I think Joey and Rachel could have been the dream couple if the writers had given them a chance! They could have also become a power couple, where Joey becomes a big actor in LA, and she gets the highest recognition in her field, because he is secure enough to be ok, with her putting in that effort in her field as he himself has had to struggle to get where he is! He knows what it means to be following one’s dream. It’s constructive.

They were actually friends first unlike Ross and Rachel, where Rachel is shown as his love interest since the 1st episode! Ross actually became Rachel’s friend after their break up. He actually fell in love with the woman that she is, instead of a fantasy of the nerd that ended up getting the popular girl.

They are shown to have common interests, be it sailing; movies; book; showbiz.

They encouraged each other out of their comfort zones — in the choice of books, the way to sail…

Them living together was effortless. Rachel was allowed to be silly and have fun! live messily.

They help each other realise that they are becoming their parents and not the good version, and work on themselves!

They respected each other in their work places! Joey thought she was this someone great in the fashion industry when his sister wanted to meet someone from that career … Ross never respects her carrier! (and in a long term relationships, desire can be rekindled when we see the other person in thier element, doing what they love well and confidently… which would never work out with Ross and Rachel; but would work out with Joey and Rachel)

In short, they were compatible and it wasn’t like walking on egg shells around each other unlike Ross and her. The fact that he treated her with respect even when she let him down, showed what a nice guy he truly was, unlike Ross who made up the I hate Rachel club and actually spread a rumor about her!

I cannot be a guy who would write “just a waitress” instead of “no common interest”; who hides messages that come for me! who tells the guy I am dating that “I belong to him”(?!); who can’t respect my dream and thinks I am intellectually beneath him! who has just insecurity issues! who screams at me, when I am already feeling terrible that lost his pet! Who sleeps with someone just on the night I broke up with him and claims that he has loved me since high school! who has gotten over me soo quickly (Bonnie/Emily), even though he claims that he loved me for 15 years! For whom, being right about a technicality is more important than the fact that his action hurt me, and he feels guilty about it enough to take the responsibility! Who can’t stand a jibe from my dad, even though I cried and told him that I can’t have you and my dad in separate rooms too! Finally who goes behind my back to bribe my old boss to take me back in my job, without checking up with me if that’s what I want! If this person can’t respect me, my choices, my decisions, my hurt, my dreams, what did he like of me?! (Just that I increase his self esteem, because he the nerd could own a “Rachel” (The popular, beautiful girl that everyone wanted to go out with??))

So Bottomline: Joey and Rachel is everything I want out of a long term relationship! and I expect it to last, unlike Ross and Rachel!