Monk: Season Three (Blu-ray Review)

• Reviewed by: Tim Salmons
• Review Date: Nov 27, 2024
• Format: Blu-ray Disc
• 

Director

Various

Release Date(s)

2004-2005 (January 30, 2024)

Studio(s)

Mandeville Films/Touchstone Television/USA Cable Entertainment (Kino Lorber Studio Classics)

• Film/Program Grade: B+
• Video Grade: A
• Audio Grade: A-
• Extras Grade: D+

Review

Adrian Monk, the obsessive-compulsive, phobic, and lovable police detective, returns for another series of investigations while strengthening bonds with his friends and colleagues in the third season of Monk, which initially aired on the USA Network from June 2004 to March 2005. The show’s popularity continued to grow as the third season saw a sudden major casting change, but Monk (Tony Shaloub) manages to grow even closer to his friends and colleagues while navigating his sometimes unbearable OCD and continuing to be haunted by the death of his late wife, Trudy.

Unfortunately for Bitty Schram, who portrayed Monk’s loyal assistant Sharona, a major contract dispute saw her character suddenly written out of the show and replaced with a new character, Natalie Teeger, portrayed by Traylor Howard. Though many were initially skeptical, her different approach in dealing with Monk and his world was such a good fit that she remained by his side for the remainder of the series. Returning as always is Ted Levine as Captain Stottlemeyer, Lieutenant Disher as Jason-Gray Stanford, Stanley Kamel as Monk’s psychiatrist Dr. Charles Kroger, and Glenne Headly as Stottlemeyer’s wife Karen. Guest stars include James Brolin, Philip Baker Hall, Mykelti Williamson, Judge Reinhold, Brooke Adams, Emma Caulfield, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Carmen Electra, Nick Offerman, Ken Marino, Larry Miller, Niecy Nash, Bob Gunton, Mako, Nicole Sullivan, and Kevin Dorfman (whose character would return in future seasons).

Monk would see further success and go on to win multiple awards, eventually becoming the “highest-rated series in cable history” at the time. Today, the show stands as one of the most popular TV series of all time and continues to garner new fans, thanks in no small part to a small but likable cast of characters, chief among them Adrian Monk, played perfectly by Tony Shaloub.

All sixteen episodes of the third season of Monk were shot by cinematographers Anthony R. Palmieri and Marshall Adams on Super 35mm film with Panavision cameras and lenses, finished on HDCAM SR videotape, and presented in the aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Kino Lorber Studio Classics brings the show to Blu-ray for the first time using new 4K masters created by NBC/Universal from the original camera negatives, framed at 1.78:1, and presented on dual-layered BD-50 discs. As with the previous season, the overall look of the show is organic and much sharper than any disc-based presentations that have come before it. Each disc features bitrates that range from 25 to 35Mbps, spiking occasionally, while every episode is crisp with excellent detail and color, as well as solid levels of grain. The palette offers a nice variety of hues with deep blacks and good contrast. Lower resolution footage appears to have been used during the opening of Mr. Monk vs. the Cobra, and establishing shots of Las Vegas in Mr. Monk Goes to Vegas seem to be from a digital video source, but each presentation is otherwise stable and true to its source.

Audio is included in English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio with optional subtitles in English SDH. It’s not a mind-blowing sound experience, but it offers good separation with plenty of push for dialogue, sound effects, and score. It’s more than satisfactory.

The 4-Disc Blu-ray release of Monk: Season Three sits in a blue Amaray case with a double-sided insert, featuring the episode titles and their synopses on the opposite side. Everything is housed in a slipcover featuring the same artwork. The following episodes and extras are included on each disc:

DISC ONE

1. Mr. Monk Takes Manhattan (43:33)
2. Mr. Monk and the Panic Room (43:21)
3. Mr. Monk and the Blackout (43:22)
4. Mr. Monk Gets Fired (42:34)

DISC TWO

5. Mr. Monk Meets the Godfather (43:32)
6. Mr. Monk and the Girl Who Cried Wolf (43:19)
7. Mr. Monk and the Employee of the Month (42:24)
8. Mr. Monk and the Game Show (43:20)

DISC THREE

9. Mr. Monk Takes His Medicine (42:32)
10. Mr. Monk and the Red Herring (43:13)
11. Mr. Monk vs. the Cobra (42:49)
12. Mr. Monk Gets Cabin Fever (43:13)

DISC FOUR

13. Mr. Monk Gets Stuck in Traffic (42:49)
14. Mr. Monk Goes to Vegas (42:44)
15. Mr. Monk and the Election (43:18)
16. Mr. Monk and the Kid (43:17)

• Favorites (SD – 5:11)
• Life Before Monk (SD – 3:08)
• Quirks (SD – 3:56)
• Monk: Character Profile (SD – 5:55)
• Natalie Teeger: Character Profile (SD – 5:13)

The only extras included are standard definition featurettes from the original DVD release, offering brief interviews and behind-the-scenes clips, but nothing all that engrossing. This is a definitely a show that’s crying out for more attention in the bonus materials. Perhaps commentaries with various members of the cast and crew, but even if that isn’t a reality, Monk: Season Three on Blu-ray is still another home run for Kino Lorber. Highly recommended.

- Tim Salmons

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