The Real Reason Rachel And Joey's Relationship Failed On Friends

According to "Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show That Defined a TV Era" by Saul Austerlitz (via InStyle), the cast got upset at the idea of Rachel and Joey getting together and told show creator David Crane of their disapproval. According to Crane, they told him, "That's like having a crush on your sister" and "like playing with fire!" He revealed to Radio Times in 2019 that he knew the idea of having Joey and Rachel get together was wrong, but he decided to run with it. "That happens in life," he said. "There is the relationship that shouldn't be. Even though you love someone, that's not who you're going to be with."

It turns out the plan was always to have Joey and Rachel's relationship fail, and to have the latter end up with Ross like the viewer's always wanted. "Joey and Rachel, we always knew [it would end]," Crane admitted. "She was pregnant with Ross's baby. We always knew ... this was doomed, but in a hopefully really interesting, moving, and compelling way." The show creator was happy with the choice he and the writing team made regarding the coupling, saying it took Joey to a new emotional level that fans hadn't seen of him before.