Mr. Monk and the Airplane
- Episode aired Oct 18, 2002
- TV-PG
- 44m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
Monk's first flight proves to be harder than he anticipated when he begins to suspect that a fellow passenger murdered his wife.Monk's first flight proves to be harder than he anticipated when he begins to suspect that a fellow passenger murdered his wife.Monk's first flight proves to be harder than he anticipated when he begins to suspect that a fellow passenger murdered his wife.
Ted Levine
- Stottlemeyer
- (credit only)
François Klanfer
- Bernard
- (as Francois Klanfer)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThere were a series of interesting cameos: Sharona spots Tim Daly on their flight, and says he was on the TV show Wings (1990). Monk claims he never saw the show, and asks if the show was any good, and she responds, "Well, *he* was." Tony Shalhoub played "Antonio Scarpacci" on "Wings" for nearly the entire run of the show. Leigh, the flight attendant who is being driven to distraction by Monk's antics on the plane, is portrayed by Brooke Adams, Tony Shalhoub's wife in real life. Series creator Andy Breckman can be seen taking a seat in First Class near the beginning of Mr. Monk and the Airplane (2002).
- GoofsThe type of aircraft changes (in the exterior view), multiple times during the flight.
- Quotes
Sharona Fleming: That is Tim Daly I love him!
Adrian Monk: What is he some kind of actor?
Sharona Fleming: Yeah yeah he was on that show Wings!
Adrian Monk: Never saw it, was it good?
Sharona Fleming: Well, he was.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 55th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2003)
Featured review
Mr Monk and the plane ride from hell
'Monk' has always been one of my most watched shows when needing comfort, to relax after a hard day, a good laugh or a way to spend a lazy weekend.
"Mr Monk and the Airplane" is a great end to a solid first season, and one of the better episodes of Season 1. Yes, even with knowing who's responsible for the crime right from the start, which does dilute the mystery/suspense levels a little. As said, Season 1 has been really impressive (a season where even the weakest episode "Mr Monk and the Earthquake" is still pretty good), especially for a period where many shows are still settling whereas 'Monk' is one of those exceptions where everything feels well-established early on.
One of the best things about 'Monk' has always been the acting of Tony Shalhoub in the title role. It was essential for him to work and be the glue of the show, and Shalhoub not only is that but also at his very best he IS the show. Have always loved the balance of the humour, which is often hilarious, and pathos, which is sincere and touching. It is remarkable here that right from the first episode to when the show ended that one likes him straight away, even with his quirks and deficiencies that could easily have been overplayed, and also that he is better developed than most titular characters of other shows at this particular stage. Who can't help love Monk's brilliant mind too?
He is very well supported by a sharp and no-nonsense but also sympathetic Bitty Schram, whose Sharona makes for a worthy and entertaining partner for Monk's sleuthing and somebody with a maternal side. There is always a debate at who's better between Sharona and Natalie, personally like both in their own way and consider them both attractive though as of now leaning towards Natalie as the better acted and more attentive of the two. The two are so enjoyable together and the best detective duo of any show in recent years from personal opinion.
Jason Gray-Stanford is growing in confidence and comic timing with each episode. Maud Adams is delightful as the flight attendant, and it was fun seeing 'Wings' Tim Daly. Ted Levine's Stottlemeyer is somewhat missed however.
It's not just the cast though. Another star is the writing, which is also essential to whether the show would be successful or not and succeed it does here. The mix of hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done but extremely deft. The character moments are such a joy with the principal cast as always, and the inside joke with Daly was clever. It is the chemistry and scenes between Shalhoub and Adams where "Mr Monk and the Airplane" is the most fun, Shalhoub is just hilarious, though it is also easy to relate to and feel sorry for Monk if also scared of flying, and one really has to feel sorry for the poor flight attendant.
The story, despite the obviousness of those responsible (not the first time on the show and not the last), is compelling, both as a comedy and a mystery with very enjoyable deductions and how Monk came to the solution, which has always been part of the charm of the show.
Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and the music is both understated and quirky. Much prefer the jazzy Season 1 theme tune to the later "It's a Jungle Out There", which always struck me before as one of my least favourite assets of 'Monk' but has since grown on me, which should have been kept. It's all very capably directed.
Overall, great episode and one of the better ones of the season. 9/10 Bethany Cox
"Mr Monk and the Airplane" is a great end to a solid first season, and one of the better episodes of Season 1. Yes, even with knowing who's responsible for the crime right from the start, which does dilute the mystery/suspense levels a little. As said, Season 1 has been really impressive (a season where even the weakest episode "Mr Monk and the Earthquake" is still pretty good), especially for a period where many shows are still settling whereas 'Monk' is one of those exceptions where everything feels well-established early on.
One of the best things about 'Monk' has always been the acting of Tony Shalhoub in the title role. It was essential for him to work and be the glue of the show, and Shalhoub not only is that but also at his very best he IS the show. Have always loved the balance of the humour, which is often hilarious, and pathos, which is sincere and touching. It is remarkable here that right from the first episode to when the show ended that one likes him straight away, even with his quirks and deficiencies that could easily have been overplayed, and also that he is better developed than most titular characters of other shows at this particular stage. Who can't help love Monk's brilliant mind too?
He is very well supported by a sharp and no-nonsense but also sympathetic Bitty Schram, whose Sharona makes for a worthy and entertaining partner for Monk's sleuthing and somebody with a maternal side. There is always a debate at who's better between Sharona and Natalie, personally like both in their own way and consider them both attractive though as of now leaning towards Natalie as the better acted and more attentive of the two. The two are so enjoyable together and the best detective duo of any show in recent years from personal opinion.
Jason Gray-Stanford is growing in confidence and comic timing with each episode. Maud Adams is delightful as the flight attendant, and it was fun seeing 'Wings' Tim Daly. Ted Levine's Stottlemeyer is somewhat missed however.
It's not just the cast though. Another star is the writing, which is also essential to whether the show would be successful or not and succeed it does here. The mix of hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done but extremely deft. The character moments are such a joy with the principal cast as always, and the inside joke with Daly was clever. It is the chemistry and scenes between Shalhoub and Adams where "Mr Monk and the Airplane" is the most fun, Shalhoub is just hilarious, though it is also easy to relate to and feel sorry for Monk if also scared of flying, and one really has to feel sorry for the poor flight attendant.
The story, despite the obviousness of those responsible (not the first time on the show and not the last), is compelling, both as a comedy and a mystery with very enjoyable deductions and how Monk came to the solution, which has always been part of the charm of the show.
Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and the music is both understated and quirky. Much prefer the jazzy Season 1 theme tune to the later "It's a Jungle Out There", which always struck me before as one of my least favourite assets of 'Monk' but has since grown on me, which should have been kept. It's all very capably directed.
Overall, great episode and one of the better ones of the season. 9/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•65
- TheLittleSongbird
- Jul 12, 2017
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building entrance, 222 Bremner Blvd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada(San Francisco Airport interiors)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime44 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 16 : 9
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content