FRIENDS: THE ONE WITH ROSS'S WEDDING {PARTS 1 AND 2} {FOURTH SEASON FINALE} (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about six Generation-X friends who live together in New York City and share a favorite haunt, a coffee bar called Central Perk. In this two-part episode, Ross, Monica, Chandler and Joey prepare to travel to London for Ross’ wedding to Emily. A heavily pregnant Phoebe stays behind, as does Rachel, who claims she cannot take time off of work. Ross tries to encourage her to come, but she declines, leaving him disappointed. Once in England, an overexcited Joey annoys Chandler by filming incessantly and using a goofy pop-up tourist map to find his way around. Elsewhere, the betrothed couple encounters problems of their own when they find out that the church in which they intended to marry has been partially demolished.
Back in New York, Rachel expresses sadness about her parting with Ross, and Phoebe casually says that her feelings are understandable, as she is still in love with him. Rachel initially dismisses the claim, but then is shocked to realize that she is right, and even more so when she learns that the rest of the group (minus Ross) is aware of this as well. Later, Phoebe attempts “aversion therapy” on Rachel by reminding her of Ross’ flaws, but the plan fails.
In London, the last straw for Chandler comes when Joey buys an embarrassing hat, and he leaves Joey to explore alone. Emily talks to Ross and explains that Monica told her to simply postpone the wedding if she couldn’t find the right venue within a few days, which upsets Ross, who points out that postponement would greatly inconvenience their friends and family, and the two argue, with Emily eventually calling off the wedding. At the end of the day, Joey returns to the hotel and Chandler apologizes for abandoning him, but Joey explains that he had a very enjoyable day anyway, showing his friends his video of his encounter with a certain royal. Ross confronts Monica about her bad advice to Emily, but Monica sets him straight by explaining what “the perfect wedding” can mean to a woman. Later, Monica brings Emily to the half-gutted church, and Ross shows her how they can fix it up for the ceremony, and the two reunite.
Rachel decides that she is going to London to tell Ross how she feels, despite Phoebe’s desperate attempts to stop her. After she leaves, Phoebe makes several frantic phone calls to warn someone about Rachel’s imminent arrival, but has no luck. At the rehearsal dinner, Jack and Judy Geller arrive and meet Emily’s parents, but their agreement to split the wedding bill soon turns into an argument. Chandler makes his best-man toast, but it fails dismally when no one laughs at his jokes. Joey, increasingly homesick after a phone call with Phoebe, delivers an impassioned speech about his love of his homeland. He feels somewhat better, however, after meeting an attractive bridesmaid, Felicity. Monica comforts Chandler about his toast, but the moment is ruined when a drunken man mistakes Monica for Ross’ mother. Rachel contends with an expensive airline ticket and a missing passport, but eventually makes it onto the plane.
The day of the wedding dawns and Ross runs excitedly into Chandler’s room—never noticing that his sister is under the covers with his best friend. The two have an awkward parting as they prepare for the ceremony. On the plane, Rachel chatters excitedly about her history with Ross to a fellow passenger, and is given a dressing-down about her foolish behavior from the unamused English gentleman beside her who feels that “no good can come” of her plan to tell Ross that she loves him. Phoebe finally gets through to Joey and warns him about Rachel’s plan, and he promises to waylay her, engaging an oddly defensive Monica and Chandler in the scheme. At the church, Ross finally settles the warring parents, and Rachel enters, barging right past Joey, who is preoccupied with Felicity, just in time to see the couple share a loving moment. When Ross sees her, she finds she cannot ruin his wedding day, and, clearly heartbroken, simply congratulates him.
The ceremony gets underway and Phoebe calls Emily’s stepmother as she walks down the aisle, and Joey assures her that Rachel did nothing harmful, and she listens in on the ceremony. Monica and Chandler agree that their actions the previous night were crazy, but decide to repeat them that evening as well. Finally, the vows begin, and Emily declares her commitment to Ross. Ross, however, makes a slight error in repeating the priest’s words: “I, Ross, take thee, Rachel…” Emily and the rest of the congregation react in horror, and the priest hesitates, unsure if he should continue. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: May 7, 1998 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:43:53
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:79111
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Friendship
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1994-2004
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- David Crane … Executive Producer, Created by
- Marta Kauffman … Executive Producer, Created by
- Michael Borkow … Executive Producer, Writer
- Kevin S. Bright … Executive Producer, Director
- Adam Chase … Co-Executive Producer
- Michael Curtis … Co-Executive Producer
- Gregory S. Malins … Co-Executive Producer
- Wendy Knoller … Coordinating Producer
- Wil Calhoun … Supervising Producer
- Seth Kurland … Supervising Producer
- Todd Stevens … Producer
- Jill Condon … Co-Producer
- Amy Toomin … Co-Producer
- Shana Goldberg-Meehan … Co-Producer, Writer
- Scott Silveri … Co-Producer, Writer
- Jill Gordon … Writer
- Amy Toomin … Writer
- Michael Skloff … Music by
- The Rembrants … Theme Music by
- Jennifer Aniston … Cast, Rachel Green
- Courteney Cox … Cast, Monica Geller
- Lisa Kudrow … Cast, Phoebe Buffay
- Matt LeBlanc … Cast, Joey Tribbiani
- Matthew Perry … Cast, Chandler Bing
- David Schwimmer … Cast, Ross Geller
- Elliot Gould … Cast, Jack Geller
- Sarah, The Duchess Of York … Cast, Herself
- Helen Baxendale … Cast, Emily
- Tom Conti … Cast, Steven Waltham
- Hugh Laurie … Cast, The Gentleman On The Plane
- Jennifer Saunders … Cast, Andrea Waltham
- June Whitfield … Cast, The Housekeeper
- Olivia Williams … Cast, Felicity
- Jane Carr … Cast, The Ticket Agent
- Christina Pickles … Cast, Judy Geller
- Richard Branson … Cast, The Vendor
- Daniel Caltagirone … Cast, The Waiter
- Heathcote Williams … Cast, The Older Guest
- Peter Eyre … Cast, The Registrar