In two days, Emily will be leaving, and Ross is deeply saddened, although both were aware that their time together would be limited to just two weeks. Meanwhile, Phoebe is struggling with intense cravings for meat, but remains committed to not consuming it. Joshua informs Rachel that he recently went on a date, but admits that he isn’t ready to begin dating seriously. In response, Rachel invites him to Emily’s going-away party, even though there were no prior plans for such an event. The group scrambles to organize a last-minute gathering, and Rachel, intent on finding an opportunity to kiss Joshua without revealing her feelings, suggests they play “Spin the Bottle.” Just as Rachel is about to kiss Joshua, Phoebe interrupts the moment by announcing that the baby kicked, ending Rachel’s opportunity. Despite her initial plan falling through, Rachel eventually confesses her feelings to Joshua, who reveals that he reciprocates her affection. Phoebe’s cravings become overwhelming, and she ends up eating meat, but feeling guilty about the animals, Joey makes a heartfelt promise not to eat meat until the baby is born.
Did you know ?!
• Jennifer Aniston and Tate Donovan were dating at the time of this story arc.
• Magna Doodle says “Emily… Bon Voy(crossed out) See Ya!”
• There are various extra scenes in the uncut DVD version of the episode: In the opening scene, Phoebe enters the apartment and angrily knocks over a cereal box. When Ross and Emily come to Central Perk, Chandler speaks to Emily with a British accent. Monica mentions how Chandler always does it when he is around Emily and tells him to stop, to which Chandler responds by saying ” Oh, ho ho. I think you like it. I think you can’t resist me when I do it. You want to eat me up like a cream pumpet!” During the party, Monica gives Ross the alternative version to ‘the finger’ after he squeezes her leg for telling Emily about his childhood and telling Emily that Monica being overweight is the reason why swing sets were strengthened. When the gang are playing Spin the Bottle, on Chandler’s turn the bottle lands on him, and he says “Story of my life.” He then spins again and the bottle lands on Joshua. Chandler then says “Story of my father’s life…”
• One of the few times you can glimpse the missing wall in the big apartment. It’s visible when the gang is playing spin the bottle and the camera focuses on Phoebe, Joshua, and Gunther.
• The sign on the door in Joey and Chandler’s apartment reads “Joey eats little V”.
• Joey tells Rachel she should take off her bra through her sleeve like in Flashdance (1983). He’s seen Phoebe do this in The One Without the Ski Trip (1997)
• Rachel’s attempt to twist a cherry stem with her tongue was made famous by Sherilyn Fenn in Twin Peaks (1990). She had previously appeared on Friends the year before in “The One with Phoebe’s Ex-Partner (1997),” as Chandler’s girlfriend with the wooden leg.
• When filming the spin the bottle scene, James Michael Tyler (Gunther) had agreed to actually kiss Jennifer Aniston (Rachel) as a gag. While the crew thought this was funny given the crush Gunther has on Rachel, Tate Donovan (Joshua) got upset as he was currently dating Aniston at the time. Due to his outrage, the scene was left out of the blooper reels for the season.
• When Rachel is spelling Emily in her “cheer”, she makes the L backwards.
• Joshua (Tate Donavon) attends the party at Joey and Chandlers where the chick and duck live, and in a few episodes when he’s on a date with Rachel at her apartment he freaks out over the chick and duck. He had no problems being in the boys apartment where the chick and duck live few episodes before.
