'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 and the Psychic" is only the third episode and the show is showing no signs of declining.
When it comes to naming favourite episodes of mine from 'Monk', "Mr Monk and the Psychic" is up there and a perfect example of when the show was particularly great and how strong it was because changes with the formula. Some 'Monk' episodes are better than others, which is true of most shows, but that is true of many shows, even the best ones have not so good episodes and even they on the most part are still better than a lot of shows at their weakest.
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. It is remarkable here that for an episode that only introduces him that one likes him straight away, even with his quirks and deficiencies that could easily have been overplayed, and also that he is better developed than most titular characters of other shows at this particular stage. Who can't help love Monk's brilliant mind too?
He is very well supported by a sharp and no-nonsense but also sympathetic Bitty Schram, whose Sharona makes for a worthy and entertaining partner for Monk's sleuthing and somebody with a maternal side. There is always a debate at who's better between Sharona and Natalie, personally like both in their own way and consider them both attractive though as of now leaning towards Natalie as the better acted and more attentive of the two.
Also by a very amusing, and sometimes even funnier than that, Ted Levine, what a difference from his Buffalo Bill in 'The Silence of the Lambs'. Jason Gray-Stanford is not quite as entertaining, with not quite as memorable lines (only because the other three are so good that's all) but shows great chemistry with everyone and is appealing enough. The supporting cast work well, with good performances from Linda Kash as the dotty psychic and John Bourgeois.
It's not just the cast 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 but extremely deft, which elevates what could have been just a conventional and formulaic story to a greater level.
On paper, the story may have been conventional but is absorbing and clever with some nice twists, and it was wonderful to see and hear Monk's deductions, some of which like with the pebble ingenious. The car seat one is one that the viewer would pick up before the characters do but is well interwoven into the case solving. The banter between Monk and Sharona was immensely enjoyable and a large part of the episode's charm. The ending is a little implausible but neatly wrapped up and easy to comprehend and it was not in a way that would bring down the episode that badly.
"Mr Monk and the Psychic" is shot in a slick and stylish way, and the music is both understated and quirky. Much prefer the jazzy Season 1 theme tune to the later "It's a Jungle Out There", which always struck me before as one of my least favourite assets of 'Monk' but has since grown on me, which should have been kept. It's all very capably directed throughout.
All in all, another winner from Season 1 and 'Monk' overall. 10/10 Bethany Cox
When it comes to naming favourite episodes of mine from 'Monk', "Mr Monk and the Psychic" is up there and a perfect example of when the show was particularly great and how strong it was because changes with the formula. Some 'Monk' episodes are better than others, which is true of most shows, but that is true of many shows, even the best ones have not so good episodes and even they on the most part are still better than a lot of shows at their weakest.
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. It is remarkable here that for an episode that only introduces him that one likes him straight away, even with his quirks and deficiencies that could easily have been overplayed, and also that he is better developed than most titular characters of other shows at this particular stage. Who can't help love Monk's brilliant mind too?
He is very well supported by a sharp and no-nonsense but also sympathetic Bitty Schram, whose Sharona makes for a worthy and entertaining partner for Monk's sleuthing and somebody with a maternal side. There is always a debate at who's better between Sharona and Natalie, personally like both in their own way and consider them both attractive though as of now leaning towards Natalie as the better acted and more attentive of the two.
Also by a very amusing, and sometimes even funnier than that, Ted Levine, what a difference from his Buffalo Bill in 'The Silence of the Lambs'. Jason Gray-Stanford is not quite as entertaining, with not quite as memorable lines (only because the other three are so good that's all) but shows great chemistry with everyone and is appealing enough. The supporting cast work well, with good performances from Linda Kash as the dotty psychic and John Bourgeois.
It's not just the cast 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 but extremely deft, which elevates what could have been just a conventional and formulaic story to a greater level.
On paper, the story may have been conventional but is absorbing and clever with some nice twists, and it was wonderful to see and hear Monk's deductions, some of which like with the pebble ingenious. The car seat one is one that the viewer would pick up before the characters do but is well interwoven into the case solving. The banter between Monk and Sharona was immensely enjoyable and a large part of the episode's charm. The ending is a little implausible but neatly wrapped up and easy to comprehend and it was not in a way that would bring down the episode that badly.
"Mr Monk and the Psychic" is shot in a slick and stylish way, and the music is both understated and quirky. Much prefer the jazzy Season 1 theme tune to the later "It's a Jungle Out There", which always struck me before as one of my least favourite assets of 'Monk' but has since grown on me, which should have been kept. It's all very capably directed throughout.
All in all, another winner from Season 1 and 'Monk' overall. 10/10 Bethany Cox