Summary
Monk’s best episodes have already provided a template for a potential sequel toMr. Monk’s Last Case. The beloved series starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular Adrian Monk aired for eight seasons on the USA Network, culminating in a two-part series finale in 2009. 14 years later, Shalhoub and other core cast membersreunited forMr. Monk’s Last Case, a Peacock original film that continued Monk’s story as he comes out of retirement to help his stepdaughter, Molly Evans, with a personal case.
The followup film was well-received by critics and general audiences, going on to earn a 96% critical score and 80% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The positive reception toMr. Monk’s Last Casehas naturally led to speculation about whether there could be a sequel, as Shalhoub and the rest of the creative team proved that the character works just as well now as he did when the series was first airing. Fortunately, the original series already showed how the eccentric detective’s story can continue after theending ofMr. Monk’s Last Case.
I’m Glad Mr. Monk’s Last Case Movie Didn’t Forget The Best Thing About The Original Show
Mr. Monk’s Last Case movie honored one important detail about the original show, making Adrian Monk’s return 14 years later even better.
Monk’s Procedural Format Made It More Accessible
WhileMonkfeatured the overarching story of the investigation into Trudy’s unsolved death, it was primarily a procedural series with a new case in every episode. Other than the occasional two-part episode,Monk’scases usually had little to do with what transpired during the previous episode. This is partly why the series was so popular when it aired and during its many years of reruns, as viewers could turn on nearly any episode and both understand and enjoy what was happening.
Even for some ofMonk’s more personal episodes, including the “Mr. Monk and the Three Pies” episode revolving around his reclusive brother Ambrose (John Turturro), the series always did a masterful job of making its stories equally accessible for casual and dedicated audiences. What madeMonkgreat was Shalhoub’s performance as the brilliant, yet deeply vulnerable character, an effective balance of humor and drama, and focusing more on how the crime was committed as opposed to who committed it. This model worked well for the show and can continue to be effective.
Mr. Monk’s Last Case’s Sequel Should Be A Standalone Movie
It Can Follow The Series' Example
Based onMonk’s successful template,aMr. Monk’s Last Casesequel should be able to stand on its own and does not need to be a traditional movie sequel. The Peacock film did include a potential setup for a sequel, with Monk getting a new sense of purpose through realizing all the closure he provided through the cases he solved, and that he can continue doing this by investigating cold cases. While a sequel could directly explore this, it may be more effective to simply have Monk investigating a new case unrelated to the events of the previous movie.
Being too reliant on the stories that preceded it endangers a sequel by losing part of what made the series accessible. Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard), Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), and Randy Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) should still be in it alongside Monk, just as they returned for the first movie, as should Monk’s stepdaughter, Molly (Caitlin McGee). Even the previous movie being calledMr. Monk’s Last Caseshould not be a deterrent from making the sequel a standalone case, continuing the series' model in a new era.
Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie
Cast
Considered the conclusion to the beloved comedy crime-solving series, Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie sees the titular character return along with several other prominent cast members. In the film, Monk finds himself stuck in the middle of a big case directly related to his stepdaughter, preparing to marry.
