Audiences know how much Joey loves food, women, acting, and of course, his friends. Joey wasn't always the brightest character, but he was funny, unapologetically himself, and relatable. Joey never tried to be someone else (apart from when he was acting, of course) and he had his ups and downs over the years.
Relatability is one of the most important things a character can offer on a TV series, and it's no question that Joey was relatable. His best and worst moments are part of what makes him still a popular character, long after Friends has come to an end.
When He Became Invested In Tourism
While in London for Ross and Emily's wedding, Joey became a hardcore tourist. He had his map and video camera and he excitedly explored the city, loving every minute of his adventure. Unfortunately, Chandler was embarrassed by Joey's touristy behavior and gave him a hard time, which resulted in Joey exploring the city alone.
Joey had a good time anyway, so it was Chandler's loss. Audiences can certainly relate to the excited feeling that takes over when going to a place they haven't been before, especially if it's in another country.
When He Was Placed In Awkward Situations
The most significant example of this is when Joey was the first to find out about Chandler's and Monica's relationship. He went to extreme measures to keep their secret, and not necessarily of his own volition, considering he wanted to tell somebody from the start.
He was even accused of being a pervert when he just so happened to find the nude picture of Monica that had been meant for Chandler. Later on, he was caught in an awkward situation when both Monica and Chandler asked him for a loan and requested that Joey not tell the other. To abide by these wishes, Joey came up with a story about Monica wanting a boob job. Poor Joey tried to respect his friends' wishes, but it landed him in some wild situations that didn't always fare well for him.
When He Fell On Hard Times
With his acting career experiencing a lull, Joey found it hard to pay for anything, including coffee. Central Perk. Joey already fears that his acting career may be over, and he finds it hard to make the adjustment and serve his friends.
Yet, money is money, and he doesn't stay there forever, anyway. Fans could relate to this moment. Life is unpredictable and sometimes it means going back to the beginning to get to the desired destination. Hard times come and go, but it certainly makes someone appreciate the good times that much more.
When He And Chandler Were Couch Potatoes
Chandler and Joey thoroughly enjoyed their big screen TV and their leather recliners and refused to get up if they could avoid it. They sent food to Monica's and Rachel's apartment to be delivered to them, and Joey declared that inside was "good" and outside was "bad."
Audiences certainly relate to lounging with their best friends and wanting to do nothing. Joey and Chandler had a great time together being couch potatoes. Every once in a while people need a break from the real world, as long as they don't get to the point that Joey and Chandler did when they decided to stick around for a bit longer despite a fire alarm going off.
When He Had To Tell Chandler About Janice
Joey's put in a difficult place when he spots Janice kissing her ex-husband while she's with Chandler. Chandler's in the midst of trying to decide what gift to buy Janice when Joey tells him what he saw, which breaks Chandler's heart.
Joey hated having to be the one to tell Chandler the bad news, and he hated that his friend hurt as a result. It's not a fun or easy place to be in, but telling the truth and doing the right thing is what a good friend will do. Audiences who have had similar experiences with their friends certainly appreciate the hard spot Joey was in.
When Rachel Didn't Reciprocate His Feelings
Before they actually dated, Joey realized he had feelings for Rachel and told her. Unfortunately, Rachel didn't return his feelings at the time, and it broke his heart. The two friends later had a hard time communicating with one another, leading to Rachel fabricating a wild story just to have something to talk about with him.
The entire thing was sad, given they were such great friends, and even sadder when their friendship suffered because Joey had itted his feelings. It seems cruel that later Rachel did like him, but their relationship didn't work out anyway. Audiences with similar relationship experiences certainly commiserated with Joey in this instance.
When His Career Gained Traction
Joey worked long and hard for several years waiting for an opportunity to really get his career going. That moment finally came when he landed the part of Dr. Drake Ramoray on Days of Our Lives.
Naturally, Joey was beyond excited. His career was finally going where he wanted it to go, and the role brought him other opportunities in time. Plus, the money allowed him to be able to pay Chandler back. The feeling of achieving a dream is one of the best feelings in the world and audiences certainly relate to Joey's happiness.
When He Was Devastated About Turning 30
"Why God? Why?" This is pretty much Joey's reaction to reaching his 30th birthday. He claims that he and God had a deal in which he wouldn't get any older, but unfortunately, the deal fell through. Milestone birthdays have their pros and cons, but for Joey, it seems his 30th birthday bears more negatives than positives.
He's equally if not more devastated when Ross reminds the group that in another decade they'll all be 40. Everyone ages and everyone has their own feelings on the matter, but if you feel like Joey does about getting older, this is certainly a relatable moment.
His Love Of Food
One of the things audiences know best about Joey is the fact that he doesn't share food. Joey can eat large portions. He's certainly challenged himself before, given he once ate a whole turkey by himself and consumed everything in his fridge after it broke. He'll even go to extreme lengths to protect his food, as was the case in "The One with the Ride-Along" when he dove to protect his meatball sandwich after hearing what he thought was gunfire.
Hamburgers, lasagna, salad: what's not to love? Fans certainly wish they lived across the hall from a chef like Monica, who always kept Joey fed and happy.
When He Didn't Like Change
Fans recall when Joey refused to see Monica's and Chandler's new home out in the suburbs. He was the last of their friends to see it, and even when he finally did make the trip, he tried to point out things that were wrong with the house to discourage his friends from moving. He wasn't happy with Rachel when he learned she was going to Paris, either.
Joey doesn't like change, especially if it means he has to say goodbye to his friends. Saying goodbye and watching one chapter close certainly isn't easy, and Joey's struggle with change was one of his most relatable moments.