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Friends

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Hilarious sitcom for adults and older teens.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Very little diversity; all of the main characters are white. Friends accept each other's flaws. Pervasive sarcasm and ribbing. Clever verbal and physical comedy.

  • Violence:

    A humorous pratfall or slug here and there.

  • Sex:

    Sexual innuendo and jokes. Discussion of adult relationships. Nothing explicit on screen, though characters are sometimes shown in bed together.

  • Language:

    Occasional expletives or name-calling on the level of "damn" and "bitch."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters have acted irresponsibly while intoxicated. Infrequent smoking.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Friends was written by Betsy Wallace

Parents need to know that this series' subject matter is often mature. Episodes have dealt with divorce, single parenthood, infertility, and more. Topics are treated sensitively but with the irreverence befitting a sitcom. Premarital sex is depicted as the norm for dating relationships.

Families Can Talk About

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  • Families can talk about whether or not the characters make good decisions. Do their lives seem realistic? How do their friendships compare to teens' relationships with their own friends?
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More on Friends

What’s the Story?

Debuting in 1994, the long-running, Emmy-winning sitcom FRIENDS centers on six Manhattan-dwelling friends as they undergo their twenties and become thirtysomethings. The sextet consists of neat-freak chef Monica (Courteney Cox), her thrice-divorced brother Ross (David Schwimmer), sarcastic quipster Chandler (Matthew Perry), batty singer/massage therapist Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), aspiring actor Joey (Matt LeBlanc), and former suburban princess Rachel (Jennifer Aniston). Storylines range from standard sitcom fare (hilarious misunderstandings, dating nightmares, etc.) to weightier plots involving lesbian ex-wives, friend hook-ups, unexpected pregnancies, and more. As the series progressed, episodes became more dramatic and less situational, wisely capitalizing on viewers' decade-long relationship with the characters.
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Is It Any Good?

While the characters take on careers and a bit more responsibility over the course of the series, in most ways the friends remain slaves to their idiosyncrasies and compulsions rather than display more maturity. Too many jokes that lampoon personality traits such as Joey's libido or Chandler's wimpiness (he's sometimes made fun of for seeming gay) are one of the series' weaknesses. Many of the juicier plot developments were obviously thrown in to boost ratings and sometimes seem borrowed from soap operas. Still, the writing is often intelligent, and the acting is skillful. Long-time fans are often rewarded with jokes that reference past episodes and personality quirks; familiarity makes this show all the funnier.

There are trade-offs for families to consider. The comedy may be inappropriate for kids, and yet the storytelling can be more original and thought-provoking than in sitcoms geared specifically to youths. Characters' contradictions and mistakes make them questionable role models but also account for why so many viewers relate to them. The friends frequently talk through their problems openly and honestly with one another, which could be viewed as a model for communication within families.

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    zappy the cat
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    great show

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    dennan m
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Parent Reviewer
    horsegurl22
    Kids ages: 15
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    JasonHaddad10
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 2.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    yes

    Teachers can i watch that show at school :-)

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Parent Reviewer
    doper
    Kids ages: 12
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 1.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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