Friends cast<\/a>. Four seasons in, the core group were well-adjusted to the rhythm of an American studio sitcom, while their new recruit had a largely dramatic background \u2013 barring some comedic beats in the first run of Cold Feet.<\/p>\nTherefore, it\u2019s unsurprising that she wasn\u2019t quite as comfortable with the unnatural style of delivery that a show like Friends demands (if you don\u2019t know what I mean, check out any compilation of the show with its laugh track edited out). But to suggest that she wasn\u2019t funny at all is a gross overstatement.<\/p>
Prior to the events of the wedding \u2013 after which Emily was depicted (whether fairly or unfairly) in an overtly villainous light \u2013 she was a charming addition to the show. The character comes out swinging with a fiery tirade at Rachel, having been strip-searched, soaked to the bone and \u201crun down by one of your wiener cars\u201d during a calamitous trip to the Big Apple.<\/p>\n
She displays a similar ferocity when helping Ross identify the weaknesses of his rugby opponents, but a softer, more sympathetic side to the character also soon emerges. Her earnest joy at seeing \u201ca deer just outside eating fruit from the orchard\u201d and the giddiness with which she accepts an admittedly hasty proposal are indications of the true Emily.<\/p>\n
If she\u2019s comparatively lacking in comedic punch, I\u2019d argue that\u2019s less to do with Baxendale\u2019s performance and more so with the very design of the character. She was clearly intended to be a wholesome, sensible and cultured figure, and in that respect can be considered a much better match for Ross than Rachel ever was.<\/p>\n