Janice was the most iconic of the recurring characters on ‘Friends.’ She often got her comeuppance at the hands of the gang, who treated her as more of a nuisance than a friend. But did she deserve that from them?
Sure, her mannerisms could be overwhelming, but many of the gang’s animus toward her seemed disproportionate. Janice’s personality was not suited for everyone, but she was the most unfairly treated ‘Friends‘ character.
Janice Wasn’t A Bad Person On ‘Friends’
In spite of how the group treated her, Janice never had a mean-spirited or cruel attitude. She was really one of the nicest people on the show. She was affectionate, energetic, and always made an effort to be nice to everyone. She really cared about Chandler, even though he continually broke her heart brutally—either by pretending to move to Yemen or standing her up altogether.
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Even when Janice wasn’t dating Chandler anymore, she remained nice. In Season 8, after running into Rachel at the hospital, she does her best to support her when she is pregnant. Far from being insensitive and selfish, Janice attempted to assist and be involved in Rachel’s experience.
The Gang’s Treatment Of Janice Was Unfair
The number one reason that everyone hated Janice was for her voice and quirky personality, which seemed like a superficial judgment and not a real reason to hate a person. Other annoying characters (cough Ross later on cough) weren’t selfish or poisonous—Janice was just boisterous and overexcitable, which is not a reason to ostracize someone so harshly.
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Most of the time, the gang played a joke on her instead of treating her like a human being. They were always trying to get rid of her, were appalled when she arrived, and even teased her behind her back. The worst example is when Chandler misled her into believing that he was leaving the country just so that he did not have to break up with her properly.
Why Did ‘Friends’ Treat Janice This Way?
One reason that Janice endured such cavalier treatment during the show was often due to the template of sitcoms. All comedies have a “foil” character; that is a person who disrupts the core group and brings tension or humor to the situation. Janice was that foil character, and in being so, she was often ridiculed. Her magnified traits were meant to distinguish her from the six friends in order to present her as an outsider to their unit.
Additionally, Chandler’s treatment of Janice was based on his immaturity and commitment issues, where he was always looking for a way to push people away, and Janice happened to be an easy target. The audience is made to laugh with him when he is, in actuality, behaving cruelly.
Of course, we are glad Chandler fell in love with Monica. But that doesn’t negate the fact that his past girlfriends had the worst experiences.
Janice’s Legacy In Pop Culture
Even with her treatment on the series, Janice stands out as one of the most memorable side characters in Friends. Her catchphrase, laugh, and big personality have become pop culture imagery, with other series and social media making references to her almost constantly. Janice is much more than a cheap comic relief.
Thanks to Maggie Wheeler’s portrayal, Janice is a scene-stealer, and is memorable at that. The gang probably didn’t particularly enjoy her, but the fans certainly did, and this further solidifies that the most unlikely of characters can make the most memorable imprint.
