Mixing friends can be stressful. It can be equivalent to meeting someone’s parents — you just don’t know where things will go. You want everyone to love each other, but the world is not always sunshine and rainbows.
Sometimes, people just don’t click. I have a range of friends — friends from boarding school and my freshman year dorm, middle school friends who are my “hometown” friends and more niche acquaintances across campus.
I am not always confident that people will mesh well together. I became friends with everyone at a different stage of my life — they all know and like a different version of me.
This past week, I decided to introduce some friends. I realized if mothers always know best — because moms can sniff out a bad friend or influence right away — best friends should have a similar radar. If one particular friend can’t get along with most of your other friends, you may be too close to them to see them for who they really are.
See, Eleven from Stranger Things says it best: “Friends don’t lie.” They keep us honest.
So here’s my advice: Put some faith into your friendships. Trust that your friendships are strong enough to endure what I like to call “the crossover test.”
To put it through a fictional lens, some of the best TV shows and movie duos came about due to other characters’ worlds colliding. Netflix is often my grounding light, and these are just three examples of productions that have been living rent-free in my mind, as they best illustrate the great possibilities that can come with these crossovers.
In “New Girl,” shortly after the main character, Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel), moves into a loft in Los Angeles with her three new male roommates — Nick (Jake Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Winston (Lamorne Morris) — she introduces them to her childhood best friend, Cece (Hannah Simone).
The writers slowly thereafter write a funny and unexpected, yet lovable, dynamic between Winston and Cece. Throughout the show, they refer to their “mess arounds” moments, indulging in playful schemes or pranks.
In Season 5, with Jess’ absence from the show, they cement their friendship. Cece asks Winston to be one of her bridesmaids. He goes wedding dress shopping with her. Jess brought her best friend into her new home. It’s thanks to Jess that Cece and Winston get to know each other and become best friends on their own.
Similarly, in “Friends,” Monica (Courteney Cox) integrated Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) into her adulthood, New York City friend group.
They were best friends growing up. Monica’s older brother had the biggest crush on Rachel throughout high school. After graduation, they drifted apart, pursuing different passions. Then, six years later, leaving her husband at the altar, Rachel seeks out Monica, and so the 10-season, fan-favorite sitcom “Friends” begins.
Monica accepting Rachel into her life allows Rachel to later, even if only briefly, be her sister-in-law and niece’s mother. They become an unstoppable trio with Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow). The show would not be what it is without the chic, somewhat snobby, beautiful Rachel Green, amidst the other beloved friends.
Doug (Justin Bartha) in “The Hangover” is yet another good friend who only elevated the production’s plot by including an outsider, Alan (Zach Galifianakis), into the core friend group.
Doug’s best friends, Phil (Bradley Cooper) and Stu (Ed Helms), are not initially fans of Alan. Alan comes off as a little weird. He puts the core three through many obstacles, but without him, we would not have the iconic and hilarious movie saga. They set the standard for what a crazy bachelor night should look like thanks to Doug introducing Alan to what became “The Wolf Pack.”
By stirring my social pot a bit and not gatekeeping the people I love, I may be introducing someone to their future best friend.
It can be easy to have divisions between the many facets of our lives, but a little chaos can be fun. I’ve realized the plot can only become more interesting by mixing friends.
Arlette Correa is a Medill sophomore and author of “Rent Free.” She can be contacted at [email protected]. If you would like to respond publicly to this op-ed, send a Letter to the Editor to [email protected]. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect the views of all staff members of The Daily Northwestern.
