Ep 14. Mr. Monk Paints His Masterpiece

Mr. Monk Paints His Masterpiece is the 14th episode of the sixth season of the hit television series Monk. The show features Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, a former detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder who works as a consultant for the San Francisco Police Department. In this episode, Monk becomes obsessed with painting a portrait of a wealthy businessman who hires him to investigate a possible murder attempt.

The episode opens with Monk and his assistant, Natalie Teeger (played by Traylor Howard), being hired by a rich man named Duncan Galloway (played by Ralph Waite). Galloway tells Monk that he has reason to believe that someone is trying to kill him and asks Monk to investigate. Complicating matters is the fact that Galloway is a well-known art collector and he requests that Monk paint his portrait as part of the investigation.

Monk is initially hesitant to take on the job, as he is not an artist, but Galloway is insistent. He shows Monk some of the paintings in his collection and tells him that he believes Monk has the talent to create a masterpiece. Eventually, Monk agrees to take on the challenge.

Monk begins his investigation by interviewing Galloway's family and staff. He quickly uncovers a number of secrets and rivalries. Galloway's son, Nick (played by guest star Eric McCormack), is in financial trouble and is trying to convince his father to invest in a business venture. Galloway's assistant, Susie (played by guest star Justine Bateman), is in love with him and is jealous of his close relationship with his daughter, Molly (played by guest star Emmy Clarke).

As Monk delves deeper into the case, he becomes increasingly preoccupied with his painting. He spends long hours working on it, often to the detriment of his investigation. Natalie tries to remind him that he has a job to do, but Monk is too focused on his art to listen.

Meanwhile, there are several attempts on Galloway's life. Monk and Natalie discover that someone has been drugging his food with a potent sleeping pill, causing him to pass out at inopportune times. They also find evidence of sabotage in his home gym, which leads them to suspect Nick.

As the investigation heats up, Monk's painting begins to take shape. Galloway is impressed with his progress and encourages him to keep going. However, Monk's preoccupation with his art leads him to miss important clues and nearly jeopardize the case.

In the end, Monk solves the case and identifies the culprit. He also completes his painting, which turns out to be a surprisingly accurate portrait of Galloway. The subject is pleased with the result and Monk is proud of his achievement. However, he realizes that he allowed his obsession with art to distract him from his primary job as a detective. He vows to focus more on his investigations in the future.

Overall, Mr. Monk Paints His Masterpiece is an entertaining episode that showcases the character's unique talents and quirks. The addition of the art world as a backdrop adds an interesting element to the mystery and allows for some humorous moments. Fans of the show will enjoy seeing Monk's artistic side and the resolution of the case.