Friends: 5 People Joey Could Have Settled Down With (& He Was Right To Swerve)

By the time the credits rolled on the final episode of Friends back in 2004, the core gang had all found that special someone. Chandler and Monica were happily married, Ross and Rachel put years of uncertainty behind them in order to finally hook up while Phoebe settled down with the loveable Mike, played by Paul Rudd.

One character who didn’t end up with anybody was Joey Tribbiani which, when you consider his reputation as a lothario, isn’t a surprise. We now take a look at five people he could have settled down with, as well as five he was right to avoid.

10 Settle: Rachel

Sure, Rachel and Ross are a loveable couple. But, while opposites can indeed attract, it would have perhaps made more sense from a narrative perspective if Jennifer Aniston’s character was to settle down with Joey instead.

They’re both similar in so many ways and even have a brief fling early in season 10 before nipping it in the bud. They just couldn’t put their friendship to one side and, while she gets her happy ending with Ross, it would have been curious to see what she’d have been like with Ross’ friend instead over a longer period of time.

9 Right To Swerve: Ursula Buffay

Phoebe is slightly odd and eccentric, but certainly not nasty. The same can’t be said for her twin sister Ursula, however, who differs to her sibling to such an extent where you wouldn’t have guessed they grew up together.

Ursula has a brief romance with Joey but she leaves him heartbroken. She’s a rude, self-centered piece of work and it’s for the best that their relationship didn’t work out. Had they been together longer it would have likely subjected Joey to more pain – which the guy doesn’t deserve whatsoever.

8 Settle: Cecilia Monroe

After being brought back to the popular soap show Days of Our Lives, Joey finds himself working with Cecilia Monroe. His character, Dr Drake Ramoray, would be inheriting Cecilia’s own character’s brain and he wanted to learn from her in order to really nail the role.

Joey ends up falling for her, though, despite a turbulent start. They appear genuinely besotted with each other but, sadly, things weren’t to be. Cecilia ends up moving away after getting the axe from the soap and Joey knows that, because of this, it’s best to bring things to an end.

7 Swerve: Erika Ford

While we’re on the subject of Days of our Lives, it’s time to give a special mention to Erika Ford. Erika is a huge fan of the soap and believes that Joey is actually Drake. Not as a job, but the actual person.

She throws a drink over Tribbiani when she sees Drake kissing another girl on the soap. We’re not saying you should give up on people for acting a bit crazy from time to time but Erika’s craziness was off the scale. Joey is only able to end things with her with some help from his friends, who manage to persuade her to look for love elsewhere.

6 Settle: Kate Millar

Relatively early into the series, Joey ends up working on what looks like the worst stage show ever. But it’s not all bad, with the young actor meeting Kate Millar.

It’s rare for Joey to catch feelings so quickly but he does with her, falling in love instantly. They would have no doubt dated for longer had it not been for the fact that Kate had to up and leave the city in order to secure another role elsewhere. She’s another case of what might have been…

5 Swerve: Katie

Obviously, domestic abuse isn’t funny. But that didn’t stop Friends from pairing Joey up with a girl who seems to punch him rather hard alot of the time, even if she means it in a playful way.

You can’t stay with somebody who hurts you so frequently and, when Joey finally confronts her about it, she only sees the funny side. Rachel is actually responsible for their break-up, clashing with Katie and giving her friend a problem. Joey decides to side with her rather than his girlfriend and the duo go their separate ways.

4 Settle: Erin

Joey loves a one night stand from time to time and that’s all he intends for Erin, a girl he meets in season five. However, after some persuasion from Rachel and Phoebe, Matt LeBlanc’s character decides to try and date her, rather than sleep with her, instead.

They seem a match made in heaven. She’s a Mets fan, drinks beer at lunch, and likes sandwiches – just like Joey. But it’s actually her who ends things because she doesn’t want commitment. Opposites attract but those who are two similar, based on this relationship, don’t for the long term.

3 Swerve: Kathy

Chandler is extremely annoyed when Joey starts dating Kathy, a girl the former believes would be perfect for himself. And when she cheats on Joey with Chandler, the actor decides to end their relationship and let his friend go out with her instead.

This was the right decision. While Kathy’s nice monogamy isn’t for her and she ends up cheating on Chandler as well. It would be wrong to go out with somebody who clearly has promiscuous feelings and it’s good that neither of the men stayed with her for too long.

2 Settle: Janine Lecroix

Janine Lecroix moves into Joey’s apartment in season six shortly after Chandler leaves to live with Monica. Joey finds her irrestiable, though, and the duo end up embarking on a brief romantic relationship.

She’s good for him, too. They’re both attractive people, share similar interests and she’s able to educate him on some of the smaller things in life. Unfortunately things weren’t meant to be with the pair splitting up after Janine made it quite clear how much she despises hanging out with Chandler and Monica.

1 Swerve: Charlie Wheeler

Charlie Wheeler is a brainiac and Joey, though his heart’s in the right place and he means well, just isn’t. And, for this reason alone, it was probably a good thing they didn’t date for too long.

After their split, Charlie ends up dating Ross. And she further justifies her inclusion on this list by ending things in a rather abrupt and spiteful manner, kissing her ex-boyfriend Benjamin right in front of him. Not cool Charlie, not cool…