Tony Shalhoub won an Emmy Award for his performance in one of Monk has its best episodes, every episode is worth watching due to Shalhoub's singular performance as the titular detective.

Another key ingredient of Monk's success is the colorful cast of characters that surround him, from his original assistant, Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram), to best TV procedurals of the 2000s, which includes season 4, episode 11, "Mr. Monk Bumps His Head."

Tony Shalhoub Played Adrian Without His Memories In “Mr. Monk Bumps His Head”

Monk Solves A Murder Case Without Knowing Who He Is

When Monk is hit in the back of the head and knocked unconscious, he ends up in the back of a truck that takes him to a small town in Wyoming. He wakes up without any memories of who he is, yet he still manages to solve a murder in the small town. Monk's psychiatrist, Dr. Charles Kroger (Stanley Kamel) explains that due to the amnesia caused by Monk's head injury, it will be as if Monk is meeting himself for the first time, and this is exactly how Shalhoub plays him in the episode.

Laurie Metcalf plays Cora, a resident of the town who tries to convince Monk that he is her husband, Jerry, and that he is a roofer.

He does a stellar job of expressing Monk's discomfort with disorder, milk, and insects, even though the character does not understand why he feels this way due to his lack of memories. It is fascinating to see Monk successfully solving a case in a place where he is a stranger to everyone, even to himself, but the case gradually helps himself who he is. The episode rightfully led to Shalhoub winning an Emmy Award for his performance, which features a challenge unique from all the other episodes.

Monk Episodes Where Adrian Was Different From His Usual Self Were Always Great

The Series Knows How To Shake Up Its Formula

"Mr. Monk Bumps His Head" is among the show's most memorable episodes because it forces Monk to step outside his comfort zone. Monk does not wear a suit for most of the episode, temporarily lives with a cat, and attempts to fix a leaking roof, all of which is a significant departure from his usual self. Procedural shows are formulaic by design, but Monk knows how to cleverly subvert this formula, with this episode being one of the best examples.

Monk's "here's what happened" scene in season 6, episode 2, is another memorable instance of the show subverting its formula and pushing Monk outside his comfort zone, as he and Murderuss (Snoop Dogg) explain the murder through a rap performance in front of large crowd. There is humor in seeing how Monk navigates these uncomfortable situations, but it is also integral to his character development. Monk does not necessarily overcome his fears, but he finds a way to live with them while uncovering the truth, which is largely what makes Monk so satisfying to watch.