This was a good episode which would have been great had Sharona been included. Natalie isn't awful by any means but she just doesn't have the empathy and true understanding of Monk's psychological problems. Also, she sometimes treats him like a pet instead of a flawed human being.
The plot of the story is well written and has several comical "Monk Moments". It was quite clear where the story of Randy's hot date would fit in the storyline. I wasn't sure how the story of the neighboring couple would develop but it was a nice addition.
As you can see from the heading of this review, I'm really missing Sharona. Ms. Howard is a great actress and does a good job but she will never be an adequate replacement for Sharona. The latter truly loved Monk and taking care of him wasn't just a job for her. The show went on without her and it was good. However, it would have been a better show had they kept her as Monk's assistant who was also a loving friend who seemed more like a family member.
6 Reviews
Monk in hiding
TheLittleSongbird2 August 2017
'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.
"Mr Monk Gets Cabin Fever" is up there to me as among Season 3's better episodes. It's always interesting, with a good deal of hilarious moments, a couple of touching ones and a couple of tense ones with a fun and twisty mystery. The outcome of Randy's subplot is too easy to deduce, a case of not quite enough suspects and only one really having the opportunity and resources. Natalie is becoming more interesting and with good rapport with Monk, there still could be a little more to differentiate her from Sharona perhaps and this is a kind of story where Sharona would have been at home perfectly in.
It is very easy to like how sensitive and down to earth she is even if one misses the sharper and more no-nonsense Sharona. Even at this stage there is a preference for how Natalie deals with Monk's quirks and problems, seeming a little more caring and understanding than Sharona, and she and Monk click very well together. Traylor Howard is doing just fine, she captures the character's personality very well and looks comfortable doing so.
As said many times, one of the best things about 'Monk' has always been the acting of Tony Shalhoub in the title role. It was essential for him to work and be the glue of the show, and Shalhoub not only is that but also at his very best he IS the show. Have always loved the balance of the humour, which is often hilarious, and pathos, which is sincere and touching.
Jason Gray-Stanford (with a subplot that sees him more sympathetic than he can be) and Ted Levine (loved that he had more to do here and that it was all worthy of him) are great fun to watch and the four of them work so well. Faith Prince and Moon Bloodgood also give strong supporting turns.
The mystery is as said fun and engaging, most notable for the innovative (for 'Monk') use of the '24'-style dual-frame summation for not one but two final solutions done as one that also proves to be very entertaining. There is a real sense of danger here and Monk's witnessing of the second crime is reminiscent of 'Rear Window'.
Even better are the character moments, with some inspired dialogue and wonderful interaction. For hilarious moments, we have Monk's struggles with Nature, the slapstick scene with Stottlemeyer and the bed-post, when they get lost and especially celebrating Stottlemeyer's birthday in the storm. Found Stottlemeyer's hopes and dreams reminiscing very touching and done with a lot of heart.
It's not just the cast or story though. Another star is the writing, which is also essential to whether the show would be successful or not and succeed it does here. The mix of hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done. The quirks are sympathetically done and never exploited or overdone.
Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and 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. Oh and a good job is done with the different opening credits sequence to accommodate the changes made.
Overall, great episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox
"Mr Monk Gets Cabin Fever" is up there to me as among Season 3's better episodes. It's always interesting, with a good deal of hilarious moments, a couple of touching ones and a couple of tense ones with a fun and twisty mystery. The outcome of Randy's subplot is too easy to deduce, a case of not quite enough suspects and only one really having the opportunity and resources. Natalie is becoming more interesting and with good rapport with Monk, there still could be a little more to differentiate her from Sharona perhaps and this is a kind of story where Sharona would have been at home perfectly in.
It is very easy to like how sensitive and down to earth she is even if one misses the sharper and more no-nonsense Sharona. Even at this stage there is a preference for how Natalie deals with Monk's quirks and problems, seeming a little more caring and understanding than Sharona, and she and Monk click very well together. Traylor Howard is doing just fine, she captures the character's personality very well and looks comfortable doing so.
As said many times, one of the best things about 'Monk' has always been the acting of Tony Shalhoub in the title role. It was essential for him to work and be the glue of the show, and Shalhoub not only is that but also at his very best he IS the show. Have always loved the balance of the humour, which is often hilarious, and pathos, which is sincere and touching.
Jason Gray-Stanford (with a subplot that sees him more sympathetic than he can be) and Ted Levine (loved that he had more to do here and that it was all worthy of him) are great fun to watch and the four of them work so well. Faith Prince and Moon Bloodgood also give strong supporting turns.
The mystery is as said fun and engaging, most notable for the innovative (for 'Monk') use of the '24'-style dual-frame summation for not one but two final solutions done as one that also proves to be very entertaining. There is a real sense of danger here and Monk's witnessing of the second crime is reminiscent of 'Rear Window'.
Even better are the character moments, with some inspired dialogue and wonderful interaction. For hilarious moments, we have Monk's struggles with Nature, the slapstick scene with Stottlemeyer and the bed-post, when they get lost and especially celebrating Stottlemeyer's birthday in the storm. Found Stottlemeyer's hopes and dreams reminiscing very touching and done with a lot of heart.
It's not just the cast or story though. Another star is the writing, which is also essential to whether the show would be successful or not and succeed it does here. The mix of hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done. The quirks are sympathetically done and never exploited or overdone.
Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and 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. Oh and a good job is done with the different opening credits sequence to accommodate the changes made.
Overall, great episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox
A Monk in the Wild
Hitchcoc15 March 2020
When Monk is put in witness protection he ends up in a cabin with and FBI agent, Stottlemeyer, and Natalie. He is incredibly miserable. Across the lake some interesting things are going on. There is a scene where he accidentally touches a tree and gets something on his hands. He says, "I have nature on me. I need a wipe." I thought it was hilarious.
Witness protection
jotix1006 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Monk happens to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time! Natalie has left him waiting while she runs to do an errant. Monk, ever the perfectionist, wants to straighten the antenna in the car parked in front of his. Not only he succeeds in breaking the darn thing, but as he looks to the alley to his right, he watches as a young Asian man is killing someone. The killer flees, but he will never forget Monk's face.
The police determine to place Monk in a secluded cabin in the woods. It happens to be an FBI safe house. Stopping at a nearby country store to get a few things, Monk, Natalie and Stottlemeyer run into Martin and Karen Willoughby, who he finds live near the safe house. Martin is shopping for some rare lures he had ordered. Karen is not exactly a warm person.
As the friends settle for the night, Monk finds out he can't sleep because Stottlemeyer, sleeping on the upper part of the bunk bed, keeps throwing his foot into Monk's space. It starts pouring in the area, but Monk spies the Willoughbys cabin. He notices Karen taking a lot of ice bags, which make him think there is something afoul next door. He decides to investigate, awakening Natalie and Stottlemeyer. As they try to find a way to their neighbors' home, they get lost!
In the meantime, Randy, back in San Francisco, meets a gorgeous Oriental lady, Hayley. Their first date involves dinner at a Chinese restaurant. The meal ends with fortune cookies. Randy's message proves to be exactly as predicted, he will almost hit by a car, only to be saved by Hayley. There are a series of coincidences, that come in the hidden messages inside the cookies. As they have their third date, the message in the cookie warns Monk about a friend in danger. Hayley, turns out to have a hidden agenda and her seeing Randy has an ulterior motive.
A great episode directed by Jerry Levine and written by Hy Conrad. "Monk" is one of the most engaging series seen on television these days. Even the reruns are enjoyable, as was the case of this installment. Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford play so well together, engaging the viewer all the time. Guest stars Faith Prince and Moon Bloodgood have some good moments.
The police determine to place Monk in a secluded cabin in the woods. It happens to be an FBI safe house. Stopping at a nearby country store to get a few things, Monk, Natalie and Stottlemeyer run into Martin and Karen Willoughby, who he finds live near the safe house. Martin is shopping for some rare lures he had ordered. Karen is not exactly a warm person.
As the friends settle for the night, Monk finds out he can't sleep because Stottlemeyer, sleeping on the upper part of the bunk bed, keeps throwing his foot into Monk's space. It starts pouring in the area, but Monk spies the Willoughbys cabin. He notices Karen taking a lot of ice bags, which make him think there is something afoul next door. He decides to investigate, awakening Natalie and Stottlemeyer. As they try to find a way to their neighbors' home, they get lost!
In the meantime, Randy, back in San Francisco, meets a gorgeous Oriental lady, Hayley. Their first date involves dinner at a Chinese restaurant. The meal ends with fortune cookies. Randy's message proves to be exactly as predicted, he will almost hit by a car, only to be saved by Hayley. There are a series of coincidences, that come in the hidden messages inside the cookies. As they have their third date, the message in the cookie warns Monk about a friend in danger. Hayley, turns out to have a hidden agenda and her seeing Randy has an ulterior motive.
A great episode directed by Jerry Levine and written by Hy Conrad. "Monk" is one of the most engaging series seen on television these days. Even the reruns are enjoyable, as was the case of this installment. Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford play so well together, engaging the viewer all the time. Guest stars Faith Prince and Moon Bloodgood have some good moments.
Classic Monk
anthony-sorendino14 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This is such a classic episode and feels like a movie from start to finish. It's rare you get to see the gang go on an adventure like this. The resolution at the end with Monk and Randy is so clever.
The plot line with Randy was well done as well even though you catch on as the viewer pretty quickly.
The storyline with the wife and husband across the pond is a little campy, but it ties the story together nicely and it's entertaining to watch Monk figure out the crime while evading the sniper fire.
I like the little comment Natalie has at the end as well about the double indemnity clause. She makes an endearing look at Monk as to say "Yea, I'm worth every penny you're paying me."
The plot line with Randy was well done as well even though you catch on as the viewer pretty quickly.
The storyline with the wife and husband across the pond is a little campy, but it ties the story together nicely and it's entertaining to watch Monk figure out the crime while evading the sniper fire.
I like the little comment Natalie has at the end as well about the double indemnity clause. She makes an endearing look at Monk as to say "Yea, I'm worth every penny you're paying me."
The second worst Monk Episode of All time
snickzella25 June 2022
Where to start. This has to be one of the most unfunny and lamest things I have ever scene on Tv. What's sad, is this episode could have worked. Have the mystery be Monk goes into witness protection after witnessing a mob related crime, and the mob hires someone to kill monk, who is posing as a normal neighbor that is actually there to kill him. This could have been a good episode to have character development and what not. But instead, everything about this one sucks. The Jokes are bad, the mysteries are lame, and everything is just annoying to watch and sit through because there is hardly any thinking going on as your watching.
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