Arguably the best series, this season's episodes really developed the characters as the show's popularity took off. Love is in the air as Rachel and Ross, both finally realising they're attracted to each other, nearly get it together, don't, and then finally do. Joey gets that role as Dr Drake Ramoray in "Days of Our Lives" and moves out of the flat he shares with Chandler, precipitating a bust-up between the two best buddies. Monica dates Richard, the hunky, older eye-doctor played by Tom Selleck, and Phoebe makes a video of that seminal song for a generation, "SmellyCat". --Leslie Felperin