Ep 9. Mr. Monk and the Miracle

In "Mr. Monk and the Miracle," the ninth episode of the seventh season of Monk, Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is hired to investigate a supposed miracle that occurred at a local church. A statue of Saint Sebastian appears to have cried tears of blood, and this phenomenon has attracted thousands of visitors, many of them praying and leaving offerings. The city's Catholic archbishop is even considering declaring it an official miracle, which would have significant repercussions for the church.

Monk, of course, is skeptical and sees it as just another case to solve. However, when he and Natalie (Traylor Howard) attend a mass at the church to gather information, they witness an apparent second miracle: a woman stands up from her wheelchair and walks. This is enough to make Monk believe that something truly unusual is happening, but he is still determined to understand the truth behind it.

The investigation takes Monk to the church and its surrounding community, where he meets a cast of characters, some of whom seem to have vested interests in the miracle. There's Father Phillip (Dan Lauria), the head priest who oversees the church and is increasingly convinced that the miracles are real; Sister Bettina (Lynn Collins), a nun who guards the statue and is often the first point of contact for visitors; and even the woman who stood from her wheelchair, who is revealed to have a complex backstory of her own.

As Monk delves deeper, he begins to uncover secrets and lies that suggest something other than divine intervention is at work. The plot thickens when another person associated with the church is murdered, leading Monk to suspect that there may be a connection between the crime and the purported miracle.

As always, Monk's obsessive-compulsive tendencies are on full display, with the detective becoming fixated on small details and repeating certain habits to calm himself. These quirks often provide comic relief to the show's more serious themes, but they also underscore the depth of Monk's character and his struggle with mental illness.

Ultimately, the episode's resolution is satisfying, with Monk uncovering the truth behind the supposed miracle and bringing the guilty parties to justice. Along the way, he also grapples with questions of faith and belief, as he tries to reconcile the idea of miracles with his own rational worldview.

Overall, "Mr. Monk and the Miracle" is a strong installment in the long-running series, showcasing the show's unique blend of mystery, humor, and character development. For fans of Monk, it's another satisfying episode in a consistently high-quality show.