When Rachel tells Ross she's still in love with him, then says to forget she ever said it. He says 'the thing is', and she jumps in and says 'the thing is, you're married to Emily', and he says 'that IS what the thing is', as if she had thought he was going to say something different. I never get it, what does it all really mean? Am I missing something?
I had the same thoughts when I first watched. It seemed like they had completely moved on. But she definitely buried it & he did as well. In the episode with Jill, she admits she doesn't like it when he goes out with anyone. And he admits that he still had hopes something might work out between them. But it doesn't show when you see at all other scenes. Something similar when she gives her number to some guy at the bar when she imitates how their conversation would go.
I wouldn’t say she completely moves on: - Kaitlin the delivery girl « we don’t need her measurements » - it’s her idea to get married in Vegas - she stole Monica’s thunder - she gets pregnant (edit: I mean she backpack through Europe) - she is about to make a move but he runs into Mona - they kiss after the delivery
And then it’s again non sense. The Bar guy. (I don’t get her imitation of Ross)… The kiss on the balcony.
I would agree that they botched the reunion. They dragged it on for so long to make it to the finale episodes. That there is a lot of non sense
She's afraid of what he's going to say; as far as she knows, he's going to say "The thing is, I don't feel that way about you anymore", so she rushes in and says "you're married to Emily" to stop him from saying something she probably doesn't want to hear.
The first time I watched it, I thought Ross was, in fact, going to say he didn't love her anymore, but took the "excuse" Rachel threw him, to spare her feelings.
But the more I rewatch it, the more I'm convinced he means it: "That IS what the thing is". That he'd be with Rachel if he didn't also have feelings for and were married to Emily. To me, it's all in his delivery. He's not dismissive, he says it as if he means it, as if to say, "make no mistake, the only reason why I'm not with you right now is bc I'm married". David Schwimmer is a very good actor, so his delivery is very intentional.
Yeah the way he stresses « that IS what the thing is » always puzzles me. What is the thing!!! Sometimes people need to spit it out lol.
I thought he was strictly saying, "Yea, because I'm married to and love someone else." In other words, he was directly telling her that when you're married, you're committed to that person. I never got the sense that he was saying, "I love you, but I can't be with you."
i’ve always took “that is what the thing is” to mean that if he wasn’t married to emily they’d get back together. he’s not saying he loves rachel but he also doesn’t so that he doesn’t love her.
Jennifer Aniston looks very beautiful in this scene. Wow.
I had the same first thought. Fuck the yellow dress. 🤣 This might be my favorite still of her.
It's because she/Rachel is so vulnerable and raw here - there's a lot at stake for her. She's not looking AT Ross, she's looking INTO him. Love Jennifer
We all love Jennifer. 😉👍
Things that could be said about 98% of scenes she's in
Facts.
Wow ok you're all so helpful, I totally see it now. I never read it as far as him suggesting that he's married to Emily, but if he weren't he would be with Rachel but that makes SO much more sense. I've watched every episode so many times and still peeling back all these layers. Bloody great show
I think it means, if he was not married, he would be able to reciprocate her love. He was about to say the same thing but was looking for maybe right words, which she gave him. However, much he loved her in some deep corners, he had suppressed it and was committed to Emily at the time.
I loved the maturity in that episodes. I think season 2 Rachel or even Ross (although he was way more mature when it comes to talk about their relationship), would never had this kind of talk. And Ross was right. It's never bad to say "I love you" to someone
He's just saying that she's right. That IS what the thing is.
IMO, he was going to say, I’m in love with you too and I never wanted to marry Emily but she cut him off and it left the viewers wondering what he would have said.
Love how you’re downvoted for sharing your OPINION. My god
Oh wow, I didn’t even know until you mentioned it. Whoever did it or is doing it, it’s some sort of rude and pulling a Monica
Her eyes are also acting 😍
He was not going to say anything different, IMO. She hit the nail on the head. The timing was off, so even though she was Rachel, and there may have been something unresolved there for him, he could not pursue it. She just saved him from having to say that out loud. He was married to Emily, and even though it may have felt good to hear that Rachel still loved him, he was not able to do anything other than feel flattered by her confession.
To be honest this scene is a turning point for Ross and Rachel. After this they played it out as if Rachel was over him, and she never really had the overt tension that she did earlier on when he was trying to pursue other women (other than her sister because that is just weird as heck). Given where the show ended one can interpret it as her burying her feelings and leaving it in the past, or we can look at it like the writers botched their reunion up.