OK, everyone first off, devoted Monk fans and even fans who watch the first part of this episode know that the judge killed Trudy. But that doesn't make this episode predictable, as the other reviewer (DarkLord22) says. Also in response to DarkLord, sure Trudy gives away signs that something is wrong, but Monk does notice instantly, he just chooses to let it go because it's clear she doesn't want to talk about it. Anyway, I absolutely loved this episode, it's easily my favorite episode ever; I wasn't sure how they would get two hour-long episodes out of solving Trudy's case, but Monk getting poisoned is a brilliant twist. I have no clue what's going to happen next, but I cannot wait for the finale on Friday. It's so suspenseful... I literally yelled "NO!" when it said 'To Be Continued'. Friday seems so far away...
7 Reviews
Here comes the Judge
safenoe6 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is what Monk fans have been waiting for. The beginning of the end of Monk, and it's very moving. I started watching Monk only earlier this year, and I'm proud to say that this is one of the few series where I've seen every episode (I've seen every episode of M*A*S*H, As Time Goes By, Daria, Rosemary and Thyme, DCI Banks, Parker Lewis Can't Lose).
Anyway, Dale the Whale alluded to the judge in season 6, and here we are. Craig T. Nelson plays a ruthless judge (Ethan Rickover) who'll stop at nothing to reach the top, even the Supreme Court of California, and who knows, even beyond. I wish Monk wasn't ending, but I guess all good things must come to an end. Turns out Trudy had an affair with Ethan when she was a law student and Ethan a Berkeley law lecturer. Monk discovers that Ethan is a major murderer big time.
Anyway, Dale the Whale alluded to the judge in season 6, and here we are. Craig T. Nelson plays a ruthless judge (Ethan Rickover) who'll stop at nothing to reach the top, even the Supreme Court of California, and who knows, even beyond. I wish Monk wasn't ending, but I guess all good things must come to an end. Turns out Trudy had an affair with Ethan when she was a law student and Ethan a Berkeley law lecturer. Monk discovers that Ethan is a major murderer big time.
The beginning of the end
TheLittleSongbird8 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.
Not all of Season 8's episodes have been great, "Mr Monk Goes Camping" and particularly "Mr Monk and the UFO" were especially underwhelming, and the season was a mixed bag overall. There are also some outstanding episodes, of which "Mr Monk and the End Part I" is one of them. Not just one of the best of Season 8 and a clear standout of the increasingly variable later seasons but also one of the best 'Monk' episodes in a while. It is very nearly perfect, other than a couple of sloppy continuity contradictions regarding Trudy's death and the aftermath and Natalie's romantic subplot being rushed and not particularly fitting well.
The mystery is one of the best of the season, Season 8 varied wildly when it came to its mysteries. It starts with a harrowing and tense opening scene and the present murder is reminiscent of 'Monk' in its prime (the first three seasons), it was a brain-teaser and was very eventful with some unexpected jolts. Yes even with the murderer being revealed early on, perhaps a little too early but not enough to bring down the episode or take away from the suspense.
Even more successful are the character moments, especially the dramatic elements. "Mr Monk and the End Part I" is one of the most dramatic 'Monk' episodes, perhaps THE most dramatic, and it is also one of the most emotional. Parts like how Trudy's death affects Monk and how one really sees how Monk and Trudy love each other are so poignant that tears were streaming down my cheeks, no 'Monk' episode of the later seasons affected me in this strong a way. The vomiting and poisoning scenes are also done beautifully, as is the video tape revelation which is one of those "surely not" ones and makes one feel even more sorry for Monk. Cliffhanger endings have rarely been more brutal or shocking, am not easily floored with 'Monk', this floored me.
It's not just Monk who bags great character moments, everybody has plenty to do and are true to character, reminding one of the earlier seasons. The most satisfying non-Monk character moments come from Stottlemeyer, as with prime 'Monk' one really enjoys the seesaw chemistry from frustrated boss to loyal friend between the two that was a large part of the show's charm. He has two particularly great scenes, the chase scene (tense) and the speech (tear-jerking and along with his Natalie and Sharona analogy in "Mr Monk and Sharona" is the most perceptive and truthful he's been in a long time).
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, while Jason Gray-Stanford and Ted Levine are amusing (Levine also showing Stottlemeyer as a firm, frustrated boss but loyal friend, which is very "classic" 'Monk' Stottlemeyer). The supporting cast are good, including a suitably mysterious Craig T. Nelson.
"Mr Monk and the End Part I" contains the most satisfying writing of the later seasons and of 'Monk' in general, the dramatic pathos really resonates and the chemistry between the characters incredibly believable.
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.
Summing up, outstanding first half of the show finale. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Not all of Season 8's episodes have been great, "Mr Monk Goes Camping" and particularly "Mr Monk and the UFO" were especially underwhelming, and the season was a mixed bag overall. There are also some outstanding episodes, of which "Mr Monk and the End Part I" is one of them. Not just one of the best of Season 8 and a clear standout of the increasingly variable later seasons but also one of the best 'Monk' episodes in a while. It is very nearly perfect, other than a couple of sloppy continuity contradictions regarding Trudy's death and the aftermath and Natalie's romantic subplot being rushed and not particularly fitting well.
The mystery is one of the best of the season, Season 8 varied wildly when it came to its mysteries. It starts with a harrowing and tense opening scene and the present murder is reminiscent of 'Monk' in its prime (the first three seasons), it was a brain-teaser and was very eventful with some unexpected jolts. Yes even with the murderer being revealed early on, perhaps a little too early but not enough to bring down the episode or take away from the suspense.
Even more successful are the character moments, especially the dramatic elements. "Mr Monk and the End Part I" is one of the most dramatic 'Monk' episodes, perhaps THE most dramatic, and it is also one of the most emotional. Parts like how Trudy's death affects Monk and how one really sees how Monk and Trudy love each other are so poignant that tears were streaming down my cheeks, no 'Monk' episode of the later seasons affected me in this strong a way. The vomiting and poisoning scenes are also done beautifully, as is the video tape revelation which is one of those "surely not" ones and makes one feel even more sorry for Monk. Cliffhanger endings have rarely been more brutal or shocking, am not easily floored with 'Monk', this floored me.
It's not just Monk who bags great character moments, everybody has plenty to do and are true to character, reminding one of the earlier seasons. The most satisfying non-Monk character moments come from Stottlemeyer, as with prime 'Monk' one really enjoys the seesaw chemistry from frustrated boss to loyal friend between the two that was a large part of the show's charm. He has two particularly great scenes, the chase scene (tense) and the speech (tear-jerking and along with his Natalie and Sharona analogy in "Mr Monk and Sharona" is the most perceptive and truthful he's been in a long time).
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, while Jason Gray-Stanford and Ted Levine are amusing (Levine also showing Stottlemeyer as a firm, frustrated boss but loyal friend, which is very "classic" 'Monk' Stottlemeyer). The supporting cast are good, including a suitably mysterious Craig T. Nelson.
"Mr Monk and the End Part I" contains the most satisfying writing of the later seasons and of 'Monk' in general, the dramatic pathos really resonates and the chemistry between the characters incredibly believable.
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.
Summing up, outstanding first half of the show finale. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Bitter.......
Hitchcoc21 April 2020
No conclusion is ever adequate for a lengthy series. Of course, Trudy is the issue. We meet the Judge and it doesn't take much to put two and two together. But primarily, we agonize with Monk when he realizes he will probably die very soon. It's a race for the cure. This is more human, but we have another episode.
Another Story Line Contradiction
WYAdams2 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I would have given this episode 8, except for the contradiction in the way way Trudy died. The writers have no consistency in the that part of the story. Each writer makes up a method to suit his/her story line. So far, Trudy has,
1) Died alone in the garage.
2) Died with Stottlemeyer at her side in the garage.
3) Died in the hospital with Monk at her side.
In addition, Monk got the news:
1) With the fateful phone call coming while sitting in the station after telling a joke.
2) Heard the news from Stottlemer who got the phone call while they were on a case in a clinic.
This ties "Castle" for the worst example of inconsistency in story continuity. If you can get around this plot line failure, then the rest of the episode is pretty good.
1) Died alone in the garage.
2) Died with Stottlemeyer at her side in the garage.
3) Died in the hospital with Monk at her side.
In addition, Monk got the news:
1) With the fateful phone call coming while sitting in the station after telling a joke.
2) Heard the news from Stottlemer who got the phone call while they were on a case in a clinic.
This ties "Castle" for the worst example of inconsistency in story continuity. If you can get around this plot line failure, then the rest of the episode is pretty good.
A Predictable And Stupid Finale Part 1
DarkLord2228 November 2009
Warning: Spoilers
i remember watching when Dale the whale in season 5 says that about Trudy's killer "they call him the judge". come on as soon as i saw the judge FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE SERIES it was obvious that he did it but why i don't know? in the beginning of the episode u see Trudy and monk happily together but Trudy is clearly giving away signs of fear of something and for the greatest detective in the world to not notice is a miracle. when Leland gets the call that Trudy has been murdered he was with monk at that baby store but that's not right if u remember back in season 3 it was said that Enrico Colantoni who played the former cop in the supermarket. was the guy who worked with monk and he was the one next to monk when he got the call saying that Trudy has died. All in all i thought that the creators could have come up with a better finale.
4 out of 10 : predicable and awful. btw this is coming from an avid monk fan.
4 out of 10 : predicable and awful. btw this is coming from an avid monk fan.
Trudy
ctomvelu15 December 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Not exactly the greatest series finale in history -- that honor is split between the finales of MASH and the second Bob Newhart show, the one set in a hotel -- but it does tie up many loose ends. In a slightly revised version of the Monk history, we see his final moments with Trudy and then years later, he is brought back to the very spot where he first got word of her death. There is a dead doctor (Ed Begley Jr.) this time around, and his death appears tied to Trudy's in some way. Trudy's killer is introduced early in the episode, and no effort is made to hide his identity. It is up to Monk to put the pieces together, not us. Dale the Whale practically told Monk who her killer was years ago, remember? Monk gets poisoned, by the way. Again, not exactly the best finale I have ever seen, but we do get to see where everybody is going. And remember, this is just the first of two parts, so it leaves us hanging.
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