Monk episode review — 4.16 — Mr. Monk Gets Jury Duty

Original air date: March 17, 2006
Director: Andrei Belgrader
Writer: Peter Wolk

Rating: 8/10

Monk would be anyone’s worst nightmare to have on a jury, particularly if they staged their own stabbing, as the guy did here. Or if you’re a member of a jury just trying to get things over with quickly. Or if you’re a member of a jury who’s only there to have access to the building so as to break your boyfriend out of prison. All of these are applicable to the plot.

Obviously someone with Monk’s many neuroses and issues should never be on a jury, and I like how this episode addresses that with the judge insisting that he’s the worst case he’s ever come across in terms of trying to get out of jury duty.

Once the jury is deliberating, it becomes less about the case that they’re supposed to be deliberating. While he reveals some key information that convinces other jurors to join the team of not guilty, he also notices that there’s a dead body outside in the dumpster, and he tries to piece that whole thing together.

It turns out, of course, that juror number 12 (Emmanuelle Vaugier, Saw II) had killed someone in order to make sure she’d be on the jury, to help free her fiance.

This episode is best enjoyed if you put yourself in the mindset of one of Monk’s fellow jurors. He’d absolutely drive you nuts, and that’s where so much of the comedy comes from.

This is a strong finale to what’s been the weakest season so far.