Monica Geller Rachel's because it remained "healthy and strong until the series ended", while the other couple was relentlessly on-and-off. "Encyclopedia of Television" author Horace Newcomb believes that Monica's feelings for Chandler are responsible for curing the latter's fear of commitment. Similarly, "Slate" writer Ruth Graham observed that "Chandler is painted as a self-loathing loser with women, until he finally snags Monica at the end of Season 4." Meanwhile, Silveri believes that "Friends" ultimately ran as long as it did due in part to Monica and Chandler's romance, explaining, "if the center of "Friends" had remained Ross and Rachel, you would've seen
The Last One (Friends) the fourth most watched overall television series finale in U.S. history as well as the most watched episode from any television series throughout the decade 2000s on U.S. television. In Canada, the finale aired simultaneously on May 6, 2004, on Global, and was viewed by 5.16 million viewers, becoming the highest viewed episode of the series, and also becoming the most viewed and highest-rated episode ever in Canada for a sitcom. The series finale closes several long-running storylines. Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) confesses his love for Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), and they decide to resume their relationship; and Monica Geller