A return to form for the series. A charred corpse is found in a park. Stottlemeyer is about to get married, and suddenly his has become the target of an unseen prankster who ransacks his apartment and torches his car. Somehow, the burned body and the prankster are connected, but Monk and the captain are mystified as to how. A tiny piece of evidence finally turns things around, very much in the Sherlock Holmes tradition. A great episode, with plenty of interplay among the four principals. The real suspense is whether or not the captain will end up getting married with all the nonsense that is going on. Virginia Madsen and Carol Kane guest-star, the latter as a nutty florist who has a great scene with Shalhoub in a flower shop. By the way, we know who the culprit is early on, but the fun is in watching Monk and the captain close in on the bad guy.
5 Reviews
Marriage and murder
TheLittleSongbird6 October 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.
After the underwhelming previous episode "Mr Monk Goes Camping" (the second worst of Season 8 to me after "Mr Monk and the UFO"), "Mr Monk is the Best Man" is a huge improvement and sees Season 8 back on track with its best episode since "Mr Monk and the Foreign Man". It is near-classic 'Monk', with so much here that is so good about 'Monk' in the first place especially when at its very best. There could have been more prominence on the murder agreed and TK could have had more development to her, we have met her twice in the season and her development has been very thin to put it lightly. Other than that, "Mr Monk is the Best Man" is great.
The mystery is a very good one here, one of the best of the eighth season easily and the best one since "Mr Monk and the Voodoo Curse". Unlike "Mr Monk Goes Camping", it actually feels like there is one, some of it is quite suspenseful and keeps one guessing, and it is one that isn't too simple or obvious, neither is it confusing. The deductions and investigations are closer to "classic" 'Monk' and the denouement is clever and surprising.
Even more successful are the character moments, some of the most delightful of the season and of the later 'Monk' episodes. Love how Monk takes his best man duties seriously and how everybody of the four regulars has plenty to do and are true to character. There is plenty of humour, with the funniest moments being the whole bachelor party stuff (hilarious) and Carol Kane's deliciously eccentric and wonderfully nuts turn as a florist in a scene reminiscent of 'Monk's' glory days. Disher is also the funniest he's been in a while. There are touching moments too, the ending is very sweet and to me the relationship between TK and Stottlemeyer is generally more emotionally investable than when it was first introduced due to that there is more chemistry between the two and Virginia Madsen has more personality.
One of the best things about 'Monk' has always been Tony Shalhoub, who was as Monk consistently one of the best things about every episode regardless of what material is thrown at him.. 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.
Traylor Howard is sassy and sympathetic, Jason Gray-Stanford has fun comic timing and is likable and in particular Ted Levine is amusing but gets to show more dramatic chops than he has been able to do all season. Madsen is pretty good considering what she's given to work with, while Teri Polo convinces and doesn't overplay or underact her role. Kane is the supporting standout though.
Humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue are beautifully balanced here in "Mr Monk is the Best Man" and all four components executed to a high standard.
Visually, the episode is slick and stylish as ever with some lovely scenery. 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 conclusion, excellent and one of the season's best episodes. 9/10 Bethany Cox
After the underwhelming previous episode "Mr Monk Goes Camping" (the second worst of Season 8 to me after "Mr Monk and the UFO"), "Mr Monk is the Best Man" is a huge improvement and sees Season 8 back on track with its best episode since "Mr Monk and the Foreign Man". It is near-classic 'Monk', with so much here that is so good about 'Monk' in the first place especially when at its very best. There could have been more prominence on the murder agreed and TK could have had more development to her, we have met her twice in the season and her development has been very thin to put it lightly. Other than that, "Mr Monk is the Best Man" is great.
The mystery is a very good one here, one of the best of the eighth season easily and the best one since "Mr Monk and the Voodoo Curse". Unlike "Mr Monk Goes Camping", it actually feels like there is one, some of it is quite suspenseful and keeps one guessing, and it is one that isn't too simple or obvious, neither is it confusing. The deductions and investigations are closer to "classic" 'Monk' and the denouement is clever and surprising.
Even more successful are the character moments, some of the most delightful of the season and of the later 'Monk' episodes. Love how Monk takes his best man duties seriously and how everybody of the four regulars has plenty to do and are true to character. There is plenty of humour, with the funniest moments being the whole bachelor party stuff (hilarious) and Carol Kane's deliciously eccentric and wonderfully nuts turn as a florist in a scene reminiscent of 'Monk's' glory days. Disher is also the funniest he's been in a while. There are touching moments too, the ending is very sweet and to me the relationship between TK and Stottlemeyer is generally more emotionally investable than when it was first introduced due to that there is more chemistry between the two and Virginia Madsen has more personality.
One of the best things about 'Monk' has always been Tony Shalhoub, who was as Monk consistently one of the best things about every episode regardless of what material is thrown at him.. 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.
Traylor Howard is sassy and sympathetic, Jason Gray-Stanford has fun comic timing and is likable and in particular Ted Levine is amusing but gets to show more dramatic chops than he has been able to do all season. Madsen is pretty good considering what she's given to work with, while Teri Polo convinces and doesn't overplay or underact her role. Kane is the supporting standout though.
Humour, pathos, mystery and intrigue are beautifully balanced here in "Mr Monk is the Best Man" and all four components executed to a high standard.
Visually, the episode is slick and stylish as ever with some lovely scenery. 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 conclusion, excellent and one of the season's best episodes. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Teri Polo and Carol Kane guest star in this special wedding episode
safenoe3 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Teri Polo gets special guest billing, whereas Carol Kane (who starred in Norman Loves Rose) only gets guest billing. Still, Carol Kane chewed the screen. In fact Carol looks like Bitty Schram. This is a special wedding episode where Leland finally gets married to TK after Stephanie Briggs (TK's maid of honor) attempts break up the wedding to cover up her murderous act. All's well that ends well with Leland getting married to TK in a moving ceremony.
This is the fourth last episode of this fine series.
This is the fourth last episode of this fine series.
A great wedding
dmcreif15 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This is one of the better episodes of the series.
In it, we have essentially two different plots: the first plot is Stottlemeyer's impending marriage to his girlfriend T.K. Jensen, which is being ruined by some mysterious stalker. In the other plot, Monk investigates the murder of a man who was shot once and then burned.
That being said, I had some pros and cons about this episode: Cons: 1. The episode could have focused more on the murder than on the marriage. Having Monk at the crime scene and making deductions would have been fine for me.
Pros: The episode is riddled with so much great humor that you wonder how they packed it all into the course of a 45 minute episode:
1. Monk tells T.K. out loud the things he's noticed that make him figure that Stottlemeyer is planning to propose to her. Everyone tries to hide it as Stottlemeyer comes out, but he immediately wonders why everyone is crying.
2. Monk promises to Stottlemeyer to be the best best man a best man could possibly be (tongue twister). He also promises that he won't lose the ring and Stottlemeyer tells him that he's probably bending it by clamping it in a fist.
3. Disher notes that the only thing they know about a murder victim is that he was flammable.
4. Disher plans to take Monk's new clues to the lab and Stottlemeyer tells him that they're already in the lab.
5. Monk's bachelor party was hilarious all the way through! I could not stop laughing there! First, he's ordered pizza that has nothing on it (not even cheese or sauce!), and secondly, the bathroom is taken up by a port-a-potty.
6. Monk's choice of entertainment: Bachelor Party ("Shocking, Shameful, Sinful, And the Party Hasn't Even Begun Yet").
7. Monk breaks out the beers and Stottlemeyer realizes that they have a situation - there are 12 beers and with each being 12 ounces. That's enough beer that each of them is bound to get a little sleepy, or enough that one of them can get good and polluted. Disher becomes the Designated Drunk for the night.
8. Disher asks the cops at the bachelor party if any of them own the Ford Crown Victoria police unit parked out front - specifically, the one that is painted a charcoal gray with flames on the roof and on the windshield. Everyone runs out and find Stottlemeyer's car on fire.
9. The entire bit with the floral soulmates at the flower shop was a riot. Matching Monk to a plastic flower is just pathetically funny. Monk saying "I like it" makes it even twice as funny.
10. Natalie tells Monk that T.K.'s father should be walking his daughter down the aisle at the wedding rehearsal.
11. Stottlemeyer disarms the culprit by tricking her into firing the last round in the chamber of her gun.
12. Stottlemeyer has his way of a simple beach wedding.
In it, we have essentially two different plots: the first plot is Stottlemeyer's impending marriage to his girlfriend T.K. Jensen, which is being ruined by some mysterious stalker. In the other plot, Monk investigates the murder of a man who was shot once and then burned.
That being said, I had some pros and cons about this episode: Cons: 1. The episode could have focused more on the murder than on the marriage. Having Monk at the crime scene and making deductions would have been fine for me.
Pros: The episode is riddled with so much great humor that you wonder how they packed it all into the course of a 45 minute episode:
1. Monk tells T.K. out loud the things he's noticed that make him figure that Stottlemeyer is planning to propose to her. Everyone tries to hide it as Stottlemeyer comes out, but he immediately wonders why everyone is crying.
2. Monk promises to Stottlemeyer to be the best best man a best man could possibly be (tongue twister). He also promises that he won't lose the ring and Stottlemeyer tells him that he's probably bending it by clamping it in a fist.
3. Disher notes that the only thing they know about a murder victim is that he was flammable.
4. Disher plans to take Monk's new clues to the lab and Stottlemeyer tells him that they're already in the lab.
5. Monk's bachelor party was hilarious all the way through! I could not stop laughing there! First, he's ordered pizza that has nothing on it (not even cheese or sauce!), and secondly, the bathroom is taken up by a port-a-potty.
6. Monk's choice of entertainment: Bachelor Party ("Shocking, Shameful, Sinful, And the Party Hasn't Even Begun Yet").
7. Monk breaks out the beers and Stottlemeyer realizes that they have a situation - there are 12 beers and with each being 12 ounces. That's enough beer that each of them is bound to get a little sleepy, or enough that one of them can get good and polluted. Disher becomes the Designated Drunk for the night.
8. Disher asks the cops at the bachelor party if any of them own the Ford Crown Victoria police unit parked out front - specifically, the one that is painted a charcoal gray with flames on the roof and on the windshield. Everyone runs out and find Stottlemeyer's car on fire.
9. The entire bit with the floral soulmates at the flower shop was a riot. Matching Monk to a plastic flower is just pathetically funny. Monk saying "I like it" makes it even twice as funny.
10. Natalie tells Monk that T.K.'s father should be walking his daughter down the aisle at the wedding rehearsal.
11. Stottlemeyer disarms the culprit by tricking her into firing the last round in the chamber of her gun.
12. Stottlemeyer has his way of a simple beach wedding.
Good Mix of Humor and Pain
Hitchcoc20 April 2020
Stottlemeyer is once again faced with loneliness when someone intervenes, threatening his betrothed. Monk's contributions to the wedding set up are hilarious. Especially the bachelor party. I loved the pizza! Anyway, the seriousness of the crime and the burning of a body is intense, but Discher manages to make a fool of himself again. Don't miss this one.
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