Mr. Monk Falls in Love
- Episode aired Aug 22, 2008
- TV-PG
- 41m
Monk is smitten with an attractive former dancer and when she's accused of murder, he agrees to help her, even though all the evidence points to her, and continues searching--even after she ... Read allMonk is smitten with an attractive former dancer and when she's accused of murder, he agrees to help her, even though all the evidence points to her, and continues searching--even after she confesses to the crime.Monk is smitten with an attractive former dancer and when she's accused of murder, he agrees to help her, even though all the evidence points to her, and continues searching--even after she confesses to the crime.
Photos
- Refugee Mother
- (as Elizabeth Leibel)
- Uniformed Cop
- (uncredited)
- Homeless Man
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Eastern European land Zemenia, where Leyla and the butcher are supposed to come from, does not exist. The language Leyla is speaking sometimes is Polish. The Zemenian flag you can see in some scenes is patterned on the flag of Croatia but in other colors and with some little modifications. Additionally, the symbol on Leyla's hat pin and box contains the Ukrainian national symbol. The Zemenian language Mr. Monk is trying to speak (with the dictionary) is an invented language.
- GoofsWhen Stottlemeyer is writing notes on the whiteboard, many of the shots show the word "Female" written without its letter A; others show it spelled correctly.
It is spelled correctly in every shot. However, the "M" was sometimes written differently, running into the "A" making it look like the "A" was not there, but it was.
- Quotes
Captain Leland Stottlemeyer: [comes to Leyla's apartment with a search warrant, and he notices that Monk is wearing only a bathrobe] Here's something I never thought I'd say out loud: Where are your pants?
- ConnectionsReferences The Horse Whisperer (1998)
Despite my love for 'Monk', the show is not exempt from having disappointing episodes. As far as previous episodes go, didn't care for "Mr Monk and the Missing Granny", "Mr Monk and the Rapper", "Mr Monk and the Really Really Dead Guy" and particularly "Mr Monk and the Big Reward" and "Mr Monk Takes a Punch". "Mr Monk Falls in Love" is to me another one of the disappointing episodes. There are definitely things that make it watchable, but the episode did seem to lose some of what is particularly charming about the show.
Let us start off with the positives. 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. Traylor Howard is earthy, sassy and sympathetic.
Natalie is sassy, down to earth and sympathetic, not dull or annoying, and she works really well with Monk and has the odd nice exchange that makes up for her being underused. Disher and particularly Stottlemeyer have some amusing moments, Stottlemeyer has the best and funniest lines here (the humour is sporadic but there is some and pretty much all of it comes from Stottlemeyer) and Disher isn't written as an idiot. It is easy to empathise with Monk and there is some evidence of charming and touching chemistry in the romance.
Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford and especially Ted Levine are good as usual, and the supporting cast do their best.
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.
However, there aren't enough funny moments, certainly not enough with Monk himself (the funniest it gets is with the hat line and that is hardly classic Monk). There is not enough attention given to Monk's quirks, obsessiveness and OCD, or his methodical observations of the crime which seem neglected here in favour of the romance. The romance does take up too much of the episode, and charm and poignancy doesn't come consistently (the dramatic aspects have been much more relatable and touching in other 'Monk' episodes), too much of it is lukewarm and the chemistry at times awkward. Just when you'd think Monk has found happiness, that's again dashed, seeming to remind us that a great character who has lost a lot can't be happy again.
When it comes to the mystery, that is nearly completely side-lined, and when it does feature it is bland and ridiculous with an important and obvious clue that Monk normally would have made a big thing up but he is too loved up and biased to even take notice. The real revelation is like a contradictory cheat after so much evidence suggesting so much otherwise, usually really like it when things are not what they seem but it felt lazily done here.
Pretty much all the supporting cast don't register, the love interest has her moments but the cop characters that talk down to Monk are incredibly condescending, annoying and pointless. Monk is uncharacteristically oblivious and his awesome detective skills deserve far better than the baseless and too hasty conclusion jumping seen here.
All in all, not in love with the episode sadly. 5/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Sep 17, 2017
Details
- Runtime41 minutes
- Color