Mr. Heckles dies, leaving everything he owned to Monica and Rachel. Chandler worries he will turn out like Mr. Heckles because he discovers some similarities with him, such as extreme pickiness when it comes to women.
Tropes
- Cassandra Truth:
- While she did hate the seashell lamp, Monica breaking it was an accident.
- It turns out noises from Monica and Rachel's appartment really are very loud from Heckles place.
- Ceiling Banger: Mr. Heckles bangs from beneath Monica's apartment. Rachel responds by banging on the floor until he stops. Later, they discover that he only stopped because he died. When they go to his apartment, Chandler notices that the acoustics amplify the sounds coming from upstairs and starts banging on the ceiling like Heckles.
- Crazy Cat Lady: Chandler briefly worries that his inability to commit means he'll end up becoming a "Crazy Snake Man" who lives alone and scares away the local children.
- Delayed "Oh, Crap!": After noting the various similarities with Mr. Heckles, Chandler ends up resorting to being a Ceiling Banger. Seeing Joey and Phoebe stare at him in surprise is what leads to this reaction.
- Friendship Moment:
- Joey and later the girls when assuring Chandler that he's not going to end up alone.
- Monica giving Rachel the girly clock as a replacement for the seashell lamp she broke and asserts the apartment belongs to both of them.
- The Gadfly: It's not clear if Phoebe was just messing with Ross the whole time, but she clearly is when badgering him over being so "unbelievably arrogant" that he won't concede the remote possibility of being wrong. When Ross sheepishly tries to save face by admitting he could be wrong, Phoebe feigns shock and suggests he so completely abandoned his belief system that he couldn't possibly face his colleagues ever again. A frustrated Ross leaves without saying a word.Phoebe: That was fun.
- Gilligan Cut: After Mr. Heckles stops banging on their floor, the gang thinks they've won and celebrate. Cut to Mr. Heckle's body being carted away, as they look on guilt-ridden.
- Gravity Is Only a Theory: During their argument about evolution Phoebe suggests she doesn't believe in gravity either. It's never made clear whether she's serious or just messing with Ross.Phoebe: I don't know, lately I get the feeling that I'm not so much being pulled down as I am being pushed.
(knock at the door)
Chandler: Uh-oh, it's Isaac Newton and he's pissed! - Hates Being Alone: Chandler's overriding fear. He's certain all of his True Companions will eventually get married, thus leaving him to fend for himself.
- Hypocrisy Nod: Chandler bemoans how he will reject a woman for trivial reasons and then complain about being alone. He feels this hypocrisy proves he's too damaged to find anyone now and destined to end up alone.
- Inheritance Backlash: Heckles leaves everything to "the two noisy girls above" in his will. Monica is happy about it, but changes her tune when she sees all of Heckles' tacky possessions. Downplayed as, by the end, everyone does manage to find something they'd like to keep.
- I Was Quite a Looker: Phoebe comments that Heckles was "kind of cute" in high school when they go through his yearbook.
- Jerkass Has a Point: It turns out that the stomping and noise from above is really annoying and loud when you are in Mr. Heckles' appartment.
- Killed Off for Real: Mr. Heckles, as the title suggests.
- Loners Are Freaks: Certain he's going to end up like Mr. Heckles, Chandler says he has to get a snake. When questioned about that, Chandler says all crazy loners have a distinctive hook.Chandler: So, I figure I'll be crazy man with a snake. Y'know, crazy snake man. And I'll get more snakes. Call them my babies. Kids will walk past my place—they will run! "RUN AWAY FROM CRAZY SNAKE MAN!" they'll shout!
- Long Last Look: Chandler contemplates Heckles' empty apartment before leaving.Chandler: Goodbye, Mr. Heckles. We'll try to keep it down.
- Minor Flaw, Major Breakup: As he starts to worry about ending up like Mr. Heckles, Chandler finds a box of old photos that the guy rejected for assorted reasons (such as "too tall" and "too smart"). Chandler laments how he's done this very thing and how it could've cost him a long-term relationship and resulted in him ending up alone. He resolves to try to move past this and goes on a date with a woman he previously claimed had a big head, although his thoughts demonstrate it still really bothers him.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Chandler goes through Mr. Heckles' yearbook and notices that he used to be just like him. He then worries that he'll end up a bitter, crazy old man like Heckles.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Chandler upon learning that Janice (the ex that he figured was his last chance) is married and pregnant.
- Monica after accidentally knocking over the seashell lamp.
- Roommate Drama: Rachel and Monica have a bit of this over the seashell lamp. Monica feels it clashes badly with the other apartment items, prompting Rachel to accuse her of thinking it as her apartment alone instead of both of theirs. Then Monica accidentally knocks it over, causing further drama.
- Shadow Archetype: Mr. Heckles was a well-liked guy dubbed hilarious by his peers, had a fair number of hobbies, and no shortage of dating opportunities. He ended up bitter and alone, due in large part to Minor Flaw, Major Breakup. Chandler is horrified to see so much of himself in Mr. Heckles and fears he will end up the exact same way, though he is ultimately convinced that he can instead learn from this and make a better life for himself.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Invoked when the gang try to assure Chandler that he's better than Heckles because his decision to call Janice shows that he genuinely wants to be with someone.
