For ten years (236 episodes and one special - but who's counting), they were our friends - Ross (David Schwimmer; Band of Brothers), Rachel (Jennifer Aniston; The Morning Show), Monica (Courtney Cox; The Scream Franchise), Chandler (Matthew Perry; The Whole Nine Yards), Joey (Matt LeBlanc; Joey), and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow; Romy and Michele's High School Reunion). Beginning in 1994, we laughed with them, cried with them, and loved with them. They became a staple of our lives, and we tuned in every week to NBC to see what they were up to next. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the show, Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has released the complete series in 4K Ultra HD for the first time.
Created by David Crane (Episodes) and Marta Kauffman (Grace and Frankie), Friends followed six friends living and working in New York City. They would assemble at Central Perk, the coffee shop near where most of them lived, or at Monica and Rachel's or Joey and Chandler's apartments, which were across the hall from each other. The series has been watched over 71 billion times in the United States, and in 2023 alone it was viewed internationally for over 1.4 billion hours.
At first glance, the new 4K UHD transfer is starkly different than the previously released Blu-ray transfer, with more in-depth details and color saturation. However, the Blu-ray set was color-corrected to look more natural, and the cranked-up colors and hues of the 4K are slightly less appealing than the former set. The overall picture quality is superb with sharp details and a more stabilized, film-like appearance that makes watching the series a treat.
With the upgrade from Dolby Digital 5.1 to DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, the quality also has a slight sound uptick. From the now-infamous theme song to the dialogue, everything seems a bit cleaner and sharper while encompassing the surround speakers. Audience laughter and music come from the rear, while dialogue sits in the forward speakers, giving the viewer a fully enveloping experience. The technical specs have both good and bad components, but for the most part, the 4K set won't disappoint.
The set includes seven discs, the first four house all ten seasons, and legacy audio commentaries (three to four per season, except for season two, which has none). The sixth disc is the only Blu-ray Disc. It houses all of the extras, including two new extras - Friends: Through the Peephole and How Well Do You Know Your Friends?. The previously released extras include: Season 1-5 Extras, Friends of Friends, Season 2 Trailer, "Smelly Cat" Music Video, What's Up with Your Friends? - Seasons 1-4, Friends Around the World, The One that Goes Behind the Scenes, Friends on Location in London, Gunther Spills the Beans About Season 6, "True Friends" Documentaries, Friends From the Start, When Friends Become Family, and The Legacy of Friends.
Beginning thirty years ago, viewers have followed the trials and tribulations of the Friends gang (both on and off screen) as both the actors and the audience grew up together. The show still has massive appeal, as evidenced by the viewership of the 2021 televised reunion and the outpouring of love and support as news of Perry's death broke in the fall of 2023.
Once or twice a decade, a television show comes along that has just the right combination of script and cast, and those shows tend to go down in pop culture history, never to be forgotten. Friends is one of those shows, and it should be in every home entertainment library worldwide. Now is the perfect time to grab this 4K UHD set before they run out.
Grade: B+
