TV Show Review: Monk - Season 2

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Funny situations brought to life by great actors

Cons: I really want better extras on this set

The Bottom Line:

If you have not watched

Set aside some time to start

You'll thank me later

Highly Entertaining How-Done It Show

Adrian Monk is back for his second season with 16 new cases to solve. This obsessive-compulsive, fear riddled detective must over come his problems to once again help the police get the real villain. Whether he's facing public speaking, umpiring, or searching for a missing grandmother, you can count on two things - the mystery will be bizarre and you'll get a laugh or two in the process.

Season 2 of Monk was when I started watching the show, and it hooked me from the start. It hits just the right balance of humor, mystery, and drama. We feel for Monk even as we laugh at him. And the comedy, while usually at Monk's expense, is done without mocking him. It's a fine line, but they are able to do it.

All four of the leads are excellent, helping their characters stand out in what could become caricatures. Tony Shalhoub is outstanding as Monk, making him believable. He deserved to his Emmy nomination if not a win. Bitty Schram often gets lost in the praise for this show as Monk's assistant Sharona, but her performance is wonderful, keeping the assistant from becoming part of the background. Ted Levine is great as Captain Stottlemeyer who constantly has to call in Monk. And Jason Gray-Stanford is hilarious as Lieutenant Disher, the detective without a clue. All the characters are stronger then they were in the first season, making this year an even bigger joy to watch.

And these mysteries are top notch as well. Instead of the standard one murder and three suspects, this show usually goes for one suspect with the perfect alibi that Monk has to break. And there in lies some of the best mysteries on TV today. My personal favorite puzzle from this season is "Mr. Monk and the Sleeping Suspect" in which Monk must prove the mailer of recent package bombs has been in a coma for three months.

My all time favorite episode of the show (at least so far) is also in this set. "Mr. Monk and the Three Pies" really digs into Monk's character as we see him interact with his brother, who is even worse then he is. The mystery is well done, but it's the brothers' relationship that makes the episode stand out.

While the extras could have been better, this DVD set is great. All 16 episodes are presented in sharp widescreen with Dolby 2.0 surround. Each of the four discs has a couple minute featurette. "The Minds Behind Monk" talks about the creation of the character. There are profiles with interviews with the actors of Disher and Stottlemeyer. Finally, there's a tour of the precinct set. Nothing spectacular, but the episodes are well worth getting it for.

Fans of this show will be pleased to have it on disc to watch over and over again. And if you've managed to miss this gem, get season 2 of Monk today. You'll be hooked in no time.

Season 2 Episodes:

1. Mr. Monk Goes Back to School

2. Mr. Monk Goes to Mexico

3. Mr. Monk Goes to the Ballgame

4. Mr. Monk Goes to the Circus

5. Mr. Monk and the Very, Very Old Man

6. Mr. Monk Goes to the Theater

7. Mr. Monk and the Sleeping Suspect

8. Mr. Monk Meets the Playboy

9. Mr. Monk and the 12th Man

10. Mr. Monk and the Paperboy

11. Mr. Monk and the Three Pies

12. Mr. Monk and the TV Star

13. Mr. Monk and the Missing Granny

14. Mr. Monk and the Captain's Wife

15. Mr. Monk Gets Married

16. Mr. Monk Goes to Jail