subject: Monk - Season Five dvd review [print this page] Author: mark collier Author: mark collier
Season five of Monk continues to bring us the cases and struggles of Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) as he struggles to solve crimes despite his OCD and many phobias. This season finds Monk facing new issues in the same old way.
When the city garbage workers go on strike, it's up to Monk to solve a murder to get everything cleaned up. His assistant Natalie (Traylor Howard) convinces Monk to strike out on his own and open a private eye business. Monk's 25 year class reunion at Berkley involves a painful stroll down memory lane and the murder of a nurse. When Captain Stottlemeyer's (Ted Levine) son skips school to attend a rock concert, Monk finds a dead man in an outhouse. And in a "Wings" reunion, Steven Weber plays a shock jock that may have killed his wife. He just has the perfect alibi; he was on the air at the time.
This season featured two episodes at aired during the hiatus between parts of the season. In the first, Monk finally meets his dad, a trucker who needs Monk's help to solve a murder. The second is very interesting. "Mr. Monk and the Leper" was originally shown in black and white and color. It's a very noirish tale, and the black and white color scheme really adds to the episode. Both versions, including their original introductions are included in the set.
As always, this season provided many fun character moments and some hilarious situations. At times, the characters can become cartoonish. This felt especially true near the beginning of the season. But the actors do a great job of keeping things believable and human.
Since the set has both the black and white and color versions of the one episode, there are 17 episodes in this four disc set. Extras include an audio commentary (a first for the series) on the black and white version of "Mr. Monk and the Leper." Disc four contains some hilarious "webisodes" that premiered on line. I know I've seen at least one used as a promo on TV, however. Finally, there's the pilot of "Psych," a similar comedic mystery. Find out more about Monk and the Monk dvds and where you can buy them at http://www.monktv.net Here are the episodes on the season Mr. Monk and the Actor:
A famous actor plays Monk in a movie about the obsessive compulsive detective. However, the more he spends time with Monk, the more Natalie grows concerned about how the actor's behavior takes a weird turn. He also gets too involved in a murder case Monk is currently trying to solve.
Mr. Monk and the Garbage Strike:
When a union boss' death threatens to prolong a city-wide garbage strike in San Francisco, it's up to Monk to help end the strike by determining whether the boss' death was suicide or murder. It also is very funny to see Monk try to clean up the city by himself.
Mr. Monk and the Big Game:
Julie and her friends hire Monk to look into the suspicious death of their basketball coach. Monk isnt too sure and soon realizes the case may have one twist even he wouldnt have seen coming.
Mr. Monk Cant See and Thing:
Mr. Monk looses his eyesight after a bizarre altercation with a murder suspect in a fire station. Determined not to let it disable him, he continues on to solve the case.
Mr. Monk, Private Eye:
When Natalie convinces Monk to go into business as a private eye, his first case is a small fender bender that leads to a far more dangerous investigation that involves plenty of twists.
Mr. Monk and the Class Reunion:
Monk attends his college reunion and uncovers a complex murder plot against one of his former classmates. Pretty cool episode in my opinion.
Mr. Monk Gets a New Shrink:
When Dr. Kroger retires after his cleaning lady is killed in his own office, it's up to Monk to solve the case and get Dr. Kroger back to work as soon as possible, or Monk may not make it.
Mr. Monk Goes to a Rock Concert:
Monk goes to a rock concert to look for Captain Stottlemeyer's son and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation.
Mr. Monk Meets his Dad:
One of my favorite episodes in this season. When Monk's truck driving father rolls into town at Christmastime, Monk joins him on the road, where they stumble across a mystery that even Monk may not be able to solve.
Mr. Monk and the Leper:
A missing millionaire suffering from leprosy comes out of hiding to hire Monk, who soon finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation as well as realizing different stories may have one common, mysterious, factor.
Mr. Monk Makes a Friend:
An easy going guy named Hal bumps into Monk at a grocery store, and the two become fast friends. For the first time in his life, Monk appears to have a buddy. However Hal may not be all that he appears to be...
Mr. Monk is at Your Service:
When Natalie suspects foul play in the deaths of her parents' wealthy neighbors, Monk goes undercover as a butler to investigate
Mr. Monk is on the Air:
In one of the better episodes Monk goes toe to toe with a popular radio shock jock who is suspected of killing his wife.
Mr. Monk Visits a Farm:
When Lt. Disher inherits a farm from an uncle who committed suicide, he decides to quit the police force and start a new life in the country. But Disher soon suspects that his uncle was murdered, so Monk joins him on the farm to investigate.
Mr. Monk and the Really, Really Dead Guy:
When a dangerous criminal named the "Six Way Killer" strikes in San Francisco, Monk has to match his detective skills against the flashy forensic technology of a federal agent as they both pursue the murderer.
Mr. Monk Goes to the Hospital:
Monk goes to the hospital with a bloody nose, but when a doctor in the hospital turns up dead, Monk joins the murder investigation, and soon his own life is in grave danger. Find out more about Monk and the Monk dvds and where you can buy them at http://www.monktv.netAbout the Author:
