults in Manhattan, noting it makes the characters' lives humorously involving despite some forced shtick. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/friends-first-episode-thrs-1994-734667/) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2021. The critic argues Friends was ahead of its time in 1994 on feminism and gay issues, praising its groundbreaking female friendships and early portrayal of a lesbian couple raising a child. It defends the show against modern retrospective criticism. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/easily-offended-dont-get-friends-progressive-show-tv/) ## Variety — Tony Scott Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 22 September 1994. The critic finds the pilot promising due to its ideal scheduling slot and spirited ensemble acting but notes that funnier writing will be needed for long-term success. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1994/tv/reviews/friends-4-1200438471/) ## /Film — Kyle Turner Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 4 May 2018. The critic finds the show comforting yet frustrating and insular, like an outdated home one has outgrown. They single out the strong ensemble chemistry and performances (especially Jennifer Aniston's) for praise while criticizing its dated, problematic elements and lack of real-world engagement. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/558027/friends-revisited/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/friends.md