'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.
Having loved the previous episode "Mr Monk Goes to the Wedding", "Mr Monk and Little Monk" was a slight disappointment but was still a fun and very interesting episode that did a lot right. To have two crimes, one in flashback and one in the present day, interwoven was another change from the formula and a great idea. Different is not always done well, have seen some interesting failures in my short life, but "Mr Monk and Little Monk" and the other previous atypical episodes are examples of different working.
There are imperfections sure. The flashback mystery, despite not being a murder and actually a school theft, is slightly more interesting than the present day case, partly because the chemistry between younger Monk and Sherry. The present day case is still paced well, with some nice clues, lovely character moments and fun deductions and an engaging story in its own right. The solution to me was a little too silly and borderline confusing, the motive was rather extreme. The solution of the past flashback, despite being obvious from the get go, was easier to swallow and a little cleverer in how the crime was done. More Disher and Stottlemeyer wouldn't have gone amiss either.
Despite how all this sounds, "Mr Monk and Little Monk didn't feel too much of an excuse to look into Monk's teenage past or become gimmicky. Granted it is at the forefront but most of everything else balances well with it and doesn't feel under-utilised. The flashbacks are very sweet and nicely filmed, with Grant Rossenmeyer doing a great job as younger Monk, capturing the quirks and such perfectly without being too much of an imitation. Rose Abdoo shows great comic timing as his mother, and it was nice to see where some of Monk's quirks and obsessions originated from.
Natalie is more settled than in previous appearances. She has a down-to-earth-ness, sensitivity and sass that makes one warm to her as well as being more sympathetic to Monk's issues. Traylor Howard is doing fine, not amazing as of yet but hardly amateur hour.
As said many times, 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.
He is very well matched by Donna Bullock, it is hard not to be charmed and touched by their chemistry which tells a lot about them and Bullock gives a performance of charm and vulnerability, one can totally see why Monk would want to help Sherry.
Character moments-wise, the highlights are the flashbacks, the bikers fight and especially the double summation.
It's not just the cast or story 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 wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done, particularly the last one. The quirks are sympathetically done and never exploited or overdone.
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. Oh and a good job is done with the different opening credits sequence to accommodate the changes made.
In summation, very good atypical episode even if the execution was not perfect. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Having loved the previous episode "Mr Monk Goes to the Wedding", "Mr Monk and Little Monk" was a slight disappointment but was still a fun and very interesting episode that did a lot right. To have two crimes, one in flashback and one in the present day, interwoven was another change from the formula and a great idea. Different is not always done well, have seen some interesting failures in my short life, but "Mr Monk and Little Monk" and the other previous atypical episodes are examples of different working.
There are imperfections sure. The flashback mystery, despite not being a murder and actually a school theft, is slightly more interesting than the present day case, partly because the chemistry between younger Monk and Sherry. The present day case is still paced well, with some nice clues, lovely character moments and fun deductions and an engaging story in its own right. The solution to me was a little too silly and borderline confusing, the motive was rather extreme. The solution of the past flashback, despite being obvious from the get go, was easier to swallow and a little cleverer in how the crime was done. More Disher and Stottlemeyer wouldn't have gone amiss either.
Despite how all this sounds, "Mr Monk and Little Monk didn't feel too much of an excuse to look into Monk's teenage past or become gimmicky. Granted it is at the forefront but most of everything else balances well with it and doesn't feel under-utilised. The flashbacks are very sweet and nicely filmed, with Grant Rossenmeyer doing a great job as younger Monk, capturing the quirks and such perfectly without being too much of an imitation. Rose Abdoo shows great comic timing as his mother, and it was nice to see where some of Monk's quirks and obsessions originated from.
Natalie is more settled than in previous appearances. She has a down-to-earth-ness, sensitivity and sass that makes one warm to her as well as being more sympathetic to Monk's issues. Traylor Howard is doing fine, not amazing as of yet but hardly amateur hour.
As said many times, 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.
He is very well matched by Donna Bullock, it is hard not to be charmed and touched by their chemistry which tells a lot about them and Bullock gives a performance of charm and vulnerability, one can totally see why Monk would want to help Sherry.
Character moments-wise, the highlights are the flashbacks, the bikers fight and especially the double summation.
It's not just the cast or story 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 wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done, particularly the last one. The quirks are sympathetically done and never exploited or overdone.
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. Oh and a good job is done with the different opening credits sequence to accommodate the changes made.
In summation, very good atypical episode even if the execution was not perfect. 8/10 Bethany Cox