Surround Sound

By Emily Pearce

At the tail end of 2025, Netflix made the unfortunate decision to remove the beloved ‘90s sitcom Friends from streaming due to licensing agreements. As avid fans of the series, my sister and I were initially devastated, but we quickly found some fantastic alternatives to fill the void. If you’re missing Joey and Chandler’s shenanigans, Ross and Rachel’s on-off love story, and the show’s cosy NYC vibes, here are six recommendations you can watch to patch up the Friends-shaped hole in your heart. 

How I Met Your Mother(2005-2014)

How I Met Your Mother follows a tight-knit group of adults as they navigate life, love and careers in NYC…sounds familiar, right? Due to the blatant similarities between the shows, HIMYM has forever been compared to Friends, often in a rather unfavourable way. But, contrary to popular opinion, I’ve long argued that HIMYM is actually better in many ways. Its unique premise – the subjective, unreliable narration of Ted Mosby as he recounts the story of how he met the mother of his kids – already sets it apart from the more standard formula of Friends. On top of that, the writing is much tighter (I can never look past Friends’ insane plot holes!) and the relationships between the characters feel super raw and realistic. The ongoing mystery of the eponymous mother’s identity adds an extra layer of intrigue to the show that Friends doesn’t have, and running jokes like ‘the slap bet’ and ‘Robin Sparkles’ are a lot of fun to see recur as a viewer. 

Two Broke Girls (2011-2017)

Starring Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs, Two Broke Girls is a sitcom centered around a dysfunctional duo of best friends residing in the ‘Big Apple’. Caroline grew up rich, similarly to Rachel from Friends, but ended up broke and alone in NYC after a scandal at her father’s company. Desperate to make ends meet, she takes a job in a diner where she meets Max. The two women immediately bond and craft an ambitious plan to open their own cupcake shop, all while balancing their friendship, messy relationships and dubious business ventures. It may not be as beloved as Friends, but Two Broke Girls perfectly captures the ups and downs of being in a 20-something with no idea what you’re doing in life.

That ‘90s Show (2023-2024)

If you’re a fan of That ‘70s Show (1998-2006) and want your fix of Friends’ charming ‘90s atmosphere, why not give That ‘90s Show a try? As a spinoff to a beloved (yet also rather controversial) sitcom, it’s not hard to see why this show remains so criminally underrated. It follows a group of teens in Point Place, Wisconsin, one of which is Leia Forman (the daughter of Eric and Donna from That ‘70s Show). I admittedly went in with low expectations, unsure how well the humour would land or how much I would like these new characters. To my surprise, I found myself hooked and binged the whole series within a couple of days. It’s a little cringe-worthy in places and it’ll obviously never live up to its iconic predecessor, but it’s a lot of fun if you’re looking for something lighthearted and silly. 

Sex And The City (1998-2004)

If you’re a fan of Rachel and Ross’s up-and-down romance, or Monica and Chandler’s adorable love story, perhaps Sex And The City would be up your alley. It centres around an eclectic group of friends – the chaotic Carrie Bradshaw, the cynical and witty Miranda Hobbes, the sweet and conservative Charlotte York and the confident Samantha Jones – who live in NYC. Based on a real newspaper column by Candace Bushnell, each episode follows the weird and wonderful romantic escapades of these women. They often learn important lessons about self-love and friendship in the process, making for some highly quotable mantras that many fans have applied to their own lives. Carrie’s on-off situationship with ‘Mr Big’ is equally as toxic/romantic (you decide!) as Ross and Rachel’s story arc, so if you’re craving a replacement for their messiness, make sure you give Sex And The City a go. 

Living Single (1993-1998)

Often cited as the inspiration for Friends, Living Single similarly follows a group of six friends – Khadijah, Synclaire, Regine, Max, Kyle and Obie – grappling with adulthood in Brooklyn, NYC. Since it came out around the same time as Friends, which quickly became a cultural phenomenon, it is much less appreciated than it should be; the show’s creator Yvette Lee Bowser was reportedly saddened that Warner Bros did not promote her series to success in the same way. Despite being underrated in the grand scheme of television sitcoms, its cultural influence is undeniable. Living Single’s quick-witted humour and push for relatability can be seen mirrored massively in Friends. Additionally, Yvette Bowser is credited as the first African American woman to develop her own primetime series and Living Single has since been credited as a trailblazing show for comedies that feature predominantly Black casts. 

New Girl (2011-2018)

New Girl follows Jess Day, a sweet and eccentric schoolteacher, who discovers her boyfriend cheating on her and immediately looks for somewhere else to live. A Craigslist ad leads her to the loft apartment of three men – Nick, Winston and Schimdt – and her life is completely turned upside down. The gang are also joined by Cece, Jess’s street-smart and sarcastic model friend, and Coach, the former roommate of the guys. Jess swiftly adjusts to her new Los Angeles city lifestyle and forges unlikely connections with her new roommates. Just like Friends, each episode deals with relatable and down-to-earth scenarios, with a comedic twist of course. Bursting at the seams with nostalgic 2010s references and music, New Girl feels like an old Buzzfeed video that somehow became a full-length sitcom (in the best possible way!).