Friends, "The One with the Black Out": It's never going to happen

A review/recap of the November 3, 1994 episode after I'm always the last to know.

After a few weak episodes, Friends comes back with this strong episode. This is somewhat of a bottle episode, an episode which uses few new or no - non-regular cast members, effects and sets as possible. But then again many Friends episodes can be considered bottle episodes.

What made this one work was that it was simple. Two storylines, one used strictly for laughs (Chandler being stuck in an ATM vestibule with Victoria's Secret model Jill Goodacre), and one to advance the overall story of the series (the rest of the group at Monica's, with Ross trying to tell Rachel about the feelings he has for her).

Of the two storylines, the Chandler one was probably better. It was funny and it wasn't trying to be anything more than what it was supposed to be. The apartment storyline had too many little things going on as well, such as: Phoebe always being the last to know things, Rachel and Phoebe going through the apartment building looking for the owner of the cat they find, and of course the introduction of Paolo (Cosimo Fusco), the good looking Italian man who speaks very little English who lives in their building. Paolo is the owner of the cat and after flirting with Rachel and Ross trying  to explain that he and Rachel are a "thing," he ends up kissing Rachel when the lights turn back on.

I understand that by introducing Paolo, it creates a roadblock between Ross and Rachel, but it seems like Ross was doing that on his own anyway. Joey even tells him that he is in the "friend zone" with her.

Other notes:

• How does the phone work in Monica's apartment if the power is out?
• Do ATM vestibule doors lock from the outside if the power goes out? Why couldn't Chandler and Jill Goodacre just open the door?
• Third mention of the Ugly Naked Guy

Funniest parts of the episode:

• Joey and Chandler understanding each others mumbling
• Chandler's inner monologues while he's stuck with Jill Goodacre
• Ross running around on the balcony with the cat on his back, while the Monica, Joey, and Phoebe are singing inside the apartment

Sign of the times: The cell phone that Jill Goodacre has, and the fact that Chandler doesn't have a cell phone.

Overall, definitely a better episode than the past few, but a couple problems continue to occur, namely that not every character is utilized. I know that it's not always possible with six main characters in a half hour show, but then they don't have to be in every episode. What was the point of Phoebe, and even Monica, in this episode? Phoebe is still just used for her strangeness and not always understanding things. I hope her character can grow into something more. And that Ross will be able to make it past Paolo for Rachel.