All 13 Season One Episodes: Newly Restored in 4K! He’s ingenious, he’s phobic, he’s obsessive-compulsive. Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Tony Shalhoub (Barton Fink, TV’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) is sublimely hysterical in Monk, the show that critics call “fresh, exciting and utterly original” (Chicago Tribune). Adrian Monk’s offbeat antics have made him unfit for duty but he’s back as a San Francisco police consultant to help out on their most baffling cases. The brilliant but neurotic Monk is now fighting crime as well as his abnormal fears of germs, heights, crowds and virtually everything else known to man in “the best detective show to come along in decades” (New York Post). Co-starring Bitty Schram (A League of Their Own), Jason Gray-Stanford (A Beautiful Mind) and Ted Levine (The Silence of the Lambs) with guest stars Brooke Adams, Gail O’Grady, Adam Arkin, Tim Daly, Garry Marshall, Kevin Nealon, Willie Nelson, Amy Sedaris, Stephen McHattie and many more.
For thoughts on Monk: The Complete First Season, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/XVdHVOn5xZ0?si=FfkfO_S_SuBE4_pS&t=2361]
Video Quality
Monk makes a fantastic debut on Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer sourced from a 4K restoration in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Kino Classics gives this release four discs to present 13 episodes, leaving plenty of room to avoid compression artifacts and other unwanted anomalies. This series is more gorgeous than we imagined as the source has been lovingly restored without obvious DNR or other serious digital anomalies. Clarity and detail are quite impressive, and skin tones are natural and consistent with subtle facial features easily noticeable in closeup. Elements of the production design are finely textured and defined in a way that reveals so much previously unseen nuance.
This season remains perfectly stable throughout its run with earlier episodes looking equally as sumptuous as the later episodes. Every episode shows off the complexities of the setting with elements to analyze in the background. This is thanks in part to the presence of the original film grain which resolves well without swarming or clumping. Colors are expertly saturated in a way that makes the scenery spring to life, and instances of print damage have been cleaned up tremendously in this master. Black levels rarely falter with crush not popping up as an issue. This new presentation from Kino Classics is a beauty, and it is easily a notable upgrade from the ancient DVD set.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with an obvious audio upgrade in the form of a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that showcases the series in a pleasing manner. The audio quality itself presents with unwavering fidelity which allows every element to come through crisp and clear. The score complements the actions with enough finesse to conjure the appropriate emotions. It maintains a good balance with competing elements so that dialogue comes through clearly. Atmospheric sounds are rendered well alongside everything else. The low end support adds some subtle texture to moments that need it. There do not seem to be any noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. Kino Classics has given this series a mighty fine audio presentation that fans should appreciate.
Special Features
- Mr. Monk and His Origins: A four-minute archival featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss how the series came about, the development of the script and character dynamics, the casting of Tony Shalhoub, and more.
- Mr. Monk and His O.C.D.: A three-minute archival featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the disorder of the titular character, the exaggeration of some of the fear and compulsions of the writers, the research by Shalhoub, and more.
- Mr. Monk and His Fellow Sufferers: A four-minute archival featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss some of their own anxieties and issues.
- Mr. Monk and His Emmy Award-Winning Performance: A four-minute archival featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss the impressive central performance from Shalhoub and the ways in which he perfects the character.
- Mr. Monk and His Partners In Crime: A nearly five-minute archival featurette in which the cast and creative team discuss some of the key members of the ensemble.
Final Thoughts
Monk is one the defining examples of the “characters welcome” ethos that defined USA Network for many years. The classic Sherlock Holmes archetype with a twist hit all the right notes from both a comedic and mystery standpoint. Not only was Tony Shalhoub note-perfect in his portrayal, but the entire ensemble complemented him and elevated the show in their own way. This first outing for the character hits the ground running as you get a season full of great cases and nice character development. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray collection that destroys the DVDs on all fronts. The A/V quality is spectacular and the legacy special features are carried over, making this the ideal purchase for any fans of the series. We cannot wait to have the whole run on our shelves. Highly Recommended
Monk: The Complete First Season is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
