Ever caught yourself chuckling at Chandler Bing’s sharp sarcasm about FRIENDS? Matthew Perry breathed life into Chandler, a character whose signature wit and wry humor stood out in the ensemble cast. Remember that iconic moment in the very first episode when a heartbroken Ross laments his desire to be married again, only for Chandler to quip, “And I just want a million dollars!”?
It’s the perfect setup that paints Chandler as the king of snark, quick with a jab and ready to poke fun at the chaos surrounding him. But, did FRIENDS really paint the whole picture of who Chandler was? Fans have been buzzing, discussing how various instances on the show might just prove that Chandler was physically stronger than his pals, Joey and Ross!
Chandler vs. Ross & Joey: The Strength Showdown FRIENDS Fans Ignored
It looks like FRIENDS might have played a little fast and loose with the truth. Apparently, multiple instances suggest that Chandler Bing might have been physically tougher than his buddies, Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Ross (David Schwimmer).
It seems that the show, while happy to play up Joey’s muscle-bound persona and Ross’s intellectual prowess, might have kept Chandler’s physical strength a bit under wraps—or at least used it for a few laughs.
Despite the show’s portrayal of Chandler as the least intimidating of the bunch, there are several instances where he flexes his strength more than you’d expect. For example, in Season 1, Episode 7, titled The One with the Blackout, Chandler once overpowered Ross with just a finger when Ross made the mistake of kissing Chandler’s mom.
And let’s not forget that Thanksgiving football game where Chandler tackled Joey like it was a Sunday league match. The episode in question is Season 3, Episode 9, aptly titled The One with the Football. Plus, his impressive table tennis skills and that gym bag he flaunts in Season 6 Episode 5 (The One with Joey’s Porsche) hints at a workout routine that would make a personal trainer proud.
Let’s see what fans are saying:
Now, Joey is often the go-to guy for brute strength among his friends. However, the one time he hits the gym, he ends up with a hernia—a plot twist that isn’t exactly the stuff of action-hero legends. And his overeating doesn’t do his fitness any favors.
Meanwhile, Ross is depicted as a bit of a glass cannon. He bruises easily, gets beaten in rugby (Season 4, Episode 12), and during the infamous “unagi” incident (Season 6, Episode 17), he’s overpowered by Rachel and Phoebe, proving that his physical prowess might not be as robust as one would hope.
Interestingly, Chandler rarely gets shown as a pushover or a weakling on FRIENDS. This makes you wonder if the show might have missed the boat on Chandler’s hidden strength. Perhaps, if push came to shove, Chandler could hold his own and then some.
Did Matthew Perry Regret the End of FRIENDS?
Before his untimely passing, Matthew Perry made no secret of his longing for a rewind button on his career. It’s as if he was speaking directly to our collective wishful thinking: who wouldn’t want a few more episodes of the beloved FRIENDS saga?
In a heartfelt chat with CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight (as reported by PEOPLE), the late actor didn’t hold back about his nostalgia for his days on the show. He reminisced about the good old times with a wistful grin, saying:
I find myself sort of reminiscing about how much fun the show was, and the hours that we worked. You know, you can see how much we laughed and everything. I was asked about it recently and I found myself saying, ‘If I had a time machine, I would like to go back to 2004 and not have stopped.’
Perry wasn’t shy about admitting that the NBC show was, in his eyes, the “greatest job in the world.” The 17 Again star took his final bow on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54, leaving us all with one less reason to smile.
Anyway, as we look back, we can’t help but agree with Perry’s wish: a few more seasons of FRIENDS would have been a delightful way to keep the good times rolling.
FRIENDS is currently available to watch on Max.
