'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
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