Ep 18. Monk & Mouch

Monk & Mouch is the 18th episode of season 1 in the American comedy-drama television series Monk. The show follows Adrian Monk, a former homicide detective who now works as a private consultant, and suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder and other phobias that make his life and work difficult. In this episode, Monk is hired to solve a murder case, but he struggles to find the killer due to his fear of heights.

The story begins with Monk reading a paper about a billionaire named Harold Trenk who fell from his rooftop terrace. The police ruled it an accident, but Trenk's wife isn't convinced and hires Monk to investigate. Monk begins his investigation by going to the crime scene, which is located on the 27th floor of a building. His fear of heights starts to get the better of him, and he has to crawl on his stomach to avoid looking down. When he finally reaches the terrace, he discovers that the railing is too low and flimsy to support Trenk's weight, suggesting he was pushed.

While investigating, Monk runs into a former colleague, Detective Steven Mouch, who has been suspended from the force for stealing evidence. Mouch is now working as a security guard in the building, and he offers to help Monk with his investigation. The two work together, but Monk isn't sure if he can trust Mouch, given his previous misconduct.

The investigation leads Monk to Trenk's office, where he discovers that Trenk was planning to sell his company to a rival businessman, Daniel Thorn. Monk suspects that Thorn could be the killer and decides to visit him in his office. Thorn denies any involvement in Trenk's death but reveals that Trenk had a secret, that he had a mistress, and that his wife may have known about it.

Monk then goes to question Trenk's wife, who is reluctant to talk to him. However, he notices that she is wearing a cross necklace that was missing from the crime scene. When he confronts her about it, she breaks down and confesses to killing her husband. She explains that she was tired of living in her husband's shadow and having to pretend to be a perfect wife. She pushed him off the terrace in a moment of anger and then staged the scene to make it look like an accident.

The episode ends with Mouch returning the stolen evidence and being reinstated to the police force. Monk has solved yet another case, but his fear of heights continues to pose a challenge for him in both his personal and professional life.

In summary, Monk & Mouch is a compelling episode that showcases the lead character's quirks and fears while also providing an intriguing murder mystery. The addition of Detective Mouch adds an extra layer of tension and unpredictability, and his redemption arc is satisfying. The episode also features some well-done suspenseful sequences, particularly those involving heights, and once again highlights the sharp detective skills of the beloved titular character.