With big names like Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, and even Duchess Sarah Ferguson,Friendshad many guest stars over its 10-season run, but none quite so impactful as Tom Selleck’s Richard Burke. The romance between Monica and Richard was such an important part ofFriends' timeline that the show brought Richard back into her life on multiple occasions even after their relationship ended.Being the firstserious relationship for Monica duringFriends, Richard’s presence (and absence) was a huge influence on her character arc, making some fans believe that the two of them should have ended up together.
While it’s true that Chandler fans were thrilled when the two friends became romantically involved, there is still an argument that Richard was a much better choice for Monica. The love triangle between the three of them was a huge plot point in the final episodes of season 6, whenMonica had to choose between Richard and Chandler, and then proposed to Chandler in the season finale, leaving Richard broken-hearted. The case for Team Richard, nevertheless, is still valid.
Why Richard Was The Better Choice
He Was A Dependable, Caring Partner Whom Monica Never Stopped Loving
The beginning of thisFriendsrelationship certainly had its share of obstacles — namelyMonica and Richard’s 21-year age gap, and the friendship between Richard and her parents. Regardless, both of them were mature adults able to make their own decisions, and the attraction between them was undeniable from the start. Before dating Richard, Monica’s taste in men was downright dismal. Remember Julio, the poet? Paul the Wine Guy?Monica’s dating track record wasn’t exactly the best, yet with Richard, there was a balance of stability and companionshipthat she was sorely lacking.
Friends: The Best Ship In Each Season
Whether the attention causes their relationship to move forwards or backwards, all the main couples in Friends have a turn in the limelight.
Essentially,Monica and Richard only broke up because she wanted kids, and, after already having had two kids with his first wife, Richard didn’t want any more. This is totally valid reason, but it isn’t like the two of them stopped loving each other. Monica’s heartbroken reaction to their breakup was evidence enough of that, as seen inFriendsseason 3, episode 1 “The One with the Princess Leia Fantasy.”Even when the two of them try to have a “friends with benefits” kind of relationship, they are both too emotionally invested to make it work.
If Monica didn’t still have feelings for Richard, she would have dismissed him out of hand, but she didn’t. Lucky for Chandler, Richard proved to be even more of a gentleman when he decided to step aside.
As if that wasn’t enough, over the course of Monica and Chandler’s relationship, Monica’s unresolved feelings for Richard were a consistent divisive issue between them.The lack of closure caused Monica to second-guess her feelings for Chandler when Richard showed up at her door, saying that he had changed his mind about having kids and wanted to be with her. If Monica didn’t still have feelings for Richard, she would have dismissed him out of hand, but she didn’t. Lucky for Chandler, Richard proved to be even more of a gentleman when he decided to step aside.
How Monica Ending Up With Richard Would Have Changed Friends
Things Would Have Been Awkward With Chandler, But The Friend Group Would Have Accepted Monica’s Choice
If Monica and Richard had stayed together from the beginning, things inFriendswould have been drastically different.Monica never would have had to take the horrible jobat the ‘50s-themed diner, for one, which would have given her the opportunity to pursue her culinary career much earlier. She also wouldn’t have had to deal with her mother’s constant criticism about her love life, and would never have considered having a baby on her own.
On the other hand, if Monica had chosen Richard over Chandler in season 6, things might have been a bit messier. The friendship between Chandler and Monica probably would have required time to mend, and his acceptance of Richard in Monica’s life would have been a challenge. Things probably would have been awkward between the rest of the friend group, too. However,with time, it’s possible that everyone would accept Monica’s decision for the sake of her happiness.
Fan Reactions To Monica Choosing Chandler Over Richard
The Friends Creators Put Monica & Chandler Together For The Longevity Of The Show
It’s been over a decade since the series ended, and still,Friendsfans are polarized when it comes to the Richard vs. Chandler debate. In a subreddit, userfolk-smorecommented:“I loved Richard and thought he was great with Monica. Had they agreed on kids and stayed together, I feel their relationship would’ve continued to be good. It was stable, it was loving. They were good and caring partners to each other. They understood each other, made each other feel good and laugh, and they were clearly very happy together.”
On the same post, Reddit userjustpuddingonhairspresented an alternative opinion, saying“Old, rich, and your daddy’s buddy vs. young, fun, best sex you’ve ever had and most likely to not die when your kids are in high school?? No brainer- it’s the Chan chan man”.While many fans agree that Chandler is a fine choice, still others maintain that Monica would have been just as happy (if not more so) with Richard, had he been on board with having kids since the beginning.
Regardless of fan opinion, the creators ofFriendsapparently had intentions for Chandler and Monica to be endgame all along.Friendsexecutive producer Scott Silveri explained toVulturethat the writers wanted a new couple to take the place of Ross and Rachel’s tumultuous on-again, off-again romance.
They planned on giving viewers a surprise hook-up between the two friends in the season 4 finale, “The One With Ross’s Wedding,” but didn’t initially intend for the characters to end up in a serious relationship. With the overwhelmingly positive reactions from the viewers, they realized thatChandler and Monica being long-termwas the right course.
“If you didn’t have a Monica-and-Chandler relationship, if the center of Friends had remained Ross and Rachel, you would’ve seen a much shorter shelf lifefor the show,”Silveri said.“Without Monica and Chandler, it ends three years earlier.”Though Silveri does make a good point, it’s still hard to get over the fact that Richard and Monica were perfect together, and would have been a great couple had their relationship made it to the end ofFriends.
Friends
Cast
Friends is a television sitcom that debuted in 1994, revolving around six young New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood. The series highlights their friendship as they support each other through personal and professional challenges, encapsulating the ups and downs of life in a comedic and relatable manner.
