Mr. Monk and the Astronaut

An astronaut, Steve Wagner, is talking to his old lover about her upcoming tell-all book about celebrities with which she had affairs. She wants him to see the latest draft of the chapter that involves him because she doesn't want him surprised by the book and it's revelations. They are having a drink and talking when she falls over unconscious. He has drugged her beverage, and then says things that indicate he is going to kill her, because he can't let the truth come out.

Days later, the cleaning woman finds the woman hanging from a noose, apparently a suicide. However, Monk finds things that indicate it could be murder. Wagner becomes a suspect, but according to the coroner's estimate of time of death, he was in space at the time. If he is guilty, how did he do it?

This has got to be Monk's wildest murder case. The actual murder plot involves so many gambles that it's not a brave plan - It's a stupid one where everything just happened to go right! - almost. Disher's ludicrous theory that involves escape pods in the space shuttle actually sounds more credible.

There's a side plot involving a battle of wits between Monk and the astronaut. Wagner can tell Monk is a guy who is frightened of everything, and he uses that to try to make Monk lose focus and doubt his own courage.

This, for me, is one of the best Monk episodes. Imagine trying to prove an astronaut committed a murder while out in space. Seems impossible but Monk is not deterred, even after he is consistently shamed by the astronaut in public. This is when Monk feels he does not measure up to the manly persona the astronaut projects, the seemingly effortless self assured cockiness. And yet the viewers will be surprised as well as Monk , himself, at how hw can and will overcome for the sake of justice and ethics. Every time I see this, I rejoice at his eventual victory, when "everything was on the line" and there was no room for error. This episode defines what true manliness consists of and Monk is surprised at how he truly does conform to it when he is willing to stand for the courage of his convictions. Monk earns his spurs in a very unique way and does not stick his head in the sand to avoid confrontation but actually embraces it.

'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.

"Mr Monk and the Astronaut" is not one of the best 'Monk' episodes, and it is not quite up there with the very best of Season 4 (though in the better half). It is however significantly better than the previous episode "Mr Monk and the Big Reward", one of the few average or less early seasons episodes and a rare case of not feeling like 'Monk' at all. At least "Mr Monk and the Astronaut" feels like a 'Monk' episode. Do have to agree that some of the episode has some ridiculous aspects.

This is particularly true with the climax, one of the show's most far-fetched, and that the killer took so many risks and left so much incriminating evidence somehow without arousing any suspicion. The scene in the classroom was a lot of fun, showed off Tony Shalhoub's versatility brilliantly and showed exactly what the character is all about, but anybody who works in a school will have a very hard time getting their heads around how Monk was treated by the children and the behaviour somehow is condoned.

However, apart from some ridiculousness, the mystery itself is one of the fourth season's strongest. How the murder was done and everything with the airtight alibi was very cleverly done while the killer is one of the most ruthless and interesting on 'Monk'. His interaction with Monk is just terrific.

Character moments-wise, the highlights are the scene between Monk and Kroger, the exchanges between Disher and Stottlemeyer ("let's pretend this globe represents the earth" is classic Disher), the hallway confrontation between Monk and Wagner and when Monk stands up to Wagner and stands for what he believes in (the viewer completely relates and cheers him in). Did enjoy the classroom scene, providing that its lack of realism doesn't take away from things too much.

Natalie is down to earth, sympathetic and sassy, also being sensitive to Monk's needs and quirks which Traylor Howard does well bringing out. Stottlemeyer and Disher have some good moments too, and Ted Levine and Jason Gray-Stanford are great.

As said many times, 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.

It's not just the cast or story though. Another star is the writing, which is also essential to whether the show would be successful or not and succeed it does here. The mix of wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done, particularly the last one. The quirks are sympathetically done and never exploited or overdone. Jeffrey Donovan is excellent as Wagner.

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. Oh and a good job is done with the different opening credits sequence to accommodate the changes made.

All in all, despite its ridiculousness it's a very solid episode. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Monk faces a homicidal astronaut in MR. MONK AND THE ASTRONAUT. Jeff Donovan of BURN NOTICE and CROSSING JORDAN plays a hugely egotistical astronaut who murders an old flame in a truly bizarre fashion. It is up to Monk to figure out how the guy did it, since he was in orbit around the Earth at the time of the murder. Donovan steals every scene he is in, although after goading the shy Monk in a school hallway confrontation, it is plain the preening flyboy has sealed his fate. Monk does a fair amount of running around in this episode. And his run-in with the condescending astronaut is right out of an older episode where Monk confronts a homicidal doctor who thinks of himself as bulletproof and Monk as a mental midget. The ending is far-fetched, but watching Monk run all over creation in an attempt to expose the astronaut was different, I must say.

What I like about Monk is his humanity. The juxtaposition of his human frailties, shortcomings, and weakness with his strong talents in other ways and his resilience. This was explored in this show by his interaction with the astronaut who has an over abundance of self confidence to the point of arrogance that he plays against Monk to make him feel inferior. Some of the plot details here are stretched a bit far in terms of plausibility though. Most irritating to me though is the classroom speech scene. I have worked as a teacher and never would myself or any of the other teachers I worked with have allowed those students to behave like that without intervening in some way. We certainly would never leave students unattended with invited guest speakers so to think a teacher just let that go on was ridiculous to me. Nit picky maybe but this is Monk where the central character's obsession with details is both a strength and weakness. It makes the inconsistencies in characters actions, details and reality in the stories seem to stand out more harshly sometimes. Still loved Monk! :)