As Ross and Rachel engaged in their ongoing "will-they, won't-they" soap opera (and yes, they on a break, thank you very much), the show's real heart took shape.

Source: https://www.slashfilm.com/1432961/matthew-perry-was-snarky-sincere-heart-of-friends-loss-is-monumental/

Other examples include the fact that Ross and Rachel didn’t have a real wedding.

Source: https://uwstinger.com/friends-ross-geller-and-chloe/

Well, let’s just hope Ross and Rachel were on a break when this kiss happened because no one can go through it all again!

Source: https://www.koimoi.com/hollywood-news/when-friends-rachel-jennifer-aniston-kissed-ellen-degeneres-on-her-lips-on-national-tv-said-youve-such-soft-lips-no-razor-burn/