How has your perception and acceptance of Natalie changed from when she first appeared on the show? For me personally, I didn't like her at first. I found her to be annoying, and I being such a big fan of Sharona, felt kind of cheated. It took me a while to warm up to Natalie.

The episode where I began to think "hey, maybe Natalie really isn't all that bad" was "Mr. Monk Goes to the Bank". The whole "Look at you!!!" dynamic of that episode really endeared Natalie to me and from that point on I grew more and more fond of her, now I am a huge Natalie fan. I think she's great.

Now, if push comes to shove I still prefer Sharona, but Natalie is also great.

As far as I can tell she just EVOLVED....she grew into the character...with the writers help of course. I think that's true for most T.V. characters....they must grow or die......especially as audiences get more sophisticated. I don't know exactly how many years the BEAV, along with Ward, June, Wally et al survived being the same bland simple minded messangers of middle class banality but they wouldn't last half a season in todays world.

So Natalie went from being a mousy cheerleader, unsure of herself, to the woman who had the confidance to match wits with Monk and got him into a dumpster. I'd have to say she's one of the more interesting character studies on any show .......she's become multi dimensional which is a credit to writers.

I LOVE Sharona and was heartbroken when she left. I cannot wait for Friday!!!!!!!!!!! From the minute Natalie gently sat Monk down at the table in the bar in her first episode I have LOVED, Natalie, too!!!!

Hello.

I agree too but I also feel that the change was both ways: the writers also adapted their charactization to fit the image and personality of the new actress, developing storylines that were more suited to her strengths.

KF

First of all, I just have to say that although I'll always love Sharona the most, I have nothing against Natalie.
That being said, I think she was wayyy more interesting and fun to watch in the early episodes. She had spunk ("I can do whatever I want; I'm cute"), she had a mysterious past (what job HASN'T Natalie held?), and she had a sense of humor.
She didn't coddle Monk. Now, she does sometimes (not always, just occasionally). We take it for granted that she'll always stay by Monk's side, no matter what he does to her. With Sharona, she always had enough strength and independence to stand up for herself and I always felt that she would walk away if Monk stopped being able to provide for her and Benjy. Natalie was like that in the beginning, too. Take "Mr. Monk Gets Stuck in Traffic" for instance. Natalie gets so frustrated with Monk's selfishness, but in the end, she comes to see that it will always be a "two-way street" when she needs Monk most.
One of my favorites for Natalie is Mr. Monk vs. The Cobra. She has a lot of attitude in that episode, and, while not unfeeling, she does push Monk to think about living, breathing people rather than just the memory of his late wife. She never pushes him anymore! A good assistant pushes. A good assistant should feel comfortable mocking, too. Sharona always mocked (Monk: "What's the opposite of Batman?" Sharona: "You are."). Natalie used to mock, too. In The Cobra, she told Monk and the martial arts guy to "get a room" when they commiserated with each other. That was AWESOME. In "Mr Monk Gets Cabin Fever," she called him the Prince of Darkness. I love that line. So much humor comes when Monk and his assistant feel comfortable teasing each other and standing up to each other. I think it strengthens the relationship and makes it real.
I think Sharona viewed Monk ultimately as an equal. He was crazy and obnoxious, yes, but she had so much respect for his crime-solving abilities, and that led her to respect Monk too. She cared for him. Natalie cares for Monk too, but she always seems to be on a different plane than he is. Sometimes, she cares for him like a parent, while other times, she offers assistance and lets him lead, but in both cases, she remains unequal. I liked her better when she had more spunk. But that's just me....and the impending arrival of Sharona might be impacting my nostalgia right now.

I was so sad to see Sharona leave. To be honest, I thought the show would lose its footing without her and not be able to recover. When I saw the new assistant was a young, pretty, and blonde, I really thought that the character was going to be annoying.

But, that was not the case. Even in her first episode--when I wanted to dislike her--I never disliked the new assistant. And for the first year Natalie was around I still missed Sharona, but I liked Natalie too.

Now I love Natalie! And I feel like it was all perfect timing. If Sharona had stayed on the show, she would be annoying now. That spunky personality would have become irritating. And if the show had started off with Natalie, she too would have been a different character--perhaps one we would be unhappy with.

In the beginning, Natalie was rough around the edges and had not settled into her role as Monk's assistant, but now she is confident and dynamic. Likewise, I think Traylor Howard became a better actress while on the show. Maybe she just got comfortable in the role, but it seemed as if her acting changed for the better.

Now, I must say, I like Natalie a little better.

I am not sure about this "mousy cheerleader", but otherwise this is well written.

I think, that Natalie has always bee a rebellion in her family. Her mother didn´t accept her boyfriends, and when she married Mitch, she cut her relations to her family. Althoug I don´t get it, what her family has against Mitch, who was a handsome army guy. And when Mitch died, she become a single mother, who has to survive just by herself. She has done all kind of works to get her living. She might have born rich, but she has managed in her life just by herself.

First I found Natalie a little lame after Sharona. I compared her to Sharona, and thought, that writers have tried to create a character with some similarities to Sharona ( single mother), but made still a little less colourful character. Despite the fact, that she met Monk after killing a man. Lol! A usual suburban mother´s activitet. But soon I found out, that Natalie has a sweet, but stubborn personality of her own, and I fell love to the character. She is like a person I would like to be. Sometimes....

Soon I also noticed a tension between Adrian and Natalie. It came as a surprise to me, I couldn´t believe my eyes. So I don´t think, that it has been my wishful thinking. Natalie can get Monk so as she wants, like she got Monk become a privite detective in Privite Eye. She encourages Monk to try new things. Lately I have noticed, maybe from season seven, that there has been also some rebellion attitude towards Monk, as in Lotto Fever, where she tried a completely new career against Monk´s will.

In season eight there has been new traits in Natalie again. She has freaked out in some episodes totally badly. Natalie has also her dark side.

I have not get enough of her yet, and it would have been very difficult to get accustomed to someone else, if Natalie has left. Happily she is still on Monk´s side.

Natalie's voice annoys me much less than it used to. MUCH less.

Well thought out and well-written guys! I like what you guys said about Natalie (and her growth) and your reasons for liking Natalie now.

I couldn't get over the fact that Sharona just disappeared without saying goodbye and then replaced by a 'mousy cheerleader' as TwoWolves have said. Natalie all-together was annoying including her voice. Yes, Sharona can get annoying and I didn't like her for a few episodes in Season 1, but she quickly grew on me. I didn't think I could possibly like Natalie too. But in Season 5, "Mr. Monk and the Leper" changed my view of her. I actually saw Traylor Howard as a comedic actress (who can have her moments) and Natalie as someone who had many dimensions to her character.

My thoughts have been less fixated on the role and more on the actress and they have changed from "don't give up" to admiration of her talents as an actress.

KF

As much as I love, love, love Natalie (and I loved, loved, loved Sharona too - so no bias here) as she is, I still have moments where I miss the spunky Natalie. Not the acting (or the haircut from season 4...), but the characterization. Remember when Traylor was nominated for a Razzie back in the day? Thanks to Monk, I highly doubt that will be the case ever again. I agree that she has definitely matured into a great actress via the series.

But going back to characterization. The Natalie we have now isn't weak by any means, but she's much less questioning than she used to be. I think so many see a ship here (including myself, haha) because there seems to be no other motive for Natalie to be badgered as she is. I'm sorry, but the good friend thing doesn't really cut it for me. She can still care for Adrian as a friend (as was proved with Sharona), but go on and live her life outside of Monk's domineering employ. And the fact that she "needs this job" doesn't hold up anymore either since "Lotto Girl" where she proved she was capable of being considered for a good job (well, good aside from the rigging the machine thing ) and especially since she's always complaining about the money anyways! I'm not saying that I am "convinced" that the writers will see reason and put them together by any means, so PLEASE, don't misconstrue it as that. I just personally see their working relationship as flawed in comparison to their personal relationship.

I didn't have too much of an issue with her since Natalie was the first assistant I saw. (I came into Monk the season she did.) I had to get use to Sharona when I watched the first two seasons on DVD for the first time last year. I went from Natalie, to watching this abrasive and some what abusive assistant. It took me a while to come to like her character.

My only thing was, when I started watching the DVDs and finally got back to the first Natalie season, I noticed she was different in the first few episodes... almost Sharona like. Then they "wuss-afied" her, then they gave her wings of her own to be "Natalie" and not natalie the Sharona replacement or Natalie the doormat.