Mr. Monk and the Bad Girlfriend
- Episode aired Aug 3, 2007
- TV-PG
- 44m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
When a realtor is shot and killed while showing a house to a couple, Monk and Natalie suspect the killer to be the victim's partner - who happens to be Stottlemeyer's girlfriend Linda Fusco.When a realtor is shot and killed while showing a house to a couple, Monk and Natalie suspect the killer to be the victim's partner - who happens to be Stottlemeyer's girlfriend Linda Fusco.When a realtor is shot and killed while showing a house to a couple, Monk and Natalie suspect the killer to be the victim's partner - who happens to be Stottlemeyer's girlfriend Linda Fusco.
Chris Krauser
- Uniformed Cop
- (uncredited)
Hawk Younkins
- Detective Adams
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaErica Yoder appears as a physical education (PE) teacher in this episode. In Mr. Monk Goes Back to School (2003)(#2.1) she was an English teacher.
- GoofsEarly on the investigation is depicted as being handled by police in Marin where the crime scene is located with Lt. Hendrix as lead detective. But this angle is quickly dropped, most prominently by having Leland interview a lead suspect and later confess to Linda that the San Francisco Police have reached a dead end to solving the case as if the murder happened in SFPD's jurisdiction.
- Quotes
Natalie Teeger: [as Monk mounts the motorcycle behind Nathalie] Okay, here we go. Born to be mild!
- ConnectionsReferences Easy Rider (1969)
Featured review
Linda a murderer?
'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 6 up to this point in the season was very much mixed. Didn't care for "Mr Monk and the Rapper", which is one of my least favourite 'Monk' episodes, but "Mr Monk and His Biggest Fan" and "Mr Monk and the Naked Man" despite having their faults were entertaining. "Mr Monk and the Bad Girlfriend" is the best of the four episodes up to this point in Season 6 and even one of the better faring 'Monk' episodes since Season 4. It's a great episode and almost a classic, though Monk's baseless conclusion jumping too quickly is still a problem and the ending is not that much of a surprise and the "how" aspect, while not as guessable as the "who" (one is convinced to begin with it's the opposite but putting things together it becomes more obvious despite wanting to be wrong) and "why" aspects, was somewhat improbable.
What "Mr Monk and the Bad Girlfriend" does have and excels most in is the character development, which is the best it's been in a while. Monk is much closer to his old self, his obsessiveness more believable, a better balance and it's only the conclusion jumping actually that doesn't satisfy. Natalie is sassy and sympathetic and her chemistry with Monk here is some of the strongest it's been so far since she first joined.
Disher is also closer to his old self, his comic relief actually being funny and he also is sympathetic here, rather than the face-palmingly stupid and childish goofball he was starting to become. The revelation is Stottlemeyer, he is not the underused and stock stereotype reduced to barely memorable background, this is the old Stottlemeyer with the great seesaw chemistry and the mix of loyal, gruff and amusing while showing a darker and softer side. Linda adds a lot to the episode.
Loved the character moments. Completely understood Stottlemeyer's reactions to Monk's accusations, hardly a surprise seeing as whenever Stottlemeyer shows a darker and softer side the viewer can totally see why he's feeling that way and how, and Disher contributes nicely. The best Monk moments are when he pretends to be an FBI agent and the scene with the motorcycle, two of the best moments of Season 6.
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.
Traylor Howard is solid, as is Jason Gray-Stanford. Sharon Lawrence is very good guest support, doing well in making one unsure as to whether she is guilty or not. Ted Levine has his meatiest material since perhaps "Mr Monk and the Captain's Marriage" and he brings so many nuances to what he's given and makes Stottlemeyer very relatable, have not been able to (despite always loving the character) say that about him in a while.
Writing-wise, 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.
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. The episode is made with a lot of slickness and style as always.
Overall, great but could have been a classic. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Season 6 up to this point in the season was very much mixed. Didn't care for "Mr Monk and the Rapper", which is one of my least favourite 'Monk' episodes, but "Mr Monk and His Biggest Fan" and "Mr Monk and the Naked Man" despite having their faults were entertaining. "Mr Monk and the Bad Girlfriend" is the best of the four episodes up to this point in Season 6 and even one of the better faring 'Monk' episodes since Season 4. It's a great episode and almost a classic, though Monk's baseless conclusion jumping too quickly is still a problem and the ending is not that much of a surprise and the "how" aspect, while not as guessable as the "who" (one is convinced to begin with it's the opposite but putting things together it becomes more obvious despite wanting to be wrong) and "why" aspects, was somewhat improbable.
What "Mr Monk and the Bad Girlfriend" does have and excels most in is the character development, which is the best it's been in a while. Monk is much closer to his old self, his obsessiveness more believable, a better balance and it's only the conclusion jumping actually that doesn't satisfy. Natalie is sassy and sympathetic and her chemistry with Monk here is some of the strongest it's been so far since she first joined.
Disher is also closer to his old self, his comic relief actually being funny and he also is sympathetic here, rather than the face-palmingly stupid and childish goofball he was starting to become. The revelation is Stottlemeyer, he is not the underused and stock stereotype reduced to barely memorable background, this is the old Stottlemeyer with the great seesaw chemistry and the mix of loyal, gruff and amusing while showing a darker and softer side. Linda adds a lot to the episode.
Loved the character moments. Completely understood Stottlemeyer's reactions to Monk's accusations, hardly a surprise seeing as whenever Stottlemeyer shows a darker and softer side the viewer can totally see why he's feeling that way and how, and Disher contributes nicely. The best Monk moments are when he pretends to be an FBI agent and the scene with the motorcycle, two of the best moments of Season 6.
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.
Traylor Howard is solid, as is Jason Gray-Stanford. Sharon Lawrence is very good guest support, doing well in making one unsure as to whether she is guilty or not. Ted Levine has his meatiest material since perhaps "Mr Monk and the Captain's Marriage" and he brings so many nuances to what he's given and makes Stottlemeyer very relatable, have not been able to (despite always loving the character) say that about him in a while.
Writing-wise, 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.
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. The episode is made with a lot of slickness and style as always.
Overall, great but could have been a classic. 9/10 Bethany Cox
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Sep 1, 2017
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