Ep 11. The One With The Lesbian Wedding

In Friends season 2 episode 11, titled "The One With The Lesbian Wedding," the gang gets invited to a wedding, but things take a surprising twist when they learn that it is a lesbian wedding. The episode deals with the topic of same-sex marriage in a humorous way, exploring the attitudes towards it within the group.

At the beginning of the episode, Ross is upset about his ex-wife Carol marrying her partner Susan. He struggles to come to terms with the fact that his son will have two mothers and even enlists Joey and Chandler to serve as his backup groomsmen - just in case Carol and Susan's wedding doesn't go well. Meanwhile, Monica and Rachel are excited about attending a wedding and proceed to argue over who gets to be the maid of honor.

As the gang prepares for the wedding, they must come to terms with their own attitudes towards homosexuality. Chandler feels uncomfortable about being in the presence of so many gay people, while Monica and Rachel have no problem with it and are excited to attend a same-sex wedding.

The wedding itself is a chaotic affair. Ross, who is still uncomfortable with the situation, accidentally walks Carol down the aisle instead of her father. Joey and Chandler end up being the fallback groomsmen, but they quickly realize they're in over their heads and can't handle their responsibilities. In contrast, Monica and Rachel embrace the wedding and dance with the brides-to-be, showing their support and acceptance.

Throughout the episode, the topic of same-sex marriage is handled with sensitivity and humor. The characters' reactions range from discomfort to acceptance, reflecting the attitudes towards homosexuality at the time the episode was filmed. The writers skilfully weave humor into the storyline without detracting from the seriousness of the issue.

"The One With The Lesbian Wedding" is a landmark episode of Friends, not only for its handling of same-sex marriage, but also for the representation of LGBTQ characters on television at the time. The wedding is treated as a normal part of life, with the focus on the characters and their relationships rather than their sexual orientation. It is a testament to the show's ability to address serious topics while still remaining funny and entertaining.

Overall, "The One With The Lesbian Wedding" is a must-watch episode for fans of Friends. It showcases the show's ability to handle sensitive topics with humor and sensitivity, while also giving representation to the LGBTQ community at a time when it was sorely needed. It's a reminder of how far we've come in terms of acceptance and understanding, but also how much further we still have to go.