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Monk
Feb 4, 2005 22:59:27 GMT -5
Post by janetcatbird on Feb 4, 2005 22:59:27 GMT -5
While the first few episodes with Natalie have had silly plotlines, I personally like how we see Natalie and Monk adjusting to each other. And tonight Randy got a little spotlight too, so that was kinda cool, even if, bless his heart, he remains clueless. I mean, casual clothes, his home, whoa! (And I thought it a clever touch that he had that martial arts looking poster above the couch, since he seemed to be the big fan in "Cobra" last week.)
Who else loved the parallell summations. "I'm lost, which one are you listening to?" "Neither one." Ted Levine does a good job as Stottlemeyer, somehow he manages to give characterization even to the rather flat, frustrated cop. I wonder if he gets frustrated with some of the buffoonery, but he does it so well...
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Monk
Feb 12, 2005 14:22:10 GMT -5
Post by janetcatbird on Feb 12, 2005 14:22:10 GMT -5
I am bound and convinced that the writers are paving the way for Monk and Natalie to hook up. If they do it right it'd be sweet, but by "right" I mean gradual baby steps as the relationship develops. Good grief, she's still calling him Mr. Monk right now, so thankfully they've got a way to go. I suppose we can't read too much into wiping the smudge off her face, I mean he was fixing a Band-AId for Benjy earlier in the series, but that was still such a cute Monk touch. (It looked like Tony Shalhoub decided to keep going beyond the script, because Natalie looked like she was trying not to laugh, especially when he got her nose.)
Monk and Natalie, it seems, are keeping each other honest. He's not being cruel when he tunes out or gets obliviously distracted, it's just how he is. And I think that's what makes it so infuriating for the others-- he's too nice a guy to really dislike but for someone to be so clueless at times is amazingly frustrating. It seems surprising that he wouldn't notice her holding her wrist earlier, but he does tend to take it for granted that his assistants can handle anything; he has almost too great a confidence in their ability to maintain. But the whole two-way street thing, he seemed genuinely confused and somewhat hurt that Natalie doubted his support. When he said "I'll be there" Tony Shalhoub gave this wonderful inflection of "What's wrong with you? Why wouldn't I be?" (That, and his look of horror when Natalie was in the bed of the dump truck just increased my respect for his ability, which was already at a solid level.)
What I find interesting about the show is how we see Adrian Monk overcome his problems, little bits at a time across the episodes. I've noticed they don't make quite as big a deal about the wipes anymore, maybe it's old hat or maybe he really is making progress. Of course, he still grabs it at disgusting things, but he can also move beyond it--like when taking the policeman's gun in the chase. But each episode features him surmounting something new, of course it's in a moment of crisis, but it shows how Monk can come through when it really counts. He got on the ferris wheel for Sharona, and he sat in the window with a gun for Natalie.
Not quite sure about "Stuck in Traffic" as an overall episode. It took a couple repeats for me to really stay tuned, it just didn't grab my interest. No Stottlemeyer, no Randy, although that's understandable in this case. Julie seemed a bit of a wisecrack sitcom kid in this one. The villain just seemed this mysterious guy, he had some token exposition in the prologue but other that his sole effect was to show up and WHACK. But we got to see Larry Miller, everyone's favorite recurring L&O baddy! (From back in the day when they could actually handle such plots.)
Later all, Catbird
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Monk
Feb 12, 2005 18:17:42 GMT -5
Post by Patcat on Feb 12, 2005 18:17:42 GMT -5
I found the villain in TRAFFIC just way too stupid. And I found the plot line too stupid--this may be one of those cases where knowing a little hurts your enjoyment. I know a little (very little) about police work, and that traffic accident would have been examined very carefully. Even more so when it was learned that the victim was an environmental activist who had lots of enemies.
But, as I remind other people when they harp about the inconsistencies in MONK mysteries, MONK is not about plot, it's about character. And there were lots of nice character bits for Monk and Natalie in this episode. I like Larry Miller, but have to confess I found the character overbearing.
I like the way the show is shaking down, though, and like Natalie very much.
Patcat (who's just FULL of opinions tonight(g))
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Monk
Feb 16, 2005 13:26:23 GMT -5
Post by Patcat on Feb 16, 2005 13:26:23 GMT -5
From the Feb. 16, 2005, NEW YORK TIMES:
How do you get into the head of such a nut, we asked Mr. Shalhoub.
"I wake up in the morning."
Patcat (who found this hilarious and just wondered if Mr. D'Onofrio ever felt the same way)
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Monk
Feb 16, 2005 13:48:42 GMT -5
Post by MelTex on Feb 16, 2005 13:48:42 GMT -5
HAHA...Love the news clip Patcat!
So true and Sooo Tony Shalhoub. He even pulled the hanky out to chake hands with the presenter at the Emmy's that year. (don't know if anyone else saw that or not)
*gigle* Maybe D'Onofrio has read that clip in the last day or so...
I missed STUCK IN TRAFFIC, but after reading Janet's accound of it, I REALLY want to see it now.
I like Natalie and I like how she interacts with Monk. And dispite being so preoccupied with his own problems, he does have his "awww" sweet moments. I would really like to see the scene youmention Janet, about Monk wiping Natalie's face. That tenderness is not often seen with Monk.
Guess I'll have to find the re-run of it.
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Monk
Feb 26, 2005 15:58:25 GMT -5
Post by janetcatbird on Feb 26, 2005 15:58:25 GMT -5
The Vegas episode last week was alright, although it was funny to watch Stottlemeyer at the karaoke it was still embarassing. (Yes, I hide my face in shame when the characters are humiliating themselves, I'm weird that way.) Dark past to Natalie, Monk's quirks giving humorous occassions, whatever.
Yesterday, the Election episode. I wish they would quit making Randy the buffoon, but there have been occassions when he proves his stuff. It's never an obvious, my hero situation but there have been brief glimpses that we see why he's kept this job. ("Cabin Fever," what impressed me was during the shootout when he and Stottlemeyer automatically tipped the couch and table: no discussion, just do it. Same thing whenever he's had to take a semblance of control, like in "Cobra" when he was directing the diggers or the episode when Mrs. Stottlemeyer was in the hospital, Randy had to step up and he did so in a no-nonsense manner.) What I also noticed in "Election" was how Stottlemeyer reverts to professionalism: he may call her "Natalie" as Monk's assistant or ask Monk "How's Natalie?", but when dealing with her as the target he went to "Mrs. Tegger", I just thought that a neat bit of characterization. Of course, Tony Shalhoub was wonderful in expressing that frustration when a friend is putting themselves at risk. His facial expressions when Natalie told Mitch's story were amazing, and I thought Traylor Howard did a nice job as well, perhaps a bit hammy at moments but otherwise solid.
Later all, Catbird#nosmileys
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Monk
Feb 28, 2005 11:10:58 GMT -5
Post by MelTex on Feb 28, 2005 11:10:58 GMT -5
I did like the scene in "Election" where Natalie and Monk have a poignant moment and she tells her husband's story. I nearly cried..*sniffle* Would have liked to have seen Monk be a little more comforting, but I realize thats very hard for him. It was enough that he listened.
I watched "Silence of the Lambs" last night. Got creeped out watching Capt. Stottlemeyer doing his "woman dance". *cringe* I had a hard time not shuttering when I first started watching MONK, seeing Stottlemeyer and thinking..."put the lotion in the basket...." *chuckle*
I do love Stottlemeyer though, he makes me laugh..
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Monk
Feb 28, 2005 12:27:46 GMT -5
Post by Patcat on Feb 28, 2005 12:27:46 GMT -5
One of the pleasures of MONK for me has been how Ted Levine has turned the character into a fine comic foil for the show without making Stottlemeyer a caricature. In the initial episodes, I think he played the character a little too heavily, but at about the start of what I think was the second season Mr. Levine seemed to get his rythm. The writing for Stottlemeyer got a little better too.
I like MONK a lot, but I guess my chief complaint is that the writers rely on the actors to pull things off too much. It's a terrific cast, particularly Mr. Shalhoub, but the writers should help by writing more consistently in character. And Jason Grey-Sanford suffers the most from this--he's a game actor, and will do anything they ask of him--but Randy isn't written consistently.
I've liked the recent bunch of new episodes, and I like both Natalie and Ms. Howard, but I don't think there's been a standout episode like MR. MONK AND THE OLD MAN or THE THREE PIES.
Patcat
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Monk
Mar 2, 2005 12:20:32 GMT -5
Post by MelTex on Mar 2, 2005 12:20:32 GMT -5
So, I read in the TV guide this week about all the madness on what (I assume) is the USA MONK board, they didn't really specify which message board it was--about fans not liking Natalie. But the article when on to say that the ratings were staying the same, and she was slowly winning "Sherona-files" over. Also, they even said in this article (take it with a grain of salt though, *grin*) that the Monk writers and producers may toy with the idea of a Monk/Natalie Romance next season. There ya go Janetcatbird! Your suspicions have been given some weight, about the Monk/Natalie hook-up! I like Natalie, she works well on the show...but now I'm curious... how exactly are they going to "toy" with a possible romance between she and Monk? He's so completely devoted to his late wife still... Mel ~(who now has something else to ponder for the Monk hiatus until next season... as if I don't have enough to wonder about for upcomming seasons of shows... *smirk*)
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Monk
Mar 2, 2005 14:05:50 GMT -5
Post by Patcat on Mar 2, 2005 14:05:50 GMT -5
The MONK message board at the official MONK site has not been a pleasant place--discourse on the level of "so's your old man!" It does make one appreciate the high level of discussion on a board like this one (moderators, please give yourselves a big pat on the back!)
There's been some indication this season that Monk is beginning to slowly adjust to Trudy's death, and the possibility he might never solve the mystery of her death. I liked the character of Sharon, and particularly Bitty Schramm's performance (which regularly made a real person out of a caricature), but I think the writing for Natalie has been better. And Natalie makes more sense as a romantic partner for Adrian. They've shared the loss of a spouse, and her wry, skeptical personality seems a better fit for him.
My 8-year-old friend Zach, fan of Sherlock Holmes, Goren and Monk, likes Natalie. "She doesn't yell as much", he told me recently. (Yea, I know LOCI isn't kid fare, but Zach thinks it's cool how Goren has to touch, smell, and taste everything.)
Patcat
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Monk
Mar 2, 2005 16:47:15 GMT -5
Post by MelTex on Mar 2, 2005 16:47:15 GMT -5
*Grin* Well tell your 8 yr old friend Zach, he's a pretty cool 8 yr old in my book... for liking Goren! I think if I was 8 again, I'd think Goren is pretty neato as well,...the way he manipulates people and gets so involved "touching and smelling" evidence at a crime scene. Sorry to hear that kind of discourse on the Monk boards, thats a real bummer for the fans who post there I bet...
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Monk
Mar 2, 2005 21:59:00 GMT -5
Post by janetcatbird on Mar 2, 2005 21:59:00 GMT -5
Hee hee, I'll save the gloating until we get confirmation, but I've read enough literature and discussed enough in seminars to notice foreshadowing. You just know Monk will be conflicted about it--I foresee some good discussions with his psychiatrist, and I love those scenes. (What the heck is his name? I want to say Stanley but he's on "West Wing".) Is there any way I can read that article online?
As to Natalie, I think she would be a good match with Monk. Sharona may remain a friend, but she would have been the equivalent of Monk's rebound girl, (not to trivialize the loss of the person you love, but that's the only phrase I can come up with). Natalie won't put up with as much of Monk's junk as Sharona--she understands, she sympathizes, but if she can move on then so can he. Besides, as Monk/Sharona were technically patient/nurse I think Sharona's supervisors would have frowned on it. I just hope we get to see them in a guest spot visiting once or twice.
I have not seen any of the Monk forums, I can understand being devoted to a character but then I've also got the whole L&O thing of "Well, it happens, show's still good." I like what they've done so far, again I wish they'd even out Randy and Stottlemeyer but we'll give them some time.
So, is the season ended or do we still have a few new episodes?
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Monk
Mar 2, 2005 23:37:58 GMT -5
Post by Patcat on Mar 2, 2005 23:37:58 GMT -5
There's a new episode this Friday, and that's it for a while.
Patcat
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MelTex
Detective
"I want a Jonny 7 all-in-one gun..."
Posts: 336
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Monk
Mar 3, 2005 10:35:32 GMT -5
Post by MelTex on Mar 3, 2005 10:35:32 GMT -5
Isn't it the season finale tomorrow?
I'll actually get to see it this time, because MONK has been running in same time as Numb3rs, so I've had to catch Monk at 11pm. Good thing Numb3rs is comming on early tomorrow...
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Monk
Mar 3, 2005 11:08:48 GMT -5
Post by Patcat on Mar 3, 2005 11:08:48 GMT -5
MONK gets repeated a lot by USA, usually right after LOCI repeats on Saturday nights. That's how I rate potential Saturday night activities--will this be better than repeats of LOCI and MONK?
I don't get out much (g)
Patcat
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