Ep 11. Mr. Monk and the Three Pies

In the episode "Mr. Monk and the Three Pies" of season 2 of the television series Monk, the obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk is tasked with a peculiar investigation. A popular bakery that specializes in pies, Yorgo's Pies, is being sabotaged by an unknown culprit. The shop's owner, Yorgo, reports that the bakery's signature pie, the lekvar pie, has gone missing, and the ones that remain in the shop have been tampered with. Yorgo's livelihood is at stake, and he depends on his shop to support his extended family, so he asks Monk to help him solve the case.

As Monk begins his investigation, he discovers that the case goes deeper than he originally suspected. It turns out that the bakery's business has been shrinking over the past few years, and Yorgo has been taking on more debt to keep the shop afloat. Meanwhile, the neighboring bakery, Zaharopoulos' Bakery, has been expanding.

Monk discovers some suspicious behavior, including a flyer with a drawing of a pie that resembles Yorgo's signature lekvar pie that he receives in the mail and a message that was left on Yorgo's answering machine. These clues lead Monk to believe that the culprit is someone similar to Yorgo.

However, Monk's investigation takes a surprising turn when he discovers that there have been multiple break-ins at the bakery and that three different pies have been stolen. Yorgo's lekvar pie was one of them, and the other two were from competing shops. Monk wonders if the case is more complicated than he initially thought and if there are multiple culprits involved.

As Monk investigates further, he begins to experience some strange symptoms. His obsessive-compulsive disorder is getting worse, and he becomes increasingly paranoid about germs. His condition takes a toll on his relationships and his ability to work on the case. Dr. Kroger, Monk's psychiatrist, tells him that he needs to take a break and focus on his mental health before he can continue his investigation.

While taking a break, Monk has an epiphany about the case. He realizes that the motive for the break-ins was not just about sabotaging the competition, but rather it was about revenge. The three stolen pies represent the three men who wronged the perpetrator in the past. Monk finally solves the case, but not without some help from his assistant, Sharona, who manages to save the day.

In the end, Monk reflects on the case and realizes that his OCD is both a curse and a gift. It helps him solve crimes, but also makes him vulnerable to his own fears. The episode ends with Monk focusing on his mental health and taking steps to get better.

Overall, "Mr. Monk and the Three Pies" is a clever and enjoyable episode that showcases Monk's detective skills and his struggle with his OCD. The case is complex and keeps the audience guessing until the very end. The episode also has some heartwarming moments between Monk and Sharona that add to the show's charm.