As the world is mourning the death of Matthew Perry, here’s going back and watching his last appearance as Chandler Bing for ‘Friends: The Reunion’.
The ‘Friends’ Reunion finally happened in 2021, and it was a bittersweet moment for everyone. The reunion had been requested by fans of the popular American sitcom for over 17 years, and finally, when it happened, all the emotions came rushing back. Sentiments came in rushing galore with nostalgia being the most dominant one among them all.
Today, as I rewatch the show in the wake of Matthew Perry’s death at the age of 54, the same nostalgic feelings of watching him as Chandler Bing hit me again. While the show will never grow old, ‘Friends: The Reunion’ will also be ageless now that it has become the last opportunity to see Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing onscreen.
Watching the reunion and looking at the members of the show, it was so obvious that every one of them was so perfectly cast. While Matt Leblanc as Joey was known for his good looks and even when they all are way past their 50s, he is still the most handsome one. Matthew Perry as Chandler was sarcastically funny back then and he was the same even in the reunion episode. David Schwimmer as Ross is still the confused guy who pauses and emphasises every damn word.
The same goes for the girls as well. Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe is equally weird and crazy even today. Jennifer Aniston as Rachel and Courtney Cox as Monica, are still the best of buddies who would do anything for the other. Their chemistry, even if the reunion was an unscripted show, was equally palpable and real.
The best part about the reunion show was that it was not entirely a documentary or a chat show. Director Ben Winston managed to take the original cast back to the sets and make them relive some of the iconic moments from the show there. Not just that, they even read lines from the show of some of the most iconic scenes.
The cast relished every moment and not only was it seen in their faces, but even in the minds and hearts of the audiences of seeing them all back on the same iconic sets.
During the chats with James Corden, a lot of revelations came out. The many times that he made us see the behind-the-scenes and the blooper reels from the original show make you go nostalgic even further. Emotions just keep running high all through, and some time or the other there is a tear forming at the corners of your eyes, remembering Matthew Perry’s Chandler Bing even more.
Also, the numerous guest appearances that kept happening throughout the 104-minute runtime of the show make you want to re-watch it over and over again. David Beckham, Justin Bieber, BTS, Cindy Crawford, Cara Delevingne, Kit Harington, Lady Gaga, Mindy Kaling, Malala Yousafzai, and lots more.
Such was the nature of the show that the cast even managed to talk about their deepest personal secrets – their romantic lives. David and Jennifer spoke about how they used to have a huge crush on each other. Jennifer and Matthew even spoke up about their real-life romances with Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. It was a no-holds-barred conversation, which will just make you even more nostalgic.
While the rest of the cast spoke a lot, it was indeed Matthew Perry who spoke the least on the show making you think of him and his sudden death even more. While Perry spoke less, his lack of words was expressed in his emotions. At one point he even broke down, and with him broke down audiences as well.
Even though Matt Leblanc compensated for Perry’s loss of words, somehow Chandler’s iconic sarcastic punches were missed a lot in this reunion. Sadly, from now on, the world will just have to be content with the re-runs of the show and this reunion episode to catch a glimpse of their loveable Chandler Bing.
The six friends not only made it the best show of our lives but somehow managed to get a lot of us to pass through difficult times in our lives with their infectious laughter. A lot of the celebs reiterated the same thing. With Perry’s sudden demise, all those funny jokes, sarcastic comments and innuendoes come rushing back to you as you continue to watch the reunion show.
In closing, I would like to say that this is probably one show/film/docudrama that cannot be bound by the confines of a traditional star rating. The tears streaming out of the eyes of every Friends fan are more than enough to say that this was probably the best thing to have come out in this decade. Also, the last chance to see Matthew Perry in his iconic Chandler Bing avatar is something that people from all generations will keep coming back to again and again.
Courtney Cox sums up the experience perfectly not just for the cast but even for the viewers when she says the reunion special was “such a great feeling to carry on forever.”
As for Matthew Perry, you shall be deeply missed. You will be a ‘Friend’ in every person’s life and not just from the 90s but from every generation thereon. May you keep everyone laughing with your jokes wherever you are now.
Rest in peace Friend.