25 Netflix shows to watch if you miss Friends

Netflix shows like Friends: Happy Endings

Seasons: 3

Created By: David Caspe

Starring: Eliza Coupe, Elisha Cuthbert, Zachary Knighton, Adam Pally, Damon Wayans Jr., Casey Wilson

In the absence of Friends, networks scrambled to get on top with the next great relationship comedy. Many have tried, and many have failed. (A quick Google reveals a long trail of Friends zombies that lasted for a mere season or two.) But many have tried and succeeded with comedies that borrow the Friends concept but make it totally their own. How I Met Your Mother, New Girl (our next Netflix pick) and the criminally underrated Happy Endings.

If Friends had begun in the aftermath of Ross and Rachel’s bitter breakup and navigated the reassembling of a friend group, you’d have Happy Endings. When Alex (Elisha Cuthbert) leaves Dave (Zachary Knighton) at the altar, her decision leaves their close-knit friends reeling. Jane (Eliza Coupe), Brad (Damon Wayans Jr.), Max (Adam Pally) and Penny (Casey Wilson) wonder how they’ll manage their post-split breakups, but the gang still goes strong.

Happy Endings was sadly canceled by ABC three seasons into an unbeatable run, thanks to bad scheduling leading to lackluster ratings. But the quality of the series was never in question. In fact, the comedy was probably a little too specific for the Modern Family audience. Now that the cult favorite romantic comedy is finally coming to Netflix in June 2021, it’s time for new fans to discover the relentlessly funny series and get us the revival we have wanted since it ended.