Product Details

• Actors: Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: Universal
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002BWP2M6

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He was seeing more than anybody, December 17, 2009

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Monk: Season Eight (DVD)

For twelve years, Adrian Monk has been hunting his wife's killer, struggling with his phobias and compulsions, and solving plenty of crimes.

But now his lonely quest is finally ending. "Monk Season Eight" is a brilliant finale for the long-running detective series -- the writers have a whole season to wrap up plot threads, sketch out futures for the beloved characters, and introduce a final round of bizarre crimes that only the OCD detective can solve. And of course, they finally address the main mystery: who killed Monk's wife, and why?

First, Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is hired by a former child star who starred in his favorite sitcom, "The Cooper Clan" -- and the reality might tarnish his favorite show. Among his other problems: voodoo dolls, UFOs, a Nigerian man whose wife was killed in a hit-and-run, camping trips with surly small boys, birthday parties, the murders of Dr Bell's new therapy group, a snobby theatre critic who apparently murdered someone while he was watching Julie's play, a dog Monk reluctantly adopts, and even the possible destruction of a good friend's wedding.

A familiar face returns to San Francisco when Sharona (Bitty Schram) comes back to deal with her late uncle's legal issues, but Monk suspects foul play. And Monk's longstanding dream of rejoining the police force is realized, but turns out to be... less than ideal. Finally, his ongoing investigation into Trudy's death twelve years ago takes a deadly turn -- not only is someone trying to kill him now, but an old secret from years ago reveals the truth...

There's a bittersweet quality to the final season of "Monk" -- on one hand, it's sad that the series is finally ending, and on the other hand it has some of the most particularly because it's the best season that the show has had in quite awhile. And the writers take care to wrap up various plot threads that have wound through the series (Trudy's murder, Monk's desire to rejoin the police force) and arrange futures for most of the characters.

And along the way, they provide a solid string of murder mysteries -- baffling crimes, obscure clues, and new eccentricities. And while there are many bittersweet moments, especially in the last two or three episodes, the season is peppered with some comedy as well (Monk hosts a hilariously squeaky-clean bachelor party) and some deliciously hilarious dialogue ("There is no Opposite Killer! If there was, you would have been killed by a falling rocket scientist years ago!").

And as for the ending... well, it has some major shocks and plot twists, and the mystery is rather brief and simple. However, the resolution of Monk's story is intensely satisfying and leaves you feeling warm'n'fuzzy.

Tony Shalhoub is, as ever, lovably oddballish as Adrian Monk; while his tragicomic performances are brilliant throughout the season, his performance in the final episode is shattering, raw and eventually uplifting. Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford and Ted Levine give solid performances (and their characters all get new romantic interests... some quite surprising!), and there are some excellent guest turns by Schram, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Virginia Madsen. But Shalhoub is the undisputed star of this season.

It's a wrench to say goodbye to Monk and the gang after eight long years, but at least the eighth season is a brilliant farewell. Here's what happened... and here's what Monk did about it.

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Conclusion, December 27, 2009

By 

M. J. Merchant (St. Paul, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Monk: Season Eight (DVD)

The writers and the cast outdid themselves for the final season. The plot lines were fresh, witty, and hilarious. There are some big surprises in the eighth season -- not just in the individual episodes ("Happy Birthday, Mr. Monk" contains a big surprise, which I won't divulge), but throughout the season, the characters -- Stottlemeyer, Disher, and Natalie -- develop in some surprising ways that are satisfying to watch.

But it's Mr. Monk who really steals the show.

Tony Shaloub's acting as he breathes life into the neurotic Mr. Monk is always a delight to watch, over and over. And each season includes one or two virtuoso cadenzas to showcase Shaloub's talent, lest we start thinking that Shaloub and Adrian Monk are actually one in the same. For instance, in "Mr. Monk Takes His Medicine" (Season Three), Monk's new medication turns him into a completely different person, with hilarious results. ("You can't rush 'The Monk.'" "You're bringing 'The Monk' down, man.") And my personal favorite, which my wife and I have watched many, many times, "Mr Monk Goes to the Theater" (Season Two), in which we see Monk in a play within a play, where he gives a remarkably fine performance portraying a totally different character -- as long as no one is watching. In front of the audience, he becomes the painfully self-conscious Adrian Monk, stumbling over his lines. ("A man can't count on 'used to be' the way he's ... supposed to.")

The eighth season continues this tradition brilliantly with the episode, "Mr. Monk is Someone Else," in which Shaloub plays a character totally unlike Monk, as well as Monk, as well as Monk playing a character totally unlike Monk, to hilarious effect.

In "Mr. Monk Takes the Stand," Monk is so thoroughly, obsessively Monk again, that it is almost painful to watch him squirm on the witness stand. (Fortunately, he finds another way to solve the case.)

The biggest surprise for me this season was the delightful, surprising, and genuinely satisfying way that the series ended. I had thought I would be terribly sad to see the end -- and for a moment there, I thought I was going to be devastated! But now I just smile to think of these beloved characters going on with the next phase of their lives.

And at the very end, the door is left open, just a crack, for the possibility of a sequel. Arthur Conan Doyle tried to kill off Sherlock Holmes -- twice! But his fans would not stand for it, and Doyle was forced to bring the great detective back to life. We may entertain a glimmer of hope that Monk's fans will someday coax him back for an encore.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The end of our beloved monk series, March 18, 2010

By 

Julie B. "heart in the highlands" (chicago, il usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Monk: Season Eight (DVD)

WoW! I worried; I almost didn't want to see the very last installment. What were the writers going to do? Would they be out of ideas; would they disappoint us; had they gone stale; would they wrap things in cliches and unbelievable tidiness?

What writing! That was the best ending to a long-standing series that I have ever seen. The writing was superb. It could not have been any better. They brought in everyone; wrapped up everything in so funny, touching, believable, and perfect a way, that we, the fans, were almost okay with letting him go. There were so many things I was afraid they were going to do - and they didn't. I think I watched the 2 ending shows 3 times, as I watched it with various family members who hadn't seen it yet. Everyone had the same reaction - wet eyes (even some of the guys!) and a kind of warm glow as you turned off the tv and told Monk good-bye. - Perfect!