'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.
Season 8 up to this point was a mixed bag, with a few very good episodes ("Someone Else", "Voodoo Curse" and particularly "Foreign Man"), a few decent ones ("Favourite Show", "Happy Birthday Mr Monk" and "Goes to Group Therapy") and a few disappointing ones ("Critic", "Takes the Stand" and especially "UFO"). While it was not quite the amazing episode it could have been, signalling the long overdue return of Monk's first assistant Sharona, "Mr Monk and Sharona" is one of the very good episodes of Season 8.
It could have been better. There are a couple of puzzling lapses in continuity, with the writers seeming to forget that Sharona had a younger sister implied when talking about her uncle being her only relative (a whole episode revolved around her in Season 2 "Mr Monk Goes to the Theater") and Monk overcoming his claustrophobia in "Mr Monk Goes to Group Therapy" which was not what the closet scene suggested. There are a couple of scenes that came over as a little too silly, the closet scene (the whole scene in the house even) could have been funny or tense or both but was neither and rivalled Monk being mistaken for an alien as silliness at the most extreme and misplaced for Season 8. The denouement wasn't as clever as it could have been, the how, why and who aspect was clever but how it was all explained and such was staged a little too ridiculously and almost like a gimmick.
More could have been done with how Sharona's abrupt departure affected Monk, here he didn't just not seem upset about it it was like he was oblivious, since the departure was 4 and a half seasons ago that was very hard to buy. Natalie and Sharona's conversation and the hug were flashes of this happening, and it was done beautifully. Sharona is delightful and has everything that makes her a great character in the first place. With that being said, she didn't always seem in character, for a family death regardless of how little she knew him she was much too indifferent (Monk didn't know the man at all but showed much more urgency than her), accentuated in the repeated (and very cold) line about only meeting him twice. Can understand about her concerns about the money though, and don't think she came over as greedy.
However, there is a huge amount to enjoy in "Mr Monk and Sharona". While the mystery is an intriguing one, it is not as prominent and not as memorable as the character moments. Throughout the character moments were truly delightful. Particularly well done was the sparring between Sharona and Natalie. That sparkles in wit and humour but one does see their concern and care for Monk and also their contrasting personalities, Sharona being sharper and no-nonsense and Natalie more compassionate and sympathetic, this came over very believably. Disher and Stottlemeyer actually aren't underused here and their material is not beneath them. Disher is endearingly goofy but also sweet, while Stottlemeyer's argument with the rest of the characters is an episode highlight. He also has one of the best lines in his spot on analogy in comparing Sharona and Natalie, which sums up my thoughts on them perfectly and it has been the most perceptive he's been in a long time. The hug was very nuanced and moving, conveying a lot without having to do much, liked the grave scene and Sharona and Natalie's end conversation too.
What also makes "Mr Monk and Sharona" very good is how, like Season 8 was already showing, it resolved long-term issues. Season 8 started gradually seeing Monk making progress conquering phobias, and "Mr Monk and Sharona" gives closure for those who were unsatisfied by Sharona's departure and how half-heartedly she was written out. The whole Sharona or Natalie conflict also feels resolved. Really liked the unique way of how the crime is solved, instead of too early conclusion-jumping or doing things very methodically it's done in smaller stages which is unusual for 'Monk' and works so much better than in many latter season episodes.
One of the best things about 'Monk' has always been Tony Shalhoub, who was as Monk consistently one of the best things about every episode regardless of what material is thrown at him.. 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.
Bitty Schram captures Sharona's feisty, no-nonsense, caring and nurturing qualities very well and like she never left. Traylor Howard is down-to-earth, sassy and sympathetic, Jason Gray-Stanford is amusing and Ted Levine is able to give more dimension than any other episode of Season 8 so far (one sees him being serious about his job but one sees him as a loyal, sympathetic friend who is the voice-of-reason). The rest of the cast do well but no standouts as such.
The writing is quirky and wry, with some very funny lines from Monk but also some thought-provoking ones like Stottlemeyer's Natalie and Sharona comparison.
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.
All in all, very good but not quite great. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Season 8 up to this point was a mixed bag, with a few very good episodes ("Someone Else", "Voodoo Curse" and particularly "Foreign Man"), a few decent ones ("Favourite Show", "Happy Birthday Mr Monk" and "Goes to Group Therapy") and a few disappointing ones ("Critic", "Takes the Stand" and especially "UFO"). While it was not quite the amazing episode it could have been, signalling the long overdue return of Monk's first assistant Sharona, "Mr Monk and Sharona" is one of the very good episodes of Season 8.
It could have been better. There are a couple of puzzling lapses in continuity, with the writers seeming to forget that Sharona had a younger sister implied when talking about her uncle being her only relative (a whole episode revolved around her in Season 2 "Mr Monk Goes to the Theater") and Monk overcoming his claustrophobia in "Mr Monk Goes to Group Therapy" which was not what the closet scene suggested. There are a couple of scenes that came over as a little too silly, the closet scene (the whole scene in the house even) could have been funny or tense or both but was neither and rivalled Monk being mistaken for an alien as silliness at the most extreme and misplaced for Season 8. The denouement wasn't as clever as it could have been, the how, why and who aspect was clever but how it was all explained and such was staged a little too ridiculously and almost like a gimmick.
More could have been done with how Sharona's abrupt departure affected Monk, here he didn't just not seem upset about it it was like he was oblivious, since the departure was 4 and a half seasons ago that was very hard to buy. Natalie and Sharona's conversation and the hug were flashes of this happening, and it was done beautifully. Sharona is delightful and has everything that makes her a great character in the first place. With that being said, she didn't always seem in character, for a family death regardless of how little she knew him she was much too indifferent (Monk didn't know the man at all but showed much more urgency than her), accentuated in the repeated (and very cold) line about only meeting him twice. Can understand about her concerns about the money though, and don't think she came over as greedy.
However, there is a huge amount to enjoy in "Mr Monk and Sharona". While the mystery is an intriguing one, it is not as prominent and not as memorable as the character moments. Throughout the character moments were truly delightful. Particularly well done was the sparring between Sharona and Natalie. That sparkles in wit and humour but one does see their concern and care for Monk and also their contrasting personalities, Sharona being sharper and no-nonsense and Natalie more compassionate and sympathetic, this came over very believably. Disher and Stottlemeyer actually aren't underused here and their material is not beneath them. Disher is endearingly goofy but also sweet, while Stottlemeyer's argument with the rest of the characters is an episode highlight. He also has one of the best lines in his spot on analogy in comparing Sharona and Natalie, which sums up my thoughts on them perfectly and it has been the most perceptive he's been in a long time. The hug was very nuanced and moving, conveying a lot without having to do much, liked the grave scene and Sharona and Natalie's end conversation too.
What also makes "Mr Monk and Sharona" very good is how, like Season 8 was already showing, it resolved long-term issues. Season 8 started gradually seeing Monk making progress conquering phobias, and "Mr Monk and Sharona" gives closure for those who were unsatisfied by Sharona's departure and how half-heartedly she was written out. The whole Sharona or Natalie conflict also feels resolved. Really liked the unique way of how the crime is solved, instead of too early conclusion-jumping or doing things very methodically it's done in smaller stages which is unusual for 'Monk' and works so much better than in many latter season episodes.
One of the best things about 'Monk' has always been Tony Shalhoub, who was as Monk consistently one of the best things about every episode regardless of what material is thrown at him.. 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.
Bitty Schram captures Sharona's feisty, no-nonsense, caring and nurturing qualities very well and like she never left. Traylor Howard is down-to-earth, sassy and sympathetic, Jason Gray-Stanford is amusing and Ted Levine is able to give more dimension than any other episode of Season 8 so far (one sees him being serious about his job but one sees him as a loyal, sympathetic friend who is the voice-of-reason). The rest of the cast do well but no standouts as such.
The writing is quirky and wry, with some very funny lines from Monk but also some thought-provoking ones like Stottlemeyer's Natalie and Sharona comparison.
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.
All in all, very good but not quite great. 8/10 Bethany Cox