The Ultimate Monk Revival: 10 Mind-Blowing Things We've Been Longing For!

Summary

Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie will explore Adrian Monk's life following the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it impacted his recovery and mental health.

The film will explore the relationship between Monk and Trudy's daughter, Molly, as he unravels the mystery surrounding her fiancé's killing.

Viewers can anticipate encountering well-loved characters such as Natalie, Randy, and Stottlemeyer, and witness the latest developments in Monk's circle of friends since the series concluded in 2009.

"Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie" is a highly anticipated reunion film that brings back beloved characters and storylines from the original series. The iconic show, "Monk," originally aired on USA Network from 2002 to 2009, and now, nearly 15 years later, the Monk cast is reuniting for a Peacock original film. This movie will feature Mr. Monk, portrayed by the talented Tony Shalhoub, in a post-COVID-19 pandemic context. Known as one of the greatest detective series of all time, fans have long awaited a reunion of some sort.

In a recent interview with EW, Monk creator Andy Breckman shared some intriguing details about the upcoming movie's storyline. Since the conclusion of Monk season 8, episode 15, titled "Mr. Monk and the End," aside from a brief four-minute web episode during the pandemic in 2020, Adrian Monk has been absent from the screen. With the release of "Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie" on December 8, fans eagerly anticipate the following ten elements that must be included in the film.

10 How Mr. Monk Dealt With The COVID-19 Pandemic

The question of how Adrian Monk would navigate the COVID-19 pandemic is likely one that has crossed the minds of every viewer of the show at some point. In an interview with EW, the creator of the show acknowledged the audience's curiosity about Monk's life during this time. As a result, a mini-episode featuring some of the original cast was released online in early 2020. In this four-minute reunion, Monk, who has OCD and mysophobia, demonstrated the protocols he had been following since the start of the pandemic.

This brief Monk reunion sparked a broader interest in a full-fledged Monk revival, which will now take the form of Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie. The upcoming film is set in 2023 and will delve into Monk's experiences during the pandemic through flashbacks. The show's creator revealed that COVID-19 essentially reset Monk's progress on managing his phobias. The Monk movie will delve into Adrian Monk's mental health and how the past few years have affected his recovery from the symptoms he grappled with in the original show.

9 The Bond Between Mr. Monk & Trudy’s Daughter Molly

Monk’s finale concluded with Mr. Monk successfully unraveling the most pivotal case of his life - the murder of Trudy. Furthermore, Monk discovered that Trudy had a pre-existing daughter named Molly, even before their paths intersected. In the captivating final episode, Adrian Monk locates and forms a profound bond with Molly, introducing an extraordinary dynamic that the series never before depicted. Thankfully, this compelling father-daughter relationship between Monk and Molly will be explored in the upcoming Monk movie. Despite the conclusion of the show, the characters remain intimately connected, and now Molly finds herself at the heart of Mr. Monk’s ultimate investigation. The astute detective must skillfully unravel the enigma surrounding Molly's fiancé' murder.

8 Sharona & Monk’s First Reunion Since Monk Season 7

Sharona (Bitty Schram) served as Monk's initial assistant, playing the role of Watson to Monk's Sherlock. Schram departed from the show following Monk season 3 due to a contractual dispute, only making a reappearance in Monk season 7. The last time Sharona appeared on the show was in "Mr. Monk and Sharona." Although her character was mentioned multiple times in subsequent episodes, she did not participate in the Monk finale. According to Breckman, Bitty Schram will have a part in the Monk movie; however, it appears that Sharona will not have significant screen time. Nevertheless, it is crucial to revisit Sharona.

7 What All The Monk Characters Have Been Up To Since 2009

Monk’s story concluded in 2009, which means that 14 years will have elapsed when audiences are reintroduced to Mr. Monk and his companions. The Monk movie will undoubtedly showcase what each character has been up to since 2009, a highly anticipated aspect considering the deep adoration for each of these beloved characters. While the brief COVID reunion episode can be considered "canon," it provided limited insights into the characters' current situations. Understandably, due to the 90-minute length of Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie, it will not be feasible to extensively revisit every single character from the Monk series.

6 What Randy & Sharona’s Marriage Even Looks Like

In the conclusion of Monk, Randy (Jason Gray-Stanford) and Sharona finally found their way back to each other, although most of their reconciliation occurred behind the scenes. Unlike the original series, the upcoming Monk movie has the opportunity to depict Randy and Sharona's married life, something that was never explored on the show. However small Sharona's part may be, witnessing her and Randy as a married couple onscreen promises to be both endearing and uproarious, considering their shared history in the earlier seasons.

5 What Mr. Monk’s PI Career Has Been Like Since The Show Ended

Adrian Monk experienced significant progress in his recovery during the final season of Monk. Despite this, he no longer harbored dreams of resuming his former role as a police detective. By solving the Trudy case and assisting Molly, Monk found fulfillment and the series concluded with him still working as a private investigator. In the Monk film, it would be possible to showcase the trajectory of Mr. Monk's career subsequent to the show's finale, even if only making fleeting references to cases from the past decade. Even if Monk is retired at the start of the movie, it is undeniable that he would have encountered numerous cases since 2009.

4 Mr. Monk & Captain Stottlemeyer’s Friendship

The dynamic friendship between Monk and Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) was one of the show's undeniable highlights. As Monk's partner during their time as detectives, Stottlemeyer played a pivotal role in informing Monk about Trudy's tragic demise. Whether Stottlemeyer chose to retire or received multiple promotions remains uncertain, but what is certain is that the character makes a comeback in the Monk movie. With Adrian facing a difficult period in his life after the pandemic, it will be intriguing to witness the evolution of his friendship with Leland.

3 Natalie Being There For Monk Once Again

Replacing Sharona, a fan-favorite character from the television series Monk, proved to be a challenging task. However, Natalie, played by Traylor Howard, stepped up to the plate and successfully filled the role as Monk's second secretary. Throughout the series, she stood by Adrian Monk during numerous difficult moments and became an integral part of almost every episode. Although it is uncertain whether Natalie still works with Monk after season 8, as she likely has her own life and official job, it is expected that she will once again be there for him in the upcoming Peacock original movie, given Adrian's ongoing struggles.

2 One More “Here’s What Happened” From Mr. Monk

In every Monk episode, there was always a captivating moment where Mr. Monk would unravel the mystery, providing a meticulous, step-by-step explanation of the killer's identity and their modus operandi. These special "Here's what happened" scenes became an integral part of the show's identity, and it is imperative that we include at least one of them in the Monk movie. Interestingly, the series finale took a different approach, as Adrian stumbled upon old recordings that essentially resolved the entire case. Therefore, it becomes even more crucial to revisit this iconic line in the movie.

1 A Final Case Worthy Of Mr. Monk’s Detective Skills

After a series of exceptional cases solved by Mr. Monk, this last one must be truly deserving of his remarkable skills. The quality of Monk episodes varied, largely dependent on the success of the "case of the week." There is a contention that the resolution of the Trudy case in Season 8 of Monk was underwhelming, and that serves as an additional motivation for Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie to deliver an exceptional mystery. Adrian Monk is an intriguing character, yet the future movie's success will ultimately depend on the complexity of the detective's challenge.