I think that's just TV Guide's lame idea of a joke.

I agree...just a way of saying we'll see if he starts to get better. That top button just being symbolic of loosening up and moving on. Since on another post we see Monk in a nice black suit and bright red tie...I think that he is going to be able to un-do a bit more than that top button.

yep. We've seen him with his top button open before, quite a few times, in many different contexts. When he was watching a movie with Hal, in memory of Trudy in Very, Very Old Man, in Daredevil when he was so depressed they put him on suicide watch, and when he was drunk. There have been others, too, I'm sure.

I really like your puppet master analogy...
I had a thought though...wouldn't it be something if Dale has taken off most of his weight? Last time we saw him he had none of his luxuries...no longer being pampered...I just can't help but think his whaleness has receded a bit. I guess I am taking it for granted that Dale will make some type of appearance in these last episodes...since he has been so intertwined with Trudy's murder throughout the series...it just seems that he would have some role in the "ends"...

It seemed that he'd lost some weight when we saw him at the end of On The Run, II. He was up and in a wheelchair instead of staying in a bed the way he was in the first two episodes he appeared in. That was almost two years ago, so he could have lost two or possibly three hundred pounds in that time. He'd still be a pretty big guy, around five or six hundred pounds.

It does seem logical that he would make an appearance again, though. As you said, he's been so intertwined in her case all along, it would seem a little odd if the case was solved and he didn't hear from him again.

In "UFO" he was really undone and faced the public in his pj's and robe and "Dog" when he got up from the couch. And "Therapy" when he crashed Dr. Belle's house with Harold. In all of these eps he didn't seem to even care about those moments either. So I see loosening up and healing. Also I'll add to the clothing factor in this spoiler:

Bump. 6 days away and we know more info now from Part 1

I am going back to this previous post...because it is looking like Dale isn't going to be factored into these final episodes...his name hasn't even come up...I was hoping that we would see him again ...but soundng more and more like he is out of the picture...unless anyone else has heard otherwise????

I think its quite apparent what will happen in Mr. Monk and the End Pt. 2. To clear up the bit about Dale, he is not in these final episodes, and no, he was not part of the murder of Trudy Monk. Just to sum up the discussion, he will not be appearing in Pt. 2. I assume everyone knows that the object which poisoned Monk was none other than the famous wipes that he always carries around. If they find out that it is the wipes, they will, in most probable cases, cure Adrian. Though it is possible that Adrian Monk will die (I don't think its likely however). Since it is based off of 48 hours, an old movie that was essentially the same plot (a person has two days to live), and in 48 hours, the sick person dies at the end, it is a possibility that should not be overlooked.

A very old hypothesis that I had nearing the beginning of Monk is that Trudy never really died, but was put into an Eye Witness Protection program. I thought of that again when I saw the end of Pt. 1, where Trudy talks about something terrible that happened before she married Adrian. However, it is only a guess.

Another thing is, it is only fair (for us fans) that the killer is someone that we know and have heard of. If they, out of the blue, create an entirely new character as the killer, I have to say that it is a pretty poor conclusion. Though, I am sure that we will all be happy to see Monk cured, not only cured from the poison, but also from OCD.

I think the fniale will be Trudy was put in witness protection and that is why he says "why didnt she tell me" but it turns out that the present he was to told to wait for him to open was where she was but he could never bring himself to open it...but he opens it after he "solves her murder" and she was pregnant and has a baby.......and they are all reunited at the end.

Trudy's not alive. In the episode "Mr. Monk Is Up All Night", Monk finds a woman who received Trudy's corneas.

But this is the FBI.......or the secret could be she had a child before she meant Monk................but I still believe that she is still alive...that is why the connection is so strong between the two.

Monk was with Trudy when she died. Do you really think that they could manage to convince the best detective in the world that his wife was dead if she wasn't? It's IMPOSSIBLE. Trudy is dead.

Actually, I have a question...There is reference to Monk's Mom "leaving them" in one of the episodes...I don't remember which episode...so my question is...Does anyone know what episode that is in? And does anyone know what time frame that would have been in Monk's life...I think it was some period after their dad left and it seemed to allude to his mom having been institutionalized...or at least that was the feeling I got. What I am trying to figure out is roughly how old Monk was when his dad left and then approximately how long after that his mom left him and Ambrose... I am working on a timeline ...Does anyone know?

Hmmm........still, it could have been orchestrated by the FBI......but hey....I hope...it is a "happy" finale.......(For the sake of a happy ending...I would not mind a little fudging)

Promo for the last episode. Nothing new, but it's a very nice video!

Promo

The point is that Monk can be happy without Trudy...Sad but true... We do say goodbye...and we can, and for the most part do, move on...

But thank goodness Monk is NOT a REAL PERSON.....so we do not have to abide by "real life" rules - It would be nice for one show to have a perfect ending and FOR ONCE......to have Monk getting the only "real" trophy he has ever wanted. That is what I will hope for.

Wow, I just looked at the date, and it's ONE day until the finale. This saddens me. (although I do want to know what happens...)
Noooo, Monk, don't go!

Hi, I'm writing an article on Monk. I need to ask his loyal fans a few questions. Like an interview. First question...
how do you feel about monk ending. Complete sentences please.

I'm really sad Monk is leaving. Friday nights will never be the same. ):

I am sad that is is coming to an end, I would rather the show end while it's on top than watch it spiral into mediocrity and poor writing like other shows today. Too often producers try to milk shows for all the money they're worth, and over time the actors start phoning it in and character growth becomes stalled. In my opinion this season has been one of Monk's best. I can't wait to go back and watch all the seasons on DVD. Well, depending on how the finale ends. If Monk dies or if the main characters go their separate ways I will be really disappointed.

I'm sorry it is ending. It could have gone on forever as far as I am concerned. I've found an equal number of good and bad episodes in all seasons. "Favorite Show" (in the last season), for example, I found to be one of the best "Monk" episodes. I suppose if it were a soap opera about the characters' personal stories, it could get tiring after a while. But there is a never ending supply of murder mysteries and writers. Tony Shalhoub once said they were NOT ending it because there was a lack of good material. He said some PR nonsense about wanting to go out on top as a favor to the fans. Ha Ha!

Frankly, I guess that Tony got tired of doing the same character and has made enough money to last a lifetime. I can't blame him. It's a normal, valid reason for ending a show.

hmm No. He was with her when she died. I just dont think it would end this way.

In Three Pies he said 'We lost her in 94." that is the only time throughout the series where he ever says anything about her no longer being there. That was three years before Trudy died, and Adrian was about 35 years old.

I will miss Monk, Natalie, Randy and the Captain reacting to life's challenges and each other. These charaters are real and complex people, who we have watched experience love, loneliness, loss, loyality, jealousy, fear and failure in a subtle and powerful way. It has been great watching them struggle and sometimes overcome their personal obstacles. Whether it be milk, germs, anger, inadequacy, parenthood or murderers, these characters show us how we can be brave and remind us that maybe we already are.

Was reading here last night, and several of us are really worried about there only one episode left and not enough time to piece everything together - so it makes sense, and wrap up the series.

Perhaps and the only thing to save it, is that the mystery will be solved and explained quickly in Trudy's tape and then the rest of the episode can be devoted to "the rest"...Monk doesn't have to solve a thing.

My hope is that the series will end like this: The judge (Craig Nelson) will be arested because he is guilty Trudy's murder because she had some information regarding his activities; Trudy did not have a baby and was not raped; Natalie and Albright will end up together and will leave San Francisco to his new assignment wherever it is; nothing more will be heard about Mitch; Randy will convince Sharona to return to San Francisco with him; Adrian will continue as a consultant to the Police Dept. with Sharona resuming her role as his assistant.

This is the ending that would make me happy.

I didn't think about it until reading your post...that Monk's mom was alive for part of their marriage. Not really mentioned in this regard...but make me wonder a bit whether Trudy ever met her mother-in-law....I mean... like was mom at their wedding? Just never really thought about this before.

I cannot believe this is it! Tonight all will be revealed. I am still having a hard time believing Monk is over after tonight

Yes, it is hard to comprehend, but it will go on forever in reruns and on dvd.

Exciting and sad at the same time. Hard to say bye, but we will know all the answers at last.

i know... i am counting the minutes--cuz i want answers!--but then i'll be soo sad when it's all over:(.

I'm doing a quick little article thing. Its like an interview. Question 2: did you like how monk ended were you happy?

oh man!! I can't wait any longer. I NEED to see the last episode. It's driving me crazy!!! I am like a maniac looking for the last episode on the internet. aahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! but I will be calm. I'll wait.

Hello all you Monk fellas (I hope)! I'm making this post in order to get some things off my chest, because I realize that I won't sleep well at night if I don't do so!

I have rather mixed feelings about the ending (I didn't know what to feel, so I came to this board for you to tell me what to feel and I messed things even more). All in all, I can say, while watching the episode I really enjoyed it, especially the first half with so much suspense.

I must agree, some things were pretty lame.
#1 So why was Trudy killed anyway? Okay, I can explain this to myself by knowing the fact that most of the murders don't make much sense.
#2 When I think about it (now), the whole murder plot was not probably a big surprise for those who watch a lot of soap operas.
Some things made me angry. Trudy really messed Adrian's mind, didn't she? "I know you always thought I was some kind of a saint", yeah right. Well I see she liked it a lot! She made this "saint" all by herself by keeping all the bad things (although these things are not too bad, because too understandable) about her.

But! I enjoyed it! There were many strong points in this episode as well.
I was really happy that they left the other half of this episode to wrap up characters' story. But I'm not quite sure if this has satisfied me. Many of you are telling that Monk remained the same, yet overcame a lot of his ocd thing. Well, I'm having this feeling that he wasn't too Monk at the end. The stove OK, Theater No. 10 OK, but that thing with Trudy's daughter really messed my mind, I don't know yet, I'll have to think, but there's too many changes for me! Maybe this was too sweet for me, I always want a little sour. Sweet-and-sour – that's my taste. And I kept wanting for Monk to button up his shirt!lol But this open-ending is a good thing.

Well, I can understand that many fans might be disappointed, because the finale wasn't perfect. Although these 'I hated it' threads are hurting my eyes so bad ! The series wasn't just about the finale! It wasn't just about Trudy's case where many of us put high expectations. This show wasn't too strong on detective plots (although for every nitpick I could dig up a reasonable explanation, cause I got a lot of "Randy" in me too), but it was very strong on characters. And this finale wrapped them pretty well (sure, I will have to think of what to think of Molly, a new unexpected big change, for whom I wasn't really prepared yet).

Bye bye for now,
peace!

DUMB, STUPID - The worst finale EVER for one of the best shows. WHO WROTE THAT JUVENILE ENDING? WHO APPROVED THIS FINALE? AFTER ALL THE CLUES, ALL THE ACTUAL TRUE INTRIGUE.... What a waste of time and anticipation. So disappointed..I want a refund on that one hour of my life.

This needs to be trashed and a new finale written. What a true waste of Monk. SHAME ON YOU!

Disagree, i loved it. it was a great ending.

Trudies murderer was a disappointment...she was an investigative reporter.....the daughter part was contrived, forced..........with all the great material they could pull from for her murderer, DALE the whale....all the cases he solved...an totally unrelated incident...we hear for the first time about a missing midwife? MONK would have put it together 12 years ago because trudy asked about the midwife, he would have read the hoaky article about her finding a baby, this all would have been "solved" years and years ago, a mysterious present -we NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE......sorry........after all the well written episodes, the tremendous attention to detail, this was sloppy - for the first time we hear abut the whole christmas incident??? I found it to be lazy writing....

Agree 100% !

Fine, that's your opinion. My opinion, i loved it.