The gang go to Massapequa for Monica and Ross' parents' 35th anniversary, where Monica tries to wow the crowd with her speech, Ross and Rachel have to pretend to be married, and everyone finds Phoebe's date Parker (Alec Baldwin) a little annoying.
Tropes:
- Armor-Piercing Response: Monica is displeased to learn her parents paid for family dog Chi-Chi's knee surgery rather than pay for her braces. Ross shuts down her protests by saying that she tried to ride Chi-Chi like a horse and thus was the reason why the poor animal needed knee surgery in the first place.
- Continuity Nod: Ross' scenario for how he "proposed" to Rachel involved taking her back to the planetarium where they first had sex (he says it was their first date, but it makes sense he'd fudge that for a crowd of strangers).
- Enormous Engagement Ring: Referenced after Ross tells the partygoers how he "proposed" to Rachel when she adds her own detail to the story.Rachel: And the ring was the size of my fist!
- Escalating Punchline: Phoebe describing Parker as "Santa Claus... on Prozac... In Disneyland... Getting laid!"
- Friendship Moment: Joey apologizes to Phoebe for how the group was insulting Parker behind his back and says they were out of line.
- Hypocritical Humor: Rachel chastises Ross wanting to claim he rode into their supposed wedding on a motorcycle, saying it's just not realistic. In the last scene, Ross counters by saying she got to the point of claiming a dove literally placed the ring on her finger.
- Informed Flaw: Played for Laughs. Phoebe mentions Mona as an example of the rest of the group's poor dating history. Ross then wonders aloud what was wrong with Mona. The rest are just as confused as he is.
- Insult Backfire: As a result of Ross trying to scold Rachel for her elaborate wedding claims.Ross: Um, what are you doing?
Rachel: What? I'm not you. This may be the only wedding I ever have. - Maintain the Lie: The Gellers have told everyone that Ross and Rachel are married, forcing the pair to play along. Rachel has fun making up an elaborate wedding involving Stevie Wonder singing at the ceremony and a dove placing the ring on her finger, but Rachel is genuinely affected when Ross describes his proposal, which he later reveals was what he was actually planning to do when they were dating.
- No Sense of Personal Space: In addition to his cheeriness, Parker is overly touchy with the gang. He punches Chandler on the arm too hard and greets Rachel by patting her pregnant stomach without asking which she's clearly weirded out by.
- Ship Tease: In order to Maintain the Lie that he and Rachel are married, Ross describes a rather romantic proposal that leaves Rachel feeling genuinely touched. He later says it was something he had actually been considering back when they were dating, and she admits she probably would've accepted something so moving.
- Shoddy Shindig: The Geller's party isn't completely terrible but it's still pretty boring, which just makes Parker's enthusiasm even more obnoxious.Phoebe: ... this is the Geller’s 35th anniversary. Okay? Let’s call a spade a spade! This party stinks!
- The Pollyanna: Parker, who is absolutely enthusiastic about everything, which eventually gets on Phoebe's nerves. Even when they break up, he asks her if that wasn't "the greatest fight you've ever had?"
- The Unfavorite: Once again, Monica falls under this in Ross's favor.
- In this episode, Monica gives a toast for their parents' anniversary, expecting them to cry. Nobody does. To her annoyance, everyone cries at Ross's toast (as usual).
- There is another one at the beginning of the episode. Monica finds out that their dog Chi-Chi received knee surgery at the expense of her getting braces. However, Ross says it was justified as Monica, who was Little Miss Chubby, rode on Chi-Chi's back.
- What the Hell, Hero?: After catching the group making fun of Parker due to his over-abundant enthusiasm, Phoebe chews them out, saying the people the group have individually dated were much worse, citing Tag, Janice and Mona as examples (although Ross questions what was wrong with Mona and none of the rest of the group can offer an explanation).
