'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.
While not as special as "Mr Monk Goes Home Again" (which is one of my favourite 'Monk' episodes), "Mr Monk Stays in Bed" is an improvement over the decent but unbalanced season opener "Mr Monk and the Other Detective". It is enormously enjoyable stuff, with some of the funniest moments of the entire show, but Monk's illness and how he makes a big deal of it is more memorable than the still very well constructed and absorbing mystery where neither the who, how and why are obvious until later on.
There is perhaps a little too much focus on Natalie. One can understand why to some extent in trying to make her personality a little more interesting and differentiated. Mostly it comes off well and one admires her tenacity in solving the case when nobody else will, but at this point she was much better as Monk's partner/helper than what is essentially the main crime solver where she seemed a little out of her depth. There are occasions where she is a little whiny and self-absorbed, like how she reacts to Monk's actually understandable (especially in that way, while "Polly Wolly Doodle" is hardly a bad tune you do find yourself annoyed with it at the episode's end) irritation at Julie's get well soon card. On the most part though she is settling in well, her chemistry with Monk is sparkling even more, her personality is starting to become more differentiated and more interesting, she's useful and the two characters function very well together. 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 just fine.
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.
Jason Gray-Stanford and particularly Ted Levine are very amusing, especially in the hilarious table mix up and Stottlemeyer's rapport with Monk.
While the mystery is diverting, with an edge-of-your-seat suspenseful climax (love Monk's role here, he has never been braver), it's the character moments that shine more. Not just the table mix up and Stottlemeyer and Monk but especially everything centred around Monk's illness. Monk's belief that he has the Ebola Virus, the way he insists the tissue be disposed of and the "Polly Wolly Doodle" card (which no matter how irritating it is proves to be vital to the case being solved) are particular standout moments.
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 hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done. 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.
Altogether, great episode if not quite a favourite. 9/10 Bethany Cox
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