When a show has been on the air for several years, it can begin to lose the freshness it once had.  I think that is the case with Monk.  While I still enjoyed the seventh season, it was more uneven than some of the earlier seasons were.

There was one major change to the cast this year.  Due to the unfortunate death of Stanley Kamel, his character, Dr. Kroger, was killed off as well.  This paved the way for Monk to actually get a new psychiatrist (they've toyed with the idea in the past).  Hector Elizondo arrives as Dr. Bell.  The psychiatrist character still isn't in every episode, but I enjoyed him when he was around.  The character is different enough to make those scenes interesting and fun in fresh new ways.  And Dr. Kroger (and Stanley) get an appropriate send off in the first episode of the season.

The rest of things are pretty much the same.  Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is still obsessive, compulsive, and phobic.  But he is still a brilliant detective who is able to consult for the SFPD and help old friends Lieutenant Randy Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) and Captain Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) solve difficult cases thanks to the help of his assistant Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard).

The cases this year provide some new challenges for Monk.  In the season opener, he buys a house, only to have it turn into a money, and dead body, pit.  Monk and Natalie get trapped on a submarine.  Monk takes on a chess master who might have committed the perfect crime.  In the Christmas episode, Stottlemeyer witnesses a miracle and becomes a religious monk.  Monk makes friends with his neighbor, only to find she's a murder suspect.  In the only development relating to Trudy's murder, Monk attempts to keep the parking garage where she died from being turned into a park.

And I have to mention my favorite episode of the season.  The special 100th episode is full of fun.  Yes, Monk solves a new case.  But the episode also features appearances by quite a few people we've met over the course of the show so far.  It was very funny and a very clever way to mark the momentous occasion.

As I mentioned earlier, this season was uneven.  The writers have a balancing act.  They have to find the comedy in Monk and the situations he is in without letting him become a caricature.  Frankly, I felt that they slipped too much into the caricature side of things more often than not here.  When they allowed Monk to be human, he could still draw me in and tug on my heart strings.  And that happened in quite a few episodes early in the season, like the one where he has to pass a fitness test or the submarine episode.  But as things progressed, the writers seemed to go for laughs over true character moments.  That's not to say I don't still look forward to and enjoy every episode.  I just am not drawn to it the way I was a couple seasons back.

I really can't blame the actors.  As always this cast pulls things off beautifully.  Tony Shalhoub still gives a nuanced performance as Monk.  Traylor Howard manages to not get lost behind the lead, quite a challenge considering she shares every scene with Tony.  Ted Levine has really softened Stottlemeyer as the years progress, and I love watching him interact with Monk.  Jason Gray-Stanford's Disher can get annoying, but I think that is mainly how he is written.

The comedy has suffered some, but the mysteries are still very strong.  Yes, they are just an excuse for the comedy.  Yes, I often have them half figured out before Monk sums things up for us.  But they still confuse me enough to make me impatiently wait for the end.

This set is pretty standard issue for the series.  The sixteen episodes are presented on 4 discs in their native widescreen and full surround.  Extras this season include six video commentaries with the writers on specific episodes and a featurette on the making of an episode.

We now know that season seven is the penultimate season of Monk.  I'm glad to see it leaving while I am mostly still enjoying it.  I'd hate to see it decline until it ended with a whimper.

Since this season includes a Christmas episode, I am including it in the 3rd annual Christmas in July Write Off.

Season Seven Episodes:
1. Mr. Monk Buys a House
2. Mr. Monk and the Genius
3. Mr. Monk Gets Lotto Fever
4. Mr. Monk Takes a Punch
5. Mr. Monk is Underwater
6. Mr. Monk Falls in Love
7. Mr. Monk's 100th Case
8. Mr. Monk Gets Hypnotized
9. Mr. Monk and the Miracle
10. Mr. Monk's Other Brother
11. Mr. Monk on Wheels
12. Mr. Monk and the Lady Next Door
13. Mr. Monk Makes the Playoffs
14. Mr. Monk and the Bully
15. Mr. Monk and the Magician
16. Mr. Monk Fights City Hall

Other Monk Reviews:
DVD's
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Season 5   
Season 6    
Books
1. Mr. Monk Goes to the Firehouse
2. Mr. Monk Goes to Hawaii
3. Mr. Monk and the Blue Flu
4. Mr. Monk and the Two Assistants
5. Mr. Monk in Outer Space
6. Mr. Monk Goes to Germany
7. Mr. Monk is Miserable
8. Mr. Monk and the Dirty Cop
9. Mr. Monk in Trouble (Coming December 2009)
Monk: The Official Episode Guide

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD