Could he BE more popular?
The passing of Matthew Perry, known for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the beloved television series “Friends,” has left a void in the hearts of millions of fans around the world.
Among the six main characters of “Friends,” Chandler Bing is the most relatable character because of his boring job, social awkwardness, and insecurities in a relationship. He is popular because of his relatability, his sense of humor, as a roommate, as a friend, as a lover, and as a husband.
Table of Contents
Insecurities in Relationship
One of the main reasons Chandler is so popular is because of his relatability. He was insecure in his relationship, especially with Monica. We see him fall in love with Janice and Kathy. He has flings with Ariel and Joanna.
We have all seen how he reacts when Monica interacts with Richard again. I guess most people can relate to this third person interfering in their relationship and their insecurity.
Sense of Humor
We all know a friend in real life who makes jokes in serious moments. Chandler is the one here who makes jokes in the serious moment to lighten the mood.
His parents announced their divorce to him over Thanksgiving dinner when Chandler was nine years old, an event that gave him trauma. Later, he refuses to celebrate the holiday in his adulthood and led him to develop his sense of humor as a defense mechanism to deal with life’s difficulties and social awkwardness.
His jokes in the right moment, especially in serious situations, have made him so popular and lovable among the audience. He is known to the audience for having the best sense of humor.
“Hi, I’m Chandler. I make jokes when I’m uncomfortable.”
Friendship
Chandler is known as a good roommate and a good friend, especially because of his bromance with Joey. He was very supportive towards Joey throughout the series, like providing financial support to Joey and supporting Joey’s acting career during his tough times.
Even at the end, when Chandler and Monica buy a house in Westchester, he doesn’t forget about Joey and keeps a room for him called “Joey room”. It shows how much he values their friendship.
Unconventional Love Story
The way Chandler convinces Monica every time shows that Chandler is the ultimate green flag, and he has raised the bar.
“You’re not easy-going, but you’re passionate, and that’s good. And when you get upset about the little things, I think that I’m pretty good about making you feel better about that. And that’s good too. So, they can say you’re high maintenance, but it’s okay because I like… maintaining you.”
His relationship starts with Monica goofing around, but it ends with moving to the same apartment, getting married, and adopting kids. His relationship with Monica is healthier than Rosschel’s but still retains his sense of humor.
And the way Chandler proposes to Monica will always be remembered and remains an iconic proposal in the hearts of millions of fans.
Representation of Personal Transformation
Finally, Chandler shows it’s never too late to make your life better. Chandler’s job was in statistical analysis and data reconfiguration, which he didn’t enjoy.
Later, he quit his job and started his career as an advertising copywriter, which he loved and enjoyed more than his previous job.
He overcomes his fear of commitment in relationships and ends up in a good relationship with Monica, getting married, having kids, and becoming a good husband.
In conclusion, Chandler Bing remains a beloved and popular character due to his relatable struggles in relationships, boring job, sense of humor, loyalty, unique love story, and personal growth.
The “Friends” series wouldn’t be the same without him.
