Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger

A very rich man is killed while trying to pull off a mugging. What follows is some real silliness. One subplot is Sharona trying to get Monk to pay her for her services. The other is Monk falling on hard times and having trouble coping on his own. It's more light hearted and less intense than some of the others. I did like the "Fraidy Cop" bit with the reporters.

One of the weaker murder plots in the series. Quite obvious who did and you can accurately guess much of the background to it.

However, the investigation is interesting and there is some good comedy. The Fraidy Cop sub-plot was particularly entertaining.

A self-made billionaire goes out for the evening, but then he arrives at his destination and dresses all in black, like a ninja, and attempts to mug a couple at knifepoint. The man the billionaire is trying to mug has a gun and kills the billionaire dead, thinking him to be a common thief. In the distance a policeman lurks, but as soon as the shots ring out the policeman runs for the hills. The press dub him "the fraidy cop". The police can't figure out who the patrolman is who bolted and ran, and they also can't figure out why a billionaire would risk his freedom and his life for forty bucks. They figure he was going through some middle age crisis and looking for a thrill and leave it at that. But, as usual, Monk says not so fast.

A side plot is that Sharona is having to get on Monk's case about not paying her regularly. It's not that Monk doesn't want to, it's just he's not aggressive about demanding payment from clients who can pay but won't. This results in Sharona leaving Monk's employ for a short while and him feeling lost as a result.

The billionaire Sidney Teal leaves his home and heads downtown by car. He wears fake mustache and a mask and threatens a couple that is leaving the movie theater with a short knife to rob them. However, the man, Archie Modine, is an armed ex-cop that shoots him dead. Stottlemeyer and Randall are investigating the crime scene trying to understand what might have happened when Monk and Sharona arrive. Archie's companion tells that an affraid police officer fled the crime scene. Monk and Sharona go to Sidney's office and the secretary gives a book to her with his biography. Monk learns that Modine and Sidney lived in the same fraternity while Sharona reads the book and gives a detail to Monk that helps him to solve the case.

"Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger" is another well-resolved case by Monk, this time with the support of Sharona. The sense of observation of the detective associated to information provided by Sharona from the book of the billionaire Sidney Teal resolve another case. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Sr. Monk e o Assaltante Bilionário" ("Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger")

'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. Season 1 still goes strong for so early on, when so many shows have a finding their feet feel to begin with, and "Mr Monk and the Billionaire Mugger" fares well for 'Monk'.

This is going to be a more positive review for "Mr Monk and the Billionaire Mugger", which is a long way from being one of the show's best episodes (as far as Season 1 goes from where it started to here, "Mr Monk and the Candidate", "Mr Monk and the Psychic" and "Mr Monk Goes to the Carnival" are better, though there was no bad episode in this window), but is still a lot of fun.

Did think that the whole stuff about the Fraidy Cop was a little too silly and while somewhat important distracted a little from the main plot line. It does however see a few very funny lines from Stottlemeyer, really enjoyed his and Disher's exchange about the Fraidy Cop with Disher's enthusiasm and slight naivety contrasting entertainingly with Stottlemeyer's disbelief and frustration.

On the other hand, as said, "Mr Monk and the Billionaire Mugger" is very good fun. 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 is remarkable here that right from the first episode to when the show ended that one likes him straight away, even with his quirks and deficiencies that could easily have been overplayed, and also that he is better developed than most titular characters of other shows at this particular stage. Who can't help love Monk's brilliant mind too?

He is very well supported by a sharp and no-nonsense but also sympathetic Bitty Schram, whose Sharona makes for a worthy and entertaining partner for Monk's sleuthing and somebody with a maternal side (very caring about Monk she is here). There is always a debate at who's better between Sharona and Natalie, personally like both in their own way and consider them both attractive though as of now leaning towards Natalie as the better acted and more attentive of the two.

Also by a very amusing, and sometimes even funnier than that, Ted Levine, what a difference from his Buffalo Bill in 'The Silence of the Lambs', Stottlemeyer's exchange with Disher about Fraidy Cop and with the press contain very funny writing which Levine does a great job bringing out. Jason Gray-Stanford is suitably earnest and goofy and the funniest he's been at this point in the show.

It's not just the cast 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 hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done but extremely deft. Really love the subplot between Monk and Sharona, involving lamps and ongoing money problems.

The case itself is fun, with some nice clues, and easy to follow while not at all feeling simplistic. Was not hugely surprised by the identity of who was responsible for the crime but the motive, seeing how it was all done and how Monk came to the conclusion (through Sharona).

Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and the music is both understated and quirky. Much prefer the jazzy Season 1 theme tune to the later "It's a Jungle Out There", which always struck me before as one of my least favourite assets of 'Monk' but has since grown on me, which should have been kept. It's all very capably directed throughout.

In conclusion, a lot of fun but there are better episodes. 8/10 Bethany Cox