After 10 seasons, 17 years, and a major delay due to a certain global pandemic, Friends: The Reunion is finally streaming on HBO Max

The feature-length special reunites the cast of the beloved sitcom "Friends" for a nostalgia-infused, goggle-eyed look back at the series It was a long time in the making, but now that it has finally been released, I can assure you that it was worth the wait

Early on, we were certainly apprehensive, especially after the seemingly random guest stars were announced, but the tear-jerking trailer convinced us otherwise This episode hit all the right notes, and by the time the first few chords of the iconic theme song begin to sound, even casual fans of the show will be crying their eyes out

It may not be the eleventh season or full-length movie that some fans have been clamoring for since the show ended in 2004, but that's not necessarily a bad thing Friends Reunion was a walk down memory lane for the Central Park Six and the TV show equivalent of a warm embrace for longtime fans

There were many standout aspects From the touching first reunion on the reconstructed set to David Schwimmer's revelation that he really hated working with that monkey Marcel Below I've picked out some of the best moments of the Friends reunion, as well as some sequences that unfortunately didn't work out

Nailing the opening was always going to be key After all, the return of the entire cast to the screen for the first time in over a decade and a half is a momentous occasion

The special begins with David Schwimmer entering the Warner Bros soundstage where the show was filmed and entering a fully recreated set It is easy to get a little misty as he slowly walks around, picking up various set costume accessories and reminiscing

One by one, Schwimmer joins the rest of the cast, until all six are standing on the apartment set together Jennifer Aniston even asks Matthew Perry (the last to arrive), "How can we be any later?" It was a surprisingly low-key introduction for such a highly anticipated television event, but it felt intimate in the best possible way

In a nod to the classic Season 4 episode "The One with the Embryos," one of the best parts of Friends Reunion was the cast's participation in a boys versus girls quiz Indeed, the cast played pretty fast and loose with the scoring system

While the questions posed did not stun the superfans, watching Courteney Cox get extremely immersed in the competition in classic Monica style was surely the single best moment of the entire special

The segment was also used to bring back Joey's identical twins (actor Thomas Lennon made a cameo appearance)

We were concerned about the long list of celebrity appearances that were confirmed before the reunion aired And it turned out to be for good reason

Some of the A-lister cameos were well done, but Lady Gaga singing "Smelly Cat" with Lisa Kudrow was a highlight Was anyone else desperate to reveal that David Beckham was watching "Friends" when he felt sad in his hotel room? Or that Mindy Kaling really likes the show's physical comedy Or that Kit Harington's favorite moment is the legendary "pivot" scene

These talking head interviews took time that should have been spent on the main six-piece or dedicated to the show's many supporting characters

Speaking of supporting cast members, the "Friends" reunion featured not only the main six, but also James Michael Tyler (as Gunther, the Central Park manager) and several additional cast members, including Reese Witherspoon (as Rachel's sassy sister Jill)

The real highlight was when it was revealed that Elliott Gould and Christina Pickles, who played Ross and Monica's parents Jack and Judy Geller, were sitting in the socially distant audience; the two acted as the cast's on-set parents throughout the shoot, and the fact that they were able to be there was a real bonus and it was a real pleasure to have them on board

The only disappointment here was that many of the supporting cast members who appeared were only able to speak for a few seconds and then disappeared without ever being seen again Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai got more screen time than Tyler (who appeared in all 10 seasons), which is a rather odd choice

The six main cast members are the faces of the show, but the creators of one of the most beloved sitcoms on television deserve just as much credit

Mixed in with the live interview segments (hosted by the mercilessly understated James Cordon) and scenes of the cast walking around the rebuilt set, talking heads featuring creators Marta Kaufman, Kevin Bright, and David Crane clips were inserted

These sections provided insight into the tricky task of casting the lead characters, why "Friends" had to end, and very good reasons as to why another season or the long-rumored feature film would not work

While the information gleaned in these sections may not all be new, and avid fans have probably heard it all before, the wealth of talent behind the camera also appreciated the opportunity to reflect on the series

While it probably seemed a bit spooky to recreate every episode or direct every scene, having the cast of six perform table reads in character was a stroke of genius

Lisa Kudrow in particular seemed effortlessly back in the role of Phoebe, and Matt LeBlanc proved that he still has impeccable comedic timing It is a shame that this portion of the episode was not significantly longer, as it captured the essence of what fans were looking for in this reunion episode

If they ever do a live "Friends" show where the cast reads the entire episode on stage, I would pay good money to see it

It seems like a cute idea on paper to have famous faces parade down the catwalk in the show's iconic costumes, such as Ross's Sputnik Halloween costume or Rachel's gaudy pink bridesmaid dress

Placing it practically at the very end of the special was an odd decision, to say the least It slowed down the pacing at a crucial moment when the excitement of Friends Reunion should have reached its zenith

Justin Bieber in a potato costume was amusing in a way, but by the time he reached the halfway point of the catwalk, the joke had lost its luster His awkward walk was painful This part should have been shown earlier in the episode and cut to a third of its length