In watching the first couple of seasons - again - on TBS, I've noticed that there is a distinct difference between the Rachel of the first two seasons and what would come after that.

In the first two years, there was a sweetness about Rachel - she's this ditzy former rich girl adjusting to reality and life and love in the city. Her mishaps at Central Perk as a waitress only add to her appeal. There's a lightness about her that's very endearing and appealing.

In later years, that sweetness would be replaced by a more neurotic, bitchy and harder-edged Rachel. I know that in real life, people grow and change - particularly women - but would someone change that much?? Even her voice is drained of that lovable sweetness.

Yes, I know she had the breakup with Ross - "we were on a break - but it seems at times like the Rachel of later seasons almost seems like a different character.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but the other characters didn't change as much...if at all.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but the other characters didn't change as much...if at all.

I thought all the girls got bitchier towards the end. Phoebe became a lot more bitter and Monica got louder if that was at all possible. Ross became wimpier imho but Joey and Chandler were always pretty much themselves. I wanna say it had something to do with how much weight Jen Aniston lost during the show. But I think the real thing was when she started to make money at her fashion job.

You're righ about Rachel, but... the other characters didn't change?

Chandler didn't change? From an insecure shy guy with heavy emotional problems, such as a fear of commitment... turned into a married man having two babies?

You, yourself, mentioned how Ross changed into a neurotic whiny creepy guy, when in the first seasons he was actually a fun guy. In the last seasons, it looked like Schwimmer only knew one way of acting. Aniston said something like that -though she was joking- in a blooper from season 8 I saw on dvd. Aniston jokes to Schwimmer: "What happened to you? You used to be able to act!" She was right- and that's not a joke.

Joey didn't develop at all. He even became worse and more one-dimensional. He was at his best in season 1. Also, Phoebe hardly changed.

Monica indeed became very bitchy. I actually liked her in the first seasons, but in the last ones she was very selfish. She began to turn into her mother.

Your observations about Rachel are very true. Also, she looked *so* hot. I couldn't believe it was the same girl from the later seasons, when I first saw the first three seasons. Rachel became rude and often she ended up in situations in which she behaved *real* weird, a bit Phoebe-like.

Rachel's change is noticable, though I think it's one of the least obvious on the show. I think the other two girls underwent far more significant changes that rendered them both horribly unlikable in the end.

Phoebe began taking shots at the entire group, became painstakingly weird (as opposed to just cute weird in the first few seasons), and was generally annoying. Monica was the worst, though. They completely gave up on making her a nuanced character and made her completely obnoxious. She was hard, cold, and bitchy. She completely destroyed Chandler's character, cutting him off at the knees.

Chandler lost his edge, sadly, and you can tell that the show suffered because of it. Ross changed from Woody Allen, very neurotic and quirky, to outlandish and goofy, but the change seems fair when you look at the circumstances of his life. They continuously dumbed Joey down, but he always retained an unmatched sweetness and zest.

Okay, yes, I have noted changes about the others in the past. I guess I just noticed the change in Rachel and kind of forgot about the others. I would say Joey changed the least. He became kind of infantile at times, but he was still basically the happy-go-lucky guy from earlier years.

Ross was a loser at the beginning and was still a loser in the end. He just got creepier. I think he and Rachel deserved each other in the end. All those relationships they had - particularly Ross - were stupid, as you knew as soon as Rachel had his baby, their future was etched in stone. I did like Mona - she seemed to put up with a lot from Ross and seemed very sweet. If Emma hadn't come along, who knows what might've happened??

And yeah, Monica at times would have turned me off. She got hotter looking as the years went on, but more controlling and hyper-neurotic. Even an insecure guy like Chandler would have gotten tired of her in real-life. But of course, this isn't real life, which is why he put up with it!

Someone mentioned Aniston's weight loss and I don't understand why she did it. It wasn't like she was remotely fat in those early seasons. In fact, she looked the best she ever did physically - though I did love her straight shoulder-length hair in later years. The short haircut she had at one point was bogus and mercifully, lasted only a, ahem, short time.:rolleyes:

Phoebe began taking shots at the entire group, became painstakingly weird (as opposed to just cute weird in the first few seasons), and was generally annoying. Monica was the worst, though. They completely gave up on making her a nuanced character and made her completely obnoxious. She was hard, cold, and bitchy. She completely destroyed Chandler's character, cutting him off at the knees.

Chandler lost his edge, sadly, and you can tell that the show suffered because of it.

Good observation, especially about Phoebe. I was surprised with the first couple of seasons: I could actually stand Phoebe!

Rachel seemed to change towards the last season. I can't really put my finger on why. Something about her new voice and look made her seem like a different person. Early on I think she changed by becoming more responsible and getting involved in business. This made her get smarter and I guess somewhat meaner.

I liked how Chandler was able to go to someone who was afraid of serious relationships to being very involved in one. Along the way he lost some of his personality but it was a necassary change.

Pheobe did seem less crazy in the begining. Then she just dressed wierd and had wierd hobbies (like her style of music). Later on she seemed stupider and had alot of crazy idea. I like how Mike acted as an equalizer that made her more normal.

I actually didn't mind Monicas change. Even though she may not have been realistic she was really funny. In the begining she was somewhat boring.

Joey didn't really seem to change much. That's kind of who he is. I guess he did get stupider but I didn't really notice that much.

Ross' charector in the first and second seasons was so great. I loved how he was the shy wierd guy that couldn't get up the nerve to talk to Rachel. He also seemed more caring back then. When I watched the 5th season for the first time I hated how he went crazy (about his sandwich and things like that). But now when I watch it I think it's funny. I guess that could happen to him since he was going through rough times. His charector waso much more loveable early on, though.

to me every one changed except chandler and ross,
joey for some reason grew dumber as he aged.

to me every one changed except chandler and ross,
joey for some reason grew dumber as he aged.
Well, if you read all the previous responses, you'd see it doesn't make sense to say that Chandler didn't change, 'cuase he was the one who changed the most.

I liked Rachel better in the ealier seasons. I thought that she was sweeter and prettier. I loved her hair in season 2 and 3.