'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.
Found "Mr Monk is Up All Night" an exceptional episode. One of the best episodes of Season 6, of the latter seasons and of the show, also the best one in a while. It is a very different 'Monk' episode, being more plot and mystery driven than most 'Monk' episodes lately and focusing less (while still not being devoid of them) on the character moments, the humour and the quirks. It was like it was returning to its original roots while also doing something different. The good news is that the mystery is one of the show's best in a long time, with a film noir feel and instead of being really obvious and taking a back-seat to the character moments, the mystery of the woman and the crime are real brain-teasers with an ending that is wonderfully unexpected.
The characterisation is still great. They did a fine job making us wonder whether Monk's lack of sleep/insomnia was making him see things or whether he was indeed telling the truth and that the criminals were being incredibly clever (the latter is what we expect throughout but are not sure). The four regulars are true to how they were originally written, even Disher is not the stupid, childish idiot he tended to be lately. One may need to suspend disbelief at how Monk keeps missing the mystery woman and Stottlemeyer getting drunk (very out of character), but these things do not bring the episode down in any way.
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, Ted Levine and Traylor Howard are on typically good form, particularly Levine whose Stottlemeyer plays a large role in the mystery being solved.
Writing is tight and thought-provoking with some knowing humour and poignancy. Monk's situation is done in a sympathetic albeit suspenseful way, and doesn't feel overdone or trivialised.
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. The episode as always look slick and unusually (a good thing) film-noir in style (almost as much as "Mr Monk and the Leper").
In summation, exceptional and one of the best in a while. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Found "Mr Monk is Up All Night" an exceptional episode. One of the best episodes of Season 6, of the latter seasons and of the show, also the best one in a while. It is a very different 'Monk' episode, being more plot and mystery driven than most 'Monk' episodes lately and focusing less (while still not being devoid of them) on the character moments, the humour and the quirks. It was like it was returning to its original roots while also doing something different. The good news is that the mystery is one of the show's best in a long time, with a film noir feel and instead of being really obvious and taking a back-seat to the character moments, the mystery of the woman and the crime are real brain-teasers with an ending that is wonderfully unexpected.
The characterisation is still great. They did a fine job making us wonder whether Monk's lack of sleep/insomnia was making him see things or whether he was indeed telling the truth and that the criminals were being incredibly clever (the latter is what we expect throughout but are not sure). The four regulars are true to how they were originally written, even Disher is not the stupid, childish idiot he tended to be lately. One may need to suspend disbelief at how Monk keeps missing the mystery woman and Stottlemeyer getting drunk (very out of character), but these things do not bring the episode down in any way.
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, Ted Levine and Traylor Howard are on typically good form, particularly Levine whose Stottlemeyer plays a large role in the mystery being solved.
Writing is tight and thought-provoking with some knowing humour and poignancy. Monk's situation is done in a sympathetic albeit suspenseful way, and doesn't feel overdone or trivialised.
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. The episode as always look slick and unusually (a good thing) film-noir in style (almost as much as "Mr Monk and the Leper").
In summation, exceptional and one of the best in a while. 10/10 Bethany Cox