'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.
Liked, but not loved, the season opener "Mr Monk Buys a House" and loved, apart from a couple of problems, "Mr Monk and the Genius". Really liked this episode even though it's not one of my favourites. My major misgiving was with Monk, he is a great character and he has some fun moments (like in Malcolm O'Dwyer's apartment in a very funny exchange between him and Stottlemeyer) but he comes over as out of character. Really disliked his treatment of Natalie here, his jealousy and rudeness (like calling her a bimbo and mocking her) was so unlike him and not justified because there was no reason for it.
For my liking too, the killer was revealed a little too early after such a clever and brain-teasing first half. The motives and how various characters are linked to the crime are not obvious and cleverly done, how it's all deduced and summed up is neatly satisfying.
'Monk' rarely leaves the viewer short changed however when it comes to character moments. "Mr Monk Gets Lotto Fever" delivers on this front. Really liked Natalie getting the spotlight and coming into her own (her first show ad-libbing was priceless, one of my favourite Natalie moments), Stottlemeyer has some comedy gold moments like in the apartment and relating to the lottery and Disher also has some cracking lines such as "I guess her number came up".
When it comes to the mystery itself, it is very clever and with some nice twists and unexpected moments. Let down only by the too early reveal of the killer.
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, while other episodes have done that much better when Monk was in character Shalhoub still does wonderfully with what he's given.
As Natalie, Traylor Howard gets to show more range and has the sassiness down pat as well as the charm and one actually feels sorry for her. Jason Gray-Stanford makes the most of his great lines, and while a goofball he's an endearing not an annoying idiot. Ted Levine shows how good his comedic chops are.
Writing has the usual wry humour, sympathetically treated quirks and tender easy-to-relate-drama.
Visually, the episode is slick and stylish as ever. 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.
Summing up, very good though how Monk is written didn't connect with me. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Liked, but not loved, the season opener "Mr Monk Buys a House" and loved, apart from a couple of problems, "Mr Monk and the Genius". Really liked this episode even though it's not one of my favourites. My major misgiving was with Monk, he is a great character and he has some fun moments (like in Malcolm O'Dwyer's apartment in a very funny exchange between him and Stottlemeyer) but he comes over as out of character. Really disliked his treatment of Natalie here, his jealousy and rudeness (like calling her a bimbo and mocking her) was so unlike him and not justified because there was no reason for it.
For my liking too, the killer was revealed a little too early after such a clever and brain-teasing first half. The motives and how various characters are linked to the crime are not obvious and cleverly done, how it's all deduced and summed up is neatly satisfying.
'Monk' rarely leaves the viewer short changed however when it comes to character moments. "Mr Monk Gets Lotto Fever" delivers on this front. Really liked Natalie getting the spotlight and coming into her own (her first show ad-libbing was priceless, one of my favourite Natalie moments), Stottlemeyer has some comedy gold moments like in the apartment and relating to the lottery and Disher also has some cracking lines such as "I guess her number came up".
When it comes to the mystery itself, it is very clever and with some nice twists and unexpected moments. Let down only by the too early reveal of the killer.
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, while other episodes have done that much better when Monk was in character Shalhoub still does wonderfully with what he's given.
As Natalie, Traylor Howard gets to show more range and has the sassiness down pat as well as the charm and one actually feels sorry for her. Jason Gray-Stanford makes the most of his great lines, and while a goofball he's an endearing not an annoying idiot. Ted Levine shows how good his comedic chops are.
Writing has the usual wry humour, sympathetically treated quirks and tender easy-to-relate-drama.
Visually, the episode is slick and stylish as ever. 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.
Summing up, very good though how Monk is written didn't connect with me. 8/10 Bethany Cox