Friends: Complete Season 9 - New Edition [DVD]

Nine years is a long time for any group of Friends to stick so closely together, but somehow the gang are still as daftly charming as ever. After the birth of Emma, Rachel comes to terms with being a mother surprisingly well. It's how everyone else deals with it that makes things interesting. Joey's accidental proposal creates weird friction between him and Ross, who breaks his finger throwing the show's first ever punch. Monica becomes desperately broody and attempts all manner of convoluted ways of persuading Chandler to father a child (unfortunately he inadvertently bankrupts them in a move to Tulsa!). Phoebe, on the other hand, occupies herself in the dating game, holding on to Mike (Paul Rudd) in the longest guest-star relationship anyone's ever had. Other surprise guests this year include Freddie Prinze Jr as an overly sensitive nanny (in the 200th episode), Christina Applegate as another of Rachel's sisters and Jeff Goldblum playing himself on the set of another movie on which Joey is trying to get a break.

As always the sparks occasionally fly between Rachel and Ross, while the others manage to strain their own relationships to the max. The real reason for watching now is the one-off kooky scenarios in which they--or rather Joey--get into. His endless dating finally sees him stuck for remembering if he's already slept with a girl; he botches an attempt at eyebrow waxing; and he manages to make Chandler think Monica's after a breast enhancement. --Paul Tonks

The complete ninth season of the long-running sitcom. In 'The One Where No One Proposes' Phoebe gets confused as to who has proposed to Rachel, Ross or Joey. 'The One Where Emma Cries' finds Rachel desperately looking for a way to stop her baby's crying. 'The One with the Paediatrician' has Joey and Phoebe agree to find each other a partner for a double date. Whilst in 'The One with the Sharks' Monica begins thinking that Chandler has a sexual interest in sharks. 'The One with Phoebe's Birthday Dinner' has Phoebe and Joey struggling to retain their restaurant table when all the others are late for dinner. 'The One with the Male Nanny' finds Ross feeling uncomfortable about Emma's new nanny (Freddie Prinze Jr). In 'The One with Ross' Inappropriate Song' Joey and Chandler discover a suspect video in Richard's apartment. 'The One with Rachel's Other Sister' has Rachel's tactless sister (Christina Applegate) arrive for Thanksgiving. 'The One with Rachel's Phone Number' sees Rachel concerned that a potential suitor she met in restaurant will phone when Ross is in. 'The One with Christmas in Tulsa' finds Chandler working over the Christmas holidays in Tulsa. To add to his woes, Monica begins to get suspicious when she discovers that Chandler is working with Wendy (Selma Blair). In 'The One Where Rachel Goes Back to Work' Rachel visits her work to show off baby Emma but finds herself agreeing to go back to work early - she has met her maternity leave replacement, Gavin (Dermot Mulroney). Meanwhile Pheobe gets a job as an extra on Joey's drama series and Chandler finds he must get a new job quickly as Monica wants to start a family. Whilst in 'The One with Phoebe's Rats' Pheobe finds a litter of rats in her cupboard and persuades her boyfriend to help look after them. Rachel and co-worker Gavin clash and baby Emma gets a new nanny (Melissa George) - and Ross finds it difficult to keep Joey away. In 'The One Where Monica Sings' Monica hogs the limelight at a piano bar. 'The One with the Blind Dates' has Joey and Phoebe come up with a plan to reunite Ross and Rachel. 'The One with the Mugging' sees Joey suffer an audition for a pompous director. 'The One with the Boob Job' finds Monica, Chandler and Joey all caught up in misunderstanding over a cash loan and breast enhancement surgery. In 'The One With the Memorial Service' Chandler's written comment on his old college website leads to unforseen consequences. 'The One with the Lottery' has Rachel excited that baby Emma might just be about to begin speaking. In 'The One with Rachel's Dream' Rachel watches Joey filming a steamy scene on the set of his soap opera and then later dreams about him. 'The One With the Soap Opera Party' sees Joey throw a roof party for his fellow soap actors. 'The One with the Fertility Test' has Ross help Joey woo a beautiful professor named Charlie. 'The One With the Donor' finds Monica and Chandler searching for a sperm donor. Finally, in the two-part 'The One in Barbados'. Phoebe has to decide between Mike and David, and the romantic confusions which link Ross, Charlie, Joey and Rachel come to a head.