In this episode, Rachel asserts that she has moved on from Ross, prompting Monica to arrange a date for her. However, Rachel becomes distracted during the date and ends up getting quite intoxicated. Her emotional state stems from learning that Ross and Julie plan to purchase a cat together.
During the date, Rachel’s companion suggests that she needs closure regarding her feelings for Ross. Rachel decides to call Ross and leaves a voicemail declaring that she has moved on. Ross, upon hearing this message, is surprised by Rachel’s admission of feelings and is left feeling conflicted.
When Ross confronts Rachel, he expresses his discomfort with her sudden revelation, especially since he was content before learning about her feelings. This leads to a heated argument between them, culminating in a surprising and pivotal moment—their first kiss.
Did you know?!
• The producers wanted to use U2’s “With or Without You” as the background clip for Ross and Rachel’s kiss; however, there wasn’t enough time for them to arrange for the necessary rights. Instead of the song, a studio clip similar to the band’s playing style was used. The actual song “With or Without You” is played in the following episode.
• In this episode, Gunther’s name is finally revealed – Rachel bids “goodnight, Gunther” to him when he leaves the coffeehouse.
• David Schwimmer is actually allergic to cats.
• There is a whole deleted scene where Ross and Julie go to pick up the cat in the shelter and Ross freaks out. The scene can be found in the DVD extended version.
• The restaurant Michael and Rachel go to is called The Saloon. This isn’t spoken, but the exterior is shown as a transition shot. This restaurant closed in 2019.
• There is an alternate version of this episode where, during the final scene when Ross comes back to the coffee house, Rachel tries to let him in, but she struggles to unlock and open the door, and Ross says “try the bottom {lock}” from outside. It is unknown if this is cut from the syndicated versions on certain channels or why it is sometimes shown both ways.
• This episode is included on the 2000 DVD release The Best of Friends Volume 1.
• In the flashbacks the coffee house door doesnt get stuck but in this episode Rachel can’t open the door.
• Writer Scott Silveri has confirmed it was during the filming of this episode that the chemistry between Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) was first properly recognized among writers and producers. The episode features a storyline featuring the two where Monica acts as Chandler’s personal trainer. It took just over a season to notice as this was only the second subplot the two characters had together after Season One’s “The One With The Birth”. Silveri said “they were special together” and it was agreed if they ever wanted to pair up another couple in the group, Chandler and Monica would be the way to go. There was talk of exploring a romantic pairing as early as Season Three but the writers decided against it as they were worried it would be overshadowed by the Ross and Rachel drama of that season. A Season Four finale pairing occurred instead.
• This is Ross & Rachel’s second kiss. Their first kiss was when they do laundry in season 1.
• Ross and Julie almost get a cat in this episode. Coincidentally in The One with the Ball (1999), Rachel ends up buying a cat herself but later sells it to Gunther.
• Technically this is Ross and Rachel’s third kiss. The first was the laundry room, the second was in Rachel’s fantasy in her balcony.
