The Mind-Boggling Enigmas of Friends That Will Keep You Guessing

Summary

Friends left some mysteries unsolved, including how Janice and Chandler met. The show never explained this important part of their relationship.

Doubts surround the authenticity of Phoebe's roommate Denise, leaving uncertainty about her existence. Phoebe's peculiar conduct prompts inquiries regarding the enigmatic presence of this individual.

The fate of Phoebe's biological parents remains a mystery. Although Phoebe encountered her biological mother, she never crossed paths with her again, and her biological father made a singular appearance. Their absence in subsequent events, particularly Phoebe's wedding, sparks curiosity about their connection with Phoebe.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of unsolved mysteries in the popular sitcom Friends that have surfaced after multiple rewatches. In 1994, Friends introduced a group of six young adults living in New York City, navigating their social, personal, and professional lives while facing the challenges of adulthood. Throughout its 10 seasons, viewers witnessed the ups and downs of Monica, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, Rachel, and Ross. Although the series finale tied up their stories nicely (except for Joey's, which continued in a failed spinoff series), streaming platforms have brought in a new generation of fans who have noticed some lingering issues with the show. Despite the recent reunion special, these mysteries are unlikely to be solved, but they will continue to spark different theories. Here are eight unsolved Friends mysteries.

8 How Did Janice and Chandler Meet?

The main characters in Friends went through various relationships before finding their "lobsters," and some of their partners became recurring characters on the show. Among them, Janice (played by Maggie Wheeler) stands out as Chandler's on-again-off-again girlfriend with a distinctive voice and laugh. Although Janice appears in all 10 seasons of Friends, the show fails to explain the crucial aspect of her relationship with Chandler: how they met.

In the pilot episode of Friends, it is revealed that Chandler and Janice were already in a relationship, and Chandler wanted to end it. However, every time he attempted to break up with her, Janice would burst into tears. Throughout the 10 seasons, Friends includes various flashbacks to provide context and explore the characters' backstories. Surprisingly, though, there is no mention or depiction of how Chandler and Janice first crossed paths. Since Chandler never mentions Janice in flashbacks to his college days with Ross, and she does not appear at their college reunion, it remains a mystery as to when and how they actually met.

7 Was Phoebe’s Roommate Denise Real?

Phoebe, known for her eccentricity, often left her friends and the audience questioning the truthfulness of her statements. An example of this can be seen in Friends season 6 episode "The One With Ross' Denial". Rachel was in need of a new place to live as Chandler moved in with Monica, so she approached Phoebe about moving in with her. However, Phoebe claimed that she already had a roommate named Denise and couldn't accommodate Rachel. Later, Phoebe informed Rachel that Denise had moved out and wouldn't return until December 26th, implying that Rachel could now move in.

The curious thing about this situation is that Denise was never seen again and only mentioned when Phoebe explained her sudden departure. This raises doubts about whether Denise was a real person or if Phoebe had invented her to avoid living with Rachel. There is enough evidence to suggest that Phoebe made up Denise to protect her friendship with Rachel, as she had previously had a negative experience living with Monica and didn't want to risk a similar outcome with Rachel. Some even speculate that Denise may have made a cameo appearance as one of Phoebe's bridesmaids, but it is more likely that she was Mike's (played by Paul Rudd) sister.

6 What Happened To Phoebe’s Biological Parents?

Phoebe's backstory in Friends was undeniably the most difficult and tragic among all the main characters. Throughout the series, interesting revelations about her life were made. Phoebe bravely shared details about her stepfather's incarceration and her mother, Lily, tragically taking her own life. However, unbeknownst to Phoebe, the woman she believed to be her mother was actually her adoptive parent. It was revealed that Phoebe's biological mother was Phoebe Abbott, a close friend of her father and Lily. Phoebe Abbott had left Phoebe and her twin sister, Ursula, in the care of Frank and Lily. In season 3, Phoebe had the opportunity to meet her biological mother, Phoebe Abbott, but this was the last time she made an appearance in season 4. Phoebe Abbott was never seen or mentioned again, and she did not attend Phoebe's wedding.

Another significant character in Phoebe's life was Frank, who abandoned Lily and the twins. Frank eventually remarried and had a son named Frank Jr. In Friends, Frank only appeared once when he attended the funeral of Phoebe's grandmother. It is understandable that Phoebe wasn't ready to forgive him and establish a relationship, which is why Frank didn't make any further appearances. Similar to Phoebe Abbott, he also did not attend Phoebe's wedding.

5 Why Did Ben Stop Spending Time With Ross & His Family?

Ben, the son of Ross and Carol, was primarily raised by Carol and Susan. Despite this, he made occasional appearances in Friends from infancy and even spent some weekends with Ross. However, Ben abruptly stopped appearing in the show after season 8, leading to speculation about his whereabouts. The prevailing theory suggests that Ross lost custody of Ben, possibly due to his focus on his other daughter, Emma, after her birth. Nevertheless, in a 2019 interview with Today, Jane Sibbett (portraying Carol) revealed that she and Jessica Hecht (playing Susan) imagined Carol and Susan moving to London and sending Ben to a British boarding school. It's important to note, however, that this interpretation is not considered canon.

4 Did Mike and Phoebe Have Children?

Phoebe finally met her soulmate, Mike Hannigan, and they had an unforgettable wedding despite a blizzard that forced them to adapt their plans to the weather. As Friends came to a close, Phoebe and Mike were inspired by Monica and Chandler's new twins and discussed the possibility of starting a family. Though the spinoff series Joey hinted that they eventually had children, it was never officially confirmed what became of their plans.

3 What Happened To Chandler In Yemen?

As previously mentioned, Chandler found himself trapped in an unpredictable romance with Janice, unsure of how to end it. In an attempt to sever ties, Chandler took drastic measures during Friends season 4 by concocting a tale of being relocated to Yemen. However, Chandler had not anticipated Janice's desire to savor every moment together before his supposed departure. She even accompanied him to the airport, leaving him no choice but to purchase an actual plane ticket to Yemen. Adding insult to injury, Janice remained by his side until the aircraft took off, effectively forcing Chandler to embark on a journey to Yemen. Curiously enough, in the subsequent episode, Chandler effortlessly reappeared in New York City as if nothing had transpired. The events of Chandler's time in Yemen remain a mystery, as does the duration of his stay. Nevertheless, this unexpected turn of events brought an unequivocal end to his tumultuous relationship with Janice.

2 Why Didn’t Phoebe’s Grandma Help Her After Her Mother’s Death?

Phoebe faced one of the most challenging periods in her past following Lily's death and her stepfather's imprisonment, leading her to live on the streets. This situation would have been more understandable if Phoebe didn't have any other family, but in fact, she had her grandmother. At the beginning of Friends, Phoebe was living with her grandmother, which raises the question of why she didn't take her in after Lily's passing. They were shown to have a close relationship, making it even more puzzling. Unfortunately, viewers will never know the reason as Phoebe's grandmother passed away in Friends season 5. This leaves us wondering why she didn't provide support to Phoebe during her time of homelessness.

1 What Happened To Rachel’s Career After Getting Off The Plane?

Rachel's journey in Friends was a transformation from a spoiled girl relying on her father's credit card to a successful woman and mother. Throughout the series, viewers saw her evolve from being unemployed and working as a waitress to ultimately achieving her dream of working in the fashion industry at Ralph Lauren. However, in season 10, Rachel unexpectedly accepted a job at Louis Vuitton in Paris but had a change of heart at the last moment and got off the plane to return to Ross.

This decision felt completely out of character for Rachel and undermined her hard work and dedication to reaching her goals in the fashion industry. By the end of Friends, Rachel was left without a job in New York City, and her future in the fashion industry was left open-ended, leaving the audience to wonder about the fate of her career.