Mr. Monk and the Sleeping Suspect
- Episode aired Aug 8, 2003
- TV-PG
- 44m
A series of mail bombs target three wealthy siblings, but Monk thinks one of the brothers is actually responsible. The problem is, he's been in a coma for the last four months.A series of mail bombs target three wealthy siblings, but Monk thinks one of the brothers is actually responsible. The problem is, he's been in a coma for the last four months.A series of mail bombs target three wealthy siblings, but Monk thinks one of the brothers is actually responsible. The problem is, he's been in a coma for the last four months.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaNurse Stempel says "like the Addams Family." Tony Shalhoub played a minor character in Addams Family Values (1993).
- GoofsOne of the main clues involves an unusually tied knot in a string tied around a package mailed to the murder victim. In reality, the U.S. Postal Service has not accepted packages secured with string since at least the 1980s because the strings cannot pass through mail-sorting equipment. Packages must be secured with tape.
- Quotes
Captain Leland Stottlemeyer: Monk, I have known fifteen thousand criminals in my lifetime. Here's what they all have in common: THEY'RE CONSCIOUS!
Adrian Monk: Nonetheless.
Captain Leland Stottlemeyer: Is your shrink coming back soon?
- ConnectionsReferences The Howdy Doody Show (1947)
"Mr Monk and the Sleeping Suspect" is like "Mr Monk Goes Back to School" and "Mr Monk Goes to the Theater" as one of the episodes that got me interested in 'Monk' in the first place. Like those two episodes, it is not only one of Season 2's best episodes but also of the entire show. It achieves a perfect balance of humour and mystery and the story itself is one of the season's and show's cleverest.
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 right from the first episode to when the show ended 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. The two are so enjoyable together and the best detective duo of any show in recent years from personal opinion.
Ted Levine's performance is one of his funniest he's ever given, not just as Stottlemeyer but of his career. Especially in his rapport with Monk, which is one of the finest examples of what 'Monk' is all about and its appeal. Jason Gray-Stanford is growing in confidence and comic timing with each episode, as is the chemistry with the other three leads.
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, of which some of the funniest writing of the whole show is in this episode. The character moments are such a joy with the principal cast are always.
Standout character moments are the scene with the vacuum and the life supporter machine (which is a fine example of Monk's character), Monk's hearing problem and one of the most hilarious exchanges between Monk and Stottlemeyer.
Here the mystery is incredibly compelling and clever, with one of the show's most ingenious endings that will leave one floored. Even when the suspect is not a surprise, the motive and how the crimes are done are a huge shock.
Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and 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, wonderful and one of the best episodes. 10/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jul 18, 2017