19 Monica Geller instances from F. R.I.E.N.D.S that can literally drive you crazy

Monica Geller might be the glue that holds F.R.I.E.N.D.S. together, but the perfectionist can also sometimes make the situation tense. Whether through cleanliness obsession or needing to know everything, Monica's quirks often leave her friends and viewers in awe of how a person could be so horrible to be around. For every charming moment, there is another overbearing moment by Monica that could drive anyone crazy. Here are 19 times Monica's antics were a little too much to handle.

1) Her Obsession with Cleanliness

Monica's compulsive need to be clean borders on the ridiculous. While it is okay to expect one's roommates to maintain some amount of cleanliness, Monica needs everything to be "Monica-clean". She has an uncontrollable need to clean anything. Just wiping, disinfecting dishes, and cleaning everything within the eye line isn't funky- it's draining. Monica doesn't clean; she surveys every bit of her apartment as if it were a five-star hotel. This level of cleanliness obsession makes her friends go crazy, but it is also what makes Monica who she is: meticulous, passionate, and always ready to scrub down any mess, no matter how minor.

2) Her Strict rules regarding how to do basic things

Monica is notorious for imposing strict rules about everything. Not holding photos properly? Better that you had committed a crime from her perspective. The right way to hold pictures is by the edges. If you don't do that then she will keep nagging you till you do it right. Or like Rachel, you can just lick it and end of story. Not just photos, you must put caps on pens, the right way. If it doesn't click, you know it's not right.

3) When she controls where Phoebe eats

When Phoebe stays in Monica and Chandler's apartment, she is initially the best host ever. Makes pies, ensures she is well-fed, and decorates her room. However, the everlasting need to be complemented takes the better of Monica and she starts bothering Phoebe to eat something every few hours. That's not the end of it, though. According to Monica, you can't eat in bed or on the couch. You must eat above the sink because remember, "no crummies."

4) The Label-Making Addiction

Monica doesn't organize; she makes art, labeling everything from the cabinets to the drawers to the pens, even the Tupperware. Nothing is exempt from her nicely designed labels. While some will admire the effort she puts into making things categorically correct, this can also drive her friends up the wall. Endless streams of label makers and pressure to put things in their proper place create an almost torturous sense of mildly applied agony. Monica's mantra that "organization is key" becomes all-inclusive, and there is no room for spontaneity or imperfection.

5) Her Intense Competitiveness

Monica is a competitive person, and this competitiveness makes even the most trivial things into events. Whether it's a simple game of Pictionary or just a friendly game of foosball, Monica plays every game as if it were a championship match. The need to win isn't about pride; it's who she is. This intensity with which she plays makes any game night feel like a battle for survival. If you play against Monica, you better prepare to lose or at least be ready for her unrelenting drive to victory. When she plays against Chandler's boss, she refuses to lose the game even when Chandler asks her to.

6) Thanksgiving Tyrant Mode

Monica's Thanksgiving dinner planning is an over-management masterclass, and given Rachel's trifle disaster, it doesn't take long for her to literally step into full "Thanksgiving tyrant" mode. Monica has every aspect of the meal front and center, with orders to thoroughly micromanage Rachel's cooking attempts. Nobody's allowed to help, and everything is carried out with military precision. When she does allow others to help, everything has to be done a certain way. While it is understandable that Monica wants a perfect dinner, the inflexibility and need for control make it easy to lose patience with her.

7) When she falls sick but refuses to rest

When Monica is really sick, she refuses to admit it because she thinks it's weak to be sick. Her denial to admit that she is not feeling well becomes a hassle for Chandler who tries to be reasonable. This scene portrays how sometimes Monica's strive for perfection can be unhealthy for her, too. She is so consumed by the need to do everything perfectly that she is willing to sacrifice her own health. Even when Chandler tells her to rest, she refuses to listen.

8) Refusing to Let Chandler keep his barcalounger

Monica's obsession with aesthetics often surpasses comfort; for instance, she refuses Chandler to keep his barcalounger. For Monica, it's all about the look and feel of her apartment, and that means no one is allowed to disturb her design choices—especially not by keeping a barcalounger in the middle of the apartment. Although she gives in eventually, she is very happy to let go of it. She even bribes the movers to lose Chandler's giant dog when they are moving to their new home and leaving the apartment.

9) Her Wedding Planning Obsession

Monica's wedding planning predated even Chandler's proposal. The concept of a "dream wedding" excited her, and she had an entire binder put together, just waiting for the word to go. Her constant fussing over every small detail flowers to seating control reached that level of obsession that would make even the most prepared wedding planners question her sanity. Monica's ability to over-plan everything about her future wedding shows the need for predictability and order. For anyone around her, it is quite overwhelming even if it may seem endearing.

10) When she forced the cleaning lady to quit

Monica's need to clean everything according to her standards knows no bounds. However, her peak crazy happens when she puts the cleaning lady, Chandler has hired in uncomfortable positions. She is convinced that Brenda, their newly hired maid has stolen her jeans and bra and forces Chandler to check it for her. Ultimately, it is revealed that Rachel took Monica's jeans and she was wearing the bra herself, all along. Her frantic behavior caused a lot of embarrassment for Chandler.

11) Her Need to Control Every Party

Monica's hosting skills often tend to surpass what most would consider hosting. She does not just think about the party; she owns it. From theme to guest list, she wants control of everything. If anyone tries to enter her territory, she takes over right away, even if that means spoiling someone else's fun. Whether it's a birthday party or dinner gathering, Monica's perfectionist traits make a place quite stressful because people have to stick to the strict guidelines of this character. The rules take over the fun.

12) When she wanted to give the perfect speech

Monica was so obsessed with the idea of giving the perfect speech that make her parents emotional on their anniversary. Her desire to do this exceeded so much that she mentioned her dead nanny and dog, with hopes of getting some tears. While Monica's troubled relationship with her parents, particularly her mom, could be a reason behind this need to be the best at everything. Her speech led to a lot of embarrassment, instead.

13) When she cleaned one vacuum cleaner with another

We mentioned how Monica likes everything squeaky clean but her cleaning obsession crosses all limits when she uses one vacuum cleaner to clean another! While her friends are mostly amused by her cleaning obsession. Her need to do everything perfectly sometimes puts a lot of pressure on others. For instance, when Chandler cleaned their apartment but was worried that Monica might not like how he arranged things as she has a certain way of keeping everything.

14) When she was after Rachel for moving the phone pin

Monica's need for control comes to the forefront when Rachel remembers how Monica is always after her for moving the phone pin. The scene reveals how Monica because of her need for control often ends up dictating how others do the most basic things. While her friends often take this behavior as her eccentricity, sometimes it drives them crazy how they are never allowed to just be. In this scene, Monica also blames Rachel saying she never receives her messages because Rachel writes them on her hand.

15) Her Unwavering Need to please people

Along with her competitive nature and her cleaning obsession, Monica has an unwavering need to please people. She can not be at peace if she feels everyone doesn't like her. This need reaches its peak when she stays awake late at night to make Christmas candy for her neighbors who don't even know her name. All she wants is that everyone should appreciate her. The fact that they love her candy is enough for her even if it comes at the cost of her sleep and rest.

16) The Wedding Dress Brawl

Monica is so devoted to finding the perfect wedding dress that she would even fight another bride to get a good bargain. When Monica fights with another woman over a discounted wedding dress, this indicates that Monica has an extreme approach toward getting the perfect wedding dress for her vision of the perfect wedding. It's not just about getting the dress of her dreams but at whatever cost: creating a chaotic scene to get it.

17) When Monica became Chandler's fitness coach

Monica's obsession with exercise and challenges is realized when she becomes Chandler's fitness guide. No breaks are allowed in Monica's world, even if it's a Sunday. What is a casual effort to get in shape before becomes an intense military-like regime. The need to control Chandler's weight loss drives her to micromanage every workout. While she does succeed in making him work out, initially, ultimately he manipulates her into staying in by making her feeling demotivated. This is one of those instances where Monica despite her need to win ends up giving up.

18) Her 11 Categories of Towels

Monica's towels obsession, however, is an entire other level of categorizing needlessly. Eleven types of towels, people! From "guest towels" to "fancy towels," you can't help but wonder if Monica is running a small luxury hotel instead of staying with friends in an apartment. She justifies her elaborate system by claiming each towel is there for a purpose, but to everyone else, it's pure madness. You’d think with 11 categories, she might have a little more room for flexibility, but no—each towel is sacred in its assigned spot.

19) When she took a game, too seriously

On Emma's first birthday, everyone wants to leave the party as each of them has something to do. Monica and Chandler want to go to Vermont, however, at least one of them needs to stay with Emma. So they decide to organize a race between Emma's gifts. The toy gift that wins will decide who gets to leave. While Phoebe and Joey win the race and leave, Monica is busy explaining the technical rules of the game, much to Chandler's dismay.