Throughout its decade-long run and afterward, Friends remained relevant due to its enticing plotlines and genuine representation. Of course, it had its mastery of exaggeration but without that, the show would not sit with as much relatability as it does till now. An episode that still rings fresh is the one involving the ski trip after Ross and Rachel’s break up in the third season. While one might have had the impression that the episode encircled them, it actually had more influence on Chandler’s character development.

So much so that a special deal was cut between Chandler and Phoebe for a surprising reason. Later, Chandler had a debt to pay for nullifying this unprecedented deal. 

The cause behind Chandler’s debt to Phoebe

In the third installment, Ross and Rachel had already locked horns in The One Without The Ski Trip. Chandler, on the other hand, suffered the breakup blow in a harder way since it was a reminder of his parent’s split. As a result, he resumed smoking for the first time since The One with the Thumb, season 1 episode 3. Back then, Phoebe and Chandler had struck a deal of $7000 for him to never touch a cigarette. But since his smoking resumption was a deal breaker, Chandler technically owed Phoebe the money. 

Whether the unsettled balance was cleared or not is still unknown. However, one thing that is for sure is that Ross and Rachel’s breakup was especially stressful for the group because the fire had a chance to turn everything into ashes, even their friendship. And about the $7000, Chandler, without a doubt, should have felt the fiery retaliation, since the cigarettes would have never been worth the empty pockets or the lungs. 

Chandler’s due to Phoebe is pretty surprising, to say the least. Especially since he was the one to clear Joey’s debt time and again.

Joey’s helping hands, Chandler Bing

Joey Tribbiani might have been the one from the reel gang’s celebrity circuit, but Chandler, his best buddy, often paid the bills. In the instance where the latter was moving in with Monica, Chandler had to teach Joey about the bills, including rent, electricity, and more. The One on the Last Night in the sixth season was all about this. Friends has been all about their historic paychecks, but within Friends, Chandler has been all about dissolving his salary.

In the episode, Chandler begins with the house rent which is due every first of the month and Joey responds, “That’s every month?”. A sure nightmare for every adulting individual and, more credibly, Joey’s. Hence, looking back at it, Chandler’s steadfastness to invent a fake game to help Joey pay strikes a surprising chord right now, especially since he owed Phoebe in a weird way himself. 

Did you know about Chandler’s debt to Phoebe? Let us know in the comments below!