Hi all,
I've loved Monk from the start, but this season I'm having a problem enjoying it because I feel the characters have all become characatures of themselves. Where is the realness that each of us can Identify with? I know that this was a problem in some past show too, but it is more blatant this season. Sorry.

Welcome, but sorry -- don't see that happening at all. And it would be hard to see that looking at individual episodes anyway.

To accurately gage the level of characterization, it may be a little easier to do that after the season is over, and you look at each episode in context. The 'reality' of the characters come from seeing their interactions over a period of time -- their characters being revealed in little snippets in each episode. Added together it makes for their reality -- but individually one or two episodes do not.

What I think can happen is that we take what we know (and love) of all the characters -- something we have added together after seasons of watching Monk, and try to demand that out of individual episodes -- while they solve a mystery. That's simply not going to happen. Hang in there, and look back on it, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Also, the show has gone from having a hard drama edge like in season one to being a drama-comedy that appeals to a much wider audience. So you find some 'caracature-like' moments when they're appealing to other fan demographics such as the old or very young. Hence the show doesnt have that flat and polished look of a show trying to satisfy just it's target demographic. This show intentionally appeals across the spectrum of viewers.

Monk hasnt gone soft, just world wide.

-Mandeville

Great observations - thanks!

The Disher character remains stupid and non-funny. It drags down the show. There is ridiculous and entertaining and simply ridiculous. I don't know if the actor is bad or the writers are. As for the rest of the characters - still as good as ever.

I'm not sure I would call it a "dumbing down" but at least for me, something has gone wrong so far this season.

I agree with you. This season is off course. Monk isn't the same genius clue finder/case solver. Natalie has become some tag-along bimbo. The captain just seems to be angry all the time. Randy is about the same, but I liked him better when he & Natalie made fun of each other.

Also, the storyline of the episodes is getting in the totally absurd category.

Well, you said it, not me...but I can't say I disagree with you all that much.

I don't think they're being dumbed down- i havent seen the lottery ep yet but I am surprised Monk didn't ask for any tissues in the genius episode. It was still really funny!

I hope I don't anger anyone, but I agree that the show's biggest problem is Disher. In the first few seasons he was completely different, more serious and less exaggerated. He is a cute character, but does need to be toned down a bit sometimes. That fault obviously lies with the writers and not the actor.

Ashley

I agree BfloGal. I always tell new fans, to watch The Candidate first, then go in order, season by season. I watch my Dvds, many times over. Each character emerges with a style of their own. I enjoy each episode more each time. I certainly don`t see a "dumbing down". By the way , I enjoyed the chat so much last night.

I think Randy is very cute. He was very good last night. The character, Disher, has many fans! The writer`s won`t change him, as long as the majority of the people like him that way.

We must be watching different shows! I think this season is off to a superb start and each episode so far, for me, has been better than the one before it.

Though I am sure you must have found something in the episodes so far that you are disappointed with and not having seen any of the shows I can not comment one way or the other on your statements but I can cite history and say that after the first show of the previous season "Monk's Biggest Fan" some posters were ready to throw in the towel for the entire season which, of course, proved to be the best of the six.

I agree with Raven. Watching, as many fans do, over and over, you get a sense of the character that is very specific, yet the writers and actors must allow the character to develop. This is what you can see over a period of time. The characters go through tough spells, and then come out of it. I find it very enjoyable to "know" the characters as I do and the show is extremely consistant in its quality.

I love the way they tease the fans - they must be reading some of what we write which really cracks me up.

I don't feel they are dumbing the characters down..except Disher sometimes, but I have actually found him funny this season so far.

I have seen just two episodes from season 7, but I have to agree with Raven and Monkophile1. I haven´t noticed any dumbing down characters or anything else awful in this new season. I think any season hasn´t been like the previous season. All time has came something new in and sorry, something old has left behind... I have enjoyed the episodes and the characters. I like, that the characters are flexible and developing and don´t repeat the same things episode after episode.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I have been really laughing at Randy this season. Its like he has a new annoying "schtick" each show and its pretty funny. I guess this pattern started in season six, but I am glad it is continuing. I did like the way he supported Natalie and even Monk when Natalie used his line, "It hurts doesn't it?". LOL.

I think I'm "odd man out" with regard to Randy. I don't see too much change in his personality--maybe for a nanosecond in The Genius monkisode. I go from laughing my butt off, to wanting to fly into the TV screen and slap him silly. I love what they're doing with this character. I can't drool over him like a lot of the younger women in here, but he's as much a part of the dynamics of this show as the other three. Again, I just love what they're doing with this character.

They're not dumbing the characters down! Watching Monk is making us SMARTER!!!

lol. Had to do it.

-M

I haven't noticed much change in Randy either -- just that he'd been a little scarce in the first two episodes. He's hysterical -- I love laughing at his antics, but I don't drool over him either. Not enough eye crinkles. For the past few years I've noticed that all the really sexy men have eye crinkles.

And plenty of gray hair--don't forget the gray hair! Just For Men hair color is an instrument of the devil! Cast him out! Cleanse your homes! Cleanse your selves! Pour satan's juice down the drain!

I need an old priest and young priest!

You're way too kinky.

-M

rofl. Don't tell me you never saw the original Exocist. ??? That doesn't dispute your original point, however....

Well....I don't see it. For me, it's the same comfortable , always entertaing, show as it always is.
AND...... I LOVE Randy although, I do wish they would let him "nail the guy to the wall & back " a little more often. I love Randy when things get serious & his brain REALLY locks into gear & he WILL take ya down. You know..... kinda like the friendly, happy go lucky , love everyone....dog ....UNTIL a family member is in some sort of danger....then LLLLllOOOOOKKKKKkkkkkk OUT....you WILL NOT get past him. Trust me, you won't.

B.
Loving Monk as always. Thank you all who bring me such fine entertainment. You do great work & I appreciate it very much.

I looove Tony's eye crinkles!

Ashley

I think mr. monk buys a house shouldn't count beucase I think they had to kind of rewrite it on the f due to stanely's death. I wouldn't have been shocked if they had flat out postponed or cancelled it all together and wrote something specfically to honor dr.K which I kind of wish they had.

I didn't particallary like mr. monk in the genius episode. It felt like they were trying to hard to be emotional ala planting evidence then to just letting it flow. AS for last nite's episode it's getting there but, still kind of off on the characters interactions. It feels they aren't as close as they had been especially with what happen after mr monk is on the run.

I must admit that I was a little concerned, Monk seemed a bit out of character in the first episode, when they were practically taking the house apart, but he seems back to normal now. Last night's episode was AWESOME.

Couldn't have said it better. When I compare some old episodes and the new ones, the drama-comedy difference is pretty huge. But I guess I like all flavors of Monk.

You make a really good point about the transitional episode from Kroger to Bell. It was MUCH harder than anyone outside the show could know, I'm sure.

And in the Genius episode... I think I know what they're doing but I'm not sure. Remember the science teacher who dropped his preggers girlfriend off the clock? Well Monk was scared that that guy was smarter than him. It gave him a panic attack, remember? Thinking that he couldnt catch the guy.

Well, in Genius, Monk had the same problem and instead of being blindsided by panic, he got pro-active. Perhaps a hang-over from On The Run 1 and 2 where he had to do whatever it took to get the job done (except go faster at the carwash). But it's a self reliant streak that Monk never had before. So of course he's going to make mistakes as he learns to use it correctly.

He makes progress like it's physical therapy. He stumbles, and gets weak, but in the end he's worked those muscles. I expect to see some more of Monks growing pains as the season progresses.

...

And I imagine that Dr. Krogers death could have dissolved a bit of the unity felt during on the run 1 & 2. Particularly for Monk who probably withdrew for some of the 5 week gap we saw between Kroger's passing and Bell's appearance.

<clink, clink> (My two cents)

-Mandeville

I couldn't agree more with you, D. And with Raven, Bflo and M1.
(Yes, I am watching the episodes, don't tell anyone.... )

and I do think they all are getting into the characters pretty fast this time. The Lotto episode we could see them on it already, and a pretty matured Randy ( sharing M1's view). I am really anjoying this season very, very, very, very much!

...and loved to see Tony and Ted in shape...specially Tony... yes, eye crinckles...wow... I'm not ashamed AT ALL to find Tony sexy, he's only 20 tears older than me!

Mi

Mandeville makes a fine analysis about Adrian´s dark moment.

I was myself first in shock, when I realized, that Monk was planning to make false evidences. It really seemed, that he was going to slip to the wrong side of law. He had to be extreme despairing. I thougt, that he did that, because he connected the case with Trudy in his mind, and it was too much for him, when he know the murdered, know, what kind of the evidences there should have been, but he just could not prove anything. It was too much, and so he decided to plant the evidences. After all he didn´t do it, and that is what counts for most. He is not that kind of man.

Mr Monk is a very clean and honorable character, but even the best ones are sometimes tempted. This doesn´t ruin his credible, on the contrary, makes him more real and human. And just remember, how he looked after he has left the false evidences: oh, no, what I am doing!

Yes, some people don´t seem to get older, they just mature and are looking better year after year!


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I don't think that Randy is dumbing down the show. I love the comedy that Randy brings, and it's much better now that he's getting to do things other than pulling faces and snickering about Monk's theories, and topping them w/ his own hairbrained theories.

Also, some people just don't like some personalities. There are some characters in shows I like to watch that I don't necessarily like, but that's just my preference.

I'm sorry, I can't brain today...I'm thinking of a word to try do describe the episodes, and it's not coming to my mind.

If I remember from the early eppys, Randy was not so much the "fool" or comedian that he is now...he played it straight. And Stott was downright mean to Monk, and jealous.

Yes, they did seem to be more into it this time, although I keep rewatching the first two new episodes and I'm getting that familiarity back. I can't in all honesty now say whether they were a little off or whether it was me. I think now that a lot of it was the newness for me. Tony and Ted are both starting to look even better than ever. It seems makeup is laying off a little bit. They're both starting to look like real people--hope that doesn't sound like a shot, it's not a shot in the least little bit. I've been driving myself nuts trying to figure out how to say what it is that I'm thinking. They look less....wooden, painted, and shiny. They're downright adorable now.

Yeah, I didn't like the "old" captain & lieutenant. They hated Monk and didn't want his help. I'm glad they moved away from that and became Monk's friends. For Randy, I do miss the fights he got in with Sharona though. Natalie & Randy don't tease each other enough. It's like he wants to be on her side all the time. Other than that, I'm not sure what to do with Randy. I thought that whole "her number came up" line was tasteless. Maybe his character is too dumb.

Yeah, Randy can be very annoying....no wonder the Capt looks most of the time like he wants to club him...

Ilthought I do really love how the Stotts and Disher character have changed over the years, I wouldn't say that the Captain 'hated Monk", although maybe he didn't appreciate his presence. The annoyence seemed to go away when it was the Captain calling Monk in rather than the guy's over the Captains head calling him in. I would 'hate' to have someone come in and do my job for me., especially if my boss called him/her in to do it. I don't know that Randy knew Monk enough to decide to hate him, early on. He may have gone off of the Captain reaction.

The "number came up thing" was a means of Randy getting attention. He seems to need attention, first from the Cap, then from Sharona, now, it seems from nameless, faceless 'fans'. He was comparing it, at the beginning of the episode to the officer pushing a junkie into a pole and saying, "I'll keep you posted." and the fact that that was a well known, oft repeated phrase. Randy wants to be famous, and he'll use anything to do it.

Also, in a job like homicide, you have to have something to laugh about, right. I used to make jokes that I would think were horrible when I worked at a homeless shelter. It was just to let off steam in a very hard and depressing job. Although I love any Randy Screentime, I also got a little tired of the joke as the show went on and I was annoyed that the bad guy got a laugh at the expense of the good guy. "I will if you will."

I agree--I don't think Stottlemeyer ever hated Monk--they said in previous episodes that Stottlemeyer was worried for Monk and looked out for him during the 3 years following Trudy's death when he couldn't leave his apartment. Those 3 years predated, by context, the pilot episode when Stottlemeyer seemed most agitated with him. Stottlemeyer is also, according to one of the episodes, the one who got Sharona as a nurse for him. The Very Very Old Man was the episode where Monk feels obligated to let Stottlemeyer stay with him after Stottlemeyer's wife put him out...again.....the hag. lol. At Adrian's door, Monk: "Look, you were there for me....when I went through my rough patch. Remember?" Stottlemeyer: "Yeah, I remember your rough patch. It lasted three and a half years."

I think Stottlemeyer is impatient with Monk at times--more so in the older episodes--and agitated. I think he's also frustrated at himself for not noticing the same things Monk does--that's no secret. They've been saying that since the beginning. If it was hate, he'd have never looked after him the many many times he has, since the series began, starting with the 3 and a half years all the way through "killing" him in On The Run.