From always being available to having zero drama, these TV and movie besties set some pretty unrealistic standards. Here are eight fictional friendships that made us rethink what friendship really looks like.
Fictional friendships can be fun to watch, but sometimes they set the bar way too high. From characters who are always there at a moment’s notice to besties who never seem to have a single fight, TV, and movie friendships can make our real-life relationships feel a little lacking. Sure, it’s nice to imagine a world where your friends are always free for brunch or ready to fight monsters with you, but reality doesn’t always work like that. Here are eight fictional friendships that gave us some seriously unrealistic expectations.
Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha in ‘Sex and the City’
Sex and the City had us thinking friendship was all about sipping cosmopolitans and strutting around in designer shoes. These four are always available, dropping everything for a brunch or a relationship crisis, making it seem like your friends will always be there at a moment’s notice. Realistically, coordinating schedules with friends while juggling a personal and professional life isn’t as simple. The show made us believe that friendships are effortless. But most of us are lucky to squeeze in a quick text conversation, let alone an impromptu brunch.
Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe in ‘Friends’
Friends gave us the idea that adulthood meant living across the hall from your best friends forever, like one big, never-ending sleepover. They pop in and out of each other’s apartments, share every meal, and are constantly together. The reality? Most of us are lucky to see our friends once a month, let alone every day. And living in prime Manhattan real estate with those jobs? Let’s just say Friends forgot to mention the brutal reality of New York rent prices!
Leslie and Ann in ‘Parks and Recreation’
Leslie and Ann’s friendship is like an endless stream of compliments and support — positivity overload! They’re constantly building each other up and are each other’s biggest cheerleaders 24/7. While it’s sweet to watch, real friendships aren’t always so picture-perfect. There are ups and downs, occasional disagreements, and sometimes you need to vent about your bestie. Parks and Rec skipped over the fact that true friendship includes messiness and moments when you might not always get along.
Troy and Abed in ‘Community’
Troy and Abed’s quirky friendship had us all dreaming of finding someone who’s perfectly in sync with our weirdest thoughts. They finish each other’s sentences, share obscure references, and are always up for wacky adventures. However, in the real world, even your closest friends aren’t always mind readers. Community set up the unrealistic expectation that you’d find a best friend who’s always on the same page. But it’s perfectly normal for jokes to fall flat or references to go over your friend’s head.
Lorelai and Rory in ‘Gilmore Girls’
Lorelai and Rory’s mother-daughter relationship is so close it feels more like a friendship than parenthood. From movie nights and junk food binges to sharing secrets, they made it seem like moms and daughters could always be besties. But being a parent in real life often requires setting boundaries, and not all mother-daughter relationships involve witty banter and endless bonding. Gilmore Girls blurred the lines between parenthood and friendship, making it seem like the two could always be the same thing — spoiler alert: they’re not!
Buffy and Willow in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’
Buffy and Willow’s ride-or-die friendship had us believing that true friends will stick by you no matter what—even if “what” involves fighting vampires or facing apocalypses. While their loyalty is heartwarming, the reality is most of us aren’t dealing with life-and-death situations on a daily basis. Buffy the Vampire Slayer set the friendship bar high, making it seem like your besties should always have your back, no questions asked. But real world friends sometimes need boundaries and space, and that’s perfectly okay.
Blair and Serena in ‘Gossip Girl’
Blair and Serena’s friendship is as dramatic as it gets—one minute they’re best friends, and the next they’re frenemies, scheming and backstabbing their way through the Upper East Side. Gossip Girl made it seem like true friendship could survive anything, no matter how toxic or hurtful. In reality, some things are unforgivable, and that’s okay. The show skipped the part where healthy friendships need boundaries, and sometimes it’s better to walk away than to keep forgiving the unforgivable.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione in ‘Harry Potter’
Harry, Ron, and Hermione made us all wish for a magical trio of friends who would stick by our side through anything — dark wizards, trolls, and all. They’re always there for each other, ready to face danger together without hesitation. But in the non-magical world, friendship usually doesn’t involve life-or-death situations, and friends need to set boundaries when things get tough. Harry Potter made us think true friends will always have our backs no matter what, but real-life friendships often need space and understanding, especially when things get overwhelming.
