Mr. Monk Takes His Medicine - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jrnygrl · 08-21-2004, 01:42 AM

BRAVO!!!!!!! The writers came through with a great final season show. The best one of the season!

Thank you writers!!!

Monk: "Your a big L 7, that's a square." funny!

Pentimento · 08-21-2004, 11:19 AM

I don't know. Maybe I'm just overly sensitive to the issue of the dangers of prescription medications, but I found this episode very difficult to watch. The fact that an adverse reaction to the drugs was played for laughs bothered me but, even putting that aside, nothing about this episode (except for Monk's connection to Trudy) rang true. I've been able to suspend disbelief in the past with unrealistic scenarios and Monk's reactions to them because exaggeration enhances the humor and pathos of the character, but for some reason I had a lot of trouble with Monk's complete metamorphosis ostensibly due to unexpected side effects of the medication. Suddenly he knew certain pop culture expressions (whereas before he didn't even know who a widely popular musical diva was, and even referenced Joey Heatherton as his idea of a current superstar), and no drug could have done that.

Also, this is the first time we've ever seen Monk demonstrate to his psychiatrist such an extreme level of unhappiness and frustration with his situation, and it seemed contrived to me. I felt it was little more than a cheap and inconsistent device by which to set up the medication scenario.

I found myself amused by some of his antics, but throughout the episode I just kept wanting to see the old Monk again.

Jrnygrl · 08-21-2004, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pentimento
I don't know. Maybe I'm just overly sensitive to the issue of the dangers of prescription medications, but I found this episode very difficult to watch. The fact that an adverse reaction to the drugs was played for laughs bothered me but, even putting that aside, nothing about this episode (except for Monk's connection to Trudy) rang true. I've been able to suspend disbelief in the past with unrealistic scenarios and Monk's reactions to them because exaggeration enhances the humor and pathos of the character, but for some reason I had a lot of trouble with Monk's complete metamorphosis ostensibly due to unexpected side effects of the medication. Suddenly he knew certain pop culture expressions (whereas before he didn't even know who a widely popular musical diva was, and even referenced Joey Heatherton as his idea of a current superstar), and no drug could have done that.

Also, this is the first time we've ever seen Monk demonstrate to his psychiatrist such an extreme level of unhappiness and frustration with his situation, and it seemed contrived to me. I felt it was little more than a cheap and inconsistent device by which to set up the medication scenario.

I found myself amused by some of his antics, but throughout the episode I just kept wanting to see the old Monk again.

I won't argue with your assessment of the show, we all have our likes and dislikes.

Overall I think this season was a real disappointment. In my opinion I think there were only maybe two or three episodes that were really up to par with the monk we know and love. Which is why I think I enjoyed the marathon last weekend.

I hope it gets back on track. But I still enjoyed last nights show.

Mr. Television · 08-21-2004, 07:14 PM

I missed it.

Pentimento · 08-21-2004, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jrnygrl
Overall I think this season was a real disappointment. In my opinion I think there were only maybe two or three episodes that were really up to par with the monk we know and love. Which is why I think I enjoyed the marathon last weekend.

I hope it gets back on track. But I still enjoyed last nights show.

Yeah, it's been just a little bit off for a lot of this season. I agree with you that there were only two or three episodes that were on a par with past seasons (I'm thinking of Mr. Monk and the Blackout; Mr. Monk Gets Fired; and maybe Mr. Monk and the Employee of the Month), but every good show goes through that rough patch eventually. I think there's still a good chance that it will find its rhythm again.

Having said all that, though, I'll still take the worst Monk episode over the best of practically any other show on TV these days. It's smart, funny, poignant and definitely unique. I might not have liked "the Monk" last night, but I still love Monk.

david&maddie4ever · 08-22-2004, 12:00 AM

I dunno...I loved this episode. It was basically a showcase for Tony's exceptional acting abilities. The beginning with Trudy was just so heart-wrenching, and I can definitely attribute that to Mr. Shalhoub's work. He was brilliant throughout the episode, but what jumped out at me was the scene in which he returns as "the real Monk." The difference in things as subtle as the way he walked made me aware of his talent. A fantastic performance!

ThirteenInchEscape · 08-22-2004, 02:20 PM

It was really funny, but it was really sad also.

And basically, Monk had no real idea about pop culture, so he was just using the few things he had picked up over the years.

I thought it was just so sad though, especially for Sharona and everyone that cared about him, he was far worse on medication than off of it.

It was good, I laughed pretty hard at some of his antics, but overall it was meh.

08-21-2004, 01:42 AM	#1
Jrnygrl Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 03, 2003 Location: wheel in the sky Posts: 4,540	Mr. Monk Takes His Medicine BRAVO!!!!!!! The writers came through with a great final season show. The best one of the season! Thank you writers!!! Monk: "Your a big L 7, that's a square." funny!

08-21-2004, 07:14 PM	#4
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	I missed it.
	__________________ Sonny

08-22-2004, 12:00 AM	#6
david&maddie4ever ...the hard way... Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 01, 2003 Location: ...staring at my calendar, counting the days until the release of Moonlighting on DVD... Posts: 3,580	I dunno...I loved this episode. It was basically a showcase for Tony's exceptional acting abilities. The beginning with Trudy was just so heart-wrenching, and I can definitely attribute that to Mr. Shalhoub's work. He was brilliant throughout the episode, but what jumped out at me was the scene in which he returns as "the real Monk." The difference in things as subtle as the way he walked made me aware of his talent. A fantastic performance!
	__________________ living and loving and learning ...the hard way...

08-22-2004, 02:20 PM	#7
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	It was really funny, but it was really sad also. And basically, Monk had no real idea about pop culture, so he was just using the few things he had picked up over the years. I thought it was just so sad though, especially for Sharona and everyone that cared about him, he was far worse on medication than off of it. It was good, I laughed pretty hard at some of his antics, but overall it was meh.
	__________________ *Member of the "God Lilith is so ing Cool" Fanclub* Freedom of Thought

08-21-2004, 11:19 AM	#2
Pentimento Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 16, 2004 Location: The Big Valley Posts: 606	I don't know. Maybe I'm just overly sensitive to the issue of the dangers of prescription medications, but I found this episode very difficult to watch. The fact that an adverse reaction to the drugs was played for laughs bothered me but, even putting that aside, nothing about this episode (except for Monk's connection to Trudy) rang true. I've been able to suspend disbelief in the past with unrealistic scenarios and Monk's reactions to them because exaggeration enhances the humor and pathos of the character, but for some reason I had a lot of trouble with Monk's complete metamorphosis ostensibly due to unexpected side effects of the medication. Suddenly he knew certain pop culture expressions (whereas before he didn't even know who a widely popular musical diva was, and even referenced Joey Heatherton as his idea of a current superstar), and no drug could have done that. Also, this is the first time we've ever seen Monk demonstrate to his psychiatrist such an extreme level of unhappiness and frustration with his situation, and it seemed contrived to me. I felt it was little more than a cheap and inconsistent device by which to set up the medication scenario. I found myself amused by some of his antics, but throughout the episode I just kept wanting to see the old Monk again.