Stottlemeyer is at the center her. When his wife is nearly killed, he goes bananas. They have a tense relationship. She bullies him. She demeans him. She spends way beyond their means, so it's understandable. I don't find her very pleasant at all, but love can be an interesting factor. Here, he goes way beyond acceptability as Randy tries to rein him in. He goes after a guy who would be a good suspect but the man has rights too. There is a great scene where Monk takes the Captain's kids to a fifties restaurant which proves utter torture.
4 Reviews
Bad Lieutenant
safenoe15 February 2020
Here Captain Stottlemeyer is on the hunt, the hunt for the killer of a sniper, and it's personal. That's because the Captain's wife Karen (Glenne Headly) was injured as the result of the sniper attack. We learn they have two children, Jared and Max. It's hard to imagine the Captain is played by Ted Levine, famous for being Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs. The Captain displays a darker side in this episode where seeks revenge beyond the badge. Bad Lieutenant. I almost expected Stottlemeyer to rip the tongue out of the cuprit just like Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal would be proud of Stottlemeyer.
I Think this was a union thing all along
snickzella14 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
In this episode Karen Stottlemyer is in a nearly fatal car accident, which was caused by a sniper shooting a tow truck driver, who was a scab from a union that was on strike. While there is nothing wrong with the episode at all. I think it was a union thing. Because the actual revelation is that, it was a bank robber whose car was being repo and there was a gun in the car that would implicate him to the robbery. This is just speculation on how i would have written it, but i think my idea is just better. What do i mean?
Well at one point in the episode the union boss, is on the phone and he hints that there is money issues that require him to dive into their strike fund. Plus he was at the police station to meet agent Grooms aka the ATF agent, which means there was something much bigger going on. I think, the guy who was being repo, Evan Coker. Worked for the union boss, but he was ripped off or something and probably demanded payment. Obviously the boss has had a lot of people working for him, which he's probably screwed over more than once, so it's totally possible. I think Cocker robbed the bank where the Union boss's money was kept. I think the car that was being reposed was a company. The shooting and car accident happened as Monk explained it, but in order to cover his track, he killed one of the scabs and too push the police even further down the road.
Well at one point in the episode the union boss, is on the phone and he hints that there is money issues that require him to dive into their strike fund. Plus he was at the police station to meet agent Grooms aka the ATF agent, which means there was something much bigger going on. I think, the guy who was being repo, Evan Coker. Worked for the union boss, but he was ripped off or something and probably demanded payment. Obviously the boss has had a lot of people working for him, which he's probably screwed over more than once, so it's totally possible. I think Cocker robbed the bank where the Union boss's money was kept. I think the car that was being reposed was a company. The shooting and car accident happened as Monk explained it, but in order to cover his track, he killed one of the scabs and too push the police even further down the road.
Mr Monk and the Captain's Wife
TheLittleSongbird21 July 2017
'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.
After being underwhelmed by "Mr Monk and the Missing Granny", mainly because of the mystery being so jaw-droppingly ridiculous and the criminals being so stupid it's almost intelligence insulting, "Mr Monk and the Captain's Wife" saw Season 2 back on track with one of its better episodes. More intense and poignant to usual, as well as more personal with a life of a loved one at stake and how it affects a main character, but in no way devoid of entertainment value.
The mystery is diverting and a lot of fun, one also feels for Stottlemeyer and prays Karen pulls through. It's less obvious and conventional than the show can be, and while there is quirkiness it is never overly silly and doesn't get ridiculous. The final solution and how Monk gets there is cleverly done.
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.
Jason Gray-Stanford is amusing while also showing a sympathetic edge, but this comes very close to being Ted Levine's episode. Stottlemeyer has had some hilarious moments on 'Monk' and his seesaw chemistry with Monk is one of the best things about the show, but with such a terrible and personal situation there is much more of a dramatic range here and Levine brings that out superbly, with one understanding completely his feelings and praying he doesn't take things too far.
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, especially the dramatic elements with Stottlemeyer. The character moments are such a joy with the principal cast.
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, wonderful. 10/10 Bethany Cox
After being underwhelmed by "Mr Monk and the Missing Granny", mainly because of the mystery being so jaw-droppingly ridiculous and the criminals being so stupid it's almost intelligence insulting, "Mr Monk and the Captain's Wife" saw Season 2 back on track with one of its better episodes. More intense and poignant to usual, as well as more personal with a life of a loved one at stake and how it affects a main character, but in no way devoid of entertainment value.
The mystery is diverting and a lot of fun, one also feels for Stottlemeyer and prays Karen pulls through. It's less obvious and conventional than the show can be, and while there is quirkiness it is never overly silly and doesn't get ridiculous. The final solution and how Monk gets there is cleverly done.
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.
Jason Gray-Stanford is amusing while also showing a sympathetic edge, but this comes very close to being Ted Levine's episode. Stottlemeyer has had some hilarious moments on 'Monk' and his seesaw chemistry with Monk is one of the best things about the show, but with such a terrible and personal situation there is much more of a dramatic range here and Levine brings that out superbly, with one understanding completely his feelings and praying he doesn't take things too far.
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, especially the dramatic elements with Stottlemeyer. The character moments are such a joy with the principal cast.
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, wonderful. 10/10 Bethany Cox
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