The Surprising Love Interests of Joey: Exploring His Relationships in Friends

Summary

Joey Tribbiani didn't end up with anyone in Friends, and he never got married in the spin-off series Joey. His fear of commitment was a major obstacle in his relationships.

Despite the absence of a conventional sitcom happy ending, Joey's character growth remained consistent. Getting married would have diminished his character and detracted from his personal development.

In the spin-off Joey, Joey eventually entered a committed relationship with Alex, his neighbor and landlord. Although they never tied the knot, their relationship provided a platform for Joey to mature and find stability.

Joey Tribbiani, the only character in Friends without a committed relationship, eventually finds love. As the popular sitcom chronicles the lives of six young adults in NYC, Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Ross, and Joey become cultural icons. This significant impact leads to Joey having his own spin-off series, appropriately named Joey, which continues his journey after the Friends finale. The show brings viewers to Los Angeles, where Joey pursues his acting career.

While Joey faces challenges in his acting career, he also continues his dating escapades, mirroring his character development in Friends. However, the question remains: who does Joey end up with in Friends? Throughout Joey, he shares a complicated on-and-off relationship with his neighbor, Alex. After her divorce, Alex becomes romantically involved with Joey. Similarly to him, Alex struggles with commitment and the idea of marriage, albeit for different reasons. Despite their difficulties, Joey and Alex ultimately commit to each other. Although engagement is considered, marriage is not their immediate plan by the end of the episode.

Joey Never Got Married After Friends

Joey, the beloved character from Friends, never found a partner in the show and didn't manage to marry Alex in his spinoff series. Although he proposed to both Phoebe and Rachel when he believed they were expecting, and later became engaged to Alex, Joey's main challenge was his fear of commitment. As the series progressed, Joey's ultimate goal was to find stability in his life, which didn't necessarily mean tying the knot.

Both Alex and Joey had reservations about marriage, which were understandable considering their past experiences and the development of their relationship. However, being in a committed partnership was a significant milestone for them. By the conclusion of his journey in Joey, Joey was finally prepared to settle down with Alex, a far more significant and meaningful outcome for his character than simply getting married.

Why Joey Didn't Get A Classic Sitcom Happy Ending

While Joey's Friends ending may not have matched the happy endings of the other characters, it perfectly suited his personality. Despite not ending up with anyone, Joey's aversion to commitment was a recurring theme throughout the series, evident in his numerous encounters with women. This aspect of his character was essential, and deviating from it would have undermined his overall development and essence. The spinoff, Joey, aimed to further develop his character arc and explore the exploits of this beloved ladies' man.

Did Joey Have A Love Interest In His Spinoff?

Joey's relationship status in Friends may not have ended in a romantic partner, but the spinoff series took care of that by introducing Alex Garrett, his landlord and neighbor who happened to be a lawyer. Initially, Joey expressed his interest in her but discovered she was already married. However, things took a turn for Alex in season 1 as she separated from her husband, leading to a blossoming romance between her and Joey. In the following season, Joey and Alex faced challenges when Gina, Joey's friend, attempted to persuade Alex to move on by dating Dean. Despite these obstacles, their deep feelings for each other prevailed. Witnessing Alex with Dean compelled Joey to reveal his true feelings, resulting in the culmination of their relationship.

Joey's relationship with Alex in the series showed growth, although some viewers may have been disappointed by their decision not to marry. However, considering Joey's character development, it was ultimately the right choice for him. It is possible that in the Friends spinoff, Joey, he and Alex could have tied the knot after the events of the show, as they were already working towards that. However, marriage was not a necessary aspect for Joey's storyline. In the end, Joey was the sole member of the main group in Friends who did not get married, but he did find fulfillment in a committed relationship with Alex and experienced personal growth.