Mr. Monk and the Missing Granny

'Monk' has always been one of my most watched shows when needing comfort, to relax after a hard day, a good laugh or a way to spend a lazy weekend.

Have always considered "Mr Monk and the Missing Granny" a disappointment, and still do. There have been many instances of not liking something for the first time and then liking it far more over-time, "Mr Monk and the Missing Granny" is not one of them. It's not terrible but is one of the weaker episodes of Season 2 and a lesser 'Monk' episode, as said in my review summary to me it is also the first not-so-good 'Monk' episode, the previous episodes ranging from pretty good to masterpiece.

There are enough good things here. Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and 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.

Some of the writing is fun, if more in the character moments than the case. There is still evidence of hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama that is delicately done but extremely deft. The standouts are the exchange between Monk and Abrash starting with Monk asking about being at the opera, Julie and Stottlemeyer and seeing Disher undercover as a homeless person.

As ever, the acting is very good. Tony Shalhoub continues to be superb as Monk,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, while the quirks and flaws are genuine and never overplayed. Bitty Schram is sharp yet sympathetic, while Ted Levine and Jason Gray-Stanford both have amusing moments. Really liked the character of Julie and rooted for her and her grandmother.

However, 'Monk' can be a silly show but in a way that's endearingly quirky. Here in "Mr Monk and the Missing Granny" the silliness is overkill that it veers on the ridiculous. No, this has nothing to do with it being an atypical episode with Monk having a different reason for taking on the case and not being a murder case, different can be good and 'Monk' is no stranger to changes of pace (done better). It was enjoyable seeing how Monk solves the case and some of the clues found.

Everything about the criminals' plan was just too far fetched. The motive, the strangest ransom demand ever, their stupidity and over-confidence, that their actions seemed really pointless once the motive was revealed (they could easily have done the crime a different way and perhaps more discreetly), the whole business with the chair at the end (what a way to incriminate yourself), how easy it was to track them down and their framing attempt was just so ridiculous and improbable that it was enough to bring the episode down significantly. Sadly this is a rare case on 'Monk' where the mystery is a complete failure.

Plus the bit with Monk, the ladder and the pipe was, even in the situation he was in, was very out of character for Monk. Usually, considering his phobias, he wouldn't be seen dead doing what he did, but somehow one is meant to believe that he developed that amount of athleticism out of the blue when there were other episodes that did such a great job re-introducing new things and people and giving credible reasons (namely "Mr Monk and the Three Pies").

Overall, a disappointment though watchable. 5/10 Bethany Cox

The old Ms. Parlo finds a cat and expects to adopt it if the owner does not claim for the animal. When she is kidnapped tied to a chair by two persons driving a van that roughly draw a two-hump-lightning bolt on the wall, Stottlemeyer, Randy and the police assume the case. Randy is allergic to cat and sneezes all the time, and Stottlemeyer and him suspect of Ron Abrash, who was the leader of a terrorist group in the seventies. Meanwhile, her nephew Julie Parlo, who is a law student, decides to hire Monk to investigate the case since he is famous at her law school. She has no money to pay for his services but promises that if he resolves the case, she will reinstate Monk as a police detective since she has prepared a petition with her professor and mates. Stottlemeyer invites Monk to participate in the interrogation of Ron Abrash and Monk notes that he has a three-hump-lightning bolt tattooed on his arm and has nothing to do with the kidnapping. The kidnappers contact Julie and demand that she gives turkey dinner to the homeless in a mission to have her granny back. Nana Parlo safely returns home and Stottlemeyer puts the case on hold. However, Monk continues to investigate the case and Nana Parlo provides information about her abduction, leading Monk and Sharona to the house of the antiquarians Harold and Carol Maloney. But why they would kidnap the old lady? Nevertheless, Monk needs first to have his reinstatement test to become a detective again.

"Mr. Monk and the Missing Granny" is another funny episode of Monk. Performing the reinstatement test shows the level of OCD Monk is, knowing the answers but unable to fill the multiple choices card for the answers being inserted in the computer. The resolution of the case is great once again and Julie Parlo's mistakes are hilarious for a future lawyer. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Monk e a Vovó Desaparecida" ("Monk and the Missing Granny")

I don't know what the other reviewers grudge against the show it but he clearly hasn't seen the show. Even the lesser episodes have good bits. This episode is fun, well paced and good humour.

This is probably one of my favorites. If you aren't actively trying to critique these episodes and point out every plot hole, you'll actually enjoy the series!

Great episode; many funny parts and an interesting plot.

I guess any Monk is better than no Monk I guess, and I kind of expected more. But still, lovely to see Rachel Dratch (who is the sister of Monk's story editor Daniel Dratch) appear. Michael Shalhoub also appeared. Michael is the brother of Tony Shalhoub. Somehow the ending was a bit anti-climactic but still, it kept us guessing all the way. I'm with Bethany Cox on this, this episode is a so-and-so episode.