Kacie Lillejord
Mary & Rhoda (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)
Sometimes opposites really do attract, and it doesn’t just apply to romantic relationships. Mary and Rhoda are a good example of this; Rhoda’s far more aggressive and intimidating than the sweet and polite Mary, but still, they maintained a good friendship.
What’s so interesting about their friendship, to me, is the fact that friendship didn’t strike them immediately. In fact, Rhoda considered Mary an enemy at first because Mary had gotten the apartment Rhoda wanted. Despite a rocky start, they still became best friends. It just goes to show that you never know who your best friends will be—and for Mary, who was starting a new life at the time, she definitely needed someone like Rhoda on her side. It’s a good thing that friendship worked out for them after all.
Plus, the fact that they were total opposites is also beneficial. When your best friend has different interests and a background from you, it offers up the opportunity to learn more about the world and go beyond your comfort zone, especially when your bestie is at your side. Mary and Rhoda definitely had several adventures together.
Lucy & Ethel (I Love Lucy)
Lucy and Ethel are definitely among my memorable characters list, their friendship included. Speaking of which, their friendship produced some of the funniest episodes in TV history—like the time Lucy and Ethel went to work at a chocolate factory together, and found that working the assembly line wasn’t what they thought it would be. In fact, they consumed more chocolate than they wrapped, much to the audience’s amusement.
Lucy was always up to one scheme or another, and audiences could bet on the fact that she’d recruit Ethel for help. Ethel was her perfect bestie—she was always up to whatever Lucy had in mind. They had several adventures—usually misadventures—but came out with funny stories to tell. They kept their lives interesting, and were a very comedic pair. I love Lucy’s and Ricky’s dynamic, but Lucy and Ethel’s dynamic was probably my favorite on the show.
Will & Grace (Will & Grace)
Will and Grace dated back in college—that is, until Will told Grace he was gay. It broke her heart, and it broke them up for a bit—until they reunited, that is.
It’s a unique kind of friendship. Grace is neurotic and creative, Will is more practical and down-to-Earth. They come from different backgrounds, and they have a complex history. Still, they couldn’t get along better. They accept each other, faults and all. Although, sometimes insecurities or disagreements will rise. Like the time Grace went overboard, going through Will’s things to find out what secret he was keeping from her, and it ended up being that he was meeting with Karen, who was considering a divorce from Stan. Grace confessed that it was because she was afraid he was going to tell her he was gay all over again—in other words, she was afraid he was hiding something that would once more change her life in a huge way.
They get each other like no one else; Will and Grace are family, for better or for worse. It’s the kind of bond that cannot be broken, and the kind of bond anyone wants to have with their best friend. They’re both trying to navigate life, find success in their careers and true love. At the end of the day, they have each other to fall back on, and that’s more than enough.
Joey & Chandler (Friends)
These two are more than just roommates; they’re best friends—brothers, even. Chandler has always been the biggest supporter of Joey’s acting career, even though it took Joey a while to get his “big break.” Joey, for his part, always supports Chandler and tells him the truth, even if it’s hard for him—as was the case when he had to tell Chandler that he’d seen Janice kissing her ex-husband, when she was with Chandler.
A friendship that strong is bound to have its hiccups (like the time Chandler had to do some thinking in a box), but it just goes to show that nothing, not even a woman they both cared for, can break up their friendship. Chandler even ensures there’s a room for Joey at his and Monica’s house—Joey will always have a place in Chandler’s life, and vice versa. They’re there for all the serious stuff, but they always find ways to have fun, too. My personal favorite is when they took a break from packing and Chandler and Joey were having fun with bubble wrap. They keep one another’s inner child alive for sure, but it’s boring to be an adult all the time, so it’s totally understandable.
