With the 'Friends' reunion special dropping this week, we're looking back at the hit sitcom and the six lead characters that made it iconic. In our latest installment of the series, we're checking out some highlights of Rachel Green.
After all, the whole series started no thanks to Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), whose entrance into Central Perk café in the pilot's first scene, dressed in full wedding dress and attire, was as dramatic as it was comical.
From then on, the character became more and more interesting as she strove to be a better person; while also dealing with plenty of familial, career and romantic drama.
Here are the reasons why we love Rachel so much.
1. Rachel Greene really was the one to kick start the show
Sure there were five 'Friends' before, but the addition of Rachel Green in the pilot really made the gang complete.
Moreover the story of Rachel developing from spoiled Daddy's girl to self-sufficient worker was one of the key arcs of the series.
Remember how that first season saw her cutting up her father's credit cards, getting her first job as a waitress, and learning how to do her own laundry?
By the end, she's a full blown adult with a blossoming career, a baby, and the man of her dreams all snatched up.
Speaking of...
2. She is one half of the Ross and Rachel saga
We said it with our arguments for Ross being the best 'Friends' character, and we'll say it again. However you feel about how the relationship has aged years on, Ross and Rachel remain one of the great on-again-off-again relationships on TV.
Rachel went from learning how Ross felt about her, to realising her own feelings for him, Julie coming in her way, then the kiss at the café, followed by the list and the prom video.
When they finally do get together, there's "the break" ("18 pages - FRONT AND BACK!"), then she realises she loves him as he about to marry someone else. Then they get married and drunk in Vegas...
For a while (ten years, really), it felt like those two would never get the timing right. But even before she "got off the plane", that tearful confession of him meaning more to her than anyone else when she's about to go to Paris, had us sure that they had to make it in the end.
3. Rachel Green is the most stylish and influential of the gang
Obviously Rachel Green ends up working in fashion and her adoration of shopping is quickly established. But off screen too, the "Rachel haircut" ended up making huge waves from an early point, as fans well know.
Rachel pretty much looked fabulous in anything, from lounge wear to all her cute mini skirts while waitressing, and evening wear as well, of course - most notably that green dress in 'The One Where No One's Ready'.
She was a true fashion icon with some of her ensembles feeling fabulously 90s to 00s, while others are simply timeless.
4. Her work in fashion provided some hilarious storylines
Across the series, Rachel lands jobs at Bloomingdale's, Ralph Lauren's, and Louis Vuitton, starting out infamously as a waitress in a café (you gotta admit - that's a pretty inspiring career trajectory).
There were loads of laughs to be had thanks to Rachel's job, across Gunther's massive crush on her, Ross' jealousy over her colleague Mark, and her run-ins with Joanna (especially when she dated Chandler), early on in the show.
Then you also had her dating Joshua and Tag, which weren't particularly appropriate relationships, then the inadvertent kiss with Mr. Zelner and the smoking, as well as Phoebe possibly making out with Ralph Lauren. It was all great, silly fun.
5. Of all the 'Friends', she probably had the most family drama
Yes, the Gellers brought the comedy and competition. But the Greens brought the trash talk and hilarity in their own right, plus plenty of theatrics.
This included the separation of Rachel's parents into two surprise birthday parties across the hall from one another, which was a great episode. Dr Leonard Green's hatred of Ross also lent to some great comedic moments.
There were also the episodes with Rachel's sisters, played by Christina Applegate and Reese Witherspoon, marking two fabulous guest appearances on the series.
Then there was Rachel's family drama when it came to starting her own and having baby Emma.
Remember when Ross first learned that he was the father? Lol, very funny times.
Do you think Rachel Green is the best character on 'Friends'? Or who's your favourite? Let us know in the Facebook comments.
