The One with the Sonogram at the End

"The One with the Sonogram at the End" is the second episode of the NBC television series Friends. It is the second episode of the show's first season and was broadcast on September 29, 1994.

Plot

Carol, Ross' ex-wife, visits Ross at the Museum where he works to tell him that she is pregnant. Meanwhile, Monica is frantically cleaning the apartment as her parents are coming over for dinner and she is worried they will be critical about the cleanliness of her home. Rachel is looking around the apartment for her misplaced engagement ring, given to her by her ex-fiancé Barry. No one has seen it leaving Rachel panicking since she is meeting Barry the next day to give him back the ring. Rachel remembers she had it on earlier that morning when she was in the kitchen making lasagna. This leads her to realise the ring is in the lasagne. Monica is upset, as this was the one job she gave to Rachel and now the dinner for her parents is ruined.

Ross arrives and tells everyone Carol is pregnant, while Phoebe finds the engagement ring in the lasagne. Ross tells his friends that Carol and Susan (Carol’s ‘lesbian life partner’) want him to be involved, but only if he is comfortable with it. Ross informs the group that Carol and Susan have invited him to go to their first sonogram appointment the next day. He is still processing the fact that he has become a father, and doesn't know where he fits in with two lesbian mothers.

Later that night Monica and Ross are having dinner with their parents Jack and Judy. Judy is critical of Monica and makes snide remarks throughout dinner leading to Monica begging Ross to reveal that he has broken up with Carol. After further pressure from Monica, he eventually reveals that he and Carol have broken up and that she is pregnant with his child. Rather than responding to Ross, Judy accuses Monica of not telling them.

Later, in Central Perk, everyone has left except for Rachel and Ross. They talk about their upcoming visits with Barry and Carol.

While Ross goes to the clinic to see Carol, Rachel goes to Barry. Ross is hesitant to be at the sonogram and asks how ‘this will work’. Susan sarcastically begins to explain how a woman becomes pregnant. Ross interrupts to ask about naming the child. Carol and Susan give first names that Ross says will sound silly with his surname Geller. Carol and Susan break it to Ross that his surname will not be used as they intend to use their names Willick-Bunch. Ross realizes he is not ready to be involved and turns to leave as the doctor finds the baby’s heartbeat. He stays and decides to become involved.

At Barry's dental practice, Rachel returns her ring and apologises to Barry about running out of their wedding. She feels bad because he went on their honeymoon alone. Barry reveals that he went on their honeymoon with Mindy, Rachel's best friend and maid of honour, who he had been seeing behind her back.

The final scene is at Monica & Rachel's apartment. Ross has brought over a video of the sonogram and the group are watching it on tv. Rachel is on the phone, talking to Mindy. She ends the conversation by telling Mindy that if everything works out and the two get married, she hopes their kids will have Barry's receding hair and Mindy's old nose. Rachel hangs up and tells the group that she knows it's a cheap shot, but she feels so much better for saying it.

Reception

In the original broadcast, the episode was viewed by 20.2 million viewers and achieved the rating of 14.0. The reviews for the episode were mixed. The A.V. Club noted in its review that the episode "seems a far more run-of-the-mill sitcom episode—definitely formulaic, and in places sadly derivative."^[1][2] LeakyNews review said, "The One With the Sonogram at the End serves mostly to move plot along and give us some character backstory.".^[3]

References

External links

• "The One with the Sonogram at the End" on IMDb
• "The One with the Sonogram at the End" at TV.com