Top 20 Most Memorable Ross & Rachel Moments

“The One with the East German Laundry Detergent”
After moving in with Monica, Rachel has to adapt to big-city life. Fortunately, she’s got Ross to help her lose her “laundry [virginity].” Before all their eventual relationship drama, we catch a glimpse of how pure and comfy Ross and Rachel’s friendship is. Along with showing her the ropes, Ross teaches Rachel to stand up to people who take advantage of her. Meanwhile, Rachel brings the best out of Ross, as fans see just how kind and sweet he can be. Let’s also not forget that this scene technically gives us the first Ross-Rachel kiss in the series.

“The One With the Videotape”
There are times when the friends group is way too close – and this is certainly one of them. To figure out who, between Ross and Rachel, came onto whom, the gang watches the tape of Emma’s conception. Although Rachel insists it was Ross, the truth eventually comes to light. Turns out she used Joey’s “Europe Story,” which is basically the “Netflix and chill” of the pre-social media era. After being teased for most of the episode, Ross gets some sweet vindication. It also makes clear that, deep down, Rachel desires Ross just as much as he wants her.

“The One Where Rachel Is Late”
After building up to Rachel’s delivery throughout the eighth season, everyone’s eager to see the baby. Too bad Emma’s in no hurry to arrive. While she’s understandably upset, Rachel takes her frustrations out on Ross. Upon learning that sex could induce labor, Rachel tries to goad Ross into helping her out. Although he tries to take the high road, it isn’t long before Ross reaches the end of his rope and gives in. Before they’ve gone very far though, this does the trick! We don’t know if such a quick result is medically accurate, but Ross sums up it best: [“I am good!”]. Nothing about Rachel’s pregnancy was conventional, so it makes sense that we get something equally unexpected to sign things off.

“The One in Massapequa”
We never see a proper proposal scene between these two. But Ross does paint a very real picture of what it would’ve been like. Forced to act like a married couple for Jack and Judy’s anniversary, Ross and Rachel get creative for their made-up nuptials. What begins as a joke turns into a surprisingly touching story. We learn how Ross would have proposed, had things worked out with Rachel the way he wanted. While he’s often criticized for how he handled their relationship, it’s hard not to feel your heart melt at this moment. Swept away by his story, even Rachel forgets it never happened. Although they aren’t together at the time, this interaction shows us why the pair was always meant to be.

“The One in Vegas - Part 1”
After Rachel teases him for thinking that she was trying to seduce him, Ross decides to get revenge. Thus begins a long flight to Vegas with the duo trying to one-up the other. Whether it’s kissing a random guy in the head and blaming it on Ross or spreading false rumors about Rachel, nothing is off-limits. And while Rachel arguably has the upper hand through most of it, Ross seals the win by drawing on her face with a permanent marker. It just goes to show that not all Ross-and-Rachel moments are about romance; some are just about how they bring about the silly in each other. Actually, maybe that is romantic!

“The One with Barry and Mindy's Wedding”
Rachel’s ex-fiance Barry was already a two-timing jerk, but he becomes even less likable when Rachel attends his wedding to her friend Mindy. Rachel’s wardrobe malfunction as she walks up the aisle is embarrassing enough, but she then finds out that Barry’s parents told everyone she went insane from syphilis. While Ross’ attempts to stand up for her don’t quite work out, at least the intentions were there. When Rachel finds out that Barry has bet on her leaving early, she’s had enough! Together, Rachel and Ross steal Barry’s thunder with a live rendition of Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana”.

“The One Where Old Yeller Dies”
There’s nothing wrong with planning for the future. But you will raise a few eyebrows if you’ve never discussed it with your partner. Still, saying the “L” word can sometimes make everything right, as we see here. While Rachel freaks out over his lofty plans for them, Ross is adamant that they are meant to be. Despite being in a screaming match, the two realize that there’s only one explanation: they’re in love. It’s not every day you see people saying “I love you” while yelling at each other, but Ross and Rachel turn this into one of the series’ most heartwarming moments. It’s clear they still haven’t figured it all out yet, but things rarely make sense when it’s a matter of the heart.

“The One Where Rachel Tells…”
TV show pregnancy reveals are usually filled with warm-hearted sentiments – that’s not what “Friends” fans got. However, the ridiculous comedy of errors here has its own charm. Misunderstanding Rachel’s attempts to talk as wanting to get back together, Ross is in for the shock of his life. Before Rachel knows it, things go off the rails, and Ross is complaining to the president of the condom company. It’s a delightfully kooky scene that once again goes against our expectations, as the big Ross-and-Rachel pregnancy reveal turns into a meltdown for the ages. Fortunately, Ross comes around to the news, although the condom company still ends up getting an earful.

“The One Where Rachel Has a Baby”
Sure, several Ross-and-Rachel moments are played for laughs. But Emma’s arrival has the most wholesome payoff. With almost an entire day spent in labor, Rachel is finally ready to give birth. While her headbutting Ross does put a comedic spin on things, the pair goes through the delivery like a team. After so many bumps along the way, this scene captures Ross and Rachel at their best. Now parents to a baby girl, the duo enjoys their moment of bliss. We wouldn’t have complained if this were the series finale, as the visual of Ross and Rachel sharing a beautiful kiss seems like the proper ending to their story. Of course, there was still more to come, but few moments are as perfect as this one.

“The One with Ross's Inappropriate Song”
Who knows what goes on in the mind of a baby? Some, like Emma, might be partial to finding humor in big butts. Try as they might, Ross and Rachel can’t get a laugh out of her unless it’s lyrics from Sir Mix-a-Lot. So, like any good parent would, the two put on a live performance of “Baby Got Back” for their child. It’s as bizarre as it sounds, yet you can’t take your eyes off them even if you wanted to. Just ask the rest of the friends gang – whom Rachel and Ross realize all too late were watching their performance the whole time …

“The One with a Chick and a Duck”
Not long after their infamous breakup, Ross proves he’s not such a bad guy by giving up the professional opportunity of a lifetime to help his ex-girlfriend. Ross has a spot on a panel for the Discovery Channel, but an injured Rachel begs for his help to get ready for a work dinner. He tries to rush through doing her makeup – HILARIOUSLY – but ultimately decides it’s more important that he take Rachel to the hospital. The tension between them, and the fact that Rachel doesn’t know what Ross is giving up for her, make this moment stand out. And when Rachel DOES find out, she’s incredibly moved, and almost seems ready to forgive Ross for the ‘we were on a break’ fiasco.

“The One in Vegas - Part 2”
The season 5 finale had us all prepared for a Bing/Geller wedding, but instead of the nuptials we’d been promised all season, we got the marriage we’d been asking for since the very beginning. Granted, it wasn’t under the most perfect of circumstances, but for a few short episodes, we were all treated to a glimpse of “Mrs. Ross and Mr. Rachel.” Lucky for us, the marriage leads to some of the funniest Ross and Rachel moments, as Rachel finds out from Ross’s divorce lawyer that he didn’t get the annulment, and she files for one herself, claiming that Ross is a gay, mentally unstable person with substance use disorder who couldn’t consummate the marriage.

“The One Where Ross Finds Out”
Ross has THE WORST luck: he just so happens to be in China when Rachel finds out about his feelings for her and decides to give a relationship with him a try. Y’know, Rachel: the girl he’d pined for since high school? Rachel heads to the airport to surprise him, but when Ross gets off the plane with Julie, Rachel does not take it well. She eventually hits rock bottom when she leaves Ross a drunken voicemail, and her best attempts to prevent Ross from hearing it aren’t quite good enough. David Schwimmer is at his uncontrollable best as Ross tries to process the information, but Julie arrives just in time to add to the awkwardness, leaving Ross and Rachel’s fate in the balance.

“The One Where Ross and Rachel…You Know”
Ross and Rachel are both excited for their first real date when Ross gets called in to work. While a museum date may sound lame, Ross pulls out all the stops, setting up some sexy tunes and a beautiful projection so the pair can stargaze while sipping on their juice boxes. It wasn’t the date they’d been planning, but it turns out to be just as romantic – if not more so… That is, until they wake up the next morning to see a visiting group of stunned schoolchildren. This may be the ultimate example of Ross going the extra mile, and he certainly scores points with Rachel, but we’re still not quite sure how he didn’t get fired.

“The One with the Morning After”
You could always count on “Friends” to be funny, but when the situation called for heavy drama, the show was unafraid to punch us right in the gut. Besides the rest of the gang eating leg wax in Monica’s bedroom, there’s very little to laugh about in “The One with the Morning After.” That’s when Rachel finds out that Ross cheated on her – or took advantage of them being on a break, depending on how you look at it. The resulting scene is so relatable and so heartbreaking; we still have trouble watching it. But the breakup is written in such a way that you clearly see both sides of the argument, and the actors more than do it justice.

“The One with the Prom Video”
It may be hard to believe, but Ross Geller wasn’t always such a smooth-talking ladies’ man – as evidenced by Monica’s old prom video. While Monica and Rachel get ready for their big night, Ross – the older college student with facial hair extraordinaire – is lurking in the background, ready to jump at the chance to save the girl he loves from high school humiliation. Of course, it’s Ross who’s eventually humiliated, but the gesture is enough for present-day Rachel to forgive him for the infamous pros-and-cons list. The ensuing kiss makes any list of memorable “Friends” moments, and kicks off the pair’s relationship for real. And as for the mating rituals of lobsters: Phoebe has never spoken truer words.

“The One with the Jellyfish”
The show’s most infamous quote originated in season three, when Rachel suggests they take time apart to think about their relationship and, well, we’ve already mentioned what happens next… Ross’ excuse became a running gag on “Friends,” but perhaps its greatest ever use comes during their second breakup. Y’know, the one where Rachel writes Ross that letter asking him to take full responsibility for everything bad that happened between them? There’s nothing subtle about this blowout: this time, both Ross and Rachel do their best to publicly shame each other. It was gutsy to write a funny breakup scene for this fan-favorite couple, but David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston shine – this time in loud, over-the-top performances. It definitely paid off.

“The One with Ross’s Wedding”
The Ross and Rachel saga wasn’t a huge part of season four, so when the friends took off for London to see Ross marry Emily, it left us wondering if our favorite TV couple was over for good. Little did we know that shelving the pair throughout the season was a cruel ploy, as Ross’ accidental confession at the altar comes out of nowhere, reopening the door for this off-and-on couple in one of the show’s most surprising twists. The minds behind “Friends” always knew when to keep Ross and Rachel on the backburner – in fact, sometimes they did it for entire seasons. But the longer the buildup, the more memorable the payoff.

“The One Where Ross Finds Out”
“The One Where Ross Finds Out” is arguably the most quintessential Ross and Rachel episode ever, as drunken messages and arguments over Ross and Julie’s cat culminate in one iconic moment at Central Perk. Rachel is closing down the deserted coffee shop when Ross turns up to rant at her. Emotions run high, ships have sailed, but it’s clear what they both want even through all the yelling. It’s satisfying to see a moment that’s been building for a full 30 episodes actually pay off, but Ross and Rachel’s first kiss is so much more than just a first kiss; it cemented their place in television history as early as season two.

“The Last One”
Ten years after we first met this iconic couple, Rachel finds herself moving to Paris and has to say “au revoir” to her friends. After she says goodbye to everyone but Ross, then sleeps with him, then gets on the plane to Paris anyway, Ross gets one final chance to tell Rachel how he feels courtesy of a frantic race to the airport. He returns home rejected; but soon enough, ten seasons of will they/won’t they, laundry and lobsters, and loads of “we-were-on-a-breaks” are all wrapped up in five little words. The wait to see Ross and Rachel get their happily ever after comes down to a last-minute change of heart and a faulty phalange, but it was all totally worth it.