Monk: Season 8

The end of the Monk series…I would have loved more. The DVD is good quality and has good sound. No buyer’s remorse for me.

Laughter is the best medicine and I laughed hard all the way through. Monk is one of my all time favorite shows that I have back to throughout the years and still laugh just as hard as the first time I saw it. The character Mr. Monk is so beloved to me. I relate in many ways and love that the other characters close to him in the show have more compassion then frustration for his issues. Throughout the seasons, the show demonstrates how individuals who are different are often a blessing to our society and contribute in ways that are greatly beneficial. The show is healing for many. The triumph of his character in the end of season 8 is a great reward the writers of the show has given us. You walk away from this show warm and fuzzy and content... in spite of the realities of the violence that harm that takes place in our world.

When I heard that season eight would be the final season of Monk, I was mostly glad. Yes, I still enjoyed the show, but it wasn't as good as it had once been. I was hoping this would give them a chance to go out with a bang. And did it ever.For the most part, the show didn't really change a thing. Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is SFPD's secret weapon in the war against crime. When Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) and Lieutenant Randy Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) get stuck on an especially hard case, they call in Monk. Aided by his assistant Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard), Monk's obsessive compulsive behaviors and phobias allow him to see those clues that others miss.Granted, the show was never filled with super tough cases, but this season has its share of great ones. I especially enjoyed the one that found Monk convinced he had seen a UFO outside a small desert town. They do a spot on spoof of The Brady Bunch when the now grown actress of Monk's favorite childhood show is being stalked. Monk joins a group theory group only to have the other members start to die.But what has always made this show so wonderful is the liberal mixing of laughter and quiet, tender moments. And that is what we get here. It's like the writers knew this was their last chance to really say something with the characters, and they didn't want to miss an opportunity. Looking over the episodes makes me smile as I remember a particular line or a scene that make me laugh or a tender moment the characters shared together.The acting is top notch as always. I've never been able to fault the cast, and they didn't rest on their laurels going into the final season. Their performances really gave wonderful life to those words.Since this was the final season, the writers did go places they couldn't go previously. Bitty Schram agreed to come back one list time as Monk's first assistant Sharona. That episode had some of the funniest moments of the season as we got to watch Sharona and Natalie fight over Monk, almost literally at one point. Monk also was rehired by the police force. In one of the most touching episodes, Stottlemeyer gets remarried.And the biggest question of the series is finally answered. In the two part season finale, we finally find out who killed Monk's wife Trudy. Honestly, these episodes were the weakest of the season. Yes, there were some very funny moments and memorable lines. There were also had some wonderful moments for the characters. But I was disappointed with how the mystery itself unfolded.The box set will look pretty familiar to fans of the show. The sixteen episodes are presented in surround sound and widescreen on four discs. Extras are limited to a video commentary on the final episode and interviews with cast and crew.I started season eight of Monk hoping it would end on a high note. Even with the disappointing final episode, it left me wishing we'd get more from this wonderful show. Thanks for the wonderful eight years, Mr. Monk. I'll see you in the tie-in novels and my DVD sets.

My favorite show of all time!

Season eight is the final season of the hit show Monk from USA network. Perhaps one of the best seasons of all time from Monk, season 8 brings many monumental moments for Monk and his friends. For the final season, it was clear that the writers intended to wrap up all of their running story-lines and show Monk making real progress. He is still the same Adrian Monk we know and love, but through episodes such as "Mr. Monk Goes to Group Therapy," "Mr. Monk and the Badge," and of course, "Mr. Monk and the End (pts 1 & 2)," Monk makes leaps and bounds in terms of his biggest challenges. And, as expected, the rest of the ensemble cast has their share of time in the lime-light. "Mr. Monk and the Critic" is an episode that features Natalie prominently, "Mr. Monk Goes Camping" centers around Disher for much of the story, and Stottlemeyer has "Mr. Monk is the Best Man" to showcase his character. And, of course, the long awaited return of Bitty Schram finally came about in season eight with "Mr. Monk and Sharona."The season finale is perhaps the most well written and well acted episode of the series. Fans, along with Monk, finally discover what happened to Trudy and it's an emotional rollercoaster as they follow Monk on his journey to bring justice to her killer. Tony Shalhoub deserved every award they could give him for his portrayal of Adrian Monk in that final episode. The series is wrapped up in such a beautiful and fulfilling way, fans are left with feeling the satisfaction of completion.The special features provide fascinating and entertaining looks into the behind-the-scenes. These features include Tours of the Set, interviews with the cast and creators, on set footage of the final day of shooting, and (my favorite) a video commentary for the final two episodes with Tony Shalhoub, Randy Zisk, and Andy Breckman. Speaking as one Monk fan to another, I'm telling you, you MUST own this final season...you'll thank me later.

I bought this season of Monk to complete my collection. This was one of my favorite series ever. The price was good and the delivery was prompt.

I've been on this planet long enough to clearly recall various TV series since the 1950's - including classics such as "Gunsmoke" and "Father Knows Best" and the very first shows on "The Twilight Zone" and "Star Trek". There were 3 TV channels. Period.Anyway, I've had many years of experience watching some great shows - and some, of course, not so great. And if I were on a desert island with only a box of DVD's as my sole entertainment, and which I had to enjoy sufficiently to stand watching over and over for many years to come.... the series "Monk" would definitely be one of my first choices for that box.That's about the highest accolade that I can think of to bestow upon a TV series. It was continuously fresh and imaginative and entertaining, as well as being curiously warm and touching. And with characters with whom we became bonded.

Good episodes and Monk is as usual.

I have watched the series "Monk" since the first episode. At the time I said to myself, Tony Shaloub is a terrific actor and probably the only one who could really carry off the character of a compulsive-obsessive detective. However, I thought, how long can a series based on this kind of a character continue? Well, here we are at the 8th - and last - season and it has not let its audience down for one minute. To review the 8th season is to review all seasons of "Monk". The character - so well developed by Shaloub - is perfect in his affliction (that will make sense to any fan of the series) and the rest of the cast is a perfect support for the main character without giving up any of their own characterizations or becoming lesser than the whole. Obviously, I love this show and I am sorry to see it end, but I have to say if it had to end (and this was probably the right time), then it did so in the same perfect manner we have come to expect of the actors, the writers, the directors and the producers.

I've always loved this series. But because of my shifts I was rarely able to catch it on TV. My daughter and a few friends have borrowed the set. So it doesn't just sit on the shelf. My grand daughter also loved it. She was only eight and felt sorry for Adrian monk. Although the last season was very hurried it was still pretty good. Finally we get to find out what was in the gift, and why trudie was killed.

I have been delighted by the antics of Mr. Monk right from the start. The OCD brilliant-like-Sherlock San Fran detective is at his best in the capable talented hands of Tony Shalhoub. Solid writing and acting continues in the season finale, which wraps up loose ends and provides a satisfactory ending all round. Don't want to give anything away :) It's the perfect ending to an exceptionally entertaining series.

I watched all 8 seasons of Monk. I enjoyed every minute of it. He is funny and a little sad at the same time. It was a great experience. I was sorry when it came to an end. I lend the set to two friends and both enjoyed it as much as I did.

Love the way this series was neatly tied up. Won't give away anything - but if you purchase this Season 8, you won't be disappointed.