'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.
There are better 'Monk' episodes than "Mr Monk is Someone Else", including in Season 8 (i.e. "Mr Monk and the Foreign Man"), but also worse ("Mr Monk and the Missing Granny", "Mr Monk and the Big Reward", "Mr Monk and the Rapper", "Mr Monk and the Really Really Dead Guy", "Mr Monk Takes a Punch", "Mr Monk Falls in Love" and "Mr Monk and the UFO" are particularly disappointing). "Mr Monk is Someone Else" is a very enjoyable episode though, and somehow manages to make an implausible concept (Monk having an evil doppelganger and becoming a hit-man) work when it shouldn't have done.
It is lacking in the mystery department, despite the clever ending there just isn't anything really surprising or imaginative here. There are things like Monk being happy to work for the FBI (considering how he was treated by them in previous episodes) and getting into the role of becoming his doppelganger happening rather too easily as well.
However, the episode provides some funny moments (will admit to having a giggle at the photo of DePalma and trying to imagine an evil Monk) and nice quirky little things (like with the tie), while Monk being a tough guy also works because while he could have come over as unnecessarily mean being deliberately out of character there are legitimate reasons given for the way he acts here. Seeing him really getting into it was well done, and as good a character Harold Krenshaw seeing him pushed around was entertaining.
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, Jason Gray-Stanford and Ted Levine are all fine too, their material is strong enough and they're in character. The supporting cast is good.
Writing is funny, quirky and thoughtful and the characterisation of Monk is different but also with shades of the old Monk with great Monk-ish behaviour that is unique in an only Monk way.
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.
Overall, very enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox
There are better 'Monk' episodes than "Mr Monk is Someone Else", including in Season 8 (i.e. "Mr Monk and the Foreign Man"), but also worse ("Mr Monk and the Missing Granny", "Mr Monk and the Big Reward", "Mr Monk and the Rapper", "Mr Monk and the Really Really Dead Guy", "Mr Monk Takes a Punch", "Mr Monk Falls in Love" and "Mr Monk and the UFO" are particularly disappointing). "Mr Monk is Someone Else" is a very enjoyable episode though, and somehow manages to make an implausible concept (Monk having an evil doppelganger and becoming a hit-man) work when it shouldn't have done.
It is lacking in the mystery department, despite the clever ending there just isn't anything really surprising or imaginative here. There are things like Monk being happy to work for the FBI (considering how he was treated by them in previous episodes) and getting into the role of becoming his doppelganger happening rather too easily as well.
However, the episode provides some funny moments (will admit to having a giggle at the photo of DePalma and trying to imagine an evil Monk) and nice quirky little things (like with the tie), while Monk being a tough guy also works because while he could have come over as unnecessarily mean being deliberately out of character there are legitimate reasons given for the way he acts here. Seeing him really getting into it was well done, and as good a character Harold Krenshaw seeing him pushed around was entertaining.
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, Jason Gray-Stanford and Ted Levine are all fine too, their material is strong enough and they're in character. The supporting cast is good.
Writing is funny, quirky and thoughtful and the characterisation of Monk is different but also with shades of the old Monk with great Monk-ish behaviour that is unique in an only Monk way.
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.
Overall, very enjoyable. 8/10 Bethany Cox