Rachel buys an apothecary table from Pottery Barn despite the fact that Phoebe hates anything mass-produced. When Ross buys the same one, Rachel must keep Phoebe from finding out where she bought it. Joey and Janine date, but have problems when it turns out Janine can't stand Chandler and Monica.
Tropes:
- Bad Liar: Joey tries to keep the Playing Sick claim alive by saying going to a play is good treatment for a cold.
- Big "WHAT?!": Monica in response to Joey admitting Janine thinks she's too loud.
- Bros Before Hoes: Joey ends up dumping Janine due to her badmouthing her friends Monica and Chandler.
- Cat Fight: Monica challenges Janine to "take this outside" but Chandler and Joey stop them. When they start fighting a second time the guys give up and agree to just follow and watch.
- Compressed Vice: Monica's No Indoor Voice. Previous and later episodes offer plenty of Suddenly Shouting examples from her, but not that.
- Derailing Love Interests: Janine, a previously relatively Nice Girl starts to dislike Monica and Chandler, which leads Joey to break up with her.
- Did I Just Say That Out Loud?: Chandler lets it slip that he gets out of functions by claiming Monica is drunk again. He then remembers that Monica is standing right next to him.
- Double Date: Joey, Janine, Monica and Chandler go out on double dates, through which Janine decides she doesn't like the latter two.
- Hypocritical Humor: Rachel says that Phoebe dislikes Pottery Barn because she prefers one of a kind items. Ross makes light of this by pointing out Phoebe's a twin.
- I Resemble That Remark!: Janine's main complaint about Monica is how loud she is. When Monica is informed of this, she yells "WHAT?!" She then realizes it and whispers "...what?"
- Implausible Deniability: Joey claimed Janine was sick, only for her to tell Chandler and Monica that she has to go to a play featuring a friend of hers. Joey is forced to explain the truth, only to fall back on this in the face of their complaining.Joey: Plus, she's really sick.
Chandler: No, you said you made that up! - No Indoor Voice: Monica's one episode flaw.
- Not Helping Your Case: Monica objects to being called loud with a Big "WHAT?!", only to realize how that comes off and offering a quieter take on the word. She later angrily tells Chandler that she does not like Janine, which Joey says he can hear from the next room.
- Playing Sick: When Monica and Chandler drop by, Joey claims Janine can't come to dinner because she's sick as a dog. However, he did not tell Janine this, as she claims she has to see a friend's play. Joey has to come clean, while also admitting he thinks his excuse is way better than the play excuse.
- Product Placement: The main plot centers on Pottery Barn goods and repeated mention of the brand name. Supposedly the brand still sees an increase in business whenever this episode airs in reruns.
- Saying Too Much: Joey tells Chandler and Monica that they owe him for covering for their relationship, as it left him humiliated and he only made $200. Monica denies that they gave him money, while Chandler waves for Joey to stop talking.
- This Is Gonna Suck: Joey's constant expression when having to explain to Monica and Chandler why Janine doesn't like them.
- True Companions: Joey is insistent on trying to get everyone to get along because (as he says) Chandler and Monica are like family. With things proving unworkable, he sides with his friends and Janine moves out.
- Violently Protective Girlfriend: For all of Monica's aggression, it's when Janine insults Chandler to his face that she outright threatens to mess her up. Chandler expresses certainty that Monica could take her.
- You Owe Me: While trying to smooth things over, Joey points out Chandler and Monica owe him for how he repeatedly covered for them during their Secret Relationship phase. It turns out that Chandler had even previously paid him money, but Monica doesn't know that.
