'Monk' has always been one of my most watched shows when needing comfort, to relax after a hard day, a good laugh or a way to spend a lazy weekend.
Season 7 was a very mixed bag up to this point, "Mr Monk and the Genius" being one of its best while also having major disappointments like "Mr Monk Falls in Love" and especially "Mr Monk Takes a Punch". While in the better half of the season, "Mr Monk's Other Brother" (with yet another one of Monk's relatives popping up from nowhere having never been mentioned before, his father's and particularly Ambrose's introductions were at least justified and given reasons, this one was pretty random) does come up short somewhat still.
Am also one of those people who thinks Natalie, Disher and Stottlemeyer taking a back-seat was not a good thing. Natalie has her moments but Stottlemeyer in particular is wasted and he (being my personal favourite of the other three regulars) and Ted Levine, who still does his best, deserve much better than that.
The mystery also could have been a little better, it's engaging enough and it has its fun and suspenseful but is too obvious too early, could have featured more and the motive is insipid. Would have liked more dramatic and emotional moments too, the Ambrose and father episodes had a much better balance of comedy and pathos and while "Mr Monk's Other Brother" delivers on the comedy the emotional moments are missing.
However, the relationship between Monk and Jack makes "Mr Monk's Other Brother", it's charming and hilarious (basically just brilliantly done) with hugely entertaining and incredibly well written funny moments and back and forth. Tony Shalhoub does a wonderful job as always, he could have done with more tender moments which develops his acting range so well but his comic timing is just great. Steve Zahn gives one of the best guest supporting turns of Season 7 and of the latter seasons, simply terrific.
Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford and Ted Levine do well enough but deserved more to do. The supporting cast are above competent, but Shalhoub, Zahn and Monk and Jack's chemistry are the reasons to see the episode.
Writing is mostly very good, the tender easy-to-relate-to drama is lacking but the humour is hilarious and the quirks are never exploited or overdone even with Monk and Jack both having them.
Visually, the episode is slick and stylish as ever. The music is both understated and quirky. While there is a preference for the theme music for Season 1, Randy Newman's "It's a Jungle Out There" has grown on me overtime, found it annoying at first but appreciate its meaning and what it's trying to say much more now.
Overall, nice episode that is made by Shalhoub, Zahn and their chemistry together. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Season 7 was a very mixed bag up to this point, "Mr Monk and the Genius" being one of its best while also having major disappointments like "Mr Monk Falls in Love" and especially "Mr Monk Takes a Punch". While in the better half of the season, "Mr Monk's Other Brother" (with yet another one of Monk's relatives popping up from nowhere having never been mentioned before, his father's and particularly Ambrose's introductions were at least justified and given reasons, this one was pretty random) does come up short somewhat still.
Am also one of those people who thinks Natalie, Disher and Stottlemeyer taking a back-seat was not a good thing. Natalie has her moments but Stottlemeyer in particular is wasted and he (being my personal favourite of the other three regulars) and Ted Levine, who still does his best, deserve much better than that.
The mystery also could have been a little better, it's engaging enough and it has its fun and suspenseful but is too obvious too early, could have featured more and the motive is insipid. Would have liked more dramatic and emotional moments too, the Ambrose and father episodes had a much better balance of comedy and pathos and while "Mr Monk's Other Brother" delivers on the comedy the emotional moments are missing.
However, the relationship between Monk and Jack makes "Mr Monk's Other Brother", it's charming and hilarious (basically just brilliantly done) with hugely entertaining and incredibly well written funny moments and back and forth. Tony Shalhoub does a wonderful job as always, he could have done with more tender moments which develops his acting range so well but his comic timing is just great. Steve Zahn gives one of the best guest supporting turns of Season 7 and of the latter seasons, simply terrific.
Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford and Ted Levine do well enough but deserved more to do. The supporting cast are above competent, but Shalhoub, Zahn and Monk and Jack's chemistry are the reasons to see the episode.
Writing is mostly very good, the tender easy-to-relate-to drama is lacking but the humour is hilarious and the quirks are never exploited or overdone even with Monk and Jack both having them.
Visually, the episode is slick and stylish as ever. The music is both understated and quirky. While there is a preference for the theme music for Season 1, Randy Newman's "It's a Jungle Out There" has grown on me overtime, found it annoying at first but appreciate its meaning and what it's trying to say much more now.
Overall, nice episode that is made by Shalhoub, Zahn and their chemistry together. 7/10 Bethany Cox