Had the Friends first season failed, the immense success and global popularity of the show would never have happened, and we could be living in a very different pop culture landscape. The success of that first season, of course, started hot with “The Pilot.”
“The Pilot” was a great way to kick-off the show and introduce fans to the characters, but just because it was a success, does not mean the showrunners kept things precisely the same. Here, we look at some of the stuff they kept the same, and some of the things they changed.
10 Changed – The Opening Fountain Scene
The opening title sequence of Friends is iconic. The music, the clapping, the fountain, and everything else about it is excellent, and a mainstay on the show.
However, the first episode of the series is the only with the entire full scene. There are a bit more dancing and some more playfulness between the characters. From the first episode onwards, it is still a great but slightly cut down version.
9 Kept – Monica’s Relationship Luck
“The Pilot” sees Monica lied to by Paul ‘the wine guy’ to get her into bed, which sucks even more since Monica liked him. Unfortunately, this was not her last bit of bad luck in relationships.
Monica went on to have a plethora of relationship troubles, whether it be long spells being single, or bad relationships. Eventually, she finds Richard, but then ends up back in square one until she finally finds Chandler, and the two live happily ever after.
8 Changed – Barry’s Surname
The ex-fiancée of Rachel Barry was referenced throughout season one, with the two even having an affair. However, something changed with the orthodontist after his mentions in the first episode.
That is his second name. In “The Pilot,” he is referred to as Barry Finkle. From the next episode onwards, though, Barry’s name was no longer Finkle and was, for some reason, changed to Farber.
7 Kept – Chandler’s Sarcasm
Chandler Bing is a lot of people’s favorite character in Friends, and it is easy to see why. Perhaps his most defining feature is his sarcastic nature, which is brought in spades to the first episode.
Luckily, the writers never deviated from this in Chandler. His hilarious, sarcastic quips, snappy jokes, and overall funny temperament is always a highlight throughout every season. Chandler was initially meant to be a supporting character, so it is not impossible to see him being drastically different from the Chandler we know and love, thankfully that never happened.
6 Changed – Phoebe’s Repeating People’s Words In Song
At the very end of the episode, the gang is talking, and every time someone speaks, Phoebe repeats what they are saying in the form of a quieter song. She never really does this again.
She asks, “Was I doing it again?” to which everyone unanimously said yes, this made it seem like it was something Phoebe did on a repeated basis, much to everybody’s annoyance. However, it is never something brought up again, and appears to be just a little quirk added to Phoebe in “The Pilot.”
5 Kept – Rachel’s Journey Of Independence
“The Pilot” introduces Rachel as someone spoiled, but starts her off on her journey to being an independent person, with a job and goals. This happens with the cutting of cards and getting a job as a waitress in Central Perk.
It would have been easy for Rachel to go back to her ways of being spoiled off her dad or to help get shortcuts, or even give up, but she never does that. She stays on her journey, and becomes mega-successful, with arguably the shows best overall arc.
4 Changed – Where The Stairs Are
Paul, ‘the wine guy,’ was mentioned earlier as the guy who uses Monica to get her into bed. Well, he is the only character we catch a real glimpse of leaving the apartment, and he goes left.
Of course, Friends fans all know the stairs are to the right of Monica and Rachel’s apartment. There is a shot in the episode where you can glimpse the stairs in the right place, so it is just a continuity error. However, it is definitively changed from this episode onwards when we see the stairs properly, and many people leave the apartment.
3 Kept – Rachel & Monica As Roommates
The episode sees Rachel and Monica become roommates, and they are certainly an iconic duo, often overlooked by Joey and Chandler.
They remain roommates for years after “The Pilot,” only changing when Monica and Chandler begin living together. The writers easily could have had Rachel set out to look for her own apartment, but thankfully they did not.
2 Changed – When Did Chandler And Rachel Meet
When Rachel bursts through the Central Perk doors, Monica recognizes her and reintroduces her to Ross, and introduces her to Joey, Phoebe, and Chandler.
Of course, later in the show, it is revealed the two already knew each other and met a lot. They spent multiple Thanksgivings together and even engaged in a kiss at a party while Chandler was in college.
1 Kept – Ross’s Crush On Rachel
Ross and Rachel are one of televisions most iconic couples, and while they might not be the most stable relationship, even in Friends, they were meant to be, and it all kicked off in “The Pilot.”
Ross has a crush on Rachel, and from this episode onwards, that crush does not waver. Eventually, Ross meets Julie, gets over Rachel, and then gets under her, or rather she famously gets under him, and the romance is born.
