Ep 8. The One Where Nana Dies Twice

In the eighth episode of Friends season 1, entitled "The One Where Nana Dies Twice," the gang is faced with the death of Ross and Monica's grandmother. The episode opens with Ross and Monica receiving the news of their Nana's passing from their parents. While Ross seems to take the news in stride, Monica is devastated and immediately begins making arrangements for the funeral.

The rest of the group tries to be there for Ross and Monica during this difficult time, but as is often the case with the Friends crew, things don't quite go according to plan. Joey tries to comfort Ross by teaching him how to play poker, but Ross quickly becomes obsessed with the game, even suggesting they play for Nana's dentures. Chandler, meanwhile, is struggling to deal with the death of a pet goldfish he's had since he was a kid. He spends most of the episode trying to find a way to discreetly dispose of the fish without anyone noticing.

Phoebe has her own coping mechanism for dealing with death—she's convinced that her dead mother is reincarnated in a cat named Mrs. Whiskerson. She tries to convince Ross and Monica to believe in reincarnation as well, but they're too caught up in their own grief to really listen. Eventually, though, Phoebe finds a way to help Monica come to terms with Nana's passing by telling her a story about how Nana and Grandpa got together.

One of the standout moments in this episode comes from Rachel, who is struggling to find a way to be there for Ross and Monica despite never having met Nana. She tries to make a fruit basket for them, but ends up cutting herself and having to go to the hospital. There, she meets a cute guy named Paolo who helps distract her from all the death and sadness. This subplot sets up a love triangle that will continue throughout the season.

Overall, "The One Where Nana Dies Twice" is an emotional episode that balances moments of humor with genuine heartache. It's also one of the earliest examples of Friends tackling heavy subject matter, something it would become known for throughout its 10-season run.