The episode is famous for showing how close the group came to different romantic configurations:
: While the episode places Joey moving in during 1993, later episodes (like "The One With All The Thanksgivings") imply he was already around in 1992, creating a minor continuity error.
"Friends" The One with the Flashback (TV Episode 1996) - IMDb
: The episode explains why Phoebe moved out of Monica's apartment, citing Monica’s obsessive cleanliness (like her "rules" for the guest towels) as the breaking point.
: We see Chandler interviewing prospective roommates and eventually settling on Joey—though only after his first choice, a "creepy" guy named Eric, flunked out.
: When Joey first moves in, Monica finds him incredibly attractive and invites him in for "lemonade," which Joey famously misinterprets.