'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.
It was very welcoming and interesting to have an atypical episode to usual, focusing more on the more emotional aspects, being more of a dramedy episodes and focusing more on the characterisation than the mystery. While it was very cleverly set up and compelling all the way through, the premise, especially when revealed what was really going on, was rather cruel due to how the whole situation affected Monk as badly as it did. The episode sags ever so slightly in the middle with a plot twist that bordered on too much on what you find on animated mystery solving.
However, "Mr Monk and Mrs Monk" does have a pretty good and engaging mystery, even if you do kind of figure out what's going on early on but that doesn't take away from things too much, with a particularly great final act. It begins incredibly well, already stepping away from the usual formula and doing something completely different to how the viewer expects it to start.
Where "Mr Monk and Mrs Monk" especially excels is in the characterisation and emotional moments, it is easily one of the most emotional episodes. How it all affects Monk is truly heart-breaking and one really feels for him. Like when he has to recall his life's worst ever moment. Really loved how Natalie, Stottlemeyer and Disher react to him and show even more sympathy to usual, Stottlemeyer especially showing his softer side which he doesn't get to do often. The episode is not without its comedic moments, though they are wisely kept at minimum. They pretty much all come from Stottlemeyer and Disher, the funniest being the barbecue scene.
Natalie is more settled than in previous appearances. She has a down-to-earth-ness, sensitivity and sass that makes one warm to her as well as being more sympathetic to Monk's issues. Traylor Howard also does some of her better acting yet as the character.
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. There is more emphasis on the pathos and emotion here, which really allows Shalhoub's already great acting chops to stretch and Shalhoub to me has never been more moving than here.
Jason Gray-Stanford and Ted Levine are amusing and sympathetic, especially Levine. Melora Hardin is also very good.
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 wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done, particularly the last one. The quirks are sympathetically done and never exploited or overdone. It was also nice to see that it seemed like Monk was getting better until things get worse when the mystery aspects kick in.
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.
In summary, a great episode that broke my heart with Shalhoub really selling it. 9/10 Bethany Cox
16 out of 31 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
