Parents' Guide to

Friends: The Reunion

By Martin Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Beloved sitcom stars reunite in OK special; some language.

TV Max Variety Show 2021
Friends: The Reunion Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Friends: The Reunion: All the Friends, and they're taking a selfie
  • Friends: The Reunion: Host James Cordon asking the Friends questions in front of the Friends fountain
  • Friends: The Reuinon: The cast of Friends hangs out on the old Friends set

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What's the Story?

FRIENDS: THE REUNION begins with a note that this is only the second time that the six stars of Friends have been together since filming the show's finale. All of the original cast members are brought back to the set, which has been re-created down to some of the smallest details. They spend their time on set hanging out, playing games, doing table reads of the original scripts, seeing some of their favorite guest stars, and reminiscing about their favorite episodes and moments from the sitcom. Hosted by James Corden, Friends: The Reunion celebrates how Friends impacted the lives of its stars as well as the rest of the world.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (5 ):

This special is an exciting idea: Viewers were as invested in the lives of Friends' six actors as they were in the show, but it's often awkward to watch these stars get reacquainted in public. They never seem to quite get completely comfortable with one another or with being on camera together. The special tries to make up for this by cramming a lot into a large amount of time: interviews, clips, bloopers, testimonials by celebrities, musical performances, and even a fashion show. It stays mostly positive throughout, avoiding topics that were a big deal at the time, like the million-dollar-an-episode negotiations or Matthew Perry's struggles with addiction, or even Rachel's game-changing haircut. It's designed to appeal to a broad range of people, like Friends itself. So there will be highlights throughout, which will be different for viewers depending on what they loved about the original, but the whole thing doesn't fly by the way an episode of Friends itself would.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Friends and its legacy. Why do you think it was so popular during its original run? Why do you think it's still popular today?

  • Why do you think people want to see these kinds of reunions? What things do you feel nostalgic for in your own life?

  • What did you learn about the creative process behind the original series? Did anything surprise you? What do you appreciate about the actors or creators?

TV Details

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