If there's one thing Friends loved to do, it was to keep audiences on their feet. Time and time again, every season finale included a cliffhanger that left fans anxiously awaiting the next season. Before streaming services like Netflix and Hulu were a thing, networks capitalized on leaving audiences hanging in order to lure them into tuning in for the next season, which usually took about a year to premiere. Everyone's very thankful that this is no longer a thing, but earlier fans of Friends had to endure it.
Back when season 5 ended, Rachel and Ross had just gotten married in Las Vegas as the result of a drunken night. After so long, would they finally make it? That was the question on everyone's minds by the time season 6 came around, and the reason why so many tuned in. But everyone stayed for the incredible episodes and dynamics - and some incredible guest stars.
The One with the Ring (8.6)
Chandler tells Phoebe, and Phoebe only, about his plan to propose to Monica. When they find the perfect ring, another man buys it, prompting the two to go on a wild goose chase in order to exchange rings, which they somehow manage to do.
Rachel is very happy in her relationship with Paul, but she keeps wishing he would open up more to her. When he starts telling a story from the past, he can't stop crying and Rachel decides to leave him for being a bit of a cry baby.
The One Where Ross Meets Elizabeth's Dad (8.6)
Back in episode 21, Ross is dating Elizabeth and is hellbent on getting her father to like him. However, Paul tells him straight up he doesn't like him dating his daughter, leaving Ross feeling desperate.
But when Rachel and Paul hit it off and begin dating, Ross sees an opportunity to get Rachel to talk him up. Meantime, Joey almost loses his job, and Phoebe writes a book about Monica and Chandler.
The One Where Chandler Can't Cry (8.6)
All the way back in episode 14, Rachel's sister Jill and Ross seem to hit it off and go on a date together. Rachel is furious and makes Ross promise he won't date his sister, resulting in a big argument between sisters.
Meantime, Phoebe finds out her twin sister is a porn star, and Chandler gives the gang the impression that he's soulless because he can't cry upon hearing a sad story - that is until Ross reveals why he ended things with Jill.
The One with the Routine (8.6)
On the set of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve", there's a lot going on. During the tapping, Joey desperately tries to get with Janine, and Monica and Ross attempt to be taped doing their famous dance routine.
Back at the apartment, Rachel, Phoebe, and Chandler make it a mission to find out where Monica hid her Christmas presents - but can they do it without Monica finding out?
The One After Vegas (8.7)
The season premiere saw Rachel and Ross waking up without a clue of what happened the night before. Once they recall their mistake, Rachel tells him he wants an annulment, and while he says he got it, the audience finds out he's lying.
Monica and Chandler both feel like they're moving too fast, but don't know how to tell the other. In the end, they decide that marriage should only happen down the line, and they choose to move in together instead.
The One with the Proposal (8.8)
It's finally time for Chandler to propose to Monica. However, when they're at the restaurant and he's about to pop the question, Richard shows up and he panics. Richard meets Monica later and confesses that he still has feelings for her after Chandler pretended he was still afraid of commitment.
In the meantime, Ross finds out that Elizabeth isn't as grown-up as he thought she was, and ends the relationship while Joey accidentally buys a $20,000 boat at a silent auction.
The One Where Paul's the Man (9.0)
When Phoebe, Rachel, and Monica find a beautiful wedding venue with a 2-year waiting list, they all decide to put their names down. When Chandler finds out what Monica did, he completely freaks out due to his commitment issues.
Paul tells Ross that if he doesn't stop dating Elizabeth, he'll have him fired from the University, but he refuses. Things take a turn for the weirder when both Ross and Elizabeth and Paul and Rachel show up at the same cottage to spend the weekend.
The One with Unagi (9.1)
In this hilarious episode, Rachel and Phoebe decide to take self-defense classes and embarrass Ross when he tells them the classes are useless and ends up being overpowered by the girls.
In the meantime, Chandler and Monica decide to give each other homemade gifts for Valentine's Day, and Chandler's gift ends up being a mixtape Janice had made for him in the past. Joey is broke and decides to be part of a medical experiment to make ends meet.
The One Where Ross Got High (9.2)
It's Thanksgiving once again, and Chandler has a daunting task ahead of him - getting Monica and Ross' parents to like him now that he's in a relationship with their daughter.
Ross is forced to it the real reason why his parents don't like Chandler - when he was caught smoking pot in college, he blamed it on him. This revelation prompted everyone to make it loud and clear the things they always wanted to say. In the end, the parents are on great with Chandler.
The One with the Proposal (9.3)
Arguably one of the most emotional episodes in the entire show, "The One With The Proposal" saw Monica wrestling with her feelings. Richards wants her back, children and all, and Chandler is pretending that he can't do marriage.
Chandler ends up talking to Richard and makes the decision to run back to her and propose, creating a tearjerking moment that still touches hearts to this very day.