Thoughts on tonight's episode of Monk

I love Monk. I've loved Monk for a good long while now. It's a great, fresh, funny show.

Not that I haven't had my fair share of criticisms for Monk. I mean, lately, I've found it pretty easy to pick out the murderer, the method and the motive early on ('cause come on, who didn't know this was going to be about the diamond the first time Julie popped up to mention it?), but I do still enjoy watching the process.

So tonight, after weeks and weeks of withdrawal, we get the Christmas episode of Monk! I love USA. I love that Monk comes on with new episodes when I'm stuck with reruns for all my other shows. (For the record, I love Psych, too. Way to go, USA!)

Monk tends to make me feel awkward during episodes. I mean, seriously, why couldn't Monk have legitimately won that basketball trophy? He deserved a damn trophy! Oh, and when Monk got to play with Willie Nelson, but he couldn't play the instrument 'cause someone else had used it? So not fair! But I digress. These are thoughts on tonight's episode.

1. I love Larry Miller. LOVE him. And I love that Larry Miller is reguesting on this episode. But, seriously? Even when you are innocent, you don't want Larry Miller as your lawyer. BAD idea. And Captain Stottlemeyer, I am surprised at you, calling Larry Miller to be Monk's lawyer when you really must've known how incompetent he must be.

2. Leland Stottlemeyer, I am surprised at you again for even appearing to doubt Monk's side of the story! How many times have you doubted Monk, have you thought that he was having some sort of episode, only to be shown, in the end, that Monk was right? It always reminds me of that episode of Simon and Simon (and dear Lord, I LOVE Simon and Simon, why does no one rerun that show anymore?) where Jamison Parker (I mean AJ) was on vacation and saw a murder and no one believed him. I mean, even Rick thought that he imagined it. Jessica has had that happen to her a few times too, and even Doogie Howser had it happen to him on an episode of Murder, She Wrote! Um, anyway, my point is, whatever Monk says, is kosher with me.

3. The interview was live? Really? I find that VERY hard to believe.

5. Okay, so the old woman gets attacked by a thug, knocks him down with her canvas bag (I am always prepared to do that) and sprays the shit out of him with her pepper spray. And then Santa comes up and she's all "oh, thank goodness, he has a knife!" like she's suddenly a big victim? I'd be all "back the fuck away, Santa! I'm on a roll!"

6. San Francisco is so fickle. How many times has Monk saved YOUR ass, SF?!?!

7. Just on a side note, 'cause I was actually thinking about this in the shower today, but I like Natalie more than Sharona. I liked Sharona a lot, and when she left, I was really dreading what was going to happen. And at first look, Natalie parallels Sharona a lot, single mom, one kid, etc. But maybe they really wanted a single mom as his assistant. And Natalie's awesome. And Julie is totally more awesome than Benji was (sorry Benji.) But yeah, I find myself liking Natalie more than Sharona.

8. Ooo, Monk just figured it out! (I totally caught the one walkie talkie thing when Disher first mentioned it, too.) I LOVE it when Monk figures it out! Even if I have already figured it out. Not that I'm bragging, it's just that I've watched a lot of Murder, She Wrote in my day. A LOT. I know the signs.)

9. "I'm feeling something."
"It's joy, you're feeling some joy!"
"I don't like it."

Aww, but at the end of the day, Monk makes me smile.

Ooo, and not only do I now get to watch the Christmas episode of Psych, but I get the promise of new episodes of Monk in January!!

Merrrrrrrry Christmas!