It’s nearly been a month since Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing in Friends, was found unresponsive in his hot-tub. I admit that I felt a sense of loss, as if I’d really known him. Like most teens of my generation (the late nineties), I was obsessed with Friends. We aspired to be like them, with high-powered jobs, sitting around drinking coffee while we poked gentle fun at each other. We had posters of them on our bedroom walls, we slipped Friends quotes into everyday conversations (“How you doin’?”); as girls, we dreamed of looking like Pheobe, Rachel or Monica. And we rooted for them, as if we knew them personally. We always wanted Monica to find Mr Right (which she did of course in the sweet Chandler), we wanted Rachel to have her dream career (should she have got off the plane? I’m not convinced any more), and we wanted Joey to be offered THE lifechanging acting job that sadly never materialised (unlike Matt LeBlanc himself, who is said to have had thirteen dollars to his name before he landed the role). And of course, Phoebe found her stable influence and life partner in Mike. Friends was a massive part of our teen years; they really were there for us when we needed them.

With this in mind, as a surprise for our preteen daughter who is also a huge Friends fan, we booked tickets for the Friends experience in Dublin last Saturday 18 November. Location-wise, it’s ideal; a Luas ride to the Point and the Odeon is straight in front of you, next to the Gibson hotel. Both the venue and the exhibit were completely wheelchair accessible, with discreet ramps up to each set. 

There are lots of photo ops to be had: at the iconic purple door in the girl’s apartment, playing guitar against the backdrop of Central Perk’s window, “pivoting” Ross’ couch up the stairs. It’s an exercise in nostalgia, with some Easter Eggs thrown in: a hurl through Joey’s entertainment centre (after the boys’ apartment was robbed, Joey was locked into the entertainment centre by someone he thought wanted to buy it); two little ornaments of a chicken and a duck in the entertainment centre as a nod to the boys’ illicit barnyard pets); Rachel’s famous “trifle” in the fridge of the girl’s apartment, and of course, The Famous Letter (eighteen pages, front and back!). And in case you haven’t caught the repeats lately, there are episodes playing in the background throughout the exhibit, which I’m sure many of us know off by heart thanks to the repeats on E4 and Comedy Central over the years.

Was it worth it? Yes, and no. A lot of detail went into the recreation of the sets. It was surreal to sit in Central Perk, on the infamous orange couch or standing at the counter that Rachel and Gunther worked at, or holding Phoebe’s guitar against the backdrop of the Central Perk window. I enjoyed the experience, but once you’ve seen it, I don’t think you’d go a second time. I also felt that it could have been more interactive (maybe a boys versus girls quiz, for example). We walked through it slowly, trying to savour everything, but we were still skulking around the gift shop at the end of the tour within forty-five minutes.

I was also surprised that there was no mention of the recent tragic loss of Matthew Perry. Given how beloved Chandler was (he was always my favourite, as I found hís innate awkwardness so relatable), it might have been nice if there was a display or slideshow dedicated to Matthew’s (not necessarily Chandler’s) memory. It was sad to think of how Matthew tried to hide his inner demons from us in his mission to make us laugh (he admitted at the “Friends Reunion” that his need for audience validation was borderline unhealthy at times), and for me, knowing how human the actor behind the “funny man” was connected me to Chandler in a way that I didn’t connect with the others. I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. Matthew once said that he would rather be remembered for helping other addicts than for his role as Chandler. His passing on 28 October 2023 was a tragic event for many of us. Die-hard fans have said it’s like losing a real-life friend.

Overall, the exhibit was a lovely way to pass an hour, and kudos to the organisers for putting together such a detailed display. That said, Friends fans know what the show means to them, and it goes beyond the sets and memorabilia. It’s about following these characters on the journey of life, about keeping a sense of humour in the face of adversity, about finding a soulmate who is also your best friend and, above all, it’s about looking after each other. The Friends actors have a genuine love for each other, and I think that’s what made the show feel so authentic. Hashtag real friendship goals.