Search - Monk: Season Eight on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 7/17/2023...

A really fun quirky comedy show! A must watch!

He was seeing more than anybody

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 12/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For twelve years, Adrian Monk has been hunting his wife's killer, struggling with his phobias and compulsions, and solving plenty of crimes.

But now his lonely quest is finally ending. "Monk Season Eight" is a brilliant finale for the long-running detective series -- the writers have a whole season to wrap up plot threads, sketch out futures for the beloved characters, and introduce a final round of bizarre crimes that only the OCD detective can solve. And of course, they finally address the main mystery: who killed Monk's wife, and why?

First, Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is hired by a former child star who starred in his favorite sitcom, "The Cooper Clan" -- and the reality might tarnish his favorite show. Among his other problems: voodoo dolls, UFOs, a Nigerian man whose wife was killed in a hit-and-run, camping trips with surly small boys, birthday parties, the murders of Dr Bell's new therapy group, a snobby theatre critic who apparently murdered someone while he was watching Julie's play, a dog Monk reluctantly adopts, and even the possible destruction of a good friend's wedding.

A familiar face returns to San Francisco when Sharona (Bitty Schram) comes back to deal with her late uncle's legal issues, but Monk suspects foul play. And Monk's longstanding dream of rejoining the police force is realized, but turns out to be... less than ideal. Finally, his ongoing investigation into Trudy's death twelve years ago takes a deadly turn -- not only is someone trying to kill him now, but an old secret from years ago reveals the truth...

There's a bittersweet quality to the final season of "Monk" -- on one hand, it's sad that the series is finally ending, and on the other hand it has some of the most particularly because it's the best season that the show has had in quite awhile. And the writers take care to wrap up various plot threads that have wound through the series (Trudy's murder, Monk's desire to rejoin the police force) and arrange futures for most of the characters.

And along the way, they provide a solid string of murder mysteries -- baffling crimes, obscure clues, and new eccentricities. And while there are many bittersweet moments, especially in the last two or three episodes, the season is peppered with some comedy as well (Monk hosts a hilariously squeaky-clean bachelor party) and some deliciously hilarious dialogue ("There is no Opposite Killer! If there was, you would have been killed by a falling rocket scientist years ago!").

And as for the ending... well, it has some major shocks and plot twists, and the mystery is rather brief and simple. However, the resolution of Monk's story is intensely satisfying and leaves you feeling warm'n'fuzzy.

Tony Shalhoub is, as ever, lovably oddballish as Adrian Monk; while his tragicomic performances are brilliant throughout the season, his performance in the final episode is shattering, raw and eventually uplifting. Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford and Ted Levine give solid performances (and their characters all get new romantic interests... some quite surprising!), and there are some excellent guest turns by Schram, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Virginia Madsen. But Shalhoub is the undisputed star of this season.

It's a wrench to say goodbye to Monk and the gang after eight long years, but at least the eighth season is a brilliant farewell. Here's what happened... and here's what Monk did about it."

A Delightful Conclusion

M. J. Merchant | St. Paul, Minnesota | 12/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The writers and the cast outdid themselves for the final season. The plot lines were fresh, witty, and hilarious. There are some big surprises in the eighth season -- not just in the individual episodes ("Happy Birthday, Mr. Monk" contains a big surprise, which I won't divulge), but throughout the season, the characters -- Stottlemeyer, Disher, and Natalie -- develop in some surprising ways that are satisfying to watch.

But it's Mr. Monk who really steals the show.

Tony Shaloub's acting as he breathes life into the neurotic Mr. Monk is always a delight to watch, over and over. And each season includes one or two virtuoso cadenzas to showcase Shaloub's talent, lest we start thinking that Shaloub and Adrian Monk are actually one in the same. For instance, in "Mr. Monk Takes His Medicine" (Season Three), Monk's new medication turns him into a completely different person, with hilarious results. ("You can't rush 'The Monk.'" "You're bringing 'The Monk' down, man.") And my personal favorite, which my wife and I have watched many, many times, "Mr Monk Goes to the Theater" (Season Two), in which we see Monk in a play within a play, where he gives a remarkably fine performance portraying a totally different character -- as long as no one is watching. In front of the audience, he becomes the painfully self-conscious Adrian Monk, stumbling over his lines. ("A man can't count on 'used to be' the way he's ... supposed to.")

The eighth season continues this tradition brilliantly with the episode, "Mr. Monk is Someone Else," in which Shaloub plays a character totally unlike Monk, as well as Monk, as well as Monk playing a character totally unlike Monk, to hilarious effect.

In "Mr. Monk Takes the Stand," Monk is so thoroughly, obsessively Monk again, that it is almost painful to watch him squirm on the witness stand. (Fortunately, he finds another way to solve the case.)

The biggest surprise for me this season was the delightful, surprising, and genuinely satisfying way that the series ended. I had thought I would be terribly sad to see the end -- and for a moment there, I thought I was going to be devastated! But now I just smile to think of these beloved characters going on with the next phase of their lives.

And at the very end, the door is left open, just a crack, for the possibility of a sequel. Arthur Conan Doyle tried to kill off Sherlock Holmes -- twice! But his fans would not stand for it, and Doyle was forced to bring the great detective back to life. We may entertain a glimmer of hope that Monk's fans will someday coax him back for an encore."

Mr. Monk is Gone

etc. reviews | Long Island, New York | 12/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have watched this show from the begining, and I have loved it from the begining. And, although I am sad to see it go, it couldn't end any better. After the announcement that Season 8 would be the last season of Monk, the writers must've been hard at work. Because, I simply do not believe they could have ended this series better. Not only have they closed some doors, they opened some. But before you read anymore of this, I'll warn you. So here it is: SPOILER ALERT! We begin the season with Monk meeting his favorite actor from his favorite show.Then Monk makes a friend. A man who's wife also passed away right outside of Monk's apartment. After some more episodes, we see Sharona! Monk's longtime nurse/friend (season 1-3) comes back to see Monk and friends. More episodes pass by and then we come to 2 very important episodes. The first episode (8.13 Mr. Monk is the Best Man) is the episode in which Captain Stottlemeyer marries his girlfriend, Trudy (from episode 8.9 Happy Birthday, Mr. Monk) and Monk is the Best Man. In the next episode (8.14 Mr. Monk and the Badge) Monk becomes a detective on the police force again, but leaves shortly after because of the challenges and change that comes with being a police detective. And then comes the 2 part finale. While eating dinner with Natalie, Julie, and Natalie's new boyfriend Monk is poisoned. He tries to solve Trudy's murder as well as his own. Of course, he succecedes. He also opens up Trudy's gift, and finds out his dead wife was once pregnant before they even met each other. He then meets his dead wife's estranged daughter Molly. They are both very fond of each other. Afterwards, we find out Disher is leaving the SFPD to go to New Jersey and live with Sharona and become the new Police Chief there. After a short montage with a great "Monk Goodbye" song we see the ending Monk walking into a building with Stottlemeyer and Natalie. A great ending to a great show. I'm very sad to see it go, but am very excited to see the DVD come out."