Friends is one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, running for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004. The show followed a group of six friends living in New York City – Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross. One of the most noticeable changes in the early seasons of Friends was Monica and Rachel switching apartments with Chandler and Joey in season 2. This prompts the question – why did they switch apartments on Friends? There are a few key reasons:
Monica’s Grandmother’s Rent Controlled Apartment
In the pilot episode of Friends, Monica lives in apartment #5 in a nice rent-controlled apartment that originally belonged to her grandmother. Monica was able to keep this apartment because of rent control after her grandmother passed away. However, in season 2 of Friends it is revealed that Monica’s grandmother had moved to Florida several years ago and sublet the rent-controlled apartment while she was away. This was illegal according to the landlord, who was ready to evict Monica from the apartment after finding out. In order to solve this problem, Chandler agrees to switch apartments with Monica and put his name on the lease. This allowed Monica to keep her rent-controlled apartment that she had lived in since the start of the show.
Chandler’s Problems with Joey
In the early seasons of Friends, Chandler is living with his best friend Joey in apartment #4 across the hall from Monica’s apartment. Although they get along well, there are some problems with their living situation. Joey is very messy, while Chandler is more of a neat freak. Joey also regularly eats food that doesn’t belong to him. In episode 2 of season 2, Joey constructing an “entertainment unit” damages the floor in Chandler’s bedroom. This prompts Chandler to consider moving out. When the opportunity to switch apartments comes up, Chandler is eager for a chance to live in a clean space and have his own room away from Joey.
Rachel Needs a Place to Live
At the very beginning of season 1, Rachel leaves her fiancé Barry at the altar and moves to New York City looking for independence. She connects with her old friend Monica from high school, and Monica invites her to move in with her and find her feet in the city. In the pilot, apartment #5 is established as having only one bedroom, which Monica and Rachel share. By season 2, it makes sense that Rachel would want her own room and space if possible. Switching apartments provides Rachel a chance to move out of Monica’s living room and into her own bedroom.
The Apartment Switch
In episode 10 of season 2, aptly titled “The One With The Swap”, the friends actually make the switch and change apartments. Monica, Rachel, Chandler, and Joey decide to simply swap units and live in each other’s apartment. Joey and Chandler will live in #5, while Monica and Rachel move across the hall to #4.
To get the landlord’s approval for Monica to continue living in the rent-controlled apartment, Chandler agrees to move in and put his name on the lease. The landlord Mr. Treeger is satisfied with this arrangement since Chandler now appears to be the official tenant. Behind the scenes Monica is still getting the benefit of low rent.
With the apartment swap Joey and Chandler get a clean new place across the hall. Rachel gets her own room after staying on Monica’s couch for months. And Monica gets to keep her beloved rent-controlled apartment that she’s used to. The change gives them all something new while allowing the core Friend group to still live across the hall from each other.
Chandler and Joey Settling Into Apartment #5
After the swap, Chandler and Joey have to adjust to their new space in apartment #5. In episode 12 of season 2, Chandler is annoyed with how messy and disorganized Joey continues to be after moving into the new place. Monica has left the apartment exceptionally clean, but Joey quickly settles into his usual patterns. Chandler struggles to keep things clean with Joey around.
Joey also has to adjust to some key differences in the new apartment #5:
1) The peephole on the front door is much lower than he was used to. This proves problematic for Joey as he injures himself bending down to look through it.
2) There is no bathroom access directly from the bedrooms like there was in the old apartment #4 layout. Chandler installs a bathroom door himself so Joey can get to the bathroom more easily at night.
3) The kitchen space is different than apartment #4, and Joey has problems finding items in the fridge and cabinets. This leads to him eating Chandler’s food again.
Overall it takes Joey and Chandler a little while to adjust to the subtle layout changes in Monica’s old apartment. But before long they are settled in and enjoying their new clean space.
Monica and Rachel Adjusting to Apartment #4
Monica and Rachel also have to get used to the differences in Chandler and Joey’s old apartment #4. In episode 13 of season 2, Monica is irritated that the bathroom sink is leaking. She calls the superintendent Mr. Treeger to fix it.
Monica also notices issues in the apartment related to Chandler’s old roommate Joey:
1) There is only a very small kitchen cooking space, as opposed to the larger kitchen in apartment #5.
2) The refrigerator is mostly empty, since Joey never kept much food at home.
3) Joey’s entertainment center blocks one of the bedroom doors and looks tacky.
However, Monica and Rachel take the opportunity to redecorate the apartment and make the space their own. They get rid of the entertainment unit, pick out some new furniture, and make apartment #4 feel like home. Rachel is especially happy to have her own bedroom finally.
The New Apartment Layouts
With the swap, the core six characters begin inhabiting two new apartment spaces side-by-side for the rest of the Friends seasons. Here is a comparison of the layouts:
Apartment #4 Layout (Now home to Monica and Rachel):
– Small galley kitchen
– Decent living room space
– Two bedrooms
– One bathroom
Apartment #5 Layout (Now home to Chandler and Joey):
– Large open kitchen and living room
– Two bedrooms
– One bathroom
So apartment #5 where Monica and Rachel originally lived has a bit more space, while apartment #4 is slightly smaller but still comfortable. However, the most important thing was keeping the group in close proximity across the hall from each other no matter who lived where.
Why Keep the Characters So Close?
Having the Friends characters constantly popping into each other’s apartments was an essential part of the show’s premise and comedy. So it made sense to keep them all across the hall after the swap. But why was their close proximity so important to the show overall?
Allows for More Funny Situations and Surprises
With the apartments across the hall, the characters could spontaneously walk into each other’s spaces at any given moment. This allowed for more surprise, chaos, and humorous situations to unfold. There was also comedic value in eavesdropping through the doors.
Highlights Close Bonds Between Characters
The fact that the Friends chose to live across the hall speaks to the sincerity of their relationships. Despite any issues, like Chandler’s annoyance with Joey, they still prioritized staying close knit. This closeness emphasized that the Friends were more than just acquaintances – they were each other’s family.
Drives Many Storylines
Proximity enabled more reasons for the Friends to constantly wind up in each other’s business. Monica dating Rachel’s ex Dr. Richard Burke created tension. Chandler and Joey double dating Rachel and Phoebe led to humor. Many funny storylines came out of their inability to stay out of each other’s personal lives across the hall.
Central Meeting Spot for the Group
Having the apartments across from each other provided a central spot for the group to congregate. Chandler and Joey’s apartment in particular, with the two La-Z-Boy recliners and big TV, became a default hangout space. The proximity allowed the Friends a “home base” to regularly reunite at.
Allows Relationships to Progress Naturally
Living across the hall from Monica allowed Chandler to organically form a relationship and eventually fall in love with her over the years. Proximity helped ease Chandler’s transition from her best friend to boyfriend. This may not have unfolded as naturally if they lived further apart.
How Did the Apartment Switch Impact the Rest of Friends?
While the apartment swap occurred early in season 2, it had ripple effects that impacted storylines for the rest of the Friends series run in big and small ways:
Chandler and Monica’s Relationship
As mentioned, Chandler moving across the hall directly enabled him getting to know Monica intimately and eventually falling in love. This became one of the most significant romantic arcs on the show.
Rachel’s Fashion Job Success
After the switch, Rachel was able to turn her old bedroom at Monica’s apartment into a home office space. This allowed her more room to work on building her career in fashion, leading to promotions and success.
Phoebe Stays with Monica Often
When Phoebe faces issues with her own apartments later in the show, she stays with Monica periodically. The swap that gave Monica a 2-bedroom makes this possible.
Ross Can Visit Son Ben More Easily
Ross often visits his son Ben at Carol and Susan’s apartment. Since it’s also in the same building as Monica and Rachel’s new apartment, he can see his son more easily.
Mr. Heckles Stays Chandler and Joey’s Downstairs Neighbor
Even after switching units, wacky downstairs neighbor Mr. Heckles remains living below Chandler and Joey for seasons to come. His character pops up occasionally until the actor sadly passes away in season 3.
The Chick and the Duck
In season 3, Joey adopts a chick and duck who live in the swapped apartment #5 bathtub. This becomes an iconic part of the Friends universe that wouldn’t have happened without the apartment switch.
So while mainly done for practical storytelling purposes at the time, the decision to have the Friends change apartments in season 2 ultimately had long-ranging impact.
Apartment #20 Belonging to Ugly Naked Guy
One other iconic apartment in the Friends universe was #20 across the street, home to “Ugly Naked Guy.” Here are some key facts about Ugly Naked Guy and his apartment:
– He was known for frequently wandering around his place fully nude with the curtains open, giving the Friends an unfortunate view.
– His real name was never revealed on the show.
– #20 was a one-bedroom apartment with less space than the Friends’ units.
– Ross once moved into #20 briefly after Ugly Naked Guy moved out in season 5.
– Many fans speculated that Ugly Naked Guy was based on a real eccentric person that Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman knew.
While not directly involved in the swap, Ugly Naked Guy remained a funny side character seen from the Friends’ apartment windows.
Conclusion
The decision to have Monica, Rachel, Chandler, and Joey swap apartments in season 2 of Friends was driven by both practical story needs and a desire to keep the friends close together. Monica needed to keep her rent-controlled apartment, Rachel needed a room, and Chandler wanted distance from messy Joey.
But the swap ultimately allowed for many funny situations, compelling relationship developments, and iconic moments that defined Friends over the next eight seasons. Even small details like apartment layouts and proximity between characters can have a huge impact on the overall success of a sitcom like Friends. The across the hall apartment dynamic became an essential part of the show’s identity.