Near-perfect season; the London arc is iconic. Season 5 (1998–99) Grade: A- The Secret Romance Season Chandler and Monica hide their relationship — leading to some of the show’s best farce (“The One with the Yeti,” “The One Where Everyone Finds Out”). Ross’s breakdown (“PIVOT!”) becomes legendary.
Watchable but forgettable — the show is running in place. Season 7 (2000–01) Grade: B- The Wedding Season Monica and Chandler get engaged — the whole season builds to their wedding. The humor becomes broader, more reliant on guest stars (Elliott Gould, Morgan Fairchild). Friends Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 - threesixtyp
The best season for balancing laugh-out-loud humor with genuine heartbreak. Season 4 (1997–98) Grade: A The Ensemble at Peak Power Chandler and Monica sleep together in London (climax of “The One with the Embryos” — the apartment bet episode is a masterpiece of sitcom writing). Ross marries Emily. Phoebe becomes a surrogate for her brother. Near-perfect season; the London arc is iconic