When Old Friends Come Back Together
Whether it’s a beloved sitcom cast, an iconic drama crew, or a long-awaited revival episode, television reunions offer some of the best nostalgia, closure, and emotional payoff on TV. These moments bring characters back together on screen, often years after viewers last saw them, reminding us why those relationships mattered so much in the first place. Here are 20 of the most legendary TV reunions ever aired.
“Friends: The Reunion” — Friends (2021)
After 10 seasons and years of nonstop reruns, Friends reunited its six leads on the original set for an emotional, laughter-filled celebration. Cast memories, behind-the-scenes revelations, and surprise guests turned the special into a shared cultural moment that felt like a warm hug for longtime fans who grew up with Central Perk.
Screenshot from Friends, HBO Max (2021)
“The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air Reunion” — The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (2020)
This reunion balanced humor with honesty, bringing the cast together to reflect on the show’s cultural impact while addressing long-standing tensions. Will Smith’s emotional reunion with Janet Hubert offered overdue closure and reframed one of sitcom history’s most public behind-the-scenes feuds.
Screenshot from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, HBO Max (2020)
“That ’70s Show Cast Reunion” — That ’70s Show (2021)
Reuniting much of the original ensemble, this special revisited the basement, the laughs, and the friendships that defined the series. Seeing the cast together again underscored how deeply the show shaped early-2000s sitcom nostalgia and launched multiple future Hollywood careers.
Screenshot from That ’70s Show, Netflix (2021)
“The Big Bang Theory: The Return” — The Big Bang Theory (2021)
The cast reunited to celebrate the show’s 12-season run, sharing stories about character evolution, on-set rituals, and behind-the-scenes friendships. The reunion emphasized how a once-niche sitcom about scientists became a massive global pop-culture phenomenon.
Screenshot from The Big Bang Theory, HBO Max (2021)
“Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life” — Gilmore Girls (2016)
Rather than a one-off special, this Netflix revival reunited Lorelai, Rory, and Stars Hollow for a four-part continuation. Familiar faces appeared immediately, making the return feel lived-in, emotional, and deeply personal for fans who never stopped rewatching the original series.
Screenshot from Gilmore Girls, Netflix (2016)
“The X-Files: I Want To Believe” — The X-Files (2008)
Mulder and Scully returned in this feature-length reunion, reuniting David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson years after the original series ended. While divisive, the film reignited fan passion and directly led to the show’s eventual television revival years later.
Screenshot from The X-Files, 20th Century Fox (2008)
“Fuller House” — Full House / Fuller House (2016)
Fuller House brought the Tanner family back together, blending nostalgia with a new generation of characters. Original cast members returned throughout the series, allowing the reunion to unfold gradually rather than feeling like a single, fleeting moment.
Screenshot from Fuller House, Netflix (2016)
“Girl Meets World” Reunion Episodes — Boy Meets World / Girl Meets World
Several Girl Meets World episodes reunited Cory, Topanga, Shawn, and other familiar faces, weaving nostalgia directly into the narrative. These appearances honored the original series while showing how adulthood reshaped relationships fans once knew by heart.
Screenshot from Girl Meets World, Disney+ (2014–2017)
“Saved By The Bell” Revival Premiere — Saved By The Bell (2020)
The revival reintroduced Bayside High with returning characters like Zack Morris and A.C. Slater now in adult roles. The episode balanced meta humor with genuine affection, poking fun at the past while embracing how much time—and culture—had changed.
Screenshot from Saved by the Bell, Peacock (2020)
“Cheers” Reunion On “Frasier” — Frasier
Sam Malone’s appearance on Frasier reunited Ted Danson and Kelsey Grammer onscreen, reconnecting the Cheers universe naturally through character interaction rather than overt nostalgia. The episode felt like a casual reunion between old friends rather than a formal send-off.
Screenshot from Frasier, NBC (1993–2004)
“Seinfeld” Reunion On “Curb Your Enthusiasm” — Curb Your Enthusiasm (2009)
Larry David staged a fictional Seinfeld reunion inside Curb, bringing back Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer. The meta approach satisfied fans while staying true to the original show’s commitment to irony over sentimentality.
Screenshot from Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO (2009)
“All Good Things…” — Star Trek: The Next Generation
The series finale reunited the Enterprise-D crew across multiple timelines, allowing fans to see past, present, and future versions of beloved characters interact. It delivered emotional closure while reinforcing the franchise’s core themes of growth, curiosity, and shared purpose.
Screenshot from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Paramount Television (1987–1994)
“Graduation” — Boy Meets World
The finale brought the core group together in their classroom one last time, with Mr Feeny’s farewell serving as a symbolic goodbye to childhood. The episode resonated deeply with viewers who grew up alongside the characters.
Screenshot from Boy Meets World, ABC (1993–2000)
“Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” — MASH*
Television’s most-watched scripted episode reunited the entire 4077th unit for one final chapter. Balancing humor, grief, and humanity, the farewell captured the emotional toll of war while honoring the friendships forged under impossible circumstances.
Screenshot from MASH*, CBS (1972–1983)
“Felina” — Breaking Bad
Walter White’s final episode brought him face-to-face with nearly every surviving piece of his past. Each interaction felt earned, transforming the reunion into a reckoning that reflected the consequences of every decision he’d made.
Screenshot from Breaking Bad, AMC (2008–2013)
“The End” — Lost
The finale reunited characters across time, death, and memory, culminating in the church scene that brought together figures who hadn’t shared the screen in years. The emotional reunion reframed the series as a story about connection rather than unanswered mysteries.
Screenshot from Lost, ABC (2004–2010)
“The Last One” — St Elsewhere
The hospital staff gathered one last time before the infamous snow-globe twist reframed the entire series. The reunion lulled viewers into familiarity before delivering one of television’s boldest—and most controversial—conceptual endings.
Screenshot from St. Elsewhere, NBC (1982–1988)
“Goodbye” — Friday Night Lights
The final episode reunited the Dillon community (coaches, players, and families) for a quiet, grounded farewell. Instead of spectacle, the show chose emotional honesty, reinforcing its belief in continuity, mentorship, and small-town bonds.
Screenshot from Friday Night Lights, NBC (2006–2011)
“New York, I Love You XOXO” — Gossip Girl
Nearly every major character returned for the finale’s final reveal. Old rivalries and romances collided as secrets surfaced, giving fans one last decadent Upper East Side spectacle before the curtain fell.
Screenshot from Gossip Girl, Warner Bros. (2007–2012)
“Everybody’s Waiting” — Six Feet Under
Rather than staging a single gathering, the finale reunited viewers with the entire cast across time through a montage of futures. It provided profound closure by showing not just how the characters lived, but how they ultimately ended.
Screenshot from Six Feet Under, HBO (2001–2005)
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