'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.
"Mr Monk and the 12th Man" very nearly was one of my favourites of Season 2. It is a great episode that does so much right and has a huge amount to enjoy, but comes up slightly short of being a classic. The Ian "the man with the pipe stuck in his head" Agnew scene did go on a little too long and didn't add as much to the case as it could have done, not everyone is going to find it tasteful either.
The murderer's motive for the killings is also pretty over-the-top, even for 'Monk', and is difficult to get your head round at first. Otherwise, everything else was great, which makes it a little frustrating that it had all the ingredients of being one of the season's and show's best episodes but doesn't quite make it.
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 has some very funny moments here, with Monk and with Disher, his monkland line sums up Monk and what Stottlemeyer thinks of him to a tee. Jason Gray-Stanford brings out Disher's quirks and goofiness really well, in the way that's endearing rather than annoying, Disher's jealousy with Sharona's chemistry with Kenny is well played and balances with everything else in the episode well. Kenny comes over as very likable and the chemistry with Sharona believable.
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.
Kenny is not the only good supporting character. The best is actually Mrs Ling, played with pitch-perfect comic timing by Lauren Tom, whose arguments with Monk over dry cleaning being a comic highlight. Wish that Kroger had more to do though.
The mystery is good, with some wonderfully bizarre murders and a clever ending. It was also really enjoyable to see how Monk came to the conclusions of who was responsible and why. You just have to suspend some disbelief over the motive, and the killer has a distinctive voice that makes them obvious quickly.
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.
In summary, great and almost a classic. 9/10 Bethany Cox
"Mr Monk and the 12th Man" very nearly was one of my favourites of Season 2. It is a great episode that does so much right and has a huge amount to enjoy, but comes up slightly short of being a classic. The Ian "the man with the pipe stuck in his head" Agnew scene did go on a little too long and didn't add as much to the case as it could have done, not everyone is going to find it tasteful either.
The murderer's motive for the killings is also pretty over-the-top, even for 'Monk', and is difficult to get your head round at first. Otherwise, everything else was great, which makes it a little frustrating that it had all the ingredients of being one of the season's and show's best episodes but doesn't quite make it.
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 has some very funny moments here, with Monk and with Disher, his monkland line sums up Monk and what Stottlemeyer thinks of him to a tee. Jason Gray-Stanford brings out Disher's quirks and goofiness really well, in the way that's endearing rather than annoying, Disher's jealousy with Sharona's chemistry with Kenny is well played and balances with everything else in the episode well. Kenny comes over as very likable and the chemistry with Sharona believable.
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.
Kenny is not the only good supporting character. The best is actually Mrs Ling, played with pitch-perfect comic timing by Lauren Tom, whose arguments with Monk over dry cleaning being a comic highlight. Wish that Kroger had more to do though.
The mystery is good, with some wonderfully bizarre murders and a clever ending. It was also really enjoyable to see how Monk came to the conclusions of who was responsible and why. You just have to suspend some disbelief over the motive, and the killer has a distinctive voice that makes them obvious quickly.
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.
In summary, great and almost a classic. 9/10 Bethany Cox
