Comparison between the TV version and the Extended Version


- 5 differences with 2 containing alternative material
- Difference: 14.9 sec


As with all seasons of the cult series, only the TV version of all episodes was released worldwide on Blu-ray and in October 2024 as a 4K premiere. This is not unusual for buyers of the German DVDs, but those who know the DVDs from America or Great Britain will miss the extended versions contained on them.

Episode 5x01 (The One After Ross Says Rachel) continued the nice cliffhanger that ended the 4th season finale, which was heavily revised in the extended version. This time, however, only a few nice one-liners were added in the extended version. On the other hand, there are a few new alternative moments that were probably added in HD because good HD quality was not available for these transitional establishing shots.

Note: The entry on The One With the Un-cut Friends Scripts highlights another oddity. This episode, as well as the season 4 two-parter, was released in Great Britain as “The One with the Whole London Wedding” on VHS. Only episode 5x01 features a few moments that were apparently only seen here; conversely, a few moments that were on the British/American extended DVDs are missing. We do not have the VHS, but we have included the quotes from the transcript at the appropriate places in the report for the sake of completeness.

At 00:40, there was a short additional dialog between the parents on the British VHS version before the vicar continues.
Mr. Geller: “He better go on for what I'm paying.”
Mr. Waltham: “After what he just said, you're paying for the whole bloody lot.

At 01:06, Mr. Waltham says (in response to the vicar's “till death parts us” line) on the UK VHS: “Looks like that might come any minute.”


A few shots were exchanged in the opening credits for this season as well - presumably starting with the Blu-ray release. This episode is yet another exception because, unlike the rest of the season, it features a few shots from the London trip that did not appear in the rest of the season.

TV version (Blu-ray)	Extended version (UK /US DVD)

Alternative
04:45-04:47

In an alternative take, Phoebe wonders: “(Hello?) What kind of bitch hangs up on a doctor!”

Extended 1.7 sec longer

TV version	Extended Version

06:41

When Joey enters with the steak in his hand, he says to Mrs. Geller: “You and me, next dance?”
Mrs. Geller: “Sorry dear. I only dance when I am drunk.”
Joey: “Want me to get you something?”
She shakes her head.

9 sec

The UK VHS was apparently significantly longer again and instead showed a brief scene between Rachel and Mrs. Waltham.
Mrs. Waltham: “Sweetheart, sweetheart...”
Rachel: “Yes?”
Mrs. Waltham: “You know, we're all wondering who this Rachel is. Can you point her out to me?”
Rachel: “Oh, you know what? Rachel... She just left."
Mrs. Waltham: "Oh.. Never mind. Who are you?"
Rachel: "Ra... Er... Barbra."
Mrs. Waltham: "Red Barbra?"
Rachel: "Yeah."

After Chandler discovers Rachel on the bed at 08:55 and she says that Ross said her name, there was another dialog on the British release.
Monica: “How did you get in here?”
Rachel: “If anybody asks, I'm your sister, Joan. Listen. C'mon, you guys. [...]”
Chandler to Monica: “Your sister Joan is crazy.”
Rachel: “Y'know what? Fine, I don't care.”
With her “Don't believe me,” the versions are synchronized again.


12:40-12:42

The typical black screen ad break in the middle of the episode: The extended version fades from the shot of the three of them in the room to an exterior shot at night. The same exterior shot is then shown during the day and is faded to the following scene, showing Ross asleep between or on top of Monica and Chandler.

Extended 2 sec longer

Alternatively,
14:43-14:45

An airplane shot was replaced - probably only since the HD release, because the stock footage could no longer be found.

No time difference

TV version (Blu-ray)	Extended Version (UK-/US-DVD)

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but when the scene changes at 16:18 (from the plane back to Phoebe with her big belly), the HD master zooms in on the skyline, while the extended version zooms out.

TV version (Blu-ray)	Extended version (US-/UK-DVD)

16:51

Phoebe says a bit more extensively: “(This pregnancy is throwing me all off) and making me fat.”

2 sec

Right before the end credits, there was another expansion in the UK VHS when Rachel orders two drinks for herself and her imaginary seatmate.
Stewardess: “Okay, good. Thank you. I'll be back shortly, all right?”
Rachel: “All right. Woo! [...] (Why are we moving?) They said they were gonna wait! Miss? Yeah, does the captain know that we're moving? Oh my... Ross, you better be under the wheels of this thing!”