Summary
- Monk's successful template allows for a standalone sequel, following the series' accessible and procedural format.
- A potential Mr. Monk's Last Case sequel should focus on a new, unrelated case to maintain the series' appeal.
- The return of core cast members alongside Shalhoub's iconic performance can continue the effective balance of humor and drama.
Monk's best episodes have already provided a template for a potential sequel to Mr. 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 members reunited for Mr. Monk's Last Case, a Peaco*ck 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 to Mr. Monk's Last Case has 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 the ending of Mr. Monk's Last Case.
Related
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.
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Most Monk Episodes Were Standalone Cases & Had Nothing To Do With The Previous One
Monk's Procedural Format Made It More Accessible
While Monk featured 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's cases 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 of Monk'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 made Monk great 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 on Monk's successful template, a Mr. Monk's Last Case sequel should be able to stand on its own and does not need to be a traditional movie sequel. The Peaco*ck 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 called Mr. Monk's Last Case should 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
TV-PG
Comedy
Crime
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
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.
- Director
- Randy Zisk
- Release Date
- December 8, 2023
- Writers
- Andy Breckman
- Cast
- Tony Shalhoub , Melora Hardin , Ted Levine , Traylor Howard , Hector Elizondo , Jason Gray-Stanford
- Runtime
- 97 Minutes
