The Surprised Joey meme, also known as 'Joey's Delayed Reaction,' features a series of screen captures from the hit sitcom Friends. It originated from the episode 'The One Where the Stripper Cries,' where Joey Tribbiani gradually realizes that Rachel and Ross are back together after seeing their reactions. The meme perfectly captures the 'slow realization' trope, showing Joey moving from a confident, smiling expression to a wide-eyed look of utter shock. It has since become a staple on platforms like Reddit and Twitter to depict the moment someone finally understands a hidden or disturbing truth.