Something set the eighth season of Friends apart from the previous seven. Maybe it was that everyone involved with the show knew it was coming to an end. Friends only lasted two more seasons after the eighth, which was released on DVD in November. But the eighth is what tied up loose ends from earlier seasons and set up the plot for the next two.

Less focus is on scoring easy laughs, as producers concentrated on progressing the storyline — the beginning of Monica and Chandler’s marriage, Rachel’s baby, Joey’s feeling towards Rachel, and the season finale cliff hanger that sets up the ninth season.

Focusing on the harder storylines makes it more difficult to add in hilarious plots, but somehow the magic of Friends prevails. There are instant classics this season: Brad Pitt’s character and Ross reveal their “I Hate Rachel” club, Monica can’t stand her expensive boots, and the not-to-miss game of Bamboozled.

The extra features seem to be lacking somewhat: there’s only three episodes with commentary, and it’s by the producers, not the cast. There’s a “Friends of Friends” video guestbook, a gag reel, more on Joey’s game, and preview of season nine by none other than Gunther. There’s nothing overly special about the bonus features; the gag reel has been shown on t.v. and even the less-than-diehard Friends fans already know what’s in store for the ninth season, and they didn’t need Gunther to bring them the skinny.

But maybe the special features don’t seem that special because the actual episodes are that memorable. There is almost no need for anything more. Except maybe an eleventh season.

4*
Release Date: Nov. 9, 2004

Guest stars: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Alec Baldwin, Marlo Thomas, Elliot Gould and Morgan Fairchild
Official site: www.friendstv.com
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