(S05E11) Tony Shalhoub has garnered a few Emmys for his role as Adrian Monk, and I know some have complained that at this point it's almost as if he's given the award automatically. I don't care whether or not Shaloub "deserves" to be nominated year after year, but I do know that it's Monk that makes Monk worth watching. I don't watch this series because of the complex plots, because they're rarely complex. Clues to the suspect's identity are made more obvious than hints in an Encyclopedia Brown story, especially in this episode when a mysterious man strangles his lover in the opening scene, a man who is clearly Andy Richter even though they try to obscure him.
Of course, we find out about halfway through that Hal (Richter) really is the man who seduced a woman who used to work at the police station to help him sneak a priceless statue back from Greece. That's why he decides to befriend Monk, so he can check Monk's mail and intercept a letter from the dead woman that would pin him to the crime.
Monk, however, is so elated about having a new friend he doesn't notice all the clues building up that point to Hal. he wants to "pop the question" to Hal and ask him to be his best friend, and sits by the phone like a teenage girl waiting for the cute boy in her class to call her. It's both hilarious and heart-wrenching to see Monk so deluded, and even after Hal tries to kill him, Monk thinks it would be cool to go to another hockey game with him.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-20-2007 @ 4:32PM
Barbara said...
Please let me know if Ted Levine (Sgt. Stottlemeyer has died in real life. I know I read an obiituary a few months ago but haven't been able to find anything else. My family thinks I'm nuts.
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1-20-2007 @ 12:23PM
erroneous_nick said...
I have to agree with you about liking "Monk" for the character Monk. Sure the plots sometimes seem like they're only there because it's required, but Tony Shalhoub makes it worth watching. I think Tony deserves his Emmys.
Pssst, Adam, it's Shalhoub, with an "h". I know I should submit through the corrections, but I'm saving energy and both commenting and correcting right here. It's all in the spirit of energy conservation. Okay...it's because I'm lazy.
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1-20-2007 @ 12:34PM
Kimberly said...
I love Monk!!!!
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1-20-2007 @ 12:52PM
amy said...
I love Monk!!!!! It is a great show. Tony Shaloub is a great actor he always makes the show entertaining to watch. Wasn't last nights episode great?
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1-20-2007 @ 12:58PM
jonathan said...
I watched the episode, and was disappointed. The show is becoming formula driven, and there is no longer a mystery, if ever there was one. His new assistant is cute but lacks the pizazz of the original. The neurosis of the main character has become the driving force of the program, not the plots.
Psyched is as funny as ever.
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1-20-2007 @ 1:30PM
June Davis said...
Shaloub, Tony - alias: character Monk.
I was a fan when he was the taxi driver in "Wings", in the movie "Polly". He is a fine actor.
Monk, the show, is entertaining and amusing. Not meant to be a 'deep mystery' - The OCD a perfect vehicle for the character.
Even though one knew what Andy R's character was up to - it was a good stretch for him to be a killer.
And Monk's denial of the known is a very human reaction. Who hasn't lived by that river called "De nile" (sorry - just slipped in here)
Monk is made special by the production of a few shows and making fans wait for the next episodes. Long live Monk!
The 'new' assistant doesn't have the sass of the 'Jersey-type gal"; but, she is okay. The little girl could be dropped.
But that is just my opinion ----JD
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1-20-2007 @ 2:24PM
Bob Jones said...
The crimes used to be pretty complex and have some mystery, here there was none - a poor episode.
There was no "who dunnit", "how they dunnit", and very little "why they dunnit" ... very bad.
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1-20-2007 @ 5:03PM
Katie said...
Barb: You are nuts. Wiki has no death date.
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1-21-2007 @ 12:45AM
Cesar said...
I have to say that monk is great even thought they dont have those big mysteries. Adrian Monk is just a very compelling character that makes the show. Also, the new assistant is hot.
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1-21-2007 @ 7:40AM
Mel said...
I thought the imperative for the main murder of Gayle was very weak. All she did was find an empty wine bottle with something concealed in it. Nothing a master manipulator like Andy Richter's Hall character could not worm his way out off without resorting to a towel hanging.
Also, Gayle who worked with Monk a long time ago kept her promise and mailed him a personalised photo of her in Greece. Looks like he had a friend there.
Weak episode, but once again great characters make this a delightful way to end the week with Psych.
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1-21-2007 @ 3:59PM
joey peeps said...
this is the worst review or whatever you want to call this for a show on this blog. Adam, fire your self.
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1-21-2007 @ 11:17PM
ann said...
I was disappointed when I figured out that Hal wanted the mail 1/2 way thru the show. Monk had made reference to it at the crime scene ("she always said she would send me a picture") and Hal was so obvious about getting the mail everyday. I did like seeing "Steve" from Sex In the City as the previous boyfriend. What a lovable nerdy guy.
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1-22-2007 @ 6:53AM
Mchan said...
Can someone please tell me what is the name of the melody in the music box ? I know it was mentioned but the audio in my video sucks ..
Thanks
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