"Director: Robby Benson"

• Friends - Series 1 - Episodes 17-24 | DVD | (27/10/2003) from £4.18   |  Saving you £2.81 (67.22%)   |  RRP £6.99

  Season 1: When the first series of Friends debuted in September 1994 it was immediately obvious there would be no need for the show to find its feet. "The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate" was a confident introduction to the six lead characters, opening in the middle of an everyday conversation with the soon-to-be uncharacteristic line: "There's nothing to tell". In fact, the soap-opera style plot got complicated pretty quickly, with spoiled brat Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) moving on from her failed wedding to feelings toward nerdy/heart-throb Ross (David Schwimmer). However, no love life was more complicated than Joey's (Matt LeBlanc), with an endless stream of girlfriends that annoyed the hell out of wisecracking roommate Chandler (Matthew Perry), who only seemed to be able to connect with Janice (Maggie Wheeler), the shrillest voice in the City. Bouncing all manner of neuroses around them were Ross' obsessive sister Monica (Courteney Cox) and endearingly ditzy Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow). Premise established, series 1 matured the characters by providing a monkey and a son for Ross. We met also meet Ross and Monica's parents Jack (Elliott Gould) and Judy (Christina Pickles), Chandler's mother (Morgan Fairchild) and Phoebe's twin sister Ursula (Kudrow naturally). Fans loved cameos from George Clooney, Jay Leno and show creators Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane. But really the focus was on building to "TOW Rachel Finds Out" that Ross is in love with her. --Paul Tonks

• Friends - Series 3 - Episodes 17-25 | DVD | (27/10/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £6.99

  Season 3: Having really hit its comedic stride, the third season did the smart thing and showed a more serious side to the Friends' frivolous nature. There was fun introducing the chick and the duck, poking ""Ugly Naked Guy" with a stick and "T.O.W. The Princess Leia Fantasy" (for which George Lucas sent a "thank you" note). Then after establishing a few cracks in their otherwise fairy-tale union, "T.O.W. Ross and Rachel Take a Break" offered admirable contrast. From here on in, the awkward catchphrase "we were on a break" became a hard-hitting reminder that love hurts. The other s' relationships were naturally no less complicated. "T.O.W. Monica and Richard are Just Friends" teased a now moustache-free Tom Selleck into thinking he might be "the one". Then Pete (Jon Favreau) tried his hand before insanely wanting to become "The Ultimate Fighting Champion". This episode pulled off an incredible double guest surprise from Billy Crystal and Robin Williams, proving just how popular the show had become. To that list were added cameos from Ben Stiller as "The Screamer", Sherilyn Fenn as one of Joey's exs and Isabella Rossellini, who taught Ross to never fantasise on laminated plastic. The cast were fitting in film roles where possible. Cox appeared in Scream, then brought David Arquette back with her for a cameo, which kept their off-screen chemistry alive. The final surprise was Teri Garr as Phoebe, Sr in "T.O. At the Beach", where it was hinted that something might be salvaged between Ross and Rachel after all. --Paul Tonks

• Friends - Series 3 - Episodes 9-16 | DVD | (27/10/2003) from £6.43   |  Saving you £0.56 (8.00%)   |  RRP £6.99

  Season 3: Having really hit its comedic stride, the third season did the smart thing and showed a more serious side to the Friends' frivolous nature. There was fun introducing the chick and the duck, poking ""Ugly Naked Guy" with a stick and "T.O.W. The Princess Leia Fantasy" (for which George Lucas sent a "thank you" note). Then after establishing a few cracks in their otherwise fairy-tale union, "T.O.W. Ross and Rachel Take a Break" offered admirable contrast. From here on in, the awkward catchphrase "we were on a break" became a hard-hitting reminder that love hurts. The other s' relationships were naturally no less complicated. "T.O.W. Monica and Richard are Just Friends" teased a now moustache-free Tom Selleck into thinking he might be "the one". Then Pete (Jon Favreau) tried his hand before insanely wanting to become "The Ultimate Fighting Champion". This episode pulled off an incredible double guest surprise from Billy Crystal and Robin Williams, proving just how popular the show had become. To that list were added cameos from Ben Stiller as "The Screamer", Sherilyn Fenn as one of Joey's exs and Isabella Rossellini, who taught Ross to never fantasise on laminated plastic. The cast were fitting in film roles where possible. Cox appeared in Scream, then brought David Arquette back with her for a cameo, which kept their off-screen chemistry alive. The final surprise was Teri Garr as Phoebe, Sr in "T.O. At the Beach", where it was hinted that something might be salvaged between Ross and Rachel after all. --Paul Tonks