Has anyone else noticed that in the last two episodes-Mr. Monk and the Magician and Mr. Monk Fights City Hall-there have been TWO references to Mr. Monk and the Cobra, when Adrian was buried alive? He mentioned it when Kevin was trying to get him into the Magic Box" and then again when Adrian and gang go to the hot dog place. Is this a coincidence or are the writers trying to remind us of that episode for some reason connected to Trudy's murder?

You could be right. I'll have to watch those episodes again, to see if I notice anything.

Yes, I did notice the mention of Monk being buried alive in both episodes. You may be onto something. Too bad we'll have so long to find out.

Actually I did notice that tonight. As soon as he said it tonight, I thought it was so weird that he had just mentioned it last epsiode too. It kind of stuck out like a sore thumb to me.

I thought it was mentioned just because it was so traumatic for OC Monk that he can't forget it. In last night's show, he said it was the "second" worst thing that ever happened to him. What he saw in the hot dog factory was the first. Funny! And...I, myself, may never eat a hot dog ever again after what I saw. It will stick in my mind forever, too. <bleckhhh>

But Adrian could have easily chosen another traumatic event in his life, like when he was in the sewer in Mr. Monk Meets the Candidate, or the Garbage Strike. He singled out an event which he actually enjoyed, because he saw Trudy. I could be wrong, but I think there is more to this.

wasn't he buried alive twice though, I couldn't stop thinking that when we said he was buried alive ONCE. in the coffin and w/ Dr. Kroger's son, Troy.

I notice that too and if you go back to that episode (Mr.Monk vs. The Cobra) him and trudy are siting at a playground watching the children... I wonder if theres clues in that episode....it really gets you thinking.

Who knows? Maybe there have been clues in other shows-we just haven`t picked up on them. Everything will come together like a puzzle in season eight.

I am pretty sure that this reference to his buried alive experience has a deeper meaning. There are usual different authors for each episode, and I think that they communicate with each other... and it's certainly not only a Monkish manner of repetition.
I noticed another thing in that episode:
Monk yelled twice: Natalie, thank God you're here! (Not the exact words, but in that way.)
I cannot say why but somehow this was very striking to me. It also evoked a 'He mentioned it twice' thought... and there was also something in HOW he said it...

This history of drawer haunts me I'm afraid that Natalie which is so attractive, so kind, so perfect is implied even if I don'tt believe it so love her that if it was the case I would cry for it because NATALIE IS PERFECT

Oh, I didn't mean to imply that Natalie could have to do anything with a murder or anything else wicked.
No, I do think that she seriously wanted to protect Adrian - from anything.
In that scene, concretely it was the drawer's contents.
But... on a higher level her yelling could be a foreshadowing of the upcoming season. Who knows?