I was a secondary teacher for over forty years. I spent a lot of time with the likes of the kids in this episode. It was always hard to love these guys, but I did. There is a genuineness and lack of pretension that goes with the "bad boys." I got a kick out of their fooling around at the most inappropriate times. It's that prefrontal cortex. There are some plot weaknesses here but it was fun nevertheless.
6 Reviews
HONK YOUR HORN!!!
ebqrkhf29 March 2024
This irritated me beyond belief!! When they were buried, all they had to do was honk the horn!! Even separately, they could have started their car and revved the engine, (it had a bad muffler so it would be at least 90+dB) AND further, in 2007, cellular was a hybridized signal of analog AND digital. If they rebooted or removed and reconnected the batteries, at least one phone would ping a new, closer tower. Loose Gravel does NOT BLOCK SIGNAL.
Lastly, they also could have fired a Police-issued firearm!!! Lol I realize it is an idiosyncrasy of Monk not to carry, but it's a great way to bring attention and location to oneself. I love this show, but one star removed for this mild irritation lol.
Lastly, they also could have fired a Police-issued firearm!!! Lol I realize it is an idiosyncrasy of Monk not to carry, but it's a great way to bring attention and location to oneself. I love this show, but one star removed for this mild irritation lol.
Cody McMains as Troy Kroger
safenoe14 January 2021
We don't see enough of Troy Kroger in Monk. But here he gets a starring role. Emotional needs is on display here, embedded in the father-son relationship.
I wish Monk was rebooted. I'd love to see Monk navigate the world of social media.
I wish Monk was rebooted. I'd love to see Monk navigate the world of social media.
Not an episode to be buried, though it's not quite a treasure
TheLittleSongbird5 September 2017
'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.
As far as the previous episodes in relation to this episode goes, the best up to this point to me is "Mr Monk and the Bad Girlfriend", while "Mr Monk and his Biggest Fan" was also very entertaining and despite a lacking mystery the character moments made "Mr Monk and the Birds and the Bees" likewise. Same with "Mr Monk and the Naked Man" The only disappointment up to this point in Season 6 is "Mr Monk and the Rapper", one of my least favourite 'Monk' episodes. While a long way from one of my favourites of Season 6 or of the show, "Mr Monk and the Buried Treasure" is good solid fun.
Natalie, Disher and Stottlemeyer are a little underused and when it comes to character moments the episode is lacking a little in truly hilarious moments or moments that really touch the soul (the laughs and emotion are there, just done more strongly in other episodes), something that the previous episode did very well in. The treasure map mystery is stronger and more memorable than the bank robbery mystery, mainly because of the chemistry between Monk and Troy, though how the two are linked was interesting and executed well.
There is lovely chemistry between Monk and Troy, Disher and Stottlemeyer's hunch-what has to go in the report exchange is very funny and there was something sad about Monk being upset about Kroger's communication with Harold when being reminded that it was not long before both Kroger and Stanley Kamel suddenly died. The regular characters are true to their older selves on the most part, despite Monk's quirks and obsessiveness not quite being as prominent as usual and the other three characters deserving of more. Monk thankfully doesn't baselessly and hurriedly conclusion jump anywhere near as much here.
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.
Everybody else does very well supporting him.
Writing-wise, 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.
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. The episode is made with a lot of slickness and style as always.
Overall, not quite a treasure but not one to be buried. 7/10 Bethany Cox
As far as the previous episodes in relation to this episode goes, the best up to this point to me is "Mr Monk and the Bad Girlfriend", while "Mr Monk and his Biggest Fan" was also very entertaining and despite a lacking mystery the character moments made "Mr Monk and the Birds and the Bees" likewise. Same with "Mr Monk and the Naked Man" The only disappointment up to this point in Season 6 is "Mr Monk and the Rapper", one of my least favourite 'Monk' episodes. While a long way from one of my favourites of Season 6 or of the show, "Mr Monk and the Buried Treasure" is good solid fun.
Natalie, Disher and Stottlemeyer are a little underused and when it comes to character moments the episode is lacking a little in truly hilarious moments or moments that really touch the soul (the laughs and emotion are there, just done more strongly in other episodes), something that the previous episode did very well in. The treasure map mystery is stronger and more memorable than the bank robbery mystery, mainly because of the chemistry between Monk and Troy, though how the two are linked was interesting and executed well.
There is lovely chemistry between Monk and Troy, Disher and Stottlemeyer's hunch-what has to go in the report exchange is very funny and there was something sad about Monk being upset about Kroger's communication with Harold when being reminded that it was not long before both Kroger and Stanley Kamel suddenly died. The regular characters are true to their older selves on the most part, despite Monk's quirks and obsessiveness not quite being as prominent as usual and the other three characters deserving of more. Monk thankfully doesn't baselessly and hurriedly conclusion jump anywhere near as much here.
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.
Everybody else does very well supporting him.
Writing-wise, 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.
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. The episode is made with a lot of slickness and style as always.
Overall, not quite a treasure but not one to be buried. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Too many loopholes
rommelvr1 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I think this episode is one of those fillers for the season. The bank associate was being grilled by Leland while Monk and the boys where on the way to the quarry. When left when they got there he got there before them to move the money. Must be some quick shortcut in "SF". But I still watch it since this was one of series that made me survive the pandemic.
Unethical actions by Monk, and lack of detecting make this a weak episode
FlushingCaps16 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Monk is having a session with Dr. Kroger and learns of the doc's concerns about his teenage son, skipping school to skateboard with friends. We get a scene after where Troy Kroger and two friends while skateboarding happen upon a parked car with a dead man inside and they actually find what appears to be a treasure map in the car, along with some empty bank bags.
But the three amigos can't figure out the map at all, so they approach our detective for help, claiming it's a school assignment, where the teacher told them they wouldn't flunk the class if they just find the treasure spot and take a picture of it.
Monk and Natalie agree to help. Natalie is annoyed because one of the guys keeps hitting on her. Troy's friends are far from bright. On guessing Natalie is age 34, one says she's twice his own age. The other says, "So when you're 60, she'll be 120."
The five go together to trace the map and appear to find it, a big red X (Can anyone say "Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World") inside a gravel pit. They snap their picture, with the three teens eager to come back later to dig up their treasure, after dropping off Monk and Natalie.
There is a short interview with the bank manager, who was clubbed during the bank robbery, but Monk wasn't there, only Stottlemeyer and Disher. Later, Monk is with them and he starts putting together things he observed the day before, and figures out that Troy and his buddies stumbled onto the dead man, who was one of the bank robbers.
Monk goes to Troy, who admits it all. They go back to the gravel pit to collect the finishing pieces and we have a rather tense dramatic, mostly, scene before a dramatic rescue is made possible thanks to a most unlikely hero-Randy. Now Randy has been annoying the captain with his constant slurping of a gigantic-sized pop from a convenience store, but this action indirectly leads to Randy becoming a hero in this case. I will not give away the store, but will say that it wasn't dumb luck, but a true case of sharp observation-on the audio side-that led to Randy's heroics.
There were amusing moments, but almost no Monk-like detective work in this episode. I think Monk was totally out of character in that he agreed to lead the boys to their treasure, believing that they were supposed to get a passing grade by finding the treasure themselves. This is truly unethical-basically Monk does their homework for them-and that is something our detective would not normally do.
To me, this significantly weakens the whole episode, along with the lack of Monk ever searching for any clues about the missing money-and we never really had a murder at all. There are several other plot holes not described here. I give this one only a 5.
But the three amigos can't figure out the map at all, so they approach our detective for help, claiming it's a school assignment, where the teacher told them they wouldn't flunk the class if they just find the treasure spot and take a picture of it.
Monk and Natalie agree to help. Natalie is annoyed because one of the guys keeps hitting on her. Troy's friends are far from bright. On guessing Natalie is age 34, one says she's twice his own age. The other says, "So when you're 60, she'll be 120."
The five go together to trace the map and appear to find it, a big red X (Can anyone say "Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World") inside a gravel pit. They snap their picture, with the three teens eager to come back later to dig up their treasure, after dropping off Monk and Natalie.
There is a short interview with the bank manager, who was clubbed during the bank robbery, but Monk wasn't there, only Stottlemeyer and Disher. Later, Monk is with them and he starts putting together things he observed the day before, and figures out that Troy and his buddies stumbled onto the dead man, who was one of the bank robbers.
Monk goes to Troy, who admits it all. They go back to the gravel pit to collect the finishing pieces and we have a rather tense dramatic, mostly, scene before a dramatic rescue is made possible thanks to a most unlikely hero-Randy. Now Randy has been annoying the captain with his constant slurping of a gigantic-sized pop from a convenience store, but this action indirectly leads to Randy becoming a hero in this case. I will not give away the store, but will say that it wasn't dumb luck, but a true case of sharp observation-on the audio side-that led to Randy's heroics.
There were amusing moments, but almost no Monk-like detective work in this episode. I think Monk was totally out of character in that he agreed to lead the boys to their treasure, believing that they were supposed to get a passing grade by finding the treasure themselves. This is truly unethical-basically Monk does their homework for them-and that is something our detective would not normally do.
To me, this significantly weakens the whole episode, along with the lack of Monk ever searching for any clues about the missing money-and we never really had a murder at all. There are several other plot holes not described here. I give this one only a 5.
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