User Reviews

I'm honored to join prolific IMDB reviewer Bethany Cox as one of the reviewers of Monk. Anyway, there's much mystery as usual in how the murder suspect actually committed the explosive murder. Here we see more of Sharona's marital life and Monk's father figure relationship with Benjy. Shishir Kurup, an Indian-American actor, really chews the screen in the finale. Wonderful that two years after 9/11, the Monk producers weren't afraid to have an Arab-American (Monk) and an Indian-American play law enforcement.

Also poignant was Monk's dependency on Dr Kroger. The final scene was touching, sort of like Waiting for Godot.

Even though it depends on some pretty sophisticated timing, this was still a lot of fun. We have the return of Sharona's deadbeat husband who uses the classic kid needs a father routine. Also, Monk's psychiatrist takes a three week vacation, so Monk is left by himself. But ultimately it gets down to how bombs can be mailed after a guy is put in a coma.

Interesting that the departure of Sharona is teased here... Was Bitsy being a pain on set early on? Something to consider, because she had one foot out the door in this episode... She was pretty much leaving the show here... The character, that is...

And not a bad episode, but not a great one. Took too long for the mystery to be solved. Seemed unimportant when revealed.

'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 Sleeping Suspect" is like "Mr Monk Goes Back to School" and "Mr Monk Goes to the Theater" as one of the episodes that got me interested in 'Monk' in the first place. Like those two episodes, it is not only one of Season 2's best episodes but also of the entire show. It achieves a perfect balance of humour and mystery and the story itself is one of the season's and show's cleverest.

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's performance is one of his funniest he's ever given, not just as Stottlemeyer but of his career. Especially in his rapport with Monk, which is one of the finest examples of what 'Monk' is all about and its appeal. Jason Gray-Stanford is growing in confidence and comic timing with each episode, as is the chemistry with the other three leads.

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.

Standout character moments are the scene with the vacuum and the life supporter machine (which is a fine example of Monk's character), Monk's hearing problem and one of the most hilarious exchanges between Monk and Stottlemeyer.

Here the mystery is incredibly compelling and clever, with one of the show's most ingenious endings that will leave one floored. Even when the suspect is not a surprise, the motive and how the crimes are done are a huge shock.

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, wonderful and one of the best episodes. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This was the PINNACLE of Monk episodes! This one was SO creative and fun. This was by far one of the top 2 most creative episodes in the series yet, you will LOVE trying to solve this one. It's a real head scratcher.

I know i mentioned it but TAMIL the Mailm---Federal Employee ("We're all just different shades of Blue!"😂) I wish Tamil would have been a show regular from here, maybe he shined to bright over Monk? Hmmm... Other aspects of the episode are similar to most, nice vibe of background jazz club music, fantastic acting (as usual) and hilarious drama. Monk is not Chinatown, it is more akin to Sherlock Holmes, meets Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory.

Four months ago, Stottlemeyer and Randy are ready to arrest Brian Babbage, but he flees and is hit by a truck, staying in coma for four months. When his sister Amanda Babbage, who has just moved to another house, receives a mailbomb and dies, her brother Ricky becomes the prime suspect to ATF Agent Grooms since Brian is in coma. However, Monk insists that Brian is the suspect since the police do not have how it was made. Grooms is inclined to incriminate Ricky, but Monk is sure that the guilty is Brian. Meanwhile, Trevor Howe returns to Sharona and Benjy, but Monk is not sure that he is sincere.

"Mr. Monk and the Sleeping Suspect" is a great episode of "Monk" with the story of mailbombs where the police is lost of who the sender is. Monk is sure that a man in coma is the responsible, but cannot explain how he sends the packages, The crimes are very well resolved by Monk in the end. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Monk e o Suspeito em Coma" ("Monk and the Suspect in Coma")