Mr. Monk Gets a New Shrink

'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.

Of the Season 5 'Monk' episodes, from personal opinion it is "Mr Monk Gets a New Shrink" that is the most special. One of the best examples of a 'Monk' episode that made me laugh and cry, especially the former, is one of the best episodes in a while and one of the best of the whole show. The mystery here is one of the show's best ever, it doesn't play second fiddle, it's cleverly plotted, is never obvious, is perfectly logical and doesn't get too silly.

Loved that there was more focus on Kroger, a great character that can be under-utilised, and that we got to know his family with his riot of a son being one of the episode highlights. Stanley Kamel gives some of his best acting of all his appearances on the show (perhaps his best) in a remarkably nuanced turn. There are a few emotional moments, like when Monk goes through the five stages of grief. Even better are the comedic elements, which are some of the show's funniest, and almost all of them at the courtesy of the interplay between Monk and Harold, which like the following of Kroger and the arguing over the time slot is hysterically funny.

Would have loved to have seen more of Natalie, Disher and Stottlemeyer too, but they are well played and hardly wasted. Thankfully Disher is nowhere near as much of an idiot here. As aforementioned, Kamel is fantastic while Tim Bagley is hilarious as Harold.

As said many times, 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.

Natalie is down to earth, sympathetic and sassy, also being sensitive to Monk's needs and quirks which Traylor Howard does well bringing out. Jason Gray-Stanford and Ted Levine are good as usual as Disher and Stottlemeyer.

It's not just the cast or story 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 wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done, particularly the last one. The quirks are sympathetically done and never exploited or overdone.

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. Oh and a good job is done with the different opening credits sequence to accommodate the changes made.

Altogether, a brilliant episode and very special. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Dr. Kroger enters his office one morning to find Monk and Harold Krenshaw arguing over who gets the first slot of the day. He breaks up that argument only to notice the door to his office is open. Inside he finds the body of the cleaning lady, with his files having been rifled through. The police suspect one of Dr. Kroger's patients, and Kroger does come up with a name - He had a patient who believed he was talking to the patient's ex-wife about him behind the patient's back. He demanded to see his file, threatened the doctor, and said he would break in sometime and read his file anyways.

Before an investigation can happen to see if it was that patient who could have committed the murder, Dr. Kroger quits his practice, feeling he should have seen this coming. Monk is devastated, and is at first not accepting of this decision. Even when it is determined that this patient could not have committed the murder, still Kroger is resolute in quitting, saying it was probably another one of his patients. Complications ensue, including somebody throwing a rock through a window of Dr. Kroger's home.

This episode has some great Monk moments including Monk trying to have Natalie simulate being his therapist, Monk going through the stages of grief in under two minutes, and Monk and Harold both looking into Dr. Kroger's study from different windows on different sides of the house, making gestures at each other the entire time, while Dr. Kroger is oblivious to their presence.

Dr. Kroger seemed like a very caring therapist. In fact I've heard therapists say that he is the model of a good therapist. Thus I found it rather rash of him just to quit like he did and basically abandon his patients. Sure, he said he would get them another doctor, but the lack of continuity could be devastating to such fragile people.

Whenever you access one of the "Monk" episodes - or the master listing - on this site, all are rated among the highest among any of the many films or TV series contained.

This one is no exception - clever, amusing and entertaining, as usual. In addition to the primary characters, it also adds amusing glimpse of Dr. Kroger's family, and his dysfunctional "shoemaker's kid" relationship with his rebellious son, and has a major appearance by Monk's arch-OCD rival, Harold, as possessive of his relationship with the doctor as is the title character.

This is also a special episode because of its centering around the Stanley Kamel character. Mr. Kamel and Dr. Kroger, respectively, represent one of the most engaging performers and characters in the history of television, movies, or any other entertainment medium in history. Seeing any of his past performances also, obviously, is special because of his sudden death between last season and the upcoming one.

An interesting sidelight to this particular episode is gained from seeing the brief biography in this site for Rick Curry, who played the role of Dr. Sorenson, the psychiatrist whom Monk visited upon Dr. Kroger's referral. Missing the lower portion of an arm, in the story it is cited as a boating accident he'd experienced a couple of years earlier (of which Dr. Kroger was unaware). This disturbed Monk, who was compelled to use the word "symmetrical" as he provided answers about others during Dr. Sorenson's brief questioning. The doctor noticed his obvious concern about the arm, and explained it - all done, in harmony with this program's treatment of handicap, with appropriate humor, while completely devoid of any disrespect (in the manner this series treats OCD affliction). In real life, Mr. Curry (now a member of the Jesuit Order) was born with this handicap, and has done significant work organizing theater workshops for the handicapped.

Monk's trying surreptitiously to peruse his file while at Dr. Kroger's office, investigating the cleaning lady's murder, and his reaction to the doctor's announcement of his planned retirement, are outstanding parts of this story, and it is overall one of the best episodes of the best show today.

I don't need more than two hands to count the television programs I'd place in the same category as "Monk," For me, there are only two - "The Larry Sanders Show," and the original "Columbo" series which I would place alongside it.

Dr. Kroger decides to quit his job when he believes that one of his patients has committed murder. His resignation throws Monk into the tizzy of all tizzies. He becomes a literal stalker, trying to get the Doc to come back. Of course, he has not interest in anyone but himself. I've always wondered how Monk can't seem to afford to give Natalie a couple extra bucks (or any bucks at all) but can go to a shrink three or four times a week. Probably, a thousand a week, easily. This does turn out quite funny as he and his rival OCD guy battle it out, trying to get Kroger's attention. Totally unbelievable and totally hilarious.