Whereas Mates is well-known for its iconic forged of lead actors, the collection additionally had a fairly nice observe report for bringing in nice visitor stars. From Ben Stiller to Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Brooke Shields, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, and extra, the collection was a magnet for A-list expertise. I just lately rewatched Mates in its entirety with my Max subscription — not the primary time, seemingly received’t be the final — and among the many observations I made this time round was how really good the casting was for 2 particular characters. I’m speaking about Jill and Amy Inexperienced, Rachel’s sisters.
Reese Witherspoon (taking part in Jill) and Christina Applegate (taking part in Amy) don’t really seem in the identical episodes. They pop in all through totally different elements of the collection and wreak emotional havoc. Additionally bodily havoc if we think about Amy’s half in what occurred to Momica’s plates.
Regardless, I actually don’t assume Mates might’ve forged two extra good actors for these roles, and I wish to speak about it…
Reese Witherspoon as Jill Inexperienced
Reese Witherspoon performs the primary of Rachel’s sisters to look on the present, when Jill reveals up for 2 episodes in Season 6. Her efficiency because the spoiled and sometimes pouty sister to Rachel is memorable not simply because Reese Witherspoon is Reese Witherspoon. The Legally Blonde star’s comedic expertise is definitely on show, however there’s additionally one thing very Rachel-like about the way in which she performs the function that makes it simple to consider Jill and Rachel grew up collectively (after which went in completely totally different life-directions, however extra on that in a bit).
Whereas Jill and Rachel don’t at all times get alongside throughout the transient time we get to see her, it’s clear Rachel loves her sister and desires the perfect for her. There’s undoubtedly heat within the chemistry between Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston as on-screen sisters.
Christina Applegate As Amy Inexperienced
Let’s speak about Amy. Simply as Witherspoon solely guest-starred briefly on the present, Christina Applegate’s presence on the collection can also be sadly restricted to 2 episodes, although hers had been a bit extra spaced out, occurring in Seasons 9 and 10. Whereas Jill was pouty and spoiled, Amy was impolite and spoiled, carelessly and seemingly effortlessly insulting anybody in her neighborhood with a passing remark right here and an unintentional jab there. Whether or not it’s describing somebody she’s actually chatting with in essentially the most unflattering approach doable, or getting her personal niece’s title incorrect quite a few occasions, nobody (not even a child) is secure from Amy’s informal slights — and each second of it’s hilarious because of Christina Applegate’s supply.
Simply as Witherspoon makes us consider no doubt that Jill is Rachel’s sister, so too does Applegate along with her portrayal of Amy Inexperienced. It is also clear that, regardless of their variations, and even the truth that the 2 got here to precise blows (“Frizzy frizzy frizzy frizzy!”) at one level in an episode, Rachel loves Amy simply as she loves her sister Jill.
I don’t assume another actors might’ve executed these roles justice in the way in which that Reese Witherspoon and Christina Applegate do. However that is not the one purpose why I like Jill and Amy’s appearances…
Jill and Amy Aren’t Simply Hilarious, They’re Additionally Each Good Reflections Of How Far Rachel Has Come
Jill and Amy’s appearances on Mates aren’t the one time we get to be taught extra about one of many essential characters by their interactions with a sibling. Whether or not it’s Phoebe’s difficult relationship along with her twin sister, Ursula, Joey’s protectiveness of his many sisters, or the goofy however endearing dynamic between Monica and Ross, sibling relationships issue into Mates all through the run of the collection. So Amy and Jill’s relevance to Rachel’s story isn’t actually a novel idea right here, nor are they wasted in being alternatives to assist us know Rachel higher.
At first of Mates, Rachel wasn’t all that not like Jill in the way in which she didn’t appear to have an correct sense of grownup tasks or monetary independence. We see one thing very related in Jill when she first reveals up complaining that her father lower her off. And whereas Amy might be way more outspoken than Rachel sometimes is, the truth that she finds herself in engaged to a person who’s all incorrect for her isn’t all that not like Rachel and her ex, Barry. What’s extra, regardless of her flaws, Amy clearly needs to make higher selections, like her sister. Her progress is a bit slow-going, however we see glimpses of it.
Simply because the casting is ideal in terms of Jill and Amy, Mates does an ideal job in using each characters to deliver some new perspective to Rachel’s story. The collection additionally succeeds in making Jill and Amy’s appearances hilarious from begin to end, whereas additionally feeling significant and even heartfelt at occasions. Then once more, all of that just about describes among the issues Mates at all times did finest.
As I discussed earlier, you possibly can catch all of Mates with a Max subscription. (It’s one of many many causes Max is among the many finest streaming providers to subscribe to.)