Friends: 10 Plot Holes That Will Always Be There For You

If you're a die-hard fan of the iconic sitcom Friends, you've probably laughed, cried, and debated with your peers about not only its plot lines but also the show's countless quirky plot holes. But even in a show that's tighter than Monica's control over the cleanliness, some mysteries remain unexplained.

Here are 10 Friends plot holes so loose that they will always be there for us.

1. Chandler’s Cry

We've all witnessed Chandler's emotional growth, but can we talk about The One Where Chandler Can't Cry episode? The story takes us through the highs and lows of Chandler's childhood, revealing the moments that shaped his quick wit and seemingly detached demeanor that makes it impossible for him to cry.

The title practically screams that Chandler is dead inside, but do you remember when Phoebe proudly declared that she made him cry in season 3? Or when he cried twice in season four? Newsflash: Chandler actually cried and did it more times than Ross said the cursed "We were on a break!" thing.

2. Chandler and Rachel’s First Introduction

Do you remember when Chandler and Rachel first met? In the first episode of Friends, Rachel walks into Central Perk and meets Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe as if they'd never met before. However, flashbacks later reveal that Chandler shared high school and college moments with Rachel and Monica.

They spent several Thanksgiving dinners together and even kissed at a college party. Let's just say that in the Friends universe, forgetting past kisses is just another day in life.

3. Ages Always Change

The show is like fine wine, seemingly improving with age, but the characters' ages are a bit of a wonderland. Rachel's Aquarius star sign suggests she's born in January or February, but in season four she swears by a May birthday. Meanwhile, Ross is on a birthday roller coaster, claiming December in one episode and October in another.

The same goes for Monica, Chandler, and Joey, whose ages become more ridiculous with each season. Maybe they've discovered the secret to the fountain of youth, or maybe it's just one of those sitcom things we're supposed to overlook.

4. Phoebe’s Past

Phoebe Buffay, the queen of quirk, has a past shrouded in mystery: from her alleged street-singing days to her troubled relationship with her parents. In earlier episodes, Phoebe claims that she was forced to live on the streets after her mother's death, suggesting that she had no other option, but this doesn't match up with later revelations when she's seen living with her grandmother.

Did her grandmother suddenly stumble upon Phoebe eating out of the garbage and remember she had a granddaughter? Another mystery to speculate about.

5. Apartment Number

Monica's New York apartment is a key location in the show and seems to have a life of its own. In the first season, Monica and Rachel start in apartments 1 and 2, and then suddenly in the second season, it gets the numbers 19 and 20.

The writers try to fix it by turning Monica's apartment into number 20 and Chandler and Joey's apartment joins the number-changing party, going from 4 to 19. It's a small, but very head-scratching detail that only die-hard fans would notice.

6. Did Ross Lose His Job?

Remember when Ross, the paleontologist with a penchant for divorces, got fired from his job at the museum? Well, neither do we. Ross' job as a paleontologist mysteriously disappears after season five — since then we never hear anything about Ross' prehistoric pursuits.

The silence on his professional front continues until season six when Ross is asked to be a guest lecturer at New York University.

7. Rachel’s Eyesight

In season two, Rachel complains about movie subtitles, hinting at poor eyesight without glasses, but throughout ten seasons, she's never been seen wearing them. Add in her fear of touching her eyes, which means she can't wear contacts, and you have another Friends mystery.

8. Where Is Ben?

After being a stumbling block between Ross and Carol, Ross' son Ben seems to have vanished into thin air. In the last three seasons of the show. In season eight finale Rachel gives birth to their daughter, Emma, and since then Ross barely mentions his first child.

And while Emma has become a regular on the show, there has never been an on-screen meeting between her and her half-brother.

9. Chandler's Money Skills

In season two, Chandler learns the art of slipping money to a waiter from Monica's ex, Richard. Fast forward to season seven, we see that Chandler is dating Monica and conveniently forgets this skill when she suggests using the technique at a restaurant. Jealousy seems to have clouded Chandler's memory, creating another amusing Friends plot hole.

10. Ross and Ice Cream

Ross, the king of inconsistency, claims in season seven that he hates ice cream because it's too cold for him. But didn't we see him enjoying ice cream with Marcel and Elizabeth in earlier episodes? It's not a show-stopping plot twist, but Ross' icy attitude toward ice cream is a Friends mystery colder than his feelings for Emily.