Rachel needed a secure apartment where she could live with her daughter Emma; as she had a fight with Ross, and Joey was the only viable option left.
Joey (Matt LeBlanc) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) had a brief love story, from season eight to ten, in which first Joey confessed his feelings and Rachel rejected him. Rachel then developed feelings in season nine and they started dating in season ten. This was heavily criticized by fans and cast of the show, as it didn’t feel right.
In the series, Rachel moved in with Joey twice. She first moved in with Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) when Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) moved in together. But, Phoebe’s apartment got burned down, forcing Rachel to live with Joey.
Rachel left Joey's when she became pregnant and moved in with Ross. However, she quickly argued with him and went back to Joey.
How did Rachel and Joey come together?
Joey was never shy about flirting with Rachel throughout the series, but she always laughed it off. But Joey's feelings for Rachel only grew when she moved in with him during season 8 because she needed a secure apartment for her unborn child. At first, Rachel rejected him, but in the tenth season, they made an effort to date.
Joey had this huge guilt somewhere in the middle of it: he fell for his best friend's love, which he should not have done, but he apparently had no control over his feelings. He thought of confronting Ross with it, but was not able to face it directly, so he made an excuse and explained a story of a similar premise, but of one of his friends. Ross is wise enough to recognize Joey's remorse, but when he realizes how much Joey cares for Rachel, he gives him the go-ahead. Joey refuses to date Rachel unless Ross approves the relationship, which strengthens their friendship. Ross essentially says that, “he is not okay with it, but that he wants to be.”
It made sense until Joey confessed his feelings to Rachel and she rejected him, but by the end of season nine, Rachel had feelings for Joey, and they kissed. The conclusion of season nine gave the impression that Rachel had changed her mind due to a "dream," which was criticized by a lot of fans and even the cast performing it; all in all, it didn’t feel right. Though it was a brief arc and ended shortly, they confessed that, in reference to Monica and Chandler’s friendship turning into marriage, the same cannot be done with Joey and Rachel, as they are way too good friends.
What was the creators' original plan for Joey and Rachel?
The cast objected to the notion of Rachel and Joey dating, according to Saul Austerlitz's Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show That Defined a TV Era. They informed show creator David Crane of their objections. According to Crane, they told him, "That's like having a crush on your sister" and "like playing with fire!" He admitted to Radio Times in 2019 that he was aware that the notion of Joey and Rachel dating was unwise, but he still went along with it. "That happens in life," he said. "There is the relationship that shouldn't be, even though you love someone, that's not who you're going to be with."
It turns out that the goal was always for Joey and Rachel's relationship to fall apart and for Rachel to marry Ross, as the audience had always desired. Crane acknowledged, "She was pregnant with Ross's baby; we always knew... this was doomed, but in a hopefully really interesting, moving, and compelling way."
The show's creator was pleased with the decision he and the writing staff made regarding the pairing, noting that it brought Joey to a level of emotion that fans hadn't previously seen in him.
Why did the show's audience criticize Joey and Rachel's relationship?
The randomness of their relationship was one of the things that made it difficult for fans to think about. Rachel rejected Joey after he admitted to having feelings for her in season 8. Fans didn't mind the plot at this point because they thought Joey was becoming more mature. By the end of season 9, though, it appeared as though Rachel had changed her mind due to a "dream." It did seem strange that this was the spark that ignited her feelings after many attempts to refute it.
There aren't many people who liked the Joey-Rachel relationship; in fact, many thought it was awkward and forced. The moment the actors started to object to the plot, the writers should have known it wasn't going to be well received by the viewers. However, the writers persisted with the contentious plot because they wished to express the feelings of Joey's character. On the other hand, in season 8, they did not do this with Joey's character, given that the relationship only lasted a week, which doesn't exactly demonstrate development or maturity.
The fact that Joey and Rachel were in different stages of life was another factor in why their relationship didn't make sense. Joey's maturity levels were the main factor that would prevent Joey and Rachel from becoming a couple. For Joey, making the decision to commit to a relationship was a big deal. Joey would, however, have succumbed to other pressures. He would have had to progress first and foremost for Emma's sake. Two, his job might require him to move to a different city, which would present a whole new set of problems. The timing of the relationship was unfortunate.
The majority of viewers concur that Joey and Rachel's relationship wouldn't have succeeded because of their devotion to Ross. Ross had given them his approval, but it didn't seem like Joey and Rachel would go so far.
FAQs
Q. Did Joey really love Rachel?
A. For a matter of fact, he really did love Rachel. But, at the same time he didn’t want to hurt Ross and was hurting himself in the process.
Q. Why was Joey’s love with Rachel arc needed?
A. According to the creators of the show, Joey’s character needed emotional maturity, which was expressed through his arc with Rachel.
Q. What is the net worth of Jennifer Aniston?
A. As of 2022, Jennifer Aniston’s net worth is estimated to be at $320 million.
