Fans Talk: Let Her Off The Plane

Literally, fans talked. Or, screamed, is more apt. At their TV sets.

“Was anyone ever yelling at their tv's "Let her off the plane!!!" or is that just me?”

--YouTube user oscar007999

The Last One, part two of ten-season dramedy F.R.I.E.N.D.S finale, practically had fans shouting and leaping off their couches over the news the show had to end—how scandalous! Though the episodes held our rapt attention with more than a few loose ends yet; the most anticipated being Rachel and Ross’ relationship. Would they part ways, and seas, forever? Or would they find each other another time again, realizing once more they love each other past flaws and timing and…breaks?

Phoebe played a hand in Ross’ reunion—and I don’t mean phalange—chasing Rachel down between JFK and Newark airports. Or, perhaps, I do mean phalange, if an airplane’s ghost-phalange worked well enough as a stall for Rachel and her entire flight’s passengers.

Ross endured Phoebe’s driving to reach Rachel before she left, all to zealously confess his love to the girl of his prom-days dreams. But Rachel, overwhelmed in the face of his assertions, fled for the plane once he finished. Probably the worst cliffhanger I’ve had to endure on the show, not even going to lie.

“He's her lobster :D”

--YouTube user kamala marahatta

Returning brokenhearted to his apartment, Ross checks his messages and finds a choked-up explanation from Rachel waiting, where she does confess that, in spite of her fear, she really loves him (cue the waterworks). Then, to the fans’ great surprise (and likely their closely-reserved dreams), Rachel has an epiphany mid-message and demands to be let off the plane so she can tell Ross in person. The message cuts off at the last minute.
Now we’ve come full circle to the moment where Ross, you, I, and every other viewer, jumped off their sofas and shouted, “Did she get off the plane!?”

That’s when Rachel’s meek voice from the doorway replied, “I got off the plane.”

Best finale ever. Pan-view of the peephole frame included.

Birds of a Feather?

If fashion wins your partner’s heart, check out the readily available T-shirts from the Cool TV Props store! I couldn’t decide between all the items which t-shirts would be best suited for your Valentine’s day—are you a Big Bang Theory nerd? A Barney Broski? Phoebe fan?—until I got a look at the collectable shirts under the F.R.I.E.N.D.S market.

Let’s examine the hilarity.

My personal recommendation goes to the You’re My Lobster t-shirt. Isn’t it adorable? Well-cut and flattering, it looks just right off the shoulders of any F.R.I.E.N.D. The website adds,

“Is it true that lobsters mate for life and in old age go around holding claws? Well, that’s what Phoebe wants you to believe, and it is a good story. Once he sees you in the t-shirt, he just might buy into it.”

Only available at Cool TV Props, the fashion find brings a new level of fandom to the holiday a shopper only finds here!

Though the following option, the next line down, paints an entirely different picture: the We Were On A Break tee. TV Props says,

“Did Ross really cheat on Rachel? Were they actually on a break? Does it matter? Get a cool break t-shirt now and you can avoid explaining yourself.”

I wouldn’t exactly readily recommend this as a Valentine’s gift, unless you take advantage of the following (not the low flat-rate shipping, though I highly recommend that as well):

Anyone else notice that the former shirt seems cut for women, while the latter shirt seems cut for men? Granted, neither shirt should be restricted to either body type, but come on! Perhaps the credit goes to the line-immortalizers; Phoebe for “lobsters,” and Ross (or was it Rachel?) for “breaks.”

My solution? Buy both! Play into stereotype for one day and make a pair from these t-shirt selections. That way, any Valentines couple can be their own Ross and Rachel. Won’t stop you from getting any less candy.

“…And You And Daddy Were Not On A Break”

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A few years after the fact and I’m still feeling a little Friends-less.

I’m not lonely, no, only talking about the ten-season-sitcom that changed nineties television.

Which is why I’m excited I found a hotspot for all my belated F.R.I.E.N.D.S gear! One item in particular caught my nostalgic eye this morning: the We Were On A Break t-shirt, in part because of the quote. In another part, because they printed the quote on the front and back of the shirt, to make the message clear as you’re walking toward and walking away, I guess.

…Well I thought it was funny.

Unfortunately, the first circumstance wasn’t as amusing. Rachel asked for “a break from us” during one of her blowouts with Ross. However, “break,” and what it meant, lost its meaning in translation when they both use it to un-justify cheating (cheating?) on the other. Whether “break” meant “pause,” or break-up, remains to be seen. The good news is, I can write this article with some semblance of happiness because Ross and Rachel do end the decade-long program together…if not with one final “break” joke.

Other quotable notables include:

·      Ross cheating on Rachel with Carol

            (“You know what, Ross, why don’t you put that on your answering machine?” -- Rachel)

·      Ross cheating on Carol with Rachel

·      Ross yelling at Chandler in the middle of the Central Perk

·      Ross yelling over the phone in Monica’s apartment (Don’t worry, Chandler rescued Monica)

·      A plane passenger telling Rachel that it was perfectly clear she was on a break, when she cheated with someone else.

·      “…What about that time I said ‘we were on a break’?”

·      “And that’s why, no matter what Mommy says, we really were on a break.”

And my personal favorite,

·      “Unless…we were on a break…don’t make jokes now!”

Ross finally realizing the quote may be a bit overused and entirely unnecessary.

The quote might be a fan favorite, but F.R.I.E.N.D.S and Cool TV Props are not responsible for the outcome of using—or wearing—said quote in real life. Speak with caution, please.

He's Her Lobster!

I remember being fascinated by lobsters, in the fish-market of the local Wal-Mart. The store set them up in a cylindrical tank, wider than it was tall, and just short enough for me to press my nose against the glass and watch the tagged shellfish crawl around on each other. I sort of wondered how they tolerated the close proximity (minus the vocabulary I just expressed). Now, I don’t recall seeing any old lobsters sauntering around the bend, holding “claws.” But then, I also wasn’t a child Phoebe Buffay and hadn’t spent any amount of time visiting Monica’s apartment, or frequenting the Central Perk.

In other words, I hadn’t been graced with the sweetness of Phoebe’s “Lobster Theory”.

“It’s a known fact that lobsters fall in love and mate for life. You know what? You can actually see old lobster couples walking around their tank, you know, holding claws…” – Phoebe, The One with the Prom Video.

In fact, the Prom Video sparked a lot of anticipation for the Ross and Rachel coupling, on-again-off-again until the conclusion of Season 10…but I won’t spoil the rest for any of our FRIENDS-less readers. TV still ranked the episode in the top 100 of all time, just for one acknowledgement: that Ross Geller was indeed Rachel Green’s “lobster.” Very astute, Pheobe.

Now, how could we let such a tender moment pass us by? Cool TV Props has the cutest plushies ready for your own crustacean (hopefully not of the dancing variety), sporting “you’re my lobster” on their backs. Everyone ready: “awwww.”
I’d reserve the gift for your FRIENDS fans, of course, unless you’re ready for an inside joke and a laugh later. Although, I think it speaks to the quality of one’s relationship if someone can give a gift of a lobster—no matter how adorable—and be loved (or forgiven) regardless.

There will be more FRIENDS shortly for the upcoming holiday season! Happy Tuesday!