The BEST episodes of Monk season 1

Every episode of Monk season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Monk season 1!

An ex-cop suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder solves crimes with various (and usually exasperated) sidekicks. The 'defective detective' may have an abundance of phobias (heights, crowds, and even milk), but also razor-sharp deductive skills, which he uses to help the San Francisco police with especially baffling cases.

Last Updated: 9/4/2024Network: USA NetworkStatus: Ended
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Mr. Monk Meets the Candidate (2)
star
7.94
581 votes

#1 - Mr. Monk Meets the Candidate (2)

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/12/2002

Adrian Monk, a former San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) detective, comes out of forced retirement to investigate the murder of a politician's bodyguard and learns that there is more at play than meets the eye, especially after discovering secrets involving the candidate's wife and campaign manager.

Directors: Dean Parisot
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mr. Monk Meets the Candidate (1)
star
7.88
1339 votes

#2 - Mr. Monk Meets the Candidate (1)

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/12/2002

Adrian Monk, a former San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) detective, comes out of forced retirement to investigate the murder of a politician's bodyguard and learns that there is more at play than meets the eye, especially after discovering secrets involving the candidate's wife and campaign manager.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mr. Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger
star
7.87
655 votes

#3 - Mr. Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 10/11/2002

Country superstar Willie Nelson is arrested for murder, but Monk thinks he is innocent.

Directors: Milan Cheylov
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger
star
7.79
845 votes

#4 - Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/16/2002

A billionaire computer mogul is shot dead while mugging a couple outside a movie theater, and a uniformed officer later is seen fleeing the scene. While the press hound the police about the identity of "Fraidy Cop", Monk investigates what at first appears to be a midlife crisis gone horribly wrong–until he finds out that the two cases are connected.

Directors: Stephen Cragg
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mr. Monk and the Airplane
star
7.73
675 votes

#5 - Mr. Monk and the Airplane

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 10/18/2002

Monk braves the unfriendly skies–and finds murder in the air. No one believes him except for Randy, who provides aid back in San Francisco. While in the air, Monk must deal with his fear of flight, a flight attendant (Brooke Adams), a zealous extension cord salesman (Garry Marshall), and Tim Daly.

Directors: Rob Thompson
Writer: David Stern
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mr. Monk and the Psychic
star
7.67
1061 votes

#6 - Mr. Monk and the Psychic

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/19/2002

When the wife of the police commissioner (John Bourgeois) disappears, her body is mysteriously found by a hack "psychic" (Linda Kash). Everyone believes she accomplished the impossible–except for Monk.

Directors: Kevin Inch
Writer: John Romano
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mr. Monk Takes a Vacation
star
7.61
746 votes

#7 - Mr. Monk Takes a Vacation

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 9/20/2002

Monk, Sharona, and Benjy head off for a week of rest and relaxation, but it's back to work when Benjy witnesses a murder through a telescope at their beach resort. Monk is aided in his investigation by a woman (Polly Draper) whose only detective training was learned through movies.

Directors: Kevin Inch
Writer: Hy Conrad
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mr. Monk and the Other Woman
star
7.60
775 votes

#8 - Mr. Monk and the Other Woman

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/23/2002

Monk's dedication to his late wife is tested when he meets a beautiful woman (Maria del Mar) who has her sights set on a certain obsessive-compulsive detective.

Directors: Adam Arkin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum
star
7.58
857 votes

#9 - Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/9/2002

After being discovered in Trudy's old house, Monk is temporarily institutionalized. Once committed, he stumbles upon a four-year-old murder. Along the way, Monk is aided by various other patients at the hospital, including a man (Kevin Nealon) who mirrors those around him, a woman who gets angry easily and lashes out at people and a man who is obsessed with Santa Claus.

Directors: Nick Marsh
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mr. Monk and the Earthquake
star
7.57
801 votes

#10 - Mr. Monk and the Earthquake

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 10/4/2002

When a San Francisco philanthropist dies mysteriously in a minor earthquake, Monk suspects foul play, and Sharona's life is soon in danger.

Directors: Adam Shankman
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mr. Monk Goes to the Carnival
star
7.54
937 votes

#11 - Mr. Monk Goes to the Carnival

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/2/2002

An amusement park ride turns deadly when Stottlemeyer's former partner (Stephen McHattie) gets on a ferris wheel with a mysterious informant. When the ride comes to a stop, the informant has a knife in his chest. The lieutenant, who has a history of police brutality, is suspended.

Directors: Randy Zisk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man
star
7.49
738 votes

#12 - Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/13/2002

Monk knows that a local furniture magnate threw his young mistress off the balcony of her 21st floor apartment. However, the man has a perfect alibi: he was across town running in a citywide marathon.

Directors: Adam Davidson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mr. Monk Meets Dale the Whale
star
7.42
854 votes

#13 - Mr. Monk Meets Dale the Whale

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/26/2002

When a local judge is found murdered, all the evidence points to one man: an 800 lb (360 kg) reclusive tycoon named Dale "The Whale" Biederbeck (Adam Arkin). However, due to his extreme obesity, he is unable to leave his bed.

Directors: Rob Thompson
Watch Now:Apple TV