Mr. Monk and the Red Herring

Sharona looked and acted like the cocky friend of the female lead in an 80's movie while Natalie looks and acts like one of several quirky yet still attractive popular people in a 90's sitcom... Which she was in actually...

Her acting here is stiff at times, especially her reactions, which seemed not-fully-realized or altogether properly rehearsed, but she's cute and fairly natural in the role replacing Sharona because the story is what works here...

The mystery is intriguing and fun, and keeps the viewer guessing. Making the actress float into the role of Monk's assistant instead of being thrown or pushed. They made what was a big-time rush job into a nice transition.

In the opening scene, Monk is talking to his doctor about how he's coping until Sharona comes back. The doctor points out to Monk that Sharona has sold her home, remarried her ex-husband, and moved back to New Jersey. In other words, she's not coming back, and that he needs to move on and find another assistant.

Meanwhile, a woman fights with a home intruder, ultimately killing him with a pair of scissors she finds in their struggle. Great shades of "Dial M for Murder". A different man two days before gained entry to the house saying he was with a utility company but seemed to be interested in her daughter's fish tank. The woman chased him away without a struggle. The police suggest bringing Monk in on this difficult case, but say that she'll need to go to him and personally ask him since he is having a hard time coping since Sharona left.

Monk does agree to come on the case, and he thinks that somebody is after either the fish in the tank or something in the tank with the fish. The fish is extraordinary, as it is a six year old fish when that breed is only supposed to live one or two years. Complications ensue.

A really funny scene occurs when Monk is asked by the woman to pretend to be an expert on fish and tell her daughter's science teacher that it is possible for the fish to be six years old. But the science teacher asks probing questions like - Where did Monk study? What was his degree in? What books has he written? , etc. And in the age of the internet his answers fall apart quickly. Plus Monk is just a really bad liar.

The client, Natalie Teeger becomes Monk's new assistant. This change out in personnel was necessary since Bitty Schram left the show over a salary she considered insufficient given the show's success and her part in making that success.

One major consequence of Bitty Schram being let go from Monk is Kane Ritchotte also losing his job on the acclaimed TV series. Sad that Kane, as a child actor, couldn't remain on the show but that's showbiz I guess. Still, we are introduced to Traylor Howard as Natalie Teeger, who ends up being Monk's new assistant. In the opening credits Traylor is given billing but she doesn't appear. Maybe she'll appear in the opening credits of the next episode.

I'd forgotten Natalie. Watched this show religiously in the day. This first episode works quite well. I've always been interested in how resilient characters are in these series. She kills a man (granted a dangerous one) and just sort of laughs it off. This is a worthy transition and has a plot that is somewhat believable. The guy who works in the museum uses a dangerous method for hiding his prize. There must have been a hundred other options.

Sharona leaves Monk to live with Benji in New Jersey with her ex-husband and Monk is looking for a new nurse. Meanwhile, the widow Natalie Teeger kills a trespasser that breaks in her house during the night. She tells Stottlemeyer and Randy that another man tried to break in her house a couple of days ago. Stottlemeyer suggests her to convince Monk to work in the case, and she goes to his house. He reluctantly accepts the case and notes that the thief apparently was trying to steal her daughter's goldfish. They investigate and learn that the fish worths one dollar only and Monk cannot find the motive. They go to the police station and learn that the thief might be connected to an exposition in the museum and Natalie tells them that her daughter Julie was in that exhibition a couple of days ago and bought some toys to her aquarium. They go to the museum and soon Monk resolves the case.

"Mr. Monk and the Red Herring" is a great episode of this series and the end of Sharona with Monk. That is sad since Sharona was an important part of the episodes. "Mr. Monk and the Red Herring" is the introduction of her replacement, Natalie Teeger, who seems to be adequate for the role. This episode is great since Monk does not overact with his OCDs. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Monk e o Peixe Japonês" ("Monk and the Japanese Fish") Note: In Portuguese, goldfish is called Japanese Fish.