Each of the main characters in Friends had their ups and downs and learned from their mistakes, but there’s one that had the best development: Chandler Bing. Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, Friends made its debut on NBC in 1994 and came to an end in 2004 after ten seasons. The series has become one of the most popular sitcoms of all time and is often regarded as one of the best, with its main characters (as well as their catchphrases) becoming part of pop culture.
Friends followed the lives of six young adults (Monica, Phoebe, Rachel, Chandler, Joey, and Ross) in New York City, struggling to balance their social, personal, and professional lives, as well as everything that comes with being an adult in a big city. Over the course of 10 seasons, viewers followed the stories of the main characters closely, and while most went through many changes, the one with the best character development was definitely Chandler.
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Played by Matthew Perry, Chandler Bing was introduced as the sarcastic friend of the group, often making jokes that not always sat well with the rest. The Chandler viewers met in the first episodes of Friends is not the same as the one in the final season, yet he kept his main personality traits, making him one of the most beloved characters from the series.
Friends: Why Chandler Had The Best Character Development
Chandler began as the friend who used humor and sarcasm as a defense mechanism as he had a rough childhood: his parents divorced when he was nine, and he had trouble processing that his father was now a drag artist in Las Vegas. Chandler also associated everything linked to his parents’ divorce in a negative light, especially Thanksgiving, as his parents revealed their separation over Thanksgiving dinner. This also translated into commitment issues and emotional unavailability, which were a big part of his arc in the series, mostly through his on/off relationship with Janice.
Chandler’s biggest changes began along with his relationship with Monica. He eventually overcame his fear of commitment and they became the first couple in the group to have a stable relationship and marriage that didn’t end in divorce (let’s not forget Phoebe was married twice before she met Mike). He made peace with his father after years of not having any contact with him, allowing him to move on on many levels, including overcoming his fear of having a family of his own. Chandler not only matured in his personal life but also professionally; after spending years in a job he hated, even though it paid well, he finally quit and pursued a career he actually liked.
Most importantly, Chandler kept his main personality traits – such as his sense of humor – through this process, making his development smooth and one that didn’t make him lose his essence. It’s not surprising, then, that Chandler is a favorite among Friends fans and is often considered to be the best character in the series, as his journey was the most complete of all.
