Ah, yes. I was wondering when this season would end up disappointing me. I never even had high hopes for "Mr. Monk and the UFO", but in the end, its mind-boggling stupidity managed to fall below even my low expectations. This episode makes no sense from start to finish, and stands in sharp contrast to the brilliant episode directly preceding it. This episode wouldn't quite get my vote for the worst episode of the series - in a decision I don't entirely expect others to agree with, "Mr. Monk Gets Hypnotized" holds that distinction - but it's easily in my top five.
When Natalie's car breaks down in the desert, Monk spots a UFO in the sky. That's already a pretty good sign this episode isn't going to be good. Naturally, these sightings attract hordes of "Internet people" to investigate. The subplot where they (and Natalie, apparently) think Monk is an alien is just ridiculous, and not in a good way. Clearly, they were aiming for a goofy comedy episode here, but the fundamental problem is that it's just not funny.
Obviously, it's not a real flying saucer. It's all part of a rather confusing scheme to cover up a murder. So, that thing was supposed to be a tiny model UFO after all? Too bad that conflicts with its size as seen in every other scene in which it appears. Do they even make model UFOs that can fly that well? Our killer, by the way, is a failure at virtually everything. His entire plan relies on the body being discovered, so of course it isn't at first. He uses his model UFO to lure people to this sleepy town to form an impromptu search party, but, for whatever reason, he's flying it around in the middle of nowhere on his first attempt. It's sheer luck that Monk actually saw it. And when he discovers that Monk suspects murder, he attempts to take them out, but only manages to nick the sheriff's leg and blow their tires. This man compulsively makes mistakes that exist solely to pad this episode's running time. On top of that, he gets next to no screentime. Kyle Larkin, you are one of the worst Monk villains ever.
And any discussion of this episode would not be complete without mentioning the shameless Sleep Inn product placement. While they're stuck in this town, Monk and Natalie stay in an unusually clean (yes, the episode makes sure to point out its cleanliness) Sleep Inn, where the hotel chain's logo is always prominently displayed, perfectly straightened, facing directly into the camera. The episode doesn't bother to explain why there's a newly built Sleep Inn in this middle-of-nowhere town in the first place.
Looking back on the first two episodes of this season, "Mr. Monk's Favorite Show" proved that this show is still capable of delivering good comedy, and "Mr. Monk and the Foreign Man" proved that it can still deliver good drama as well. Continuing the theme, "Mr. Monk and the UFO" proves that, sadly, it's also still capable of delivering neither.moreless
Monk and Natalie are stranded in a small desert town and the detective spots a UFO. He soon discovers himself the center of attention, and is called in to investigate a dead woman discovered in the desert.
 Tony Shalhoub |
Adrian Monk |
 Traylor Howard |
Natalie Teeger |
 Ted Levine |
Captain Leland Stottlemeyer |
 Daniel Stern |
Sheriff Fletcher |
Guest Star |
 Eric Lange |
Goggle Fanatic |
Guest Star |
 Ethan Cohn |
Kyle Larkin |
Guest Star |
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (1)
ADD TRIVIA-
When Monk enters the sheriff's office, he adjusts the blinds until they're even. When the woman leaves, they're uneven. Then they're even again when he closes the door.
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QUOTES (11)
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Monk: I want people... people... Who said it... I like people. Gimme a chance! Just give me once more chance. I'll be nice. I'll be... I'll be good. I'll be... I'll be empathetic. I'll be the empathetic detective.
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(Monk is being chased by alien fanatics)
Alien Fanatic: Don't touch him! Earth germs might kill him.
Monk: Actually, that one might be true. -
Monk: Are you mad at me? You're mad at me. I'm a detective. I can tell.
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Natalie: You just walked around rearranging spoons and plates and sweeping up crumbs. Couldn't you have at least tried?
Monk: I tried. I smiled. I smiled a lot.
Natalie: You were wincing!
Monk: That's my smile. That's how I smile. -
Stottlemeyer: How's Monk holding up?
Natalie: Not so good. He thinks he saw a UFO.
Stottlemeyer: Really? Well, maybe they're there to take him home. Maybe that's his ride.
Natalie: That's what I said! Captain?
Stottlemeyer: That would explain a lot, wouldn't it? -
Sheriff Fletcher: You saw a UFO?
Monk: No. No, I didn't say that.
Sheriff Fletcher: Oh. So, uh, was it an object?
Monk: Yes.
Sheriff Fletcher: Uh, could you identify it?
Monk: No, no.
Sheriff Fletcher: And it was flying.
Monk: Yes.
Sheriff Fletcher: You add that all up, Mr. Monk, you've got yourself a UFO. -
Dickie: Is there a problem with your room? I couldn't help noticing all your cleaning supplies.
Monk: Oh, no. no. It's fine. The hotel's great. This is just a hobby.
Natalie: He just bought one bag. That's like giving you a gold star. -
Sheriff Fletcher: One of us is going to have to go get help. The highway's about 15 miles that way.
Monk: All right, Natalie and I will go.
Natalie: Mr. Monk, we can't leave him, he's been shot.
Monk: All right. Natalie and I will stay here.
Natalie: Mr. Monk, he can't walk.
Monk: Well, what do you suggest, Natalie? Do you have any ideas at all?
Natalie: Yeah, you get help, I stay here and take care of the sheriff.
Monk: Any ideas at all, because if you do I'd really like to hear them. -
Natalie: I'm going to ask you if that was a coyote, and you say "no." Was that a coyote?
Sheriff Fletcher: No.
Natalie: Really, was that a coyote?
Sheriff Fletcher: Yeah. -
Monk: So this is where it ends. This is it. Surrounded by dirt. Covered in dirt. You win, dirt! Congratulations, dirt! Well played.
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Monk: I'm just cleaning, I haven't dusted up here for two, three...
Natalie: Hours.
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NOTES (6)
ADD NOTES-
International Airdates:
Czech Republic: March 5, 2010 on TV Nova
Slovakia: December 1, 2010 on Markiza
Finland: July 7, 2012 on YLE TV1 -
Injoke: The movie that Natalie is describing at the fruit stand is Impostor (2001), starring Gary Sinise and... Tony Shalhoub.
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Location: Vasquez Rocks, Los Angeles County, California
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Jason Gray-Stanford is credited but doesn't appear.
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This episode featured a sneak preview of the web series "Little Monk and the Missing Bracelet."
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Daniel Stern is credited as Special Guest Star.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.
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Wednesday
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Monk The Complete Fifth Season DVD
11/07/112
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Monk Season 1 Episode 7 Billionaire Mugger
06/18/111
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Mr. Monk and the End - Part II
S 8 : Ep 16
Aired 12/4/09 (43:07)
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Mr. Monk and the End - Part I
S 8 : Ep 15
Aired 11/27/09 (42:57)
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Mr. Monk and the Badge
S 8 : Ep 14
Aired 11/20/09 (42:17)
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Mr. Monk is the Best Man
S 8 : Ep 13
Aired 11/13/09 (42:36)
Season 8 Episodes
See AllEp 16
Mr. Monk and the End - ...
Ep 15
Mr. Monk and the End - ...
Ep 14
Mr. Monk and the Badge
Ep 13
Mr. Monk is the Best Man
Ep 12
Mr. Monk Goes Camping
Ep 11
Mr. Monk and the Dog
Ep 10
Mr. Monk and Sharona
Ep 9
Happy Birthday, Mr. Monk
Ep 8
Mr. Monk Goes to Group ...
Ep 7
Mr. Monk and the Voodoo...
Ep 6
Mr. Monk and the Critic
Ep 5
Mr. Monk Takes the Stand
Ep 4
Mr. Monk is Someone Else
Ep 3
Mr. Monk and the UFO
Ep 2
Mr. Monk and the Foreig...
Ep 1
Mr. Monk's Favorite Show
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