TV.com

Monk Season 1 Episode 4

Mr. Monk Meets Dale the Whale

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 2

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

6.7

User Rating

276 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

EPISODE REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Episode Summary

EDIT

AIRED: 7/26/02

A murdered judge's 911 call to the police identifies her killer... an obscenely fat financier who has an iron-clad alibi: he can't get up from his bed.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (3)

It's over when the fat guy confesses...

10

By Gislef, May 05, 2012

Adam Arkin takes center stage here, literally and figuratively, so it seems a good time to look at the nature of the villains in Monk. You seem to have three types:

1) The villain we don't know about. When the identity of the killer is a mystery, then you don't really get to see much of them or how they play off of Monk.

2) The good-hearted killer. We don't get many of these ("Red-Headed Stranger" and maybe "Very, Very Old Man.")

3) And the killer who is the mainstay of this show to date - the egotistical ruthless bad guy.

Dale Biederbeck is #3 in spades. He's both physically and morally repulsive to the point of parody. We've had a few overweight intellectual detectives (Mycroft Holmes, Nero Wolfe, Frank Cannon) but not so many villains - Kasper Gutman in The Maltese Falcon comes to mind. However, Biederbeck isn't nearly so erudite and again he comes across as a parody more then anything. The fact that Adam Arkin goes so overboard no doubt turns off some viewers but as a one-off (most of the #3 killers are a bit more subtle in later episodes) it works okay here.

One reason for Biederbeck working as a villain here is because he's so overboard it allows Monk to actually get in some repartee - his "shopping mall" line in particular is a favorite. It's pretty rare that the Monk killer gets in some snappy dialogue but Biederbeck gets some good lines as well. The hints that Biederbeck knows more about Monk's wife's death then he's saying are also intriguing, but ultimiately it doesn't look like this is going to go anywhere (as of the first half of the second season as of this writing, at any rate).

Writer Andy Breckman is all over place story-wise - he did this and "Red-Haired Stranger," which are pretty much at opposite ends of the subtlety scale. Breckman soloed on this one, so maybe Tom Scharpling had a restraining influence on him in "Stranger"? (And what's up with Breckman not doing any second season episodes?)

The mystery itself is interesting - it's a "How'd he do it?" rather then a "Whodunnit?" and it plays fair with the audience. The clues are there, and in fact it might even be a bit too obvious.

On to the regulars: Tony Shalhoub is fine form here, since as noted above Biederbeck is a villain truly worthy of him. Dale can strike at Monk financially and emotionally, but Adrian weathers it all. He gets some nice family moments with Sharona and Benjy (the Clue bit is hilarious). The only drawnout annoying moment is the lemonade scene, which I _really_ hate. It's one of those instances where they drag out a Monk OCD scene way too long, and for no real purpose.

Sharona contributes a bit with her efforts to get close to Dale (and her subsequent reaction), but neither her or the other two regulars really do a whole lot here. We do get to see Jason Gray-Stanford display a flair for physical comedy and a bit of love/hate repartee with Sharona.

Overall, while this isn't a terribly complex episode in plot or characterization in comparison to many episodes, it does give us a grand villain to effectively contrast Tony Shalhoub against and thus works pretty well on its own terms.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
2 2

Flag
Share Hide
Perhaps i shouldn't expect too much from the 3rd episode but this one just falls short.

7.0

By oceanic6, Dec 10, 2011

The police get a 911 call from the house where a judge named Catherine Lavinio claims there is someone in the house. She says it's Dale Biederbeck. There are screams and then nothing else. The police are baffled because Dale "The Whale" (played by Adam Arkin) is an 800 pound man who hasn't left his bed in about 11 years. Dale had a case which he lost and held a grudge against the judge of the case, who was the woman murdered. Dale is the prime suspect, but could not have done the murder. The police, once again call on former detective Adrian Monk.

The plot is a perfect basis for a muder mystery with the "How?" question proving the most effective for keeping the audience entertained and guessing but the big revelation for this episode falls a little short; for one thing it's made a little obvious who the killer was and after the second viewing you kick yourself for not realising the dramatic irony (the fact that we, the audience knew more about what was happening than Monk but he solved the case first.) Although praise goes to the writer Andy Breckman who builds and sustains curiousity very swiftly. The sub - plot of Dale taunting Monk about how he took them to court which caused them to lose it all and how he drove Monk's late wife into depression was a little more heart-rending than perhaps intended especially when this is coupled with Monk's mournful gaze and his repressed but obvious suffering. Adam Arkin is an OK bad guy; he nails the slyly nasty attitude and even slips into the fat suit convincingly but his immense girth adds an unwanted sense of satire to the villain which makes him more of a comic relief element.

Ted Levine as the Captain and Jason Gray - Stanford as Randy Disher aren't given much to do and basically coast through the parts they have. Monk and Sharona are pretty much the main players and apart from the game of Clue; none of their scenes are that memorable and some of them like the Lemonade Stand skit is just pointless.

The first season is known for being very sombre and it's especially evident in this episode with the looming shadows, murky camera work, close - ups and glum performances and for the most part it works fine but i think the comedic turnaround in Season 2 was a blessing (and a curse, ha ha). This episode isn't bad at all but i expect a bit more from such talented writers and actors.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 3

Flag
Share Hide
this was a good ep that shed more light on his wifes death

8.0

By cube2k8, Nov 19, 2011

this ep was a good one that focused on a man by the name of dan the whale who is a really fat man that the police are investgating becasue his name was giving during the 911 call. monk must figure it out and monk can he deal with getting phone calls from him about the last words of his wife bread and butter. this was a good ep i thought and very interesting ending. and it has some funny scenes in the show and you get more light shed on him and his wife and whats there history with dan the whale.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 2

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Tony Shalhoub	Adrian Monk
Bitty Schram	Sharona Fleming (episodes 1-38)
Jason Gray-Stanford	Lt. Randall Disher
Ted Levine	Captain Leland Stottlemeyer

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Adam Arkin	Dale Biederbeck	Guest Star
Juan Chioran	Dr. Vezza	Guest Star
Quancetia Hamilton	2nd Dispatcher	Guest Star
Max Morrow	Benjy Fleming	Recurring Role
Stanley Kamel	Dr. Charles Kroger	Recurring Role

See All Cast & Crew

Watch Online

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (11)
ADD TRIVIA
- In this episode Monk willingly goes in the lift but later on we find out that he has a fear of lifts.
  EDIT SHARE
- After examining the footprints left by the perpetrator, Monk simply concludes that they are "big." But the depth of a footprint is an excellent indicator of weight.
  EDIT SHARE
- When Stottlemeyer and Disher are in the office trying to figure out how Dale could have committed the crime, the overhead lights are down low and there is a lamp on (which would mean that it was night), but the overhead lights outside Stottlemeyer's office are on full brightness.
  EDIT SHARE
- It seems odd that Monk just blurts out to the two lemonade girls what his psychological condition is. It sets up the running lemonade gag but otherwise it's rather awkward.
  EDIT SHARE
- In the game of Clue, only the guesser is supposed to look at the answer cards.
  EDIT SHARE
- If Dr. Vezza was conceived during the blackout of (November) 1965, he would turn 36, not 37, in 2002. Maybe the writers forgot about the nine months between conception and birth?
  EDIT SHARE
- This episode is chiefly an amusing riff on Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe: what if the fat genius had been evil? Unfortunately, since there is really only one other character (other than the regulars cast members), it's not too difficult to figure out who the actual culprit is.
  EDIT SHARE
- Why does Monk go on the elevator if he is afraid to? He gives us a list in "Mr. Monk and the Very, Very Old Man" and elevators are on it.
  EDIT SHARE
- When Disher talks about sending Sharona undercover, he asks, "You still have your license, don't you?" He doesn't seem to be trying to insult her or imply she's a lousy nurse, but the whole point of her hanging around Monk at all those crime scenes is that she's his nurse. It just seems odd that Disher would wonder if she has her license.
  EDIT SHARE
- Given Dale's smarts and legal expertise, it seems unlikely that he will be convicted even if Vezza turns state's evidence. Unless he was foolish enough to leave some evidence that he was blackmailing Vezza, it'll be pretty hard to make a case. Will Dale return in a future episode as a free man, perhaps?
  EDIT SHARE
- Why does Monk go to the judge's office with Disher? Monk says in the previous scene that they can't make a case. And he doesn't try to convince the judge they have a case. So. . .why is he there?
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (18)
ADD QUOTES
- Monk: If Biederbeck is too big to get out of the room, how did he get in there in the first place? He's like a ship in a bottle.
  EDIT SHARE
- Monk: These two chairs are from the judge's house, one of them, the killer stood on to turn off the smoke alarm. But there's a problem with that chair, it isn't broken. A witness saw and I quote, a very very fat man stand on the chair. Sergeant Cargill, how much do you weigh?
  Sgt. Cargill: Two sixty-five.
  Monk: Will you stand on the chair please? (Sgt. Cargill puts one foot on the chair and breaks it) So how could a very very fat man stand on the chair and not break it? If he were fat, but not heavy.
  EDIT SHARE
- Stottlemeyer: You killed a child five years ago.
  Vezza: Accident.
  Stottlemeyer: While performing surgery, you were so doped up you couldn't see what you were doing.
  Vezza: Accident.
  Stottlemeyer: You were charged with manslaughter, facing 15 years minimum, you jumped bail before you could be convicted.
  EDIT SHARE
- Dale: If you screw with me, I'll eat your heart on a stick.
  EDIT SHARE
- Disher: What about liposuction?
  Stottlemeyer: What?
  Disher: Liposuction. Yeah. He--he lipoed himself down to--I don't know--like four hundred pounds. Down the elevator. Crossed town. Killed the judge.
  Stottlemeyer: (playing along) Well, how did he gain all the weight back?
  Disher: (Pause) Reverse liposuction?
  Stottlemeyer: Let's keep our reverse-liposuction theory to ourselves. Okay, Randy?
  EDIT SHARE
- Vezza: Biederbeck, you're an abomination. An odious, gluttonous, putrid freak of nature.
  Dale: Wow, it's been a long time since anyone called me that.
  EDIT SHARE
- Benjy: (about Monk) Can I take him to school? Like, for show-and-tell?
  EDIT SHARE
- Sharona: (to Monk) We really have to work on our not-embarrassing-Sharona skills.
  EDIT SHARE
- Dale: There's not a prison in the country that can hold me.
  Monk: There are very few shopping malls that can hold you. But nonetheless, we're going to give it a try.
  EDIT SHARE
- Sharona: (trying to get Stottlemeyer to initial a contract) I'm trying to take care of business first.
  Lt. Disher: Bet that's not the first time you've said that.
  Sharona: Bite me.
  EDIT SHARE
- Sharona: Do you know who asked me out? I'll give you a hint. He's a doctor.
  Monk: Kevorkian?
  Sharona: Very funny.
  EDIT SHARE
- Dispatcher: Does he have a weapon?
  Judge Lavinio: He doesn't need a weapon. He's Dale Biederbeck!
  EDIT SHARE
- Sharona: This is what normal people do on a Sunday morning. They hang out, they relax, they eat brunch. They don't sit at home and get back in their room forty times.
  Benjy: Mom, we're not exactly normal.
  Sharona: (looks at Monk) We are compared to some people.
  EDIT SHARE
- Sharona: Don't you ever wonder why you don't get invited anywhere?
  Monk: No, not really. . . .
  EDIT SHARE
- Sharona: Adrian, can I ask you something? And if it's none of my business, I'll shut up.
  Monk: I doubt it.
  EDIT SHARE
- Sharona: If you were wondering, he's really that fat. He's Orca! He's horrific!
  EDIT SHARE
- Dale: The Internet, Monk. It's the fat man's best friend.
  EDIT SHARE
- Monk: Go to hell.
  Dale: No doubt I will. I just hope it's handicap-accessible.
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (2)
ADD NOTES
- Music: "Fat Suit Folly" by Jeff Beal
  EDIT SHARE
- This was the first regular episode to be produced. "Mr. Monk and the Psychic" was the second. For unknown reasons, USA Network reversed the sequence.
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.