For Friends fanatics, picking just one ‘best’ episode from the 90s sitcom feels as unholy a task as choosing favorites amongst one’s children or pets. Well, it is no easier for its cast members like Courteney Cox, whose pick of a favorite has changed many times over the years. After all, Friends’ ten seasons offered so many memorable gems through slapstick, catchphrases, romance and tearjerkers that it is almost impossible to keep track of.  

Even so, a decade after its last season aired, Cox settled on a favorite segment that highlighted her character’s strongest trait. 

The one in which Monica suffered a rare defeat

The borderline know-it-all, Monica Geller, truly took center stage when it came to any form of competition. It appears that the actress who played her quite liked this aspect of the chef because, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly via AL in 2015, Courteney Cox chose The One With the Embryos as her favorite. In this episode, Monica and Rachel faced off with Ross and Chandler in a quiz that cost them their apartment.

Although her character was let down by Rachel and turned into a mess upon losing, Cox chose it simply because it showed Monica in her element, i.e. being competitive. One can’t deny that her meticulous memory, accurate answers, and fierce determination painted The One With the Embryos as a Monica Geller masterclass in which her radiating competitive spirit fueled the episode’s humor.

Years later, Cox chose a new favorite that also showcased another one of her character’s special abilities.

The one in which Courteney Cox showcased a new talent

In 2021, Cox rediscovered The One With The Routine and deemed it her favorite. In it, Monica and Ross delivered the dance performance of a lifetime, complete with sparkly costumes and infectious enthusiasm. Once a source of shame for the sibling duo, the cathartic routine helped them reclaim their childhood. Around that same time, the Scream actress was also beginning to find new favorite moments through the legendary Thanksgiving episodes!

During an interview on The Ellen Show, the 59-year-old revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic had made her binge Friends again. While she had forgotten a lot, re-watching it jogged her memory and made her realize that the “Thanksgiving episodes” were her favorite. In particular, she had loved the one from the “first season” in which she debuted as “overweight Monica,” remembering how “free” she felt in that form. 

What do you think of Cox’s old favorite, The One With the Embryos? Share your thoughts in the comments.