The storylines were contrived (https://www.google.com/search?q=contrivbed+friends+storylines&oq=contrivbed+friends+storylines&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgkIAhAhGAoYoAEyCQgDECEYChigAdIBCjEzNDExajBqMTWoAgiwAgHxBSRgdWyXs8lM8QUkYHVsl7PJTA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) and unrealistic (https://www.google.com/search?q=unrealistic+friends+storylines&sca_esv=5da2b0c0536aa051&sxsrf=AE3TifPZbPSiSxQyC_kAVnAV3PHlqaH2mg%3A1751578657200&ei=IfhmaNr8C_6OwbkPlO-fmAM&ved=0ahUKEwiakaL90qGOAxV-RzABHZT3BzMQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=unrealistic+friends+storylines&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiHnVucmVhbGlzdGljIGZyaWVuZHMgc3RvcnlsaW5lczIIEAAYogQYiQUyBRAAGO8FMggQABiABBiiBDIIEAAYgAQYogRItkVQAFjYEHAAeACQAQCYAcwDoAHKF6oBCTAuMi42LjIuMbgBA8gBAPgBAZgCA6ACmgbCAgYQABgHGB7CAgQQABgewgIGEAAYCBgewgILEAAYgAQYhgMYigWYAwDiAwUSATEgQJIHBzAuMS4xLjGgB8MnsgcHMC4xLjEuMbgHmgbCBwUzLTEuMsgHPw&sclient=gws-wiz-serp). The comedy wasn't (https://www.theperspective.com/debates/entertainment/seinfeld-or-friends) particularly innovative. Yet it had that certain something. Was it exceptional acting? Cast chemistry?