'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 quite as good as "Mr Monk Gets Fired", which was the best episode up to this point in Season 3, "Mr Monk Meets the Godfather" is still a highly entertaining episode with pretty much everything that is so good about 'Monk' present. Complaints are few, but Benjy may as well have not been in this episode at all, that is how much Kane Richotte is wasted. While the case is fun and intriguing, with how Monk comes to the truth executed cleverly and enjoyably, the murderer did seem to give up too easily.
Plus in a story with again too few suspects the murderer became too obvious too early, like when they were first introduced and with a story that didn't add up for a second. The motive was clever and unforeseeable but came out of nowhere somewhat.
However, "Mr Monk Meets the Godfather" is very good otherwise. 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?
Bitty Schram is sharp and no-nonsense yet sympathetic and loyal, sharing great rapport with Shalhoub and also with Jason Gray-Stanford, the latter amusing as a goofball but proves useful for the case. Stottlemeyer is underused somewhat but one can understand because it's the FBI's investigation not his, regardless his loyal friendship to Monk and also his frustrated boss personality shine through very well thanks to Ted Levine's ever reliable acting. Phillip Baker Hall and Lochlyn Munro are good in slightly typecast roles, Oleg Zapstein and Jimmie F.Skagg have some nice moments and Rick Hoffman is a strong presence.
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 mostly deft. Monk's scene with the FBI trying to persuade Monk to wear a wire for the mob meeting is hilarious and one of the funniest moments of Season 3 to me and the very last scene is also great.
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.
Overall, very good and entertaining. 8/10 Bethany Cox