User Reviews

Natalie unwittingly helps a bicycle thief and ends up being implicated in the robbery. But in investigating the theft, the perpetrator shoots through his door, wounding Monk in the leg. From then on we see Monk at his absolute worst, belittling and attacking Natalie time after time. She is so full of guilt that she almost dies trying to appease him. This episode is rather hard to watch. i enjoyed Bradley Witford's character as an experimental biologist.

Monk gets shot pursuing a bicycle thief, and proceeds to make Natalie's life miserable as he sits and whines in a wheelchair and makes her his virtual slave. The whys and wherefores of the stolen bicycle are what make up the mystery, but it is Monk in his wheelchair that livens up the proceedings. At one point, Natalie is pushing Monk up a typical steep San Fran hill (for no apparent reason, as we kept wondering where her car was), only to have him accidentally roll backward down the hill when she is momentarily distracted. Watching Captain S. manhandle Monk in and out of the wheelchair on two occasions is another high point. Shalhoub also has some funny slapstick bits with his leg all bandaged up, particularly when he tries to exit a car and later tries to steer a motorized wheelchair around a glass-filled laboratory. If you don't usually watch this show, you are likely to find Monk a bit off-putting in his attitude toward Natalie.

'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 said a few times, Season 7 was a very mixed bag up to this point, "Mr Monk and the Genius" being one of its best while also having major disappointments like "Mr Monk Falls in Love" and especially "Mr Monk Takes a Punch". "Mr Monk On Wheels" is one of the season's better episodes, and a contender for the funniest. The only real thing against it is Monk's treatment of Natalie. One can understand for once Monk being out of character considering what has happened to him and being in a wheelchair is frustrating for anyone (having been there myself after major back surgery which left unable to walk properly for two months), but Monk's treatment of Natalie is incredibly cruel and far too over the top, not even in "Mr Monk Gets Lotto Fever", where he was nasty to her too, did he treat her this badly.

However, "Mr Monk On Wheels" is very successful in the character moments. Natalie, Disher and Stottlemeyer have far more to do than in the previous episode "Mr Monk's Other Brother" where they sadly took a back-seat and they have worthy material. Stottlemeyer is very funny and one feels really sorry for Natalie here.

Monk's quirks, obsessions and phobias are on display and in an entertaining fashion and the mystery is engaging and one of the fresher ones of the season, if playing second fiddle to the comedy. It is the comedy however where "Mr Monk On Wheels" particularly shines, with the most hilarious use of a wheelchair ever on television in my opinion, boasting some of the season's funniest moments.

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, while other episodes have done that much better when Monk was in character Shalhoub still does wonderfully with what he's given.

Traylor Howard gets to show more range and has the sassiness down pat as well as the charm, she is not dull or annoying here, coming from someone who likes Natalie better than most but prefers Sharona's stronger personality. Jason Gray-Stanford makes the most of his material and Ted Levine shows adept comedic chops. The supporting cast are very good.

Visually, the episode is slick and stylish as ever. 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.

Summing up, very good. 8/10 Bethany Cox

This is my favorite episode of MONK. Great script, great performances, and the inestimable presence of one Bradley Whitford, who lifts everyone up around him. Or down, in the case of the character of Adrian Monk, who is at his meanest, miserliest, unlovable best. Or worst. The script cheers you to boo Monk, and we do. We're even glad Natalie shoots him in the other leg. The humor comes from Natalie's seriousness about "a stolen bicycle case" and Monk's embarrassed attitude about it. Randy Disher is at his quirkiest (the former cop shooter dialogue is great, as is Disher's insistence that the basket might be made of gold). The Sanitation worker scene is a gem, the Bike Squad scene is a gem, and on and on. The heart is Whitford's eco-politically correct scientist who lifts everyone in the case to higher than normal levels. And Shalhoub is right there with him, making Monk as mean-spirited as he ever was in the series.

From the West Wing to Cabin in the Woods to Get Out, Whitford is right there, lending comic acting chops and class and timing to all. All of those tv shows and movies would not be as good if bereft of his talent. Like Jeff Goldblum in any movie or Daniel Stern in any rare appearance in front of the camera, like Monk's UFO episode, Bradley Whitford is unsung to most in the audience who only say, "Hey, I know that guy! He's always good." and let it go at that. But those of us who appreciate great character work, these guys are often, no, usually the difference between good and very good. And yes I know Jeff Goldblum is well-known, but he hasn't been a real leading man since...The Fly? Independence Day? He shoulda gone to tv with the right project. So should Stern. Okay, he narrated The Wonder Years but we deserve more of him.

And Whitford is too much in demand from the movies as a supporting player.

But we have this episode of MONK. And this episode of MONK has him.

I can see why the show didn't last too much longer, it is starting to stink. This episode in particular is about 90% whining and 10% crime solving. Not a good percentage.

Not a great episode except...if you love laugh out loud slapstick. The wheelchair never gets enough credit for prop character that ruins Natalie. Straight out of fat and skinny. Remember that Kurt Vonnegut,Jr. loves slapstick...I do too. And within this episode there is one scene beautifully contrived for our main characters to perform as the circus clowns that underlies almost all of Mr. Shaloub's craziness. Laughing hard is the best revenge, I think. Really...belly laugh.

This episode shows Monk's true personality, unfortunately.

He has been showing it more and more through the years. Openly insulting Natalie, making her carry heavy boxes, then saying that he was helping her carry them when someone called, when he wouldn't even open the door for her! Insulting her. Telling her she doesn't matter and is surprised when she thinks she does.

He shows himself to be rude, cruel, insensitive, uncaring, self-serving and self involved, and someone that you couldn't pay me enough to be around.

Natalie was spunky in the first episodes of her time with Monk. Where did that person go? She should have put him in his place at least ten times per episode.

I used to like Monk, but just because he lost his wife to an unknown murderer is no excuse to treat anyone like that.

I'm sure that having OCD doesn't make you completely self involved and cruel.

He couldn't have been crueler in this episode, even after Stotlemeyer told him that he was going to lose her if he didn't knock it off.

I'm sick of him and his bad behavior. All those years of therapy and he is getting worse.

This POS character is doing a disservice to mental illnesses.

The brillo headed moron acts like a whining piss ant and treats natalie like crap as per usual... too bad they only wounded him in the leg rather than killing him off for good.