The One with Rachel's Other Sister explained

Season Article:Friends season 9
Episode List:List of Friends episodes
Series:Friends
Season:9
Episode:8
Production:175258
Director:Kevin S. Bright
Guests:Christina Applegate as Amy
Prev:The One with Ross's Inappropriate Song
Next:The One with Rachel's Phone Number

"The One With Rachel's Other Sister" is the eighth episode of Friends ninth season. It first aired on the NBC network in the United States on November 21, 2002. The episode received renewed attention in October 2023 after the death of Matthew Perry, particularly in the scene where his character Chandler jokes "I guess I'll be the one who dies first" as he became the first of the main cast to die.[1] [2]

Plot

Rachel's other sister Amy unexpectedly turns up at Ross and Rachel's apartment for Thanksgiving. Initially, Amy turned up to borrow a hair straightener but ends up spending Thanksgiving with the gang after her married boyfriend cancels dinner on her.

Things do not get off to a good start with Amy and the gang following numerous misunderstandings, for instance referring to Emma as "Emmet", mistaking Phoebe's name as a "funny noise" and her comments that the makers of Days of Our Lives must "put a lot of make-up" on Joey.

Once things have seemingly calmed down, Amy brings up the issue of who gets custody of Emma in the event of Ross and Rachel's death. Amy thinks that she should get custody, however she is surprised to find out that custody would go to Chandler and Monica. This conversation escalates further at the dinner table when Chandler finds out that he would have to give Emma up in the event of Monica's death but Monica would not have to give up Emma in the event of Chandler's death. This leads Chandler to believe that he would be an unfit single parent.

After dinner, Amy is still angry at Ross and Rachel's decision and a fight breaks out between Amy and Rachel. Surprisingly, Chandler swoops in to calm things down between the two sisters. Ross becomes impressed with Chandler's abilities and he decides that Chandler would indeed be fit enough to raise Emma alone if Monica died.

Reception

In its original broadcast, the episode was viewed by 25.43 million people[3] and had a rating of 12.1/30.[4] For her performance in this episode, Christina Applegate won an Emmy for "Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series" in 2003.[5] In 2019, Collider picked this episode as the best of its season.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: Coffey-Behrens . Kelly . Matthew Perry May Have Predicted His Death In A ‘Friends’ Episode . October 29, 2023 . Yahoo Entertainment . October 29, 2023.
  2. News: Fans are convinced Matthew Perry predicted his death in 'Friends' episode: I'll be the one who dies first . October 30, 2023 . The Times of India . October 30, 2023.
  3. Web site: The fading of 'Without a Trace'. Fitzgerald. Toni. Media Life Magazine. December 11, 2002. June 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20040622185825/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2002/dec02/dec09/3_wed/news4wednesday.html. June 22, 2004. dead.
  4. TV Rate Race (Dec. 2-8). December 11, 2002. The Hollywood Reporter.
  5. News: Susman . Gary . Christina Applegate, Gene Wilder win early Emmys . October 29, 2023 . EW.com . September 15, 2003 . en.
  6. Web site: 'Friends' Seasons Ranked from Worst to Best. Adam. Chitwood. . December 26, 2019.