'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 the still good but slightly disappointing previous episode "Mr Monk Goes to the Circus", "Mr Monk and the Very, Very Old Man" sees Season 2 more back on track and it is also one of the season's, and shows's, funniest episodes. Monk and Sharona are back in character and Monk's OCD is far more obvious. My very few complaints with "Mr Monk and the Very, Very Old Man" are Sharona and Disher, apart from some good lines and moving the story along, having little to do.
One of the best things about 'Monk', however, 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. One really relates to his OCD troubles, his quirks and phobias.
Bitty Schram and Jason Gray-Stanford, as said, don't have as much to do, which is a pity but both act their parts well and make the most of their screen time.
Where "Mr Monk and the Very, Very Old Man" really shines is in the chemistry between Monk and Stottlemeyer. While their chemistry has always been entertaining, it has never been this seesaw and enjoyable. It was wonderful to see them doing things differently and how they react, the "7:30" vs. "8:00" part is classic Monk and very creative. It is however the vacuum cleaning scene where the relationship reaches breaking point, that is a masterpiece of comedy as is Stottlemeyer's following tirade. Hilarious, it being among the best and funniest pieces of scripting for Stottlemeyer and the show, but at the same time truthful.
Before one forgets, Ted Levine gives one of his best performances of the show and perhaps ever, he is comedy gold and also easy to feel sorry for. Glenne Headley is very strong value as the main guest star, introducing us to Stottlemeyer's wife. All the performances are good.
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.
No worries about the mystery being potentially not as good. It is a very intriguing and clever one with some nice twists and a motive that is not obvious at all from the outset.
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 episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox
After the still good but slightly disappointing previous episode "Mr Monk Goes to the Circus", "Mr Monk and the Very, Very Old Man" sees Season 2 more back on track and it is also one of the season's, and shows's, funniest episodes. Monk and Sharona are back in character and Monk's OCD is far more obvious. My very few complaints with "Mr Monk and the Very, Very Old Man" are Sharona and Disher, apart from some good lines and moving the story along, having little to do.
One of the best things about 'Monk', however, 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. One really relates to his OCD troubles, his quirks and phobias.
Bitty Schram and Jason Gray-Stanford, as said, don't have as much to do, which is a pity but both act their parts well and make the most of their screen time.
Where "Mr Monk and the Very, Very Old Man" really shines is in the chemistry between Monk and Stottlemeyer. While their chemistry has always been entertaining, it has never been this seesaw and enjoyable. It was wonderful to see them doing things differently and how they react, the "7:30" vs. "8:00" part is classic Monk and very creative. It is however the vacuum cleaning scene where the relationship reaches breaking point, that is a masterpiece of comedy as is Stottlemeyer's following tirade. Hilarious, it being among the best and funniest pieces of scripting for Stottlemeyer and the show, but at the same time truthful.
Before one forgets, Ted Levine gives one of his best performances of the show and perhaps ever, he is comedy gold and also easy to feel sorry for. Glenne Headley is very strong value as the main guest star, introducing us to Stottlemeyer's wife. All the performances are good.
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.
No worries about the mystery being potentially not as good. It is a very intriguing and clever one with some nice twists and a motive that is not obvious at all from the outset.
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 episode. 9/10 Bethany Cox
