Group: Members
Posts: 1
Joined: 31-July 05
Member No.: 29,479
Monk happens to be one of my favorite shows. But now that Sharona is gone...i feel like its missing something. Although Natalie is ok, she doesnt fit Sharona's place well at all. I dont feel like she has the same kinda of connection with Monk. Anyone else agree?
Group: Members
Posts: 2,453
Joined: 8-July 05
From: San Francisco
Member No.: 80
Quote: I dont feel like she has the same kinda of connection with Monk. Anyone else agree?
You're right, Natalie does not have the same connection with Monk, because she's a different character. There are at least a dozen other topics just like this. Why not post in one of those? The moderator has warned us that he will delete these types of repetitive messages. I can only hope he starts with this one.
--------------------
*****
I'd say I'm operating at or just below Magoo level. *****
Group: Members
Posts: 4
Joined: 21-July 05
Member No.: 29,054
She is an utterly illogical choice for Monk's world. Monk, for all his brilliance, has a MEDICAL condition. He needs a qualified PROFESSIONAL to help him cope with it until he's ready to get back to normal life. Sharona, a brilliant Nurse, was his perfect partner- they had an established chemistry and she had her own personality to boot. To replace her with some 1 dimensional character does not only a diservice to the nursing profession, but insults the show's audience as well.
Group: Members
Posts: 2,172
Joined: 8-July 05
From: SoCal
Member No.: 4
Quote: She is an utterly illogical choice for Monk's world. Monk, for all his brilliance, has a MEDICAL condition. He needs a qualified PROFESSIONAL to help him cope with it until he's ready to get back to normal life.
He does have a qualified professional: Dr. Kroger. He doesn't need a nurse, not anymore. He needed a nurse when he was semi-comatose for three and a half years.
I don't believe that Sharona was replaced by a one-dimensional character. I like Natalie as a character. I like her feistiness, her matter-of-fact-ness and her sense of humor. I am not insulted by her presence on the show; neither do I see her replacement of Sharona as an insult to the nursing profession. Even the registered nurse who interviewed for the job told Adrian that he doesn't need a nurse. What Adrian needs, and has needed since the Pilot is someone to drive him to and from crime scenes (even though as early as the Pilot it's been shown he can get where he needs to go on his own), hand him wipes when he shakes someone's hands or touches something objectionable (even though as early as "Carnival," it's been shown he can shake someone's hand without a wipe) and ~~ hmmm, I can't think of anything to follow the "and."
--------------------
Ironic that the poster who uses the Charter Communications ISP has accumulated more hits on my blog than anyone else ... that seems kinda ... psychotic ... to me ...
"A serial bullyknows the words but not the song ... and relies on mimicry, repetition and regurgitation to [try to] convince others that he or she is both a "normal" human being and a tough dynamic manager ..."
Group: Members
Posts: 105
Joined: 8-July 05
From: So. California
Member No.: 91
I also want to add a little anecdote to this repetitive, tiresome tirade against Natalie/Traylor.
My mother started watching Monk for the first time this season. She became hooked and, since I had been talking about the show ad nauseum for an entire year, she wanted to see some past episodes with "Saint" Sharona.
Well, she just informed me this morning after watching 8 episodes from season 2 yesterday, that she much prefers Natalie. Natalie seems KINDER, sweeter than Sharona who always made a crack or put down when talking or dealing with Monk. Now, of course, all of you Sharona lovers can dismiss my mother's observations as simply the rantings of a 70+ senior citizen who has not been involved with the show from the beginning. However, she is a pretty savvy lady who is coming at this objectively, since it made no difference to her either way. She wouldn't stop watching the show if she liked Sharona better, because in her mind, the show is about Monk not his assistant, and besides, it is only a T.V. show.
Just thought I'd share that, for whatever it's worth (which, to the Sharona lovers, is probably not much).
Group: Members
Posts: 4
Joined: 29-July 05
Member No.: 29,445
Ofcourse Natalie doesn't have the same kind of connection with Monk that Sharona does. And maybe its not as funny. But I still think that this is part of the plan that the writers are constructing for our ocd detective. Monk no longer needs a assistant/nurse, he needs more of a regular assistant. I guess you could say that it is was the beginnig of the end when Bitty Schram left the show.
Group: Members
Posts: 6
Joined: 6-August 05
Member No.: 29,733
I totally agree. If they had to replace Sharona, they should have gotten someone who is more dramatic. Seems like Natalie is cold and unfeeling. Monotone too. Sharona was worth more money in her contract.
Group: Members
Posts: 7,253
Joined: 31-July 05
From: Lost Somewhere in Time
Member No.: 29,519
I agree, I agree, I agree. One thousand points to your Mom. I got tired of Sharona's reactions, as a nurse she should have been a little more like Natilie, understanding but not "buying in to the OCD" every time Monk snapped his fingers. She adds a new direction for Monk. I got really tired of Sharona's smirking everytime Monk asked for a wipe. Natalie is much more practical minded and helps Adrian in a very different way. I like the new season!!!!!!!!
--------------------
My avatar, the Butterfly Maiden Kachina, is being used with the permission of the Native American Peoples. It cannot be altered or used in any way without permission of the Native American Peoples. A link must be provided to this site if one of their non-copyrighted pieces of art is used.
http://www.firstpeople.us
The first avatar of the Butterfly Maiden Kachina which I believed I had taken from the Native American Peoples site was a hand drawn painting done by Sharon George whose site was linked in with The First Peoples. Her own site is:
I highly recommend anyone who is interested in the First Native American Peoples or in some of the most beautiful artwork ever featuring fairies visit both these sites.
Group: Members
Posts: 3,827
Joined: 9-July 05
From: Madison, Wisconsin
Member No.: 146
I agree kees_lady, Natalie is guiding Adrian towards better mental health by not catering to him so much. The very fact that she's not a nurse makes her push him to do things he may not have done with Sharona. I guess this topic will come up forever! I like Natalie. She's great and just what Adrian needed at this point in his life.
Group: Members
Posts: 148
Joined: 11-December 06
Member No.: 26,702
Quote: I agree kees_lady, Natalie is guiding Adrian towards better mental health by not catering to him so much. The very fact that she's not a nurse makes her push him to do things he may not have done with Sharona. I guess this topic will come up forever! I like Natalie. She's great and just what Adrian needed at this point in his life.
___________
Yes. I think Natalie helps him more with his condition rather than just trying to treat it in a medical sense. Although I think both characters are on the whiny side, if I had to choose, I'd choose Natalie.
Group: Members
Posts: 672
Joined: 28-July 05
From: California
Member No.: 29,412
One of the first examples of how Natalie is a positive force in Adrian's life is in their first episode together, Red Herring (one of my favs). When they are going up the escalator, Natalie is talking about her late husband and Adrian says "it hurts, I know." She says "life goes on . . . doesn't it." The expression on Adrian's face is one that would make you think he had never heard anyone tell him this before, that life goes on. Others have tried to help him get on with his life, but it isn't until Natalie says it that it really seems to sink in.
--------------------
"He's completely obsessed...and not in a good way, like me."
Group: Members
Posts: 400
Joined: 12-July 05
Member No.: 28,593
Good point, fan4sure. He also seems to get mixed signals. In "Captain's Wife", the Capt. first told him it was time to get on with his life and replace the broken watch that Trudy gave him, but later after realizing why Monk can't let go yet, the Capt. tells him to never get rid of that watch. Okay, understandable, but then in "Blackout", the Capt. is almost giddy that Adrian has a date.
--------------------
**"You were being mockingly derisive. That's sardonic."--Ambrose Monk"**
Group: Members
Posts: 232
Joined: 8-July 05
Member No.: 70
AGAIN- I like them BOTH- just in different ways-- i liked sharona she was funny with monk- but I didi think that she treated him like a child i can't count the number of times monk would say ' sharona I am NOT a child'-- i think Natalie expects a whole LOT more out of monk- maybe becuase she does- he rises to the occasion--- and yeah at first natalie was a pistol shot-- but they have REALLY brought her around a lot ot monk--- I like the respect and admiration she ahs for MONk-- yeah i like them BOTH in different ways---either way i LOVE MOnk
Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: 12-August 05
Member No.: 29,969
Some of you are discussing Monk as if you are more concerned about the well-being and mental health of a real person than about the enjoyment of a television show. And actually, I find SHARONA the better choice either way you go. The MONK/Sharona chemistry was so wonderful. And even when she gave him a hard time, you always knew she had a genuine affection for him. With Natalie, I don't like the character, I don't like the actress, and I don't enjoy the show nearly as much. I'm surprised that some of you find Natalie "kind". I've literally yelled at the television because of the way Natalie has treated Monk. I guess it's just personal preference. I'm new to the board, but I've a MONK fanatic since the pilot. I'll always watch - Tony Shalhoub is brilliant - but, no, for me it's not the same show at all.
Group: Members
Posts: 672
Joined: 28-July 05
From: California
Member No.: 29,412
I think Monk is just the type of character that you cannot help but want to look out for him. I think it is human nature to want him to find some kind of happiness or to not want people to be mean to him, at least not all the time. It is so interesting to read everyones opinions on the show and the characters (even though I might not agree with them). All I know is that Sharona/Bitty is gone and I wouldn't want the same for the show, too! They had to pick someone new and no matter who it was, there would be people that didn't like the choice. I liked Natalie from day 1 (and so did Monk). I am glad they didn’t pick someone to be or act like Sharona. There is only one Sharona and I don’t think I would enjoy watching someone try to imitate her.
--------------------
"He's completely obsessed...and not in a good way, like me."
Group: Members
Posts: 1
Joined: 21-August 05
Member No.: 30,391
WHILE I LIKED SHERONAS CHEMISTRY WITH MONK. HER PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND WAS NEVER REALLY WELL DEVELOPED. NATALIE WITH NO MEDICAL BACKGROUND HAS AN INSIGHT TO MONK'S PERSONALITY AND THE ABILITY TO BRING HIM OUT OF HIS MOURNING STATE. ACTUALLY THEIR CHEMISTRY COULD BE PROBLEMATIC FOR THE STORYLINE AS THEY ARE GETTING VERY CLOSE AND THIS IS USUALLY NOT A PLUS FOR THE SCRIPT.
Natalie vs. Sharona
Jul 31 2005, 12:35 AM
