Adrian Monk was once a rising star with the San Francisco Police Department, legendary for using unconventional means to solve the department's most baffling cases. But after the tragic (and still unsolved) murder of his wife Trudy, he developed an extreme case of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Now working as a private consultant, Monk continues to investigate cases in the most unconventional ways.
The best episode of "Monk" season 5 is "Mr. Monk and the Actor", rated 8.3/10 from 1616 user votes. It was directed by Randall Zisk and written by Hy Conrad, Joe Toplyn. "Mr. Monk and the Actor" aired on 7/7/2006 and is rated 0.2 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Mr. Monk and the Garbage Strike".
While working on a double murder, Monk finds that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery when he finds that an obsessive method actor has been cast to play...Adrian Monk in a new movie.
Director: Randall Zisk
Writer: Hy Conrad, Joe Toplyn
Monk finds himself adrift in an ocean of filth when a garbage strike brings San Francisco to a halt...and Adrian to near-paralysis.
Director: Jerry Levine
Writer: Andy Breckman, Daniel Gaeta
Julie and her friends hire Monk to look into the suspicious death of their basketball coach.
Director: Chris Long
Writer: Jack Bernstein, Andy Breckman
When Monk goes to his firehouse to get his smoke detectors inspected, the crew is quickly called away to a fatal house fire in which a young woman is killed. Minutes later, a mysterious intruder walks into the firehouse, lethally bludgeons a veteran fireman, blinds Monk with cleaning acid, then escapes. Despite Monk losing his eyesight, Stottlemeyer coaxes him to continue investigating, and Monk soon finds that the fire and his attack are connected.
Director: Stephen Surjik
Writer: Lee Goldberg, William Rabkin
When Natalie convinces Monk to go into business as a private eye, his first case is a seemingly innocuous fender bender that leads to a far more dangerous investigation.
Director: Peter Weller
Writer: Tom Scharpling
Monk attends his college reunion and uncovers a complex murder plot against one of his former classmates.
Director: David Grossman
Writer: Daniel Dratch, Dan Dratch
When Dr. Kroger retires after his cleaning lady is killed, it's up to Monk to solve the case and get Dr. Kroger back to work.
Director: Andre Belgrader
Writer: Hy Conrad
Monk goes to a rock concert to look for Captain Stottlemeyer's son and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation.
Director: Randall Zisk
Writer: Blair Singer, Andy Breckman
When Monk's truck driving father rolls into town at Christmastime, Monk joins him on the road, where they stumble across a very peculiar mystery.
Director: Jerry Levine
Writer: Tom Scharpling, Dan Dratch
A missing millionaire suffering from leprosy comes out of hiding to hire Monk, who soon finds himself in the midst of a shadowy murder plot worthy of a classic Hollywood film noir. Episode originally aired in black and white.
Director: Randall Zisk
Writer: Charles Evered
A fun-loving everyman named Hal bumps into Monk, and the two become fast friends. For the first time in his life, Monk appears to have a buddy. But is Hal up to something?
Director: Randall Zisk
Writer: Andy Breckman, Daniel Gaeta
When Natalie suspects foul play in the deaths of her parents' wealthy neighbors, Monk goes undercover as a butler to investigate.
Director: Anton Cropper
Writer: Rob LaZebnik
Monk goes toe to toe with a popular radio shock jock who is suspected of killing his wife.
Director: Mike Listo
Writer: Dylan Morgan, Josh Siegal
When Lt. Disher inherits a farm from an uncle who committed suicide, he decides to quit the police force and start a new life in the country. But Disher soon suspects that his uncle was murdered, so Monk joins him on the farm to investigate.
Director: Andre Belgrader
Writer: David Breckman
When the mysterious “Six Way Killer” strikes in San Francisco, Monk matches his detective skills against the flashy forensic technology of a federal agent as they both pursue the murderer.
Director: Anthony R. Palmieri, Tony Palmieri
Writer: Joe Toplyn
Monk goes to the emergency room for a bloody nose, but when a doctor in the hospital turns up dead, Monk joins the murder investigation, and soon his own life is in grave danger.
Director: Wendey Stanzler
Writer: Jonathan Collier, Dylan Morgan, Josh Siegal