Beloved as it is, Tony Shalhoub’sMonkdoesn’t need a revival, but there’s still a satisfying way for Adrian to return to solving crimes.Monkwas one of thebest TV procedurals of the early 2000s, and it earned a spot in countless viewers' hearts. Some of thebest episodes ofMonkstill work as a great comfort show, even after two decades, for example. Though theending ofMonkcame in 2009, the detective procedural has remained popular for well over a decade now, and many longtime fans may wonder if it will ever get a revival.
In 2023,Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movieproved that there are still plenty of great stories to tell about Adrian and the rest of thecast ofMonk. Adrian, Natalie, Stottlemeyer, and Randy were just as funny as ever, and though it had its problems,Mr. Monk’s Last Casealso had plenty of great aspects. The wider resurgence of the mystery genre in movies likeKnives Outand shows likeThe Residentalso means there’s never been a better time forMonkto make a comeback. However, I think there’s a better option than aMonkrevival show.
There Have Been Discussions About Monk’s Future After The Movie
Mr. Monk’s Last Case Proved Monk Is Just As Popular As Ever
Mr. Monk’s Last Casewas a resounding success. It earned 92% onRotten Tomatoesand proved massively popular on Peacock.Mr. Monk’s Last Casewas so popular, in fact, that there has been a lot of discussion about howMonkcould continue in the future. There has been speculation about aMonkmovie 2, and even talks of reviving the original show. NBC, Peacock’s parent company, has even discussedcontinuing theMonkfranchise in the future. On top of it all,Mr. Monk’s Last Casecreated the perfect conditions for Adrian’s return by seeing the reemergence of his OCD symptoms due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Monk Should Continue (But Not With A Revival Of The TV Show)
Reviving The Monk Show Would Have Too Many Problems
It’s clear that there’s plenty of room and desire for moreMonkstories in the future, and Adrian’s story should definitely continue, but not in a serialized format.AMonkrevival show would have far too many problems to work the way it should. Reboots are already an overused gimmick of the TV industry, and seeingMonkreturn after over a decade would feel more like a cheap cash grab instead of a welcome reunion. Additionally, one of the harshest realities ofMonkwas also how formulaic it felt, which is a whole can of worms in and of itself.
Monk’s formula carried it to success for decades, but it’s now a big obstacle to a revival show.
RevivingMonkand keeping the same “howdunnit” formula the show - andMr. Monk’s Last Case- rarely deviated from would feel a bit tiresome.Monkwas already getting repetitive and predictable in 2009, and that problem wouldn’t be any better now. However,changingMonk’s formula would risk jeopardizing what makesMonkthe beloved comfort show it is. Part of the allure of any revival show is that it feels familiar, so ifMonkdecides to revamp its formula, it might destroy the point of restarting the series.Monk’s formula carried it to success for decades, but it’s now a big obstacle to a revival show.
Another Monk Movie Is The Best Way To Continue The Franchise
Monkdeserves to continue, but it’s clear that revamping the show is a quagmire of potential problems. With that in mind,I feel that making moreMonkmovies is a smarter choice than rebooting the show. The best proof of how continuingMonkin the form of movies could work comes from its closely related contemporary,Psych. Since the ending ofPsychin 2014, there have been three new movies that all found a way to maintain the show’s essence while adding enough new aspects to the mix to keep everything fresh.
ThePsychmovies updated viewers on how Shawn, Gus, Juliet, and the rest of the crew were doing, and it offered more of the most beloved aspects of the original show.Monkcould do exactly the same thingPsychhas been doing since 2017. Just as thePsychmovies followed big personal moments like Shawn and Juliet’s wedding or Gus meeting his future wife, theMonkmovie 2 could take place a few years after the first film and follow another big event in Adrian’s life. Adrian could find new love after Trudy’s death or even travel to New Jersey to reunite with Sharona and Randy.
Plus, being a movie would meanMonkcould keep its tried-and-true formula without running on for multiple seasons and becoming repetitive.Even if futureMonkmovies are predictable, having years between each installment will keep the formula from growing stale. Depending on how frequent prospectiveMonkmovies are, the formula may even be received as a welcome bit of familiarity instead of more of the same. IfMonkdoes come back for more, I hope it’s in the form of movies likeMr. Monk’s Last Case.
Monk
Cast
Starring Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, Monk follows the titular detective, a private investigator with OCD who helps solve crimes with the San Francisco Police. On the side, he also investigates the death of his wife, who was killed by a car bomb. Bitty Schram, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford also star.
Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie
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.
