Mr. Monk and the Badge
- Episode aired Nov 20, 2009
- TV-PG
- 43m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
At long last Monk finally receives his badge - but his first case back on the force proves to be a difficult one as he attempts to tie a serial killer with police corruption.At long last Monk finally receives his badge - but his first case back on the force proves to be a difficult one as he attempts to tie a serial killer with police corruption.At long last Monk finally receives his badge - but his first case back on the force proves to be a difficult one as he attempts to tie a serial killer with police corruption.
Photos
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaTony Shalhoub's wife Brooke Adams makes her 5th and last appearance in the series after previously appearing as Leigh (the stewardess) in Mr. Monk and the Airplane (2002) (Season 1); as Mrs. Abigail Carlyle in Mr. Monk and the Kid (2005) (Season 3); as Sheriff Margie Butterfield in Mr. Monk Visits a Farm (2007) (Season 5); she reprised her role as Leigh in Mr. Monk's 100th Case (2008) (Season 7), and, lastly, she appeared in Mr. Monk and the Badge (2009) as the crazy "cat lady", Edith Capriani.
- GoofsMonk breaks two major gun safety rules immediately after Natalie hands him his pistol (Beretta 92?) on his first day back. First he holds it so that it is pointed directly at her. Then--even before releasing the magazine--he puts his finger inside the trigger guard. One should never do that unless preparing to fire.
- Quotes
Lt. Randall Disher: So what are you going to do?
Adrian Monk: I haven't decided. I'll either go home and brood or go home and sulk. I'm leaning toward brooding.
Featured review
Reinstatement, a serial killer and police corruption
'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.
Season 8 of 'Monk' is a mixed bag quality-wise, with it being the final season it leans towards the worth watching but could have been better end. There are disappointing episodes, especially "Mr Monk Goes Camping" (bland) and "Mr Monk and the UFO" (excessively silly), and with both with weak mysteries, but there are a few outstanding ones up to this point in "Mr Monk and the Foreign Man", "Mr Monk is the Best Man" and now this. "Mr Monk and the Badge" is an excellent episode and to me one of the better episodes of the later seasons. My only complaints are the stuff with Monk manning the tip line, which was ridiculous, not easy to swallow and was beneath Monk, and Natalie's side story not being fleshed out enough.
Otherwise, the mystery itself, while derivative, was fun and had intrigue value, one of the season's better mysteries by far in a season that has had some underwhelming ones. Monk's deductions are nicely done and closer to "classic" methodical Monk than the rapid conclusion jumping Monk, while the climax is thrilling, not only having nail-biting tension but one is very proud of Monk at the end of it.
Character-moments-wise, "Mr Monk and the Badge" is a winner. How the episode handles exploring and resolving a long overdue on-going issue (the reinstating) is immensely satisfying, it's handled beautifully and probes some thought-provoking questions/feelings yet wisely shows that over-time Monk has changed and not the man he was. "Mr Monk and the Badge" may not be a laugh-out-loud funny episode, though it has shades of that with Edith, but it is very thought-provoking (Dr Bell's Oscar Wilde quote is an example), boasts some subtle and touching emotional moments in how Monk's situation is handled and the climax is tense. Season 8 has also been great in addressing and resolving on-going problems and phobias, showing that Monk is progressing and improving, and doing it gradually rather than all in one go just like that, this is true with "Mr Monk and the Badge".
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.
Pathos, mystery, intrigue and the sprinkling of humour are beautifully balanced here in "Mr Monk and the Badge" and all four components are 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
Season 8 of 'Monk' is a mixed bag quality-wise, with it being the final season it leans towards the worth watching but could have been better end. There are disappointing episodes, especially "Mr Monk Goes Camping" (bland) and "Mr Monk and the UFO" (excessively silly), and with both with weak mysteries, but there are a few outstanding ones up to this point in "Mr Monk and the Foreign Man", "Mr Monk is the Best Man" and now this. "Mr Monk and the Badge" is an excellent episode and to me one of the better episodes of the later seasons. My only complaints are the stuff with Monk manning the tip line, which was ridiculous, not easy to swallow and was beneath Monk, and Natalie's side story not being fleshed out enough.
Otherwise, the mystery itself, while derivative, was fun and had intrigue value, one of the season's better mysteries by far in a season that has had some underwhelming ones. Monk's deductions are nicely done and closer to "classic" methodical Monk than the rapid conclusion jumping Monk, while the climax is thrilling, not only having nail-biting tension but one is very proud of Monk at the end of it.
Character-moments-wise, "Mr Monk and the Badge" is a winner. How the episode handles exploring and resolving a long overdue on-going issue (the reinstating) is immensely satisfying, it's handled beautifully and probes some thought-provoking questions/feelings yet wisely shows that over-time Monk has changed and not the man he was. "Mr Monk and the Badge" may not be a laugh-out-loud funny episode, though it has shades of that with Edith, but it is very thought-provoking (Dr Bell's Oscar Wilde quote is an example), boasts some subtle and touching emotional moments in how Monk's situation is handled and the climax is tense. Season 8 has also been great in addressing and resolving on-going problems and phobias, showing that Monk is progressing and improving, and doing it gradually rather than all in one go just like that, this is true with "Mr Monk and the Badge".
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.
Pathos, mystery, intrigue and the sprinkling of humour are beautifully balanced here in "Mr Monk and the Badge" and all four components are 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
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- TheLittleSongbird
- Oct 7, 2017
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