Whenever a long-running television show ends, there’s usually some backlash after viewers have invested years of their lives tuning in on a weekly basis. Producers and writers must tread carefully, lest they end up spending the rest of their careers running from Lost like Damon Lindelof. Viewers can feel let down, underwhelmed, or betrayed.
In the case of NBC’s Friends, there was no true abandonment of goodwill. Viewers expected the six members of the ensemble cast to end the show with neatly tied bows. Well, all except for Joey, who went on to his own failed spin-off. Otherwise, fans were satisfied with the characters’ fates, even though everyone knew Ross and Rachel would never stay married forever. For some reason, the Friends ending worked out as planned, even though it was too schmaltzy.
The fate of the one friend has abruptly changed, thanks to an alternate fan theory by Xenophon Moscrop on Twitter. His reimagining of the finale has gone viral. Things are about to get dark:
And here’s part of the text, if you don’t want to read the smaller print in the picture:
“I’d have ended Friends by revealing it was all the meth-addled fantasy of a homeless Phoebe as she stared through the window of Central Perk.
“Each kooky aside, each time she made everything about her, each example of how she’s an outsider… it all makes sense. All 10 seasons were merely her fevered imagination, projecting herself into the lives of others. All she ever wanted was… Friends.”
Oh nooooo. Then we learn that Monica, Ross, Joey, Rachel, and Chanandler Bong Chandler Bing refer to Phoebe Buffay as “the crazy lady who always stares at us.” The worst part? Phoebe sleeps in front of the fountain from the opening credits.
Well, I don’t know about you, but it’s probably time to hug a smelly cat. Here’s how Twitter felt about how the “new” finale changes everything.
https://twitter.com/JohnDcabral/status/636608266261282816
https://twitter.com/StorytellerRoss/status/636262325230698496
@strnks @ozmills "A mangy cat falls asleep next to her"
— Malcolm Broon (@DragonXVI) August 26, 2015
https://twitter.com/sianandthings/status/636502272311173120
@strnks dude why you do this ?? but the ursula thing blew my mind
— amitava (@justamitav) August 25, 2015
https://twitter.com/Katy_emz/status/636588459881299968
@strnks @Sandiebeach my ending was Ross opens a coffee shop of his own: Jurassic Perk
— Brian Mack (@ThatBrianMack) August 26, 2015
https://twitter.com/OHMYBLUNT/status/636570931385769985
https://twitter.com/tomgreeves/status/636503211751383040
@strnks I actually would have liked to see it be Rachel, she doesn't get married and then goes into fugue and spies on Monica's life-
— Tan Theory 💜 Scruffa 🌈 (@4Livingtheory) August 27, 2015
https://twitter.com/chanalexis/status/636575539151679491
