Mr. Monk Lives Happily Ever After

Watch a television show long enough and you will become emotionally attached to the characters. Detective Adrian Monk is a sympathetic character, a former police detective who mourns the death of his wife and is constantly battling phobias, depression and a crippling Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

There are only two episodes left in the final season of Monk. Monk was reinstated in the San Francisco Police Department in “Mr. Monk and the Badge.” He retained the rank of Detective First Class, but the reinstatement ended his working relationship with his assistant Natalie Teeger.

Monk quickly realized he was unhappy. He was not working with Captain Stottlemeyer and Lt Disher. His new partner and co-workers did not like him. They did not tolerate his quirks and idiosyncrasies. He lost the freedom to choose which homicide cases to work on.

Monk resigned from the police force at the end of episode. Captain Stottlemeyer and Lt Disher suggested he exit the building through the west entrance. A surprise was waiting for him. It was Natalie. She wanted her job back. The episode ended with Monk and Natalie arguing over her salary. This would have been a perfect ending.

But Monk has not the solved the murder of his wife. This will not be a surprise. Monk will finally solve the murder of his wife in “Mr. Monk and the End.”

There is another issue that needs to be addressed. The relationship between Monk and Natalie needs to be determined.

There are three possible outcomes. First, Monk and Natalie will continue their working relationship. She will continue to be Dr. Watson to his Sherlock Holmes.

Second, Monk and Natalie become involved in relationships. Casper Van Dien will reprise his role as Lt Steven Albright in the final episode. Lt Albright first appeared in “Mr. Monk is Under Water.” Lt Albright was a friend of Mitch Teeger, Natalie’s deceased husband. Lt Albright and Natalie flirted during the episode, and considered romantic scenarios had Lt Albright met Natalie first.

Natalie mentioned Lt Albright would be her date for the wedding reception in “Mr. Monk is the Best Man.”

As a fan of the show, I noticed the writers would mention something that may appear to be a minor detail, but eventually becomes a major plot point. A relationship between Natalie and Lt Albright cannot be casually dismissed.

However, if Natalie does get involved with Lt Albright, then she will have to break up her partnership with Monk. Monk needs an assistant who is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. A married woman could not provide that service.

Moreover, if Natalie will not be a part of Monk’s life, then Monk will have to also get involved in a relationship. It will be hard to squeeze in a new romantic interest in the final two hours and I doubt the writers will end the series with Monk all alone. That outcome would be too sad.

Third, Monk and Natalie become involved in a romantic relationship that would lead to marriage.

Lt Albright’s inclusion in part one of “Mr. Monk and the End” maybe a plot device designed to bring conflict to Natalie’s character, forcing her to choose between Monk and Lt Albright.

A relationship between Monk and Natalie is not implausible. Monk has the tendency to bond with people who have lost their spouses.

In “Mr. Monk Falls in Love,” he became infatuated with Leyla Zlatavich, a woman whose fiancé and family were murdered by a war criminal.

In “Mr. Monk and the Lady Next Door,” his neighbor, Marge Johnson, was a widow who continued to grieve the death of her husband and son. Marge Johnson became Monk’s surrogate mother.

In “Mr. Monk and the Foreign Man,” he befriended Samuel Waingaya, a Nigerian immigrant whose wife was killed in a hit and run incident.

Leyla Zlatavich, Marge Johnson, Samuel Waingaya and Natalie have one thing in common. They all lost their spouses.

Natalie noticed Monk’s special qualities. In her first episode, “Mr. Monk and the Red Herring,” Monk was chasing a suspect who was carrying a fish and a valuable moon rock. The suspect fell and dropped both items. Monk was trying to decide between the fish and the rock. He decided to save the fish. Natalie told her daughter, Julie, that her father was the only other man who would have made the same decision. Afterwards, she agreed to work for Monk as his assistant.

Natalie was dating in some episodes. Monk made the observation, in “Mr. Monk and the Red Herring,” when he noticed birth control pills in her purse.

She dated a doctor in “Mr. Monk and the Leper” and a lawyer in “Mr. Monk Goes to the Hospital.”

But she felt guilty over leaving Monk in the hospital by himself, and ended her lunch date with the lawyer. She returned to the hospital, and found out Monk was hospitalized with serious injuries. Monk’s medical chart was switched, and he was about to receive a dose of medication he was allergic to. Natalie discovered the plot to kill Monk and saved his life. She promised never to leave him alone, and except for Lt Albright, she has not expressed interest in any other men.

Natalie cares for Monk. In “Mr. Monk and the Man Who Shot Santa Claus,” he shot a man, dressed as Santa Claus, in self-defense, but the media portrayed Monk as some sort of monster. Monk wanted to tell his side of the story, but Natalie advised against it. “I have heard your side of the story, and I love you, and I don’t think it’s a good idea,” said Natalie.

Natalie was devastated, in part two of “Mr. Monk is on the Run,” at the apparent death of her boss. However, she figured out Monk faked his own death, found him working in a car wash in Las Vegas, and was overwhelmed with emotion when she saw he was still alive.

The eighth season seemed to suggest a possible romantic relationship between Monk and Natalie. There were hints in the previous seasons, but the hints became more pronounced this season.

In “Mr. Monk’s Favorite Show,” Monk told Natalie that his favorite television show, as a child, was his substitute family. He was sad because he felt he did not have a real family. Natalie told Monk he did have a family – Julie and her.

There was more affection manifested in physical contact between Monk and Natalie. Natalie held Monk more than usual. She walked arm in arm with him. She hugged him more often, like in the climactic scene of “Mr. Monk is Someone Else.” Natalie hugged Monk and said, “I was worried about you.”

In “Happy Birthday Mr. Monk,” she hugs him twice after she finally surprised him with a birthday party. Usually, Monk does not like to be touched and he does not like physical displays of affection.

Monk and Natalie were acting like a couple. They argued like a couple in “Mr. Monk and the UFO.” They attended Julie’s play in “Mr. Monk and the Critic.” Monk went to Natalie’s family reunion in “Mr. Monk and the Dog.”

In “Mr. Monk and Sharona,” Monk acted like a spouse who was caught with another woman. Natalie walked in on Monk and Sharona. Monk became defensive.

Natalie was more playful. In “Mr. Monk and the UFO,” she wanted to see Monk’s bellybutton. The running gag of the episode was that UFO aficionados thought Monk was an alien. Aliens do not have bellybuttons. The UFO aficionados wanted to see Monk’s bellybutton. They were convinced Monk did not have a bellybutton, therefore he was an alien.

In “Happy Birthday Mr. Monk,” Natalie unsuccessfully tried to surprise Monk with a birthday party. Monk challenged Natalie, implying she would not be able to outsmart him. Natalie accepted the challenge.

Monk thought Natalie was staging the birthday party at the victim’s apartment. Monk, Natalie, Captain Stottlemeyer and Lt Disher were searching the victim’s apartment, but Monk was not able to concentrate on the case. Captain Stottlemeyer was frustrated. Natalie started winking at Monk and Monk became flustered.

Later in the episode, it appeared Monk was enjoying the mind games with Natalie.

Monk’s OCD symptoms are partially in remission. Monk’s problem with OCD began in his childhood. The OCD was partially in remission when he married Trudy, but her death exacerbated his symptoms.

In the last scene of “Happy Birthday Mr. Monk,” he fed Natalie a piece of cake with his fork. Monk has a severe case of germ phobia. For Monk, sharing a fork is an intimate moment.

An example of Monk’s extreme phobia of germs was displayed in “Mr. Monk Gets Lotto Fever.” Monk repeatedly wiped the spoon with a napkin before putting it in his mouth.

Monk considers himself a married man. He has never referred to himself as a widower. He talks about Trudy in the present tense. But in “Mr. Monk is Someone Else,” he did not mention Trudy’s name. Instead he mentioned Natalie’s name.

Monk was pretending to be notorious hit man Frank DePalma. Lola, a girlfriend of DePalma’s, cornered Monk in a hotel room. She was making aggressive sexual advances, but Monk discouraged her by saying he had a girlfriend, Natalie.

In “Mr. Monk and the Voodoo Curse,” Natalie became flustered when voodoo dolls appeared to have predicted the deaths of people who passed away under unusual circumstances. An elderly woman was struck in the head by a baseball and a golfer was hit by lightning. Natalie panicked when she received a package with decapitated voodoo doll.

Monk eventually solved the case, but he could not understand why it took him so long to solve the case. According to Natalie, the reason was due to Monk’s concern over her, therefore he was unable to clearly concentrate on the case.

In “Mr. Monk and Sharona,” Captain Stottlemeyer advised Monk to keep Natalie and Sharona apart. Monk was already worried. “I’m losing her (Natalie),” he said.

Natalie and Sharona were worried because Monk disappeared after a fight erupted in the squad room between Natalie, Sharona, Captain Stottlemeyer and Lt Disher.

Natalie and Sharona apologized to each other and complemented each other and discussed which assistant was best for Monk. Sharona expressed guilt over treating Monk harshly. Natalie said Monk needed someone to be tough with him after Trudy’s death. “You got him here,” Natalie said. “You got him to me.”

Then I remembered an important clue from “Mr. Monk Gets a New Shrink.” Monk was forced to find another therapist after his therapist, Dr Kroger, quit his practice. The new therapist was reviewing Monk’s file, but Monk was having trouble concentrating because the therapist had one arm. The “asymmetrical” therapist’s amputated right arm triggered Monk’s OCD.

The new therapist asked about Natalie. “In a lot of ways, she reminds me of Trudy,” Monk said.

There are other clues that predate the eighth season.

I am working under the assumption that the writers were developing this story arc from the moment Natalie started working for Monk.

“Mr. Monk and the Cobra.” Natalie argued with Monk over his expenses. Monk was not able to give Natalie a raise because he was still paying the rent for Trudy’s office.

Monk confronted the villain, but he was knocked out. The villain put Monk in a coffin and was buried alive. He had a psychotic break and conjured Trudy to help cope with the claustrophobia. Monk was about to be rescued, but Trudy advised him to, “close my office and pay her what she needs.”

“Mr. Monk Stays in Bed.” Natalie followed a pizza deliveryman to return the $50 he gave her by mistake. The deliveryman was murdered, but Monk got sick and refused to get out of bed. Natalie attempted to solve the crime without Monk, but the murderer caught her. Monk thought he was describing the murder to Natalie over the phone, but the murderer was listening to the call. The murderer took Natalie to a recycling plant to find the evidence, a pizza box with his fingerprints.

Monk realized Natalie was in trouble. Monk got out bed. He got a cab. He was dressed in his pajamas, bathrobe and slippers. He walked into the recycling plant, and stepped on sludge. Monk prevailed over several phobias to save Natalie.

“Mr. Monk and the Daredevil.” Natalie was fighting a criminal on the roof of a building. Monk was still in the staircase when he saw the criminal was about hit Natalie with a pipe. Monk ran out, on the roof, and grabbed the pipe. Monk conquered his fear of heights to save Natalie.

“Mr. Monk Goes to the Bank.” A bank was robbed and the contents of Monk’s safety deposit box were stolen. The treasured item was Trudy’s diamond bracelet. Monk, Natalie, Stottlemeyer and Disher were locked in the vault. Monk figured out the stolen items were stashed in a large safety deposit box. He retrieved the diamond bracelet and placed Trudy’s bracelet on Natalie’s wrist.

“Mr. Monk Buys a House.” Dr Kroger passed away. Monk was referred to Dr Neven Bell. The first session was unsuccessful. Monk informed Dr Bell that he was not satisfied and was going to look for a new therapist, but he sat down again. Dr Bell asked Monk why he was staying. “I can’t leave early. Natalie would kill me,” he said. That is the type of answer a married man would say about his wife.

Also, Monk bought a house. Natalie was upset because she believed she should have been consulted before he bought the house.

“Mr. Monk’s Other Brother.” Monk discovered he has a half brother, Jack Monk, but he did not tell Natalie. Instead, he told her Jack was a pen pal. Monk was forced to tell Natalie the truth after Jack tried to con her. Natalie was angry with Monk. “We’re partners. You’re supposed to trust me,” she said.

There are more clues throughout the five and half years of Monk and Natalie’s partnership. The writers managed the story arc to its only logical conclusion. Monk and Natalie will live on as either as a crime solving partnership, or as a couple. I’m guessing as a couple.

Natalie was the reason Monk was able to function despite the phobias and OCD. She nurtured Monk through difficult circumstances. She was patient and caring and trusted his judgment and she was never threatened by Trudy’s memory.

Julie will be going to college, leaving a void in Natalie’s life. She will need someone else to take care for.

Solving Trudy’s murder will give Monk closure. He will be able to proceed with his life, but he will need a partner. Once the fog of Trudy’s murder is lifted, he will realize the only other woman he could truly love is Natalie. At least I hope so.

I was vain enough to think I was the only person who figured out the potential relationship between Monk and Natalie, but I was wrong. I was researching for this article and found scenes from Monk set to music. It appears there are a lot of fans who are rooting for a relationship between Monk and Natalie.

Below are two of my favorite links.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSbUst4P2WY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re2fWeZxvuQ

A Remarkable Achievement

Sometimes the best surprises are the least expected. The Yankees winning their 27th World Series championship qualifies as a surprise. Honestly, I found the 2009 team under whelming. This team played like a juggernaut, but their accomplishment was due to parity, not overwhelming talent. Their regular season record of 103 wins and 59 losses was a remarkable achievement for a team with noticeable flaws.

The 2009 Yankees had holes in their pitching staff and batting order.

Sabathia and Burnett were free agent imports brought in to bolster a weak pitching staff. The Yankees needed starters with strikeout capability that could routinely pitch seven innings per game – assets the Yankees have not had in the last six years.

Sabathia was the ace of the staff – as expected, but he was the only starter on the team with more than 15 wins – a remarkable achievement for a team that won 103 games in the regular season.

Burnett displayed flashes of brilliance in 2009, but he was prone to erratic outings. The number two starter on the team had 13 wins, 9 losses, pitched 207 innings and had a 4.04 ERA. By comparison, the Yankees fifth starter in 1998, Hideki Irabu, won 13 games, lost 9, pitched 173 innings and had a 4.09 ERA.

Pettitte signed an incentive laden contract late in the off-season. He was slated to return as the fourth starter.

Wang was supposed to be the third starter on the pitching staff. He was injured in 2008. The Yankees were hoping Wang would return to form as a two time 19 game winner, but he was ineffective, then suffered a season ending injury.

Pettitte became the third starter by default.

Chamberlain was slated as the fifth starter, but his innings pitched were going to be monitored. He was coddled in August and September, making him an ineffective starter, and the coddling eliminated Chamberlain as a starter in the post season.

The Yankees used Chad Gaudin, obtained in a trade with from San Diego, and Sergio Mitre, injured throughout 2008, as their fourth and fifth starters after Chamberlain’s workload was deliberately reduced.

Yankee prospect Phil Hughes was pitching in relief when Wang got hurt. Yankee management treated Hughes cautiously. Hughes short major league career has been marred by injuries. Management decided to keep Hughes in the bullpen, reasoning he could become susceptible to an arm injury if he became a starter during the midseason.

The Yankees navigated a 162 game season, and had the best record in baseball with three viable starting pitchers.

The 2009 Yankees had the best record in the American league, and with it the privilege of allowing the Yankees to pick the post-season schedule. They selected the schedule with the most days off, thus allowing the Yankees to use only three starters.

The only way the Yankees could have won their 27th championship was with all those off days in the post season. A compressed schedule would have exposed the Yankees thin starting pitching staff.

The 2009 team hit their way to the pennant, hitting a team record 244 home runs. Seven players hit over 20 home runs.

The Yankees built a bullpen that kept the games close through the late innings, thus giving the offense the opportunity to rally and win.

This team demonstrated remarkable resiliency winning 51 come from behind games, and winning 15 games in their final at bat.

Behind the gaudy offensive numbers was a batting order with holes that was not exploited because of the shortage of quality pitching in baseball.

You will never see pitching staffs like the 1971 Baltimore Orioles, 1972 – 1974 Oakland A’s, 1986 New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves of the 1990’s. Teams cannot afford to keep deep pitching staffs together. To win a championship, teams must develop young pitchers, and hope a group can reach the Major Leagues together, like the 1969 New York Mets.

The Yankees beat up a lot of weak pitching staffs. Even the Philadelphia Phillies, the National League champions, had a weak pitching staff. Their number one starter, Cliff Lee, joined the team on July 30, 2009. Their number two starter, Pedro Martinez, was out of baseball until August. You can argue the Phillies would not have made it to the World Series with the pitching staff they had in April.

A strong pitching staff could shut this team down. The problem is that there are no strong pitching staffs in baseball.

The post season proved the Yankee offense was vulnerable. Teixeira, Cano and Swisher were offensive liabilities. Posada’s post-season average was lower than his regular season average.

Molina’s playing time increased in the post-season because he was Burnett’s preferred catcher. The lineup was diluted when Molina played.

In game five of the World Series, the Yankees used a junior varsity batting order against Phillies ace Cliff Lee. The batting order after Rodriguez was Swisher, Cano, Gardner, Molina, and Burnett.

Damon’s late surge salvaged an otherwise forgettable post-season.

Jeter, Rodriguez and Matsui carried the Yankees to the championship.

The Yankees are not a deep team. Fortunately they were not exposed in the World Series, but they could have been. Cabrera got hurt in game four. Gardner replaced Cabrera. Damon got hurt in game six. Hairston replaced Damon.

Hairston in left field, Gardner in center, and Swisher in right field would have been the starting outfield in the seventh game of the World Series, against Cliff Lee, had the Phillies won game six.

The Yankees record after Rodriguez returned from the disabled list was an unbelievable 78 wins and 36 losses. They were resilient and competed relentlessly. The Yankees should be congratulated for having the best record in baseball during the regular season because it allowed the Yankees to pace themselves during the post-season.

The Yankees rode on the backs of three starting pitchers and won a championship using a favorable schedule. This is a unique accomplishment that will be hard for any team to duplicate.

As a Yankee fan, I am not ungrateful the 2009 team won the World Series, but my enthusiasm is tempered by a diluted baseball product that has not been able to figure out how to keep good or great teams together.