Its a Jungle out there.... (Monk (TV Series))

Member Name: chris212

Product:	Monk (TV Series)
Date:	14/08/09 (111 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: One of the best crime detective programmes you will ever watch

Disadvantages: None

Monk is a crime solving drama with a difference, mainly with the character at the centre of the programme, Adrian Monk.

The programme follows the exploits of Adrian Monk, a former detective at the San Francisco Police Department, who it would seem is on permanent leave from the department. The reason for his leave from the police force is due to the death of his wife in a bomb explosion that has left him emotion devastated, as it was his belief that the bomb was intended for him by someone that he helped put away.

What this has meant is Monk became a reclusive character within his own home and has developed sever OCD. This was before he meets his nurse and assistance, Sharona Fleming. It is her that eventually gets Monk to leave his house and to become a consultant to the police department. It is from this that the programme begins, as Monk is persuaded to leave his house.

The way that a normal episode will run is a cold opening, introducing the viewers to the story of the episodes, although most of the plots do revolve around murders, with the odd other crime such as kidnapping. It is then that Monk is brought in, as these are the more complicated cases. It is then that Monk uses his unusual methods to solve the case, as he sees things that no other detective sees. Normally an episode will be entitled "Mr Monk and the ...", such as the pilot was entitled "Mr Monk and the Candidate".

Within the programme there are a couple of regular characters, these are Monk, Sharona, Captain Leland Stottlemeyer and Lieutenant Randy Disher.

Monk played by Tony Shalboub, is not your average detective, as even before he became reclusive within his home for a period of three years he had a unique style that not everybody could get on who, as shown when he states that within the first two week of him becoming detective he had gone through four partners. The other aspect to the character of Monk is his OCD that makes his afraid of a lot of things, such as germs and dirt to include among other things; this leads to a character trade mark of always wanting a wipe to clean his hands. Second to this is his obsession to always wanting to straighten items that are crocked.

Although this may not sound like a good basis for a TV programme, it is actually quite good because of the way that it is portrayed. AS instead of just portraying the problems that Monk suffers from in a bad aspect the production team and Shalboub manage to make light humour of it, such as always having to straighten every item in the room. It is because of his portrayal in Monk that has earned Shalboub many award nominations that he has won, such as an Emmy; which I think was thoroughly deserved, as I could not now imagine any other actor in the role.

Next is the position of Monks assistant, originally Sharona, played by Bitty Schram. She played the character that got Monk out of his house and starting to investigate crimes again as a consultant. The character is very head strong and has the interested of Monk at heart. Originally hired as a nurse for Monk by Stottlemeyer she now acts is a capacity that is more than just a nurse. As an example of the close friendship between Monk and Sharon, as he sees her as the person that pulled him from the open ocean. Although half way through series three the characters leave and we are introduced to a new assistant.

The new assistant Natalie Teeger, played by Traylor Howard, was introduced in the middle of series three as a replacement for Schram. Although she is a similar character to Sharona, she is different with her own personality, but for a while it seemed that she faded into the background and that the relationship shown been her and Monk was not as close as with Sharona. But as the programme goes on you can see a closer friendship and she comes more to the forefront.

Captain Stottlemeyer is the person that is in charge of the division of the police department that often brings in Monk to work in the difficult cases. He is a rough character that in the beginning seems irritated by the way that Monk works, but loosens as the programme goes on. Later the viewer comes to realise why Stottlemeyer and Monk are friends, as it was Stottlemeyer that was Monks fourth partner within his first two weeks as detective.

Lastly there is the character of Lieutenant Randy Disher played by Jason Grey-Stanford, who is the second in command to Stottlemeyer. In the pilot episode and beyond on the first series, there seemed to be tense between Disher and Monk, as Disher was sceptical about Monks abilities and questioned just how good he is. But as the programme has gone on Disher has shown more respect for Monk and his abilities and holds Monk in high esteem. One thing that I have notices about the character as the programme has gone on is the way that the character has changed over the number of series. As he has changed from this smart intelligent detective to a character that one wonders just how he made it onto the police force, never mind becoming a detective.

Also in the show is the theme music, which was changed from the original instrumental arrangement by Jeff Beal to a song, "It's a Jungle out there" by Randy Newman. I prefer the new theme tune to the original, but it has the side effect, as it is one of those songs, that when you listen to it it is stuck in your head for the rest of the day.

Overall I would recommend the programme to anybody that enjoys watching detective programme, as it follows the traditional format, but has a slight twist to it, as Monk is not what one would see as a 'normal' lead character. But the programme follows very much in the same vein as Murder she Wrote and Diagnosis Murder, but unlike the other two new episodes are still being produced by the production company. Although, sadly the show is coming to an end either later this year, 2009 or next year, 2010, as it has been officially stated that the programme will stop at the end of series eight.

Monk can normally be found on BBC Two during the week at 3.00 pm, or at varying times on the Hallmark channel and I would definitely recommend a look at.

Summary: One the best shows